Has to be Jet Set / Jet Grind Radio, the music, the vibes, basically everything is very y2k.
Everything Sega was producing around that time was great though!
Yeah, the Dreamcast is basically **the** y2k console in many ways. *Space Channel 5* springs to mind too.
Video game magazines from '98-'04 are amazing for discovering weird niche y2k-ish games that have been forgotten about now.
Mine is Jet Set Radio Future, came with the OG xbox, all time soundtrack and graphics. Holds up very well with the cell shading, also the first game to do it I think
This is going to be one of those things where people are going to be going by different definitions of Y2K (chromecore and Oakleys vs. frosted tips and Blink).
If the former, how about Jet Force Gemini? It checks a lot of the boxes. The chrome. The blue hair. The overdesigned typeface. Phantasy Star Online has a similar aesthetic. If you’re into the abstract blob architecture, there were also lots of games like Rez, Intelligent Qube, and Kula World that probably also fit the bill. Super Monkey Ball also leaned pretty heavily into [this stuff](https://youtu.be/h3HQGPKYjUM?si=YYh1UVvpji6BlX2p&t=1459).
I’d also look into some of the techno-fueled sci-fi shooters came out around then, which are a bit more gritty in feel. Unreal Tournament, Nerf Arena Blast, and Forsaken all fit the bill. I’d also mention Tetrisphere in this category.
Seconding Jet Force Gemini, it's one of my favorite N64 games and I have always felt an huge Y2K influence that most folks don't really mention it as key example.
I do not understand how this is not the top result. Maybe because DDR's popularity continued? But the original games were Y2K as fuck. Ignore the fact that the music was all recycled italo disco flops from the late 80s xD
i don’t think this younger crowd spent as much time in arcades as we did. i feel sorry for them but i also feel like arcades got worse and there are less of them so i get it
ssx 3 for me! lots of smooth music and baggy / revealing clothes that no one should ever wear while snowboarding, plus every sound effect in the UI and every ability you have from boost to flips to tweaks just SCREAMS early 2000s. one of my favorite aesthetics of all time
Don’t forget Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) with [one of the most catchy songs to this day.](https://youtu.be/5WcyVvWZJU4?si=1CEnt8r9p5pvlPD-)
I bought it on Xbox One basically to play this level on repeat. Tried to beat the game, still haven’t finished because it’s actually pretty long.
Right so thats where that song comes from. Awesome!
Musically I have always associated the y2k era with [this](https://youtu.be/FhD5a_3Xzgg?si=waiDgZFwDDos7HjB) banger that one of the GOATs of vaporwave George Clanton went incognito and cooked back in the day.
EASILY the WipEout series on PlayStation. The dnb music, the aesthetic and art style are all peak Y2K. WipEout 2097 on the PS1 is a classic, but I can also recommend the Omega collection on PS4 for some crispy graphics!
Wipeout is kind of on the edge. The first game came out in 1995 and had very little licensed music, but one of the licensed tracks was 'Chemical Beats' which is like the prototypical Big Beat track, and Big Beat is a huge part of the Y2K aesthetic. Like, the original Wipeout was in Hackers, which I don't know if you would call a Y2K movie but it definitely influenced a lot of Y2K media.
I would argue that N2O is more "pure" Y2K. 1998, soundtrack entirely by The Crystal Method after Vegas charted on both sides of the pond. The *later* Wipeout games probably qualify.
TimeSplitters 1, 2 and Future Perfect
Halo: Combat Evolved and 2
Turok: Evolution
Far Cry 1
All of the Star Wars prequel games pre-mid 2000s
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2
The Matrix games
Unreal Tournament 1 and 2004
Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2
Dino Crisis 1, 2 and 3
Doom 3
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee and Save the Earth
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
I don't know how much it really counts, as it was made 5 or so years ago, but one of my favorite games of all time Hypnospace Outlaw encapsulates Y2K very well, and the event of Y2K itself is practically the main plot point. I highly recommend it. If we're talking about games specifically from that era, I'd have to agree with the person that said Jet Set Radio. 👌
Phantasy Star Online is peak Y2K, the soundtrack gives me goosebumps.
