These are the greatest games of all time, as voted on and reranked by gamers like yourself. Video games are more popular than ever. Since the early '80 when gaming systems like Atari, Nintendo and Sega first took arcade favorite and made them available to a wider audience, video games have become a part of the pop culture lexicon. Many of the best video games are action and adventure games, usually with an ultimate goal to reach in the end. That could mean rescuing a princess, like in games like the Super Mario franchise and Legend of Zelda, or it could mean battling it out with iconic villains like in Goldeneye. Sometime whooping some butt is fun and if that's your favorite type of video game, then you would be partial to the Grand Theft Auto franchise, Contra, and Mortal Kombat as the best video games. The 00's produced some of the best video games of all time. Halo, Assassin's Creed and The Sims have remained popular decades after their respective releases. People love playing these games and they've taken their place as classics within the gaming community. Vote for your favorite games on this Ultimate List of The Best Video Games of All Time. If there are any of your favorite top video games that aren't on this list, feel free to add them.
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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time follows Link's epic quest to stop Ganondorf from seizing control of Hyrule. Its gameplay tricks out traditional dungeon crawling with a groundbreaking time-travel mechanic. Its impact holds up to this day, often being crowned the kingpin of adventure games, and has massively influenced subsequent game design.
Minecraft is a sandbox game that puts the power of creation at your fingertips, where the only limit is your imagination. It reshaped the traditional gaming experience with its blocky aesthetic and endless customization possibilities. The freedom of its gameplay has sparked a revolution in the gaming industry, inspiring countless imitators and creating a whole new genre of 'block-builder' games.
Super Mario 64 rocketed Mario into the third dimension, giving players a barnstorming adventure through a myriad of imaginative levels to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. Its gameplay set a new standard for platformers, with the dynamic camera system and freedom of movement turning the gaming world on its head. It quickly cemented itself as a cornerstone in the video game hall of fame, influencing countless titles since its release.
Red Dead Redemption II takes players on a wild ride through the twilight of the American frontier as Arthur Morgan, a hardened outlaw with a heart of gold. The gameplay is the bee's knees, with deeply immersive shooting mechanics, horse riding, and camp management, all underpinned by a strong storyline. This game's release was a veritable tsunami, toppling sales records and amplifying expectations for future open-world titles.
In Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version, players got their first taste of becoming a Pokémon master, traveling through the Kanto region capturing and battling these virtual beasts. The gameplay mechanics introduced a turn-based battling system unlike anything else out there. This out-of-the-box thinking laid the groundwork for one of the biggest and most beloved franchises in gaming history.
In Super Mario World, players embarked on a high-flying adventure to save Princess Peach from Bowser and his minions across a fantastical island. Its platforming gameplay and world design were a big leap forward from previous titles in the series. Its long-lasting impact is clear as day, setting a high watermark for quality in game design and elevating the series to new heights.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim launches players into a sprawling fantasy world full of dragons, elves, and ancient prophecies. The open-ended gameplay ensures a rollercoaster of an adventure that puts the power in the player's hands, allowing them to choose their path and make their mark on the world. Its colossal success was a game changer, setting a gold standard for RPGs and carving a path for future open-world experiences.
Grand Theft Auto V gave us a dog-eat-dog world of crime and chaos in the fictional city of Los Santos. Gameplay is a whirlwind of driving, shooting, and heisting in both single-player and expansive online modes. It's such a barnburner that it shook the gaming industry, with its sheer level of detail and narrative depth redefining what an open-world game could be.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ropes players into the deadly, captivating world of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter caught up in a devastating war. Its gameplay is a tapestry of swordplay, magic, and choices that directly affect the gripping narrative. Its towering success has upped the stakes for triple-A storytelling and its dynamic open world was a beacon for other RPGs to follow.
Red Dead Redemption took players on a wild rodeo of redemption as John Marston, a former outlaw on a quest to save his family. The gameplay is a bull's eye, with exhilarating gunfights, exploration, and boundary-pushing story telling. Its laudable impact created a strong foothold for Rockstar's presence in the Wild West narrative, setting a precedent for sequels to come.
Super Mario Bros. 3 sees Mario and Luigi soar through countless vibrant worlds to once again save Princess Peach from Bowser. The inventive platforming gameplay took the industry by storm, introducing iconic power-ups and varied level design. This title is a much-loved old chestnut, with its impact resonating through the years and inspiring countless platforming games across generations.
