History MediaNotes / TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames

** Soul Calibur IV
** Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny

* UsefulNotes/PlayStation3
* UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}
* UsefulNotes/Xbox360
** UsefulNotes/{{Kinect}}

* UsefulNotes/NintendoDS
* UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable

** ''[=SpongeBob=]'s Boating Bash''

** ''Phineas and Ferb: Quest for Cool Stuff''

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoOnline''
[[/index]]

* [[/index]]''VideoGame/HalfLife'':[[index]]

** ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' and ''Grand Theft Auto Online''

Another interesting genre development in this era was the [[GenreRelaunch surprising resurgence]] of the 2D PlatformGame. It was a genre that went by the wayside by the time of the [[UsefulNotes/TheFifthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames fifth generation]] due to the more open polygonal worlds and the success of ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''. However, Creator/{{Nintendo}} revived the genre's popularity with the release of ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'', which overjoyed fans who wanted a new 2D [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] game last generation. This sparked a movement of classic franchises returning to their roots, especially but not exclusive to those who were met with poorly-handled {{Video Game 3D Leap}}s, such as ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' with ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4 Sonic 4]]'' and ''Franchise/MegaMan'' with ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaMan10 10]]''. NSMB's influence also lead to a good number of original [=IPs=] of 2D platformers such as ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet''.

** ''Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City''

** ''Etrian Odyssey''
** ''Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard''

* ''VideoGame/LegendaryTheBox''

** ''Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter''
*** ''Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2''

** ''Ghost Recon: Future Soldier''

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the question of videogames as an art form reached a new apex. Alongside animation (which is overcoming its own ghetto this generation), the quality of story, characterization, and voice direction in videogames has gained a new realism previously unique only to live-action media. By the end of the generation, games such as VideoGame/TheLastOfUs have become cultural phenomena for their believable characters and strong writing, while Hollywood actors now regularly appear in titles. All of this ties in with and becomes much more feasible because of the power of the consoles. With the ability to render hundreds of thousands of polygons at once, graphics are capable of near photo-realism which, capitalizing on the UncannyValley, draws in people to the far more human-like characters presented to them. Avant-garde video games also came to the forefront thanks to the indie game market's power. Video games made for the sake of art appeared, and some major titles with and without the aforementioned Hollywood approach also carried a very strong vibe of emotional realism and vibrant character development unseen in video games before. Thanks to graphical advancements rendering photorealism a near standard, this helped supporters of videogames as art gain support. As we move into the UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames, the debate continues and supporters continue to make gains especially through story-heavy games. Story-heavy games, however, also picked up their detractors from several camps: one being those who felt that the over-reliance on shallowly "deep" plots, inflated budgets, and ultra-realistic voice action and direction led to video games losing their "surrealistic" value; and others being for less noble reasons, such as those who felt that since video games "can't" be art and are for either kids, immature teenagers, or for the family at large, they shouldn't waste time and money on high quality storylines. These became minority viewpoints shrinking with time, however. As video games as a medium mature, they are now being seriously considered as a true form of artistic entertainment.

Another interesting genre development in this era was the [[GenreRelaunch surprising resurgence]] of the 2D PlatformGame. It was a genre that went by the wayside by the time of the [[UsefulNotes/TheFifthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames fifth generation]] due to the more open polygonal worlds and the success of ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''. However, Creator/{{Nintendo}} revived the genre's popularity with the release of ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBros'', which overjoyed fans who wanted a new 2D [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] game last generation. This sparked a movement of classic franchises returning to their roots, especially but not exclusive to those who were met with crushing {{polygon ceiling}}s, such as ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' with ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog4 Sonic 4]]'' and ''Franchise/MegaMan'' with ''VideoGame/MegaMan9'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaMan10 10]]''. NSMB's influence also lead to a good number of original [=IPs=] of 2D platformers such as ''VideoGame/LittleBigPlanet''.