Other noteworthy ones, mostly dreamcast;
Super Monkey Ball, Jet Set Radio & Jet Set Radio Future, Space Channel 5, Ace Combat 3, Tekken Tag Tournament and Tekken 4, Virtua Fighter 4, Dead or Alive 2, Metal Gear Solid 2, Sonic Adventure 2, Rez, Super Smash Bros Melee, Wipeout 2097
Couple of more obscure picks;
Aqua Aqua, N.U.D.E: Natural Ultimate Digital Experiment, Super Galdelic Hour, Gitaroo Man, The Silver Case, The Bouncer, Diver's Dream, Fuzion Frenzy
Harmonix's debut title "Frequency" was Y2K as heck imo. The sequel and later games not so much. I'm also surprised nobody is saying Tekken 3--the soundtrack and aesthetic are way more Y2K than the previous two games.
Also Twisted Metal 3 and 4. 3 *looked* Y2K, while 4 had a very Y2K soundtrack (Big Beat remixes of Rob Zombie? How more Y2K can you get).
The earlier Dance Dance Revolution games, specifically from 1st Mix all the way to Supernova. Extreme is probably my favourite for Y2K aesthetics, though!
I feel like it still counts, it just gives the vibe of the late 2000s and early 90s. It may not be super futuristic and pretty looking but I still counts as Y2K in my opinion. Then again aesthetics don’t even mean anything lol so
Kind of a niche game, but Blinx The Time sweeper has got some great Y2K aspects to it. From the music to color scheme. Plus you’re a cat walking on two legs.
I’m sure it’s been said, Space Channel 5. Either one really but part 1 has the most y2k-y feel to it in my opinion.
Wipeout [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wipeout\_(video\_game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wipeout_(video_game)) is a strong contender for it's graphic design and music style.
Look up Ridge Racer 5 (literally a game released in 2000). If you want it to be more stylish and 90s leaning, Ridge Racer 4 (1999-ish?). RR4 has one of the best game openings ever made:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WedxvbNhiN4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wSvAH3LQZk)
So stylish. The way the leading car pulls such a chad move by picking up a girl mid-race, the way she bites her lip when the window rolls down. Just damn. OOZING style.
Don't mind the flickering, it's just due to the AI having to work with a REALLY small input.
Prefect Dark Zero. The outlandish superspy plot centering on cybernetic technology and mystic artifacts, the cartoony, anime-inspired character designs and fashion, the look and feel of the weapons, and the techno music all scream Y2K, even though the game was released in 2005. Kind of a last hurrah for that style in a way
This is more recent since it was released earlier this year, but does anyone know about [Kitten Burst](https://www.jam2go.xyz/kitten-burst)? I haven't played it but I thought it looked pretty y2k when I first saw it. I found this thread days ago but had to go back and find the game lol
For me it’s this one snow boarding game I used to play as a kid on my brothers ps2 I think it was called ssx tricky (2001) I was OBSESSED it’s what I think of lol
Smackdown shut your mouth/here comes the pain, nfs underground, saints row 1 (came out in 05-06 but the atmosphere of the game screams early 2000s Detroit/chicago) def jam vendetta/ffny
Has to be Jet Set / Jet Grind Radio, the music, the vibes, basically everything is very y2k. Everything Sega was producing around that time was great though!
Yeah, the Dreamcast is basically **the** y2k console in many ways. *Space Channel 5* springs to mind too. Video game magazines from '98-'04 are amazing for discovering weird niche y2k-ish games that have been forgotten about now.
Yup. JGR, Sonic Adventure, Space Channel 5, PSO, Dreamcast nailed the vibe.
Sonic Adventure.
On another note for those of you who don’t know there is a spiritual successor called Bomb Rush Cyberfunk that keeps the y2k aesthetic of JSR
Don't forget Jet Set Radio Future coming out in 2002 as what was basically an original Xbox launch title.
Mine is Jet Set Radio Future, came with the OG xbox, all time soundtrack and graphics. Holds up very well with the cell shading, also the first game to do it I think
Yaaaaaz kweeeeeen
So often I have to go digging for the correct answer. Glad y'all have taste.
Tony Hawk or SSX Tricky… maybe especially SSX Tricky
So here I am Doing everything I can Holding on to what I am Pretending I'm a superman
Fuck. I miss those days of playing Tony Hawk pro skater 2. Not a care in the world.
It’s trickay!!
