(Technically, it's not still 2001. With that said...)

While titles like Ico, Final Fantasy X, Ico, Luigi's Mansion, Civilization IV, and also Ico made 2001 a solid year in gaming for me, overall it wasn't among my actual favorites. The single best years in gaming for my taste were 1994, 1995, 2013, and 2017. Okay actually 2017 by a landslide really. Here are some of my favorite titles from what were, in order, IMO, the best years in gaming...

2017:

Butterfly Soup
What Remains of Edith Finch
Night in the Woods
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
NieR: Automata
Tales of Berseria
Cosmic Star Heroine
Persona 5
Sonic Mania
Star Fox 2
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Super Mario Odyssey

2013:

Gone Home
The Last of Us
The Stanley Parable
Beyond: Two Souls
Tomb Raider
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

1994:

Super Metroid
Final Fantasy VI
Heart of the Alien
Illusion of Gaia
Primal Rage
Killer Instinct
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Donkey Kong Country
Earthworm Jim
Boogerman
Super Godzilla

1995:

Chop Suey
Solar Eclipse
Chrono Trigger
Panzer Dragoon
Lunar: Eternal Blue
Secret of Evermore
EarthBound
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Clay Fighter 2: Judgment Clay

I'm European, so 2002 might actually be better than 2001 for me. It's mostly because of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X being released as late as 2002 in Europe, and the rest of the games released in 2002 aren't too bad either. I'm not sure whether 2002 is the best year ever though, since 1998 (or maybe 1999 but I think it was 1998) and several years in the 2010s are pretty good too. Someone also mentioned 2007, and it seems pretty strong too.

I'm with you on that. I give the edge to 1998, but 2001 is right there.

I still have a 2017 backlog, but those 12 months may enter the conversation too.

No. 1998 is.

However 2001 was still well within the ‘Golden Age’.

1998 was the greatest year of gaming ever. 2001 wasn't bad, but it is tough to best 1998. Apart from Halo, there was not really another revelation type of game that year. I actually enjoyed Rogue Squadron 2 also.

It was a great year but not only from those games.

Dynasty Warriors 3
Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII
Kessen 2

3 great games from Koei, all often argued as the best in their series.

2003 was probably better for me though.

CoD and Medal of Honor Rising Sun
SW KOTR
WCIII Frozen Throne
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IX
Dynasty Warriors 4
Dynasty Tactics 2
Disgaea
Civ 3 Conquests
Star Ocean til the end of time

2004 and 2002 also competes hard. Obviously one of the best times to be a gamer.

Statisticly it is 2003, followed by 2002 and 2001:

So 2001 - 2003 was the best three-year-period.

I'm pretty sure gta 3 was considered revolutionary at the time. Dmc to a smaller degree. Silent hill 2, max payne

Gta 3 did get rave reviews and sales, but it wasnt the masterpiece that Ocarina, and MGS were. I didn't really like GTA until Vice City but that's just me. 1998 was going great of a year. 2001 for me was defined by Halo. 

I'm not the only one that remembers! :D

Excellent list, btw.