The Last of Us delivers a gripping narrative that takes Joel and Ellie through an unsettlingly plausible post-apocalyptic America. The gameplay combines stealth, crafting, and visceral combat to keep players on the edge of their seat. Its impact on the industry was like catching lightning in a bottle, proving that games can also tell thought-provoking, cinematic stories.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, brings players back to the mean streets, this time following CJ's journey to re-establish his gang and uncover his mother's murder. It turned the dial up to eleven on the series' trademark sandbox gameplay, adding RPG elements and a sprawling, diverse world map. Its under-the-hood advancements set the benchmark for open-world games, pushing the envelope for what a video game could offer.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild lets players step into the boots of Link to save Princess Zelda in a post-apocalyptic, open-world Hyrule. Gameplay is a mold-breaker, with players able to take on its shrines, dungeons, and bosses in any order, making it a cooking pot of endless opportunities. This game breathed new life into the open-world genre and threw the cat among the pigeons in game design methods, having massive impact on video game development.
Step into the blasted ruins of the Mojave Wasteland in Fallout: New Vegas, a narrative-rich RPG that blends post-apocalyptic survival, moral choices, and faction rivalries. The gameplay emphasizes exploration, tactical combat, and ethical decision-making that drastically shape the story and world around you. Fallout: New Vegas made a lasting impact with its impressive depth of narrative and choice, effectively raising the bar for interactive storytelling within the RPG genre.
Doom hacked and slashed its way into gaming history, drawing players into a visceral, gritty story detailing one man's journey through the living hell itself. Its groundbreaking first-person gameplay delivered an adrenaline rush like no other with high-speed battles against hordes of demonic enemies, demanding accuracy, strategy, and nerve of steel from players. Doom essentially pulled the trigger on the first-person shooter genre, becoming the blueprint for other powerhouse titles in the years to come.
In Batman: Arkham City, you're under the cowl of the Dark Knight himself, engulfed in a thrilling criminal-ridden landscape with a gripping narrative. Delivering an unparalleled feeling of being Batman through its strategic combat mechanics and stealth gameplay, the game truly pushes the boundaries. Arkham City has left an indelible mark on superhero video games, heralding a new standard in action adventure gaming.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past chucks you into the mythical land of Hyrule, personalizing link's quest to rescue Princess Zelda from the clutches of evil. Its vibrant top-down gameplay synthesized puzzles, exploration, and combat in an innovative and captivating way. Link's past adventure tremendously amplified the Legend of Zelda franchise, unfurling the blueprint for future games' structure and gameplay mechanics.
Mario Kart 64, with its whimsical story and wildly fun characters, takes you on a thrilling race across some of Nintendo's most recognizable landscapes. Gameplay wise, in this iconic go-kart-style racing game, the emphasis is on strategic driving, item-collecting, and overall fun-rivalry, making each race a gripping maelstrom of chaos and frenzied competition. Mario Kart 64 redefined the racing game genre, with its multi-player mode taking center stage, becoming a pivotal part of childhoods and introducing an exceptional couch co-op experience.
Portal, a groundbreaking masterpiece from Valve, twisted minds and gravity alike in its tale of AI overlordship and inter-dimensional puzzle-solving. The game's signature portal gun mechanic introduced a whole new dimension in puzzle-platform gameplay, challenging players to solve physics-defying tasks. With its fiendishly clever design and dark humor, Portal bent the laws of what was possible in gaming, and has redefined the puzzle genre with a bang.
Halo: Combat Evolved, embarks players on an interstellar odyssey as the enigmatic super-soldier Master Chief, fighting against alien Covenant forces. The intuitive FPS gameplay paired with strategic team combat and expansive universe exploration, provided a revolutionary gaming experience. Halo became a cornerstone of the Xbox platform, influencing the future of console shooters and online multiplayer games.
Portal 2 builds upon its predecessor’s mind-bending puzzles, flinging the silent protagonist, Chell, between Aperture Science’s testing chambers while GLaDOS, an AI with a killer sense of humor, taunts and motivates you. Gameplay involves manipulating "portals" to navigate through increasingly complex challenges. The innovative puzzler sent shockwaves through the industry, marrying comedy, innovative puzzle mechanics, and a gripping narrative in a seemingly effortless union.
Goldeneye 007, one of the standout games of the N64 era, introduced players to the exciting world of James Bond, blending action-packed sequences with stealth missions. With a first-person shooter gameplay that was meticulously harmonized with the ingenious use of gadgets, the game immortalized split-screen multiplayer madness. Goldeneye 007 essentially rewrote the rules for the quality of console shooters and igniting the beginnings of the multiplayer phenomenon.
Super Smash Bros. Melee is a fast-paced fighting game that pits iconic Nintendo characters against each other in a mad scramble for victory. This game takes the cake by refining its predecessor's mechanics, introducing a depth of strategy that made it a stalwart of the competitive scene. Its immense popularity has left an indelible mark, sprouting a whole franchise and redefining party games with its twist on the fighting genre.