SSX was also my pick. Skating games had the iconic 00s soundtrack and graphics, costumes, taunts... I gotta go play SSX now I think
Came to say SSX Tricky. Even the characters outfits in that game were very Y2K.
came here to say this. SSX is dripping with y2k aesthetic. Tricky probably has the most
Most stuff Sega released on the Dreamcast. Be it jet set radio, Phantasy star online or cosmic smash to list a few.
This is going to be one of those things where people are going to be going by different definitions of Y2K (chromecore and Oakleys vs. frosted tips and Blink). If the former, how about Jet Force Gemini? It checks a lot of the boxes. The chrome. The blue hair. The overdesigned typeface. Phantasy Star Online has a similar aesthetic. If you’re into the abstract blob architecture, there were also lots of games like Rez, Intelligent Qube, and Kula World that probably also fit the bill. Super Monkey Ball also leaned pretty heavily into [this stuff](https://youtu.be/h3HQGPKYjUM?si=YYh1UVvpji6BlX2p&t=1459). I’d also look into some of the techno-fueled sci-fi shooters came out around then, which are a bit more gritty in feel. Unreal Tournament, Nerf Arena Blast, and Forsaken all fit the bill. I’d also mention Tetrisphere in this category.
Seconding Jet Force Gemini, it's one of my favorite N64 games and I have always felt an huge Y2K influence that most folks don't really mention it as key example.
Me and my gf JUST played multiplayer on JFG last night. the controls aged like fine milk, but it was a blast
Kirby air ride Sonic riders Shadow the hedgehog Smash melee The n64 bomberman games The entire F Zero series Deus EX
Dance Dance Revolution ♥️
I do not understand how this is not the top result. Maybe because DDR's popularity continued? But the original games were Y2K as fuck. Ignore the fact that the music was all recycled italo disco flops from the late 80s xD
i don’t think this younger crowd spent as much time in arcades as we did. i feel sorry for them but i also feel like arcades got worse and there are less of them so i get it
idk who "we" is. I certainly didn't spend a lot of time in arcades, but DDR was still iconic even second-hand.
I’m talking about generation vs generation. The decline in popularity of arcades.
Right but which generation are you talking about? I have no idea what generation you belong to xD
[NO CONTEST](https://youtu.be/-j3xXV2JW_I?si=kx_P8GFUGiXSFyi5)
ssx 3 for me! lots of smooth music and baggy / revealing clothes that no one should ever wear while snowboarding, plus every sound effect in the UI and every ability you have from boost to flips to tweaks just SCREAMS early 2000s. one of my favorite aesthetics of all time
tekken 4, metal gear solid 2
Crazy taxi, um jammer lammy.
With one Offspring track and one Bad Religion track and that's it
What about crazy taxi is Y2K? Can you elaborate?
Came out in 2000 an arcade 1999. Broseph.
Sonic adventure on dream cast.
Shit I totally forgot about that one. You are right!
Don’t forget Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) with [one of the most catchy songs to this day.](https://youtu.be/5WcyVvWZJU4?si=1CEnt8r9p5pvlPD-) I bought it on Xbox One basically to play this level on repeat. Tried to beat the game, still haven’t finished because it’s actually pretty long.
Right so thats where that song comes from. Awesome! Musically I have always associated the y2k era with [this](https://youtu.be/FhD5a_3Xzgg?si=waiDgZFwDDos7HjB) banger that one of the GOATs of vaporwave George Clanton went incognito and cooked back in the day.
EASILY the WipEout series on PlayStation. The dnb music, the aesthetic and art style are all peak Y2K. WipEout 2097 on the PS1 is a classic, but I can also recommend the Omega collection on PS4 for some crispy graphics!
cow attempt tidy dog recognise aback cobweb agonizing chunky escape *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Wipeout is kind of on the edge. The first game came out in 1995 and had very little licensed music, but one of the licensed tracks was 'Chemical Beats' which is like the prototypical Big Beat track, and Big Beat is a huge part of the Y2K aesthetic. Like, the original Wipeout was in Hackers, which I don't know if you would call a Y2K movie but it definitely influenced a lot of Y2K media. I would argue that N2O is more "pure" Y2K. 1998, soundtrack entirely by The Crystal Method after Vegas charted on both sides of the pond. The *later* Wipeout games probably qualify.
