Every once in a while, a once-in-a-lifetime video game comes along and wins universal acclaim. It’s as close to perfection as a game can get.
Sometimes, these games revolutionized the industry, introducing groundbreaking new technology. Other times, they introduce an incredible sense of storytelling.
Whatever the reason, these games transcended the medium and received universal acclaim from critics.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
One of the most groundbreaking games of all time, Ocarina of Time combines a beautiful world, excellent writing, and thrilling gameplay.
Bringing the Zelda series to the 3D world is a dream come true. The gameplay may feel outdated by today’s modern standards, but there was nothing like it back in the day. It’s an excellent example of how to stay true to a franchise’s roots while pushing things forward.
Super Mario Galaxy
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Nintendo is no stranger to highly rated video games. What may be surprising, though, is the fact that one of the best Super Mario games appears on the Nintendo Wii.
The console was known by mainstream audiences for its motion controls, but true gamers know how incredible Super Mario Galaxy is. It’s a true out-of-this-world experience that pushes the 3D platformer genre forward in ways never thought possible.
Metroid Prime
Let’s talk about one more Nintendo game, shall we?
The Metroid franchise was stagnant following the release of Super Metroid. Retro Studios took a gamble bringing the series into the modern era with a first-person experience that remains quintessential Metroid.
Everything comes together so well: the gameplay, graphics, and music are a holy trinity of gaming perfection.
Follow us on MSN for more content you love.
Soulcalibur
It’s not often a fighting game receives universal acclaim, but that’s how good Soulcalibur is.
One of the best Dreamcast games of all time, Soulcalibur is an incredibly impressive 3D fighter with well-rounded characters that all play exceptionally well. It’s also one of the few games to have received near-perfect, if not completely perfect, scores from major review outlets.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
From one old-school gem to another. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater burst through the doors with simple yet addictive skateboarding play. It’s an excellent pick-up-and-play style of gaming that remains as much fun today as it was back in the day.
Best of all, the soundtrack is filled with an incredible selection of songs that perfectly capture skateboarding culture.
GoldenEye 007
Console first-person shooters were a taboo genre for a while. The first successful console FPS to break into the mainstream was GoldenEye 007, which is shocking considering that it’s also a video game adaptation of a movie.
Not only does GoldenEye do an excellent job of taking players through the movie’s plot, but it also backs it up with thrilling gameplay and addictive multiplayer that captures our hearts and imaginations.
Halo: Combat Evolved
As great as GoldenEye was, it’s no Halo: Combat Evolved.
Younger gamers, sadly, may not realize how huge Halo was back in the day. This was the FPS of its generation, backed by an impressive campaign (which let you play with friends in co-op!), expansive multiplayer maps, and some of the best FPS gameplay you’ll ever see.
Grand Theft Auto V
Rockstar Games is no stranger to delivering critically acclaimed games. The Grand Theft Auto series, in particular, features some of the highest-rated games ever made.
One title stands above the rest, though, and it’s the most recent. Grand Theft Auto V is a masterpiece from start to finish, filled with unforgettable characters, an incredible story, and addictive gameplay that’s hard to put down.
Resident Evil 4
The Resident Evil series is the premier survival horror franchise in all of gaming. Yet with Resident Evil 4, Capcom decided to change the formula up and deliver a more action-focused experience.
Resident Evil 4 delivers on every front. It combines the survival horror experience we know and love while innovating the gameplay to feel less clunky and more modern. It’s a nonstop thrill ride from start to finish that can still outperform similar games today.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
The most recent entry on our list, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the best games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing.
It’s a wonderful love letter to old-school JRPG franchises such as Final Fantasy while incorporating modern influences like FromSoftware’s recent games.
What helps set Expedition 33 apart, though, is its incredible, emotional story that will bring you to tears.
Elden Ring
Speaking of FromSoftware, they’ve done an excellent job of continually pushing the action RPG genre forward with their iconic combination of world building and brutal difficulty.
Their most recent game, Elden Ring, brings the formula to an open world environment in the best possible way. It’s one of the most epic games I’ve ever played, and its influence continues to shape the industry today.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian Studios.
Yet for everything Elden Ring does great, Baldur’s Gate 3 may have it beat.
There is no other game like it. It’s one of the biggest, most expansive titles ever released, allowing players an impressive amount of freedom to do as they please. No matter how many times you play, whether it’s the first or the tenth time, no experience is ever the same.
Persona 5
I know what I like and what I don’t like. More often than not, turn-based combat isn’t my thing, especially if it has an anime influence.
Yet Persona 5 breaks through those stigmas. The combat is engaging enough to overcome the issues of turn-based combat, while its story and characters shine. It avoids the annoying tropes that anime games can fall into.
Trust me when I say that playing Persona 5 is 100+ hours well spent.
Chrono Trigger
Sometimes, an old-school turn-based JRPG can come together so perfectly that you overlook all of the issues you have with the genre. Chrono Trigger is a shining example of that.
I’d argue that this, not Final Fantasy, is the game that helped popularize the JRPG genre, thanks in part to its unparalleled story, fantastic combat, and unforgettable characters. Do yourself a favor, even if you hate JRPGs, you need to play this game.
Mass Effect 2
The original Mass Effect is an excellent, albeit flawed, space RPG. It’s filled with great characters and an engaging story, but the gameplay is lacking.
Mass Effect 2 is the perfect sequel, improving all of the original’s flaws. It’s a perfected third-person shooter gameplay experience with an impressive voice cast and an even better story.
Half-Life 2
While the gaming world continues to wait for Half-Life 3, we can always go back and revisit Half-Life 2.
The original Half-Life is a revolutionary FPS that proves that these games can be more than just a boomer shooter style experience like DOOM or Quake.
Half-Life 2 ups the ante on the back of its impressive game engine, refined story, and impressive visuals, all of which hold up surprisingly well nearly twenty years later.
Portal
One of the best games of all time, Portal was originally a simple add-in to Valve’s The Orange Box, a collection of games headlined by Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode 2.
It became the main attraction thanks to its brilliant writing, dark humor, and inventive gameplay. When puzzle games are done right, there’s nothing quite like them, and Portal is the perfect example of that.
World of Warcraft
Blizzard’s MMORPG, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, is still going strong today in all of its forms.
Whether it’s the modern retail experience or the old-school classic versions of the game, World of Warcraft delivers an inviting open world that begs to be explored.
I prefer the older versions of the game, where the best parts were the moments and memories you made organically with friends.
BioShock
The spiritual successor to System Shock 2, BioShock is an atmospheric horror FPS with one of the best stories in gaming, including its incredible, iconic twist.
Very few settings, if any, capture the magic of the underwater city of Rapture. BioShock is able to immerse you into its world in ways few games could ever dream of.
Metal Gear Solid
1998’s Metal Gear Solid isn’t the first game in the Metal Gear franchise, but it’s the one that put it, and the stealth genre in general, on the map.
Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece redefines what’s possible from a video game. It delivers a never-before-seen gameplay experience held together by one of the most thrilling, cinematic stories in gaming history.
Follow us on MSN for more content you love.
Read more:
Leave a Reply