Games Released in 2001

2,159 new games released in 2001 across 10 platforms, with PC (Microsoft Windows) being the most popular seeing 819 new titles. November was the busiest month of the year, launching 340 new releases.

Top Platform

PC (Microsoft Windows)

New Releases

2,159

Busiest Month

November

What was the most popular game of 2001?

Silent Hill 2

The second entry in the Silent Hill franchise, Silent Hill 2 is a narrative-focused third-person psychological survival horror game with emphasis on combat, exploration and puzzle-solving elements which follows James Sunderland, a man who receives a letter, seemingly sent by his three-years-deceased wife Mary, in which he is beckoned to the fog-ridden town of Silent Hill at the same time as numerous other people troubled by their past.

Which days had the most releases?

December 20 was the busiest single day of 2001 with 40 releases.

40 releases

December 20

36 releases

November 15

34 releases

November 30

31 releases

December 14

Which month had the most releases?

The busiest release month of 2001 was November, totaling 340 titles.

How did each season compare?

Q4 was the busiest quarter of 2001 with 803 releases.

Q1 (Jan–Mar)

565 releases

Most popular release in Q1

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages is one of two Zelda titles released for the Game Boy Color, the other being Oracle of Seasons. The game retain many gameplay elements from Link's Awakening such as the graphics, audio and top-view perspective. It also features eight dungeons and a large overworld to explore like in the previous games. Oracle of Ages is said to be more puzzle-oriented than its counterpart being more action-oriented. After completing one of the two games, both can be linked to form a single linear plot with an alternate ending. Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons were often credited as being two of the top games for the Game Boy Color.

Q2 (Apr–Jun)

501 releases

Most popular release in Q4

Super Smash Bros. Melee

A crossover platform fighting game featuring characters from Nintendo franchises including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, Pokémon, and Fire Emblem. Unlike traditional fighters, the goal is to knock opponents off the stage rather than deplete a health bar. Damage accumulates as a percentage, increasing the distance a character is launched when hit. Players use simple one-button inputs combined with joystick directions to execute moves. The game supports up to four players simultaneously and includes various single-player modes alongside its multiplayer focus. Its fast-paced, aggressive gameplay fostered a long-running competitive esports scene that persisted well beyond the game's original lifespan.

Which platforms saw the most releases?

PC (Microsoft Windows) received 819 new titles in 2001, holding the most releases. The runner up was PlayStation with 429 new titles.

PC (Microsoft Windows)819 releases

PlayStation429 releases

PlayStation 2419 releases

Game Boy Color298 releases

Game Boy Advance278 releases

Dreamcast177 releases

Mac86 releases

Arcade56 releases

WonderSwan Color48 releases

Xbox38 releases

What genres were most popular?

Adventure was the dominant genre in 2001 with 428 titles. Sport followed closely with 284.

Adventure428

Sport284

Simulator282

Role-playing267

Shooter254

Strategy253

Puzzle222

Platform183

Racing183

Arcade153

2000 2002

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