On this list of the greatest video games ever made the current “Big 3” (PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii) will be well represented, but you will also see several classics from now-defunct game consoles, as well as legendary coin-op arcade games and plenty of PC games. Read on to see which games made the cut.
 

60 – Street Fighter II – One of the best fighting games of all time, this legendary one on one brawler popularized the fighting game genre and is one of the most popular coin-op arcade games of all time. It continued that success on home game consoles, and with millions of copies sold has been a cash cow for creator Capcom for nearly 2 decades

59 – Diablo 2 – There is arguably no developer in the PC game business that develops more polished products than Blizzard Entertainment. Though their games take a painfully long time from concept to release the wait is always worth it. Diablo 2 was no exception. The sequel to the smash hit Diablo, the game is almost perfectly balanced, and with the inclusion of a beefy multiplayer component via Blizzard’s Battlenet system has virtually unlimited replayability.

58 – Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings – In the 1990s the PC game industry was turned on its ear with the popularization of the genre of real time strategy games. Dune II, Warcraft I and II, and Command and Conquer attracted legions of gamers who greedily took the leap from the relatively placid pace of turn-based strategy games to the frantic action of RTS games. Microsoft recognized the potential of the genre and launched their own historical offering with the original Age of Empires. However, with AoE II they struck a balance and a level of fun that has rarely been achieved before or since, and the game remains to this day one of the shining examples of the genre.

57 – Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar – When I set out to make this list I knew I would be including one of Richard Garriott’s Ultima games. Though there are several worthy candidates I eventually settled on Ultima IV. Quest of the Avatar was just so much huger in scope than the first 3 games, and sense of achievement I got from finally defeating the game was one of the most satisfying I’ve ever experienced in my three plus decades of video gaming.

56 – Tecmo Super Bowl – At their very core video games come down to one simple concept: fun. Yes, graphics, immersion factor, challenge, and replayability are all factors that go into making a great video game, but without the fun what is the point? Released way back in 1991 for the original NES console Tecmo Super Bowl pretty much nailed the fun factor, and as an added bonus was one of the first sports games to use representations of actual athletes in its game. Forget Madden, NCAA or NFL 2K, when I want to play a fun football game I dust off the NES and pop in a little Tecmo Super Bowl.

55 – Duke Nukem 3D – Though today’s gamers probably know the Duke Nukem franchise for the dubious distinction of biggest vaporware title of all time (Duke Nukem Forever) once upon a time 3D Realms actually released a first person shooter, and for those old enough to have played it upon its release you can agree that it was as fun a video game as any on this list. With a hero that was as crass and as amusing as he was violent Duke Nukem 3D’s replayability was through the roof, and very few FPS games before or since can top it for simple fun factor.

54 – Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness – Blizzard makes another appearance on the list of the best video games ever with this 1995 hit. The sequel to Warcraft, Tides of Darkness raised the quality bar several notches, and creating a game that in my opinion was responsible for the explosion in RTS games. Whether playing single player campaign or battling in multiplayer the game was incredibly addictive. The voice acting in the game was hilarious and all in all the game’s audio had a production value stratospheres above most other games of its era. However, it was the inclusion of the editor that allowed game owners to create their own maps to battle on that was truly the icing on the cake, and to this day thousands of gamers worldwide still wage the ongoing war between humans and orcs.

53 – Sid Meier’s Pirates – Few names in PC gaming are as synonymous with quality as Sid Meier’s. He has been at the helm of several legendary franchises and this 1987 computer game classic was the first to incorporate his name into the title. Predating the modern Windows PC the game appeared on computer systems like the Commodore 64, Amiga, the Apple II and even the original Macintosh. The game was multifaceted, not only featuring a strategic component, but also several action sequences including sword-fighting. If you have an old C64 or Apple II sitting around and want to experience Meier’s early greatness try to track down this classic on eBay or at your local flea market.

52 – NHL 94 – The greatest hockey video game ever made by mine and many other people’s reckoning EA’s NHL 94 set a gold standard that has yet to be equaled. EA themselves have continued to release yearly versions of the NHL franchise, but never seem to be able to recapture the magic that made that legendary classic so much fun. If only you could fight and make other player’s bleed (like in NHLPA 93) it would be perfect.

