2008 was one of the biggest years for the video game industry, and that’s reflected by all the major games that are turning 15 this year. Some of the highest-rated andbest-selling video games of all timewere released in 2008, and now they will all be turning 15 by the time 2023 comes to a close.
2008 started off strong with open world racing gameBurnout Paradiseand the long-awaitedSuper Smash Bros. Brawlfor the Nintendo Wii.Grand Theft Auto 4launched a few months later, and it is still the third-highest rated video game to this day, according to review aggregate site Metacritic. Things didn’t slow down in the summer of 2008 either, with PS3 exclusiveMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the PatriotsandPersona 4, one of the last major PS2 game releases, both launching around that time.
RELATED:Grand Theft Auto Officially Turns 25
Most of the big games that released in 2008 were big AAA affairs, but one indie game stood out that year as well. Innovative puzzle/platformerBraidreleased on Jul 20, 2025 as an Xbox Live Arcade game exclusive to the Xbox 360.Braidlaunched to widespread critical acclaim and was a major financial success as well, ushering in a new age of indie games being treated with the same level of respect as the big budget titles. All major indie games released to this day owe a debt toBraid, and hopefully theBraid: Anniversary Editionremasterdrops this year to help celebrate the groundbreaking game.
Major Games That Turn 15 Years Old in 2023
Fall is typically the busiest time of year for the gaming industry, and that certainly held true in 2008. October alone saw the launches ofDead Space,Fable 2,LittleBigPlanet, andFallout 3, all of which are now considered landmark game releases. Luckily,Dead Spacefans will soon be treated to afull-fledgedDead Spaceremakethat brings the classic sci-fi survival-horror game to modern platforms, though fans of those other October 2008 games may not have all that much to look forward to this year.
While anewFablegamewas announced years ago, there haven’t been many updates about it since. It’s possible fans will get a fresh look at the newFablegame this year, though they shouldn’t hold their breath. As far asLittleBigPlanetgoes, rumor has it thatLittleBigPlanet 4is in development for PS5, but that has yet to be confirmed. No newFalloutgame is expected to release for years, but Bethesda fans do have open world sci-fi RPGStarfieldto look forward to at least, and that could very well scratch a similar itch whenever it releases.
The final big three releases of 2008 wereXbox 360 exclusiveGears of War 2, which popularized the Horde mode concept that was lifted by countless other games, the acclaimedWrath of the Lich Kingexpansion forWorld of Warcraft, and the wildly popular co-op zombie shooterLeft 4 Dead. These games helped cap off a year that was easily one of the best years in gaming history, and hopefully some of these titles get recognition as they turn 15 this year.