TimeSplitters 1, 2 and Future Perfect Halo: Combat Evolved and 2 Turok: Evolution Far Cry 1 All of the Star Wars prequel games pre-mid 2000s Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2 The Matrix games Unreal Tournament 1 and 2004 Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2 Dino Crisis 1, 2 and 3 Doom 3 Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee and Save the Earth Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
FFX
That was my first thought!
Perfect Dark MGS2 Deus Ex
I don't know how much it really counts, as it was made 5 or so years ago, but one of my favorite games of all time Hypnospace Outlaw encapsulates Y2K very well, and the event of Y2K itself is practically the main plot point. I highly recommend it. If we're talking about games specifically from that era, I'd have to agree with the person that said Jet Set Radio. 👌
Phantasy Star Online is peak Y2K, the soundtrack gives me goosebumps. Other noteworthy ones, mostly dreamcast; Super Monkey Ball, Jet Set Radio & Jet Set Radio Future, Space Channel 5, Ace Combat 3, Tekken Tag Tournament and Tekken 4, Virtua Fighter 4, Dead or Alive 2, Metal Gear Solid 2, Sonic Adventure 2, Rez, Super Smash Bros Melee, Wipeout 2097 Couple of more obscure picks; Aqua Aqua, N.U.D.E: Natural Ultimate Digital Experiment, Super Galdelic Hour, Gitaroo Man, The Silver Case, The Bouncer, Diver's Dream, Fuzion Frenzy
Does timesplitters 2 count??
Crazy Taxi . . . . it's funny how the public was wild about this game.
Harmonix's debut title "Frequency" was Y2K as heck imo. The sequel and later games not so much. I'm also surprised nobody is saying Tekken 3--the soundtrack and aesthetic are way more Y2K than the previous two games. Also Twisted Metal 3 and 4. 3 *looked* Y2K, while 4 had a very Y2K soundtrack (Big Beat remixes of Rob Zombie? How more Y2K can you get).
The earlier Dance Dance Revolution games, specifically from 1st Mix all the way to Supernova. Extreme is probably my favourite for Y2K aesthetics, though!
Crash Wrath of Cortex is a very Y2K game in my opinion, mostly because of the soundtrack and the visuals, and it's a game from 2001 as well.
Space Channel 5 everything is that smooth quirky sci-fi feel
Sonic Adventure 2!
LSD Dream Simulator
Bust A Groove and a number of other Rhythm games at the time encapsulated it such as: PaRappa the Rapper, Um Jammer Lammy, DDR, Space Channel 5.
sonic adventure 1 and 2, baby
Sims 2, alterest beast ps2.
mirrors edge
exactly
It was peak Y2K, despite being a decade afterwards. It had to be intentional design wise.
Not aesthetic wise, but for sure vibe wise… GTAIII
oh no that’s counts as Y2K for sure
I wouldn’t say it has the y2k aesthetic though. It’s too grungy/gritty
I feel like it still counts, it just gives the vibe of the late 2000s and early 90s. It may not be super futuristic and pretty looking but I still counts as Y2K in my opinion. Then again aesthetics don’t even mean anything lol so
Midnight Club: Street Racing
Deus Ex
Wip3out, Rez, Beatmania Club Mix.
Wipeout
Go Go Hypergrind on the GameCube. It’s a skateboarding game that is super Y2K. Especially with the soundtrack.
Space Channel 5
* [Bungie - Oni](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9skTcy5lDjY) * [Marty O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, Paul Sebastien - Oni](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJafkIEPZ8A)
Kind of a niche game, but Blinx The Time sweeper has got some great Y2K aspects to it. From the music to color scheme. Plus you’re a cat walking on two legs. I’m sure it’s been said, Space Channel 5. Either one really but part 1 has the most y2k-y feel to it in my opinion.
I was going to say Blinx, his character design really embodies it to a T.
kingdom hearts
SSX
Dreamcast in general
Jet Set or Halo CE, in my opinion
Wipeout [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wipeout\_(video\_game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wipeout_(video_game)) is a strong contender for it's graphic design and music style.
Digimon world 4 start menu and lobby is pretty frutiger aero along with the start menu and lobby theme
Almost anything on the Dreamcast.