51 – Sonic the Hedgehog – It was a sad day for Sega Fanboys (and for gamers in general) when the creators of the Genesis, the Saturn, and the incredibly underrated Dreamcast announced they were getting out of the hardware game. Though Microsoft stepped in to fill the void in Sega’s absence in my opinion the video game industry has been poorer ever since. However, Sega continues to be a major force in software development. Sega’s little blue mascot Sonic the Hedgehog helped launch the Sega Genesis, and is to this day one of the best platformers ever created.

50 – Galaga – One of the strongest memories from my childhood was the time I spent at the local arcade. With a wild cacophony of sounds from pinball games, air hockey, pool and foosball tables, and the blips and beeps from dozens of standup arcade machines it was truly a place of wonder for an 8 year old. During that magical time the one game that captured the bulk of the quarters earned from my paper route was the space shooter Galaga. Simple in concept you could only travel in a horizontal line at the bottom of the screen while wave upon wave of enemy ships descended on you. Still, it was enormously fun and represented a golden age of video games when the high score ruled.

49 – Perfect Dark – Nintendo hit a homerun with their partnership with flagship developer Rare back in the N64 days. After their runaway success with the critically acclaimed GoldenEye: 007 Rare delivered another FPS classic with 2000’s Perfect Dark. The game was a technical tour-de-force for the N64 console with incredible graphics and Dolby surround sound. Though not as popular with the mainstream crowd as GoldenEye the game is considered a cult classic and one of the system’s best games by many hardcore gamers.

48 – Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – Over the past decade a subgenre of first person shooters has gained increasing popularity. First person war simulators have sold millions of copies over that time and there has been arguably no more popular franchise than Activision’s Call of Duty series. Despite the critical acclaim of the previous chapters and the huge anticipation for COD4 back in 2007 developer Infinity Ward managed to shatter everyone’s expectations, creating a military shooter that has set the gold standard for the genre. With incredible realism, uncanny representations of World War II weaponry, and intense action the game is about as immersive as it gets.

47 – Fallout – Though when most people hear the term RPG they immediately think of swords, sorcery, dungeons and dragons. However, with Fallout, Bethesda created a futuristic RPG that was freshly original and challenged traditional RPGs for the title of best game in the genre. Despite its turn-based combat system the game still seems action-packed and with a beefy character development system that includes skills, traits, karma and reputation players have plenty of options for developing their characters. The game received huge critical acclaim and routinely shows up on lists from major gaming publications like IGN and Gamespot as one of the best PC games of all time.

46 – Space Invaders – Yep, I’m going old school for this next selection. Though kids growing up today might scoff at the simplicity of a game like Space Invaders, back in the day this incredibly addictive shooter robbed kids of their allowances as they pumped quarters in to try and make it just one wave further, and eclipse the high scores of their friends.

45 – Rock Band – After turning the video game industry on its ear with the release of the massive smash hit Guitar Hero developer Harmonix decided to raise the bar even further, incorporating drums, a bass guitar and a microphone to bring the full band experience to people’s living rooms. Rock Band may just be the greatest party game of all time, and along with Guitar Hero is responsible with bringing in a new class of gamer to video gaming. Though it is more expensive (and takes up more room) than your average video game this title is a must have for anyone who loves music.

44 – Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec – Really, I could have put any of Polyphony’s critically acclaimed Gran Turismo racing series on this list. All of the games in the series are incredibly polished, feature a depth and a realism unmatched by any other video game driving simulator, and still have an incredible fun factor to boot. I chose GT3: A-Spec because it was the first driving video game that was so graphically impressive that it came close to watching a race on television. Somehow Polyphony just seems to be able to squeeze a little bit more out of Sony’s systems than any other developer and that was never more apparent than with the gorgeous GT3.

43 – Metroid Prime – Not only does it have the best first party franchises in the video gaming biz, over the years Nintendo has managed to acquire some of the best third party developers as well. With 2002’s Metroid Prime for the Gamecube Developer Retro Studios took the hugely popular Metroid Prime series into three dimensions for the first time. Ranking up there with Goldeneye and Perfect Dark as one of the best first person shooters on a Nintendo console Metroid Prime sold more than a million copies and its protagonist female bounty hunter Samus Aran is one of the most recognizable figures in video game lore.

42 – Deus Ex – Much like Fallout Ion Storