This last decade has been incredible for gamers, with records being broken, new franchises hitting the market, and some old legendary titles getting remastered. Video games have really come a long way since the days of Pong, Space Invaders, Tetris, and Pac-Man.
They have evolved over the years and now take a variety of forms, from mobile games to casual games, from the great console titles to the ones you can find on social media and even streaming platforms (yeah, Netflix is not just shows and movies anymore). The best part about having gaming as a passion is that there’s really something for everyone.
However, even though there are so many different kinds of video games available today, some titles stand out above the rest as being truly exceptional offerings from developers around the world. The best video games of all time are a hotly contested topic, so it’s hard to choose favorites, but we did our best to bring you the ones that have been rated as of the highest quality by critics and gamers alike.
Our picks, which are in no particular order, have all stood the test of time and are considered the greatest works in video gaming history. Let us know what you think!
If you’re looking to keep the momentum going beyond classic titles and dive into today’s daily challenges, head over to our comprehensive Games Hub for NYT game hints, answers, and new puzzle content.
#1 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open-world role-playing video game set in the fictional province of Skyrim in Tamriel. Players control a character (male or female) known as the Dragonborn, a warrior quested to defeat Alduin, the dragon prophesied to destroy the world. The game won over 200 Game of the Year awards from various publications, making it one of the most popular video games ever made.
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38points
#2 The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
First released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a classic action-adventure game that redefined the genre. The game follows Link, a young boy from a fantasy land who must help Princess Zelda defeat the evil Ganondorf. Along the way, he learns to play numerous songs with his ocarina and use its magical powers to travel through time and defeat Ganondorf once and for all.
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36points
#3 Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 is a platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Released in 1996, the game features Mario’s first 3D adventure as he travels through a large open world to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. A medical study from 2013, conducted on 3D platformer games like Super Mario 64, concluded that these games cause the grey matter to increase in brain areas thought to contribute to spatial navigation, episodic memory, and stress regulation.
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35points
#4 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
With 260 Game of the Year Awards, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a dark fantasy adventure you don’t wanna miss. Your character, Geralt of Rivia, is a monster slayer known as a Witcher. You’ll travel across different regions hunting monsters for a living and completing quests for people in exchange for rewards. With 36 different endings, depending on what choices you make during gameplay, there’s lots of replay value too!
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35points
#5 Minecraft
Minecraft is a sandbox-style game where you can build anything you want with the resources available in the game world. It’s still an incredibly popular game with a massive following despite being released in 2011. No wonder it’s the best-selling video game of all time! Minecraft is available on every major console and computer platform, so it’s easy to play with friends and people from all over the world, no matter what device they’re using.
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34points
#6 Super Mario World
A gem in the gaming community, Super Mario World follows Mario through a series of levels in which the goal is to get to the other side by jumping around the platforms. It’s the game that introduced us to Yoshi, one of the most beloved Nintendo characters. It sold more than twenty million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling SNES game.
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33points
#7 Pokemon Red Version
Considered one of the best RPGs ever made, it’s the first installment in the Pokémon video game series. The main character is a young boy or girl who travels around the region of Kanto to capture 151 different Pokémon creatures, which can be used to battle against other trainers’ creatures to win badges from Pokémon League gyms. Each gym leader has their own type of Pokémon, so your strategy will change depending on what you’re up against.
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31points
#8 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
One of the latest entries in the long-running Zelda series, which debuted in 1986 on the NES, is an open-world adventure with 50 to 200 hours of content, based on your will to probe every single aspect of the game and get 100% completion. You’ll explore vast expanses of Hyrule and fight monsters along the way in your quest to defeat Calamity Ganon and restore peace in the kingdom.
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31points
#9 Grand Theft Auto V
Set in the city of Los Santon, GTA V is an open world where players can take on missions as the three dysfunctional protagonists, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. Players can also explore freely, taking advantage of a vast world with dozens of hours’ worth of content to enjoy. The online mode will let you immerse yourself in a GTA-style multiplayer experience: rob shops, betray your friends, steal airplanes, hunt for Easter eggs, and enjoy the fun-packed missions the game offers!
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30points
#10 Red Dead Redemption
Enjoy playing as John Marston, a former outlaw forced to hunt down his old gang, led by the ruthless Dutch van der Linde. In this Western-themed adventure, you’ll explore the open world of the American frontier, complete missions, and interact with other characters from a third-person perspective. The game has an incredibly rich story, excellent shooting mechanics, and an immersive atmosphere that makes it feel like you’re actually in a Western movie. If you haven’t played this game yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up!
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28points