BioShock plunges you deep under the sea into the dystopian underwater city of Rapture, enthralling players with a narrative-rich, atmospheric, and philosophically intriguing gaming experience. The game boasts a unique blend of FPS gameplay with RPG elements, layered with moral choices that affect the storyline. This rule-breaking title left a significant imprint on video game storytelling, opening the floodgates for narrative-driven first-person shooters.
Embark on an unforgettable journey as Cloud Strife in the dystopian city of Midgar, where moral ambiguity rules over the hearts of men, in Final Fantasy VII. The game offers a sleek turn-based combat system and a heartfelt narrative that taps into the human condition. It leads the way in the RPG genre and defined what a 'JRPG' meant during its release, and its influence is still felt today on both eastern and western RPGs.
The Star Wars universe expands exponentially in Knights of the Old Republic, as you venture across multiple galaxies in a deep, non-linear narrative. With robust role-playing mechanics and a highly customizable character system, the game offers players great freedom in shaping their playstyle. It has left a monumental legacy, influencing a generation of role-playing games and later Star Wars entries with its groundbreaking storytelling.
In Batman: Arkham Asylum, dive into the Dark Knight's shadows as he's trapped in Gotham's most notorious psych ward, squaring off against his rogues' gallery. Its gameplay is a solid blend of stealth takedowns, puzzle-solving detective work, and bone-crunching combat. This game was a game-changer for superhero video games, proving that comic book narratives could translate to triple-A, critically acclaimed video games while staying true to the source material.
Halo 3 culminates the epic trilogy with Master Chief's final stand against the Covenant and the Flood, providing a fitting climax to an interstellar saga. With both close-quarters and vehicular combat forms, the gameplay encompassed team strategies in a range of various terrains, solidifying the multiplayer experience. The game significantly contributed to the online gaming culture and propelled the Xbox 360's popularity with the introduction of Forge mode, custom game regulations, and saved video replays.
In COD: Modern Warfare 2, the lines between reality and fiction blur as you become entangled in a global conflict that threatens the world. Its gripping first-person shooting gameplay and revolutionary multiplayer mode have left an indelible mark on the gaming community. Its cinematic storytelling and explosive combat scenarios have greatly influenced the genre, making it a franchise that's ahead of the pack even today.
In this stealth-based action-adventure game, you assume the role of Solid Snake, tasked with averting a nuclear catastrophe. The gameplay revolves around stealth, strategic combat, and a labyrinthine plot that has set the standard for convoluted videogame storylines. Its innovative ideas and design philosophies have greatly impacted the gaming industry, making it a household name in both stealth and narrative engagement.
Majora's Mask, a darkly captivating offshoot of the beloved Legend of Zelda franchise, introduced a repeating three-day cycle to save the world from certain doom. The unique time-driven gameplay, full of riddles and mystical masks that grant unique abilities, takes Link's adventure to new challenging heights. Majora's Mask, hailed for its complex narrative and haunting atmosphere, has become one of Nintendo's most artistically daring projects.
Donkey Kong Country barrels you into the shoes of the iconic gorilla, on a banana-filled quest against pirate lizards, with a backstory as eccentric as its gameplay mechanics. It showcases a tightly woven platforming experience, expertly balancing speed, timing, and numerous secret paths. The game cemented itself in gaming history for its slap-happy multiplayer fun and revolutionized the platformer genre on the SNES.
In Fallout 3, the player emerges from a nuclear bunker into a mutants-riddled D.C wasteland, piecing together their personal story in the process. Missions range from intricate dialogue-driven quests to explosive shootouts, with an open-world design that encourages explorations. As one of the definitive sandbox RPGs, the game redefined what post-apocalyptic storytelling could look like, with its rich lore and expansive world.
Super Mario Odyssey, a whimsical globe-trotting adventure in the grand tradition of the Mario franchise, follows Mario's quest to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser. The gameplay, a fusion of platforming perfection and hat-possessing innovation, rewards exploration and curious minds with countless secrets and treasures. Super Mario Odyssey stands tall within its storied franchise, pushing forward its legacy, and showcasing the creativity and potential of the Nintendo Switch.
Rich with Renaissance Italy's political intrigue, Assassin's Creed II sends players on a bloody vendetta as Ezio Auditore, a charming assassin climbing the Templar ranks. It distinguishes itself with roof-hopping parkour, historical conspiracy unraveling, and sleek hidden-blade assassinations. After its release in 2009, it significantly ushered the stealth genre to the forefront and set a new high watermark for narrative-driven action-adventure games.
Mortal Kombat unfurls a high-stakes tournament between the realms, with Earth's mightiest warriors slamming heads with Outworld's supernatural monsters. With its unforgettable Fatalities and brutal one-on-one fighting mechanics, it revolutionized the beat 'em up genre when it burst onto the video game scene. It set the gore bar higher than a kite, making parental control settings a thing overnight!