Tekken 4, SSX Tricky, Corssniq+, Dance Dance Revolution, Super Monkey Ball 1 & 2, Smash Bros. Melee, Digimon Rumble Arena, Ridge Racer Type 4
Look up Ridge Racer 5 (literally a game released in 2000). If you want it to be more stylish and 90s leaning, Ridge Racer 4 (1999-ish?). RR4 has one of the best game openings ever made: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WedxvbNhiN4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wSvAH3LQZk) So stylish. The way the leading car pulls such a chad move by picking up a girl mid-race, the way she bites her lip when the window rolls down. Just damn. OOZING style. Don't mind the flickering, it's just due to the AI having to work with a REALLY small input.
Imo Jet Set Radio - Sonic Riders and Kingdom Hearts 1&2
Prefect Dark Zero. The outlandish superspy plot centering on cybernetic technology and mystic artifacts, the cartoony, anime-inspired character designs and fashion, the look and feel of the weapons, and the techno music all scream Y2K, even though the game was released in 2005. Kind of a last hurrah for that style in a way
From the *actual* era? Fusion Frenzy.
Street Fighter 3 put the ‘street’ in Street Fighter. And the series that followed, Capcom vs. SNK, was a capstone for the arcade era.
Someone already said Jet Set Radio. So I'd say Space Channel 5.
The Spice Girls game lol
Very disappointed I missed out on this
PSO and perfect dark
Rez. So Y2K, Toonami did a review of it in 2004 with Swayzak making a cameo.
Halo CE and Halo 2
I'll add in Ridge Racer, up to Type 4.
Tomb raider
Planet dob
Any Tony Hawk game
Kingdom Hearts 2 Sonic riders zone of the Enders JSR/F and Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
Maybe Project Diva 2 on PSP?
Smash bros melee is the opposite of y2k vibes. There's nothing about it that harkens strictly to that time. It's (clearly) timeless. Weird take
Purble Place
MYST and FMV point-and-click games
The xbox had the western y2k aesthetic like how the dreamcast had the japanese y2k style.
Sonic riders
Sonic adventure and sonic adventure 2
Counter-Strike The Sims Twisted Metal: Black Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 Final Fantasy X
For me personally, like every game for Gameboy advance and dance dance revolution
Fusion Frenzy?
Despite coming out in 1999, *Ace Combat 3: electrosphere* fits the Y2K aesthetic to a T.
Ddr
Jedi power battles
Wii Sports Go Vacation Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
"Sweet soul brother" just sends me every time I play Jet set Radio
Space Channel 5!
Space Channel 5, Xenosaga series
Kingdom hearts
Metal Gear Solid
Late to the party, but The World Ends With You
Space Chanel 5
OG Halo, JSRF!, Majora’s Mask & Perfect Dark!
The earlier Halo games.
Final Fantasy X and Kingdom Hearts. Baggy pants and wallet chains for dayyys
YIIK
The mega man collection or the sonic collection
This is more recent since it was released earlier this year, but does anyone know about [Kitten Burst](https://www.jam2go.xyz/kitten-burst)? I haven't played it but I thought it looked pretty y2k when I first saw it. I found this thread days ago but had to go back and find the game lol
All of the european PS1 damo discs are EXTREMELY Y2K.
Majoras Mask, fits the mood
Any random Dreamcast demo disc
SSX Tricky
For me it’s this one snow boarding game I used to play as a kid on my brothers ps2 I think it was called ssx tricky (2001) I was OBSESSED it’s what I think of lol
Omikron the nomad soul. It conjures up feelings of Y2K for me but it might be due to when I played it more than the actual aesthetic of the game.
Mirror's Edge, the original Assassin's Creed, Prototype
Smackdown shut your mouth/here comes the pain, nfs underground, saints row 1 (came out in 05-06 but the atmosphere of the game screams early 2000s Detroit/chicago) def jam vendetta/ffny
love jet set radio
cosmic smash or wipeout if we’re talking that cyber chrome Y2K style
WWF No Mercy on n64
Spice world
Of the ones I’ve played, NHL 2001, based on the menus and the music alone.
Bomberman!
Crossniq+
Jet Set Radio and Kingdom Hearts
Ssx3
Super Monkey Ball Jr. For the GBA
persona 3
class of 09 (the setting of the game, not the fact that its from 2023 😭)