Tetris, a timeless block-stacking classic, is a puzzle game that's been a go-to for many generations, largely due to its simplicity and charm. Its gameplay is like an ongoing ballet of geometry, where players constantly strategize their placements to clear out rows. Its impact is colossal; almost everyone recognizes the Tetris tune, and the game has since been a benchmark for all puzzle games, setting up a trend of ‘easy to learn, hard to master’ gameplay.
Setting the pace for every fighting game that followed, Street Fighter II laid out the back story of a range of unique characters battling it out to be the world's top brawler. Gameplay hinges on mastering combos and special moves, learning the advantages and weaknesses of your chosen fighter. Its massively influential encounter mechanics and pop culture clout truly crowned it the head honcho of the arcade scene.
Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War is a legendary action-adventure epic that sees you slaying mythical creatures and playing a significant role in a grand narrative. With engaging and visceral hack 'n' slash gameplay, coupled with some puzzle-solving to keep you on your toes, it will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. The game's influence can be seen today, with its groundbreaking mechanics and intricate plotline, setting a high bar for all action and adventure games that followed.
In the dark, mysterious, and gargantuan world of Elden Ring, players embark on a perilous journey where they confront deadly adversaries. The game flourishes due to its intricate and punishing combat system, and the level of freedom and exploration it offers. The integrated story and combat features have raised the bar for open-world action RPGs.
Presenting a fantastic blend of adventure and RPG elements, Pokémon Gold and Silver whisk fans into a vibrant world where they interact with fantastic creatures. Offering immersive gameplay with a diverse roster of Pokémon to catch, train, and battle, these games set the stage for the future Pokémon titles. They have drawn praise for their expanded gameplay and enhanced visual style and have forever engraved their names on the hearts of millions globally.
Star Wars: Battlefront II takes the epic saga of Star Wars into interactive glory, brimming with multiplayer battles spanning across all eras of the franchise. The gameplay comprises ground combat, space battles, and hero involvement, offering enjoyable RTS elements mixed with FPS. Star Wars: Battlefront II offered fans of the franchise an unprecedented immersive multiplayer Star Wars experience, impacting the popular gaming culture phenomenon.
Venturing into Hyrule as the iconic hero, Link, The Legend of Zelda introduces players to a vast, dynamic world filled with captivating quests and puzzles. With brilliant action-adventure centric gameplay and a masterfully crafted narrative, it stands as a shining beacon in the gaming universe. Its pioneering influence on the video gaming culture and its impact on game design and development are undeniable.
A proverbial game of chess with larger-than-life Nintendo characters grappling for supremacy, Super Smash Bros. merges Mario's platforming, Link's swordplay, and Samus's projectile blasting into chaotic multiplayer bouts. Gameplay is a frenzied melange with up to four players duking it out as their chosen heroes with the goal of knocking their opponents off of the platforms. This Nintendo mash-up took the gaming world by storm, creating an entirely new subgenre of fighting games and rallying a fandom as diverse as its character roster.
Resident Evil 2 plunges gamers into the heart of Raccoon City’s zombified nightmare, as rookie cop Leon Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield struggle to survive. The nerve-shredding gameplay perfectly mixes puzzle-solving, exploration, and a limited ammo survival element that made every bullet count. It had every gaming aficionado in a tizzy and set a commanding standard for future survival horror games.
Relive an epic interstellar war as Master Chief in Halo 2, a sequel that expanded upon its predecessor's narrative by allowing players to fight as Covenant Elite, Arbiter. Its groundbreaking gameplay offered a dual-wielding feature that changed the first-person shooter formula, and its multiplayer mode set new standards for online console gaming. The behemoth franchise Halo 2 had gaming fanatics over the moon with its action-paced multiplayer and space opera plot.
This cartoony 3D platformer has you managing the titular marsupial, Crash, on a quest to thwart the machinations of the sinister Doctor Neo Cortex. Filled with highly engaging and challenging gameplay that encompasses tricky platforming sequences, the game has been a video game icon for years. Crash Bandicoot's combination of zany humor, lovable characters, and addictive gameplay has solidified its status as a classic among platform adventure games.
Pokémon Yellow set players in a fantastical version of Japan, capturing and battling pocket monsters as the perennial youngster, Ash. It was the first in the series to give players a Pikachu sidekick, with gameplay focusing on creature-collection and turn-based battles. This cute, lighthearted RPG shook the gaming tree and built on the Pokemon franchise's popularity, becoming a nostalgic hallmark for a generation.
God of War throws you into the greaves of Spartan warrior Kratos on a vengeful slash-through mythology, weaving a tragic, powerful tale that captures the brutal poetry of conflict. Combining intense, combo-based combat with puzzle-solving and platforming, the gameplay is as visceral and challenging as it is satisfying. God of War has made massive waves in the gaming world, redefining the action-adventure category and setting a high bar for character development in video games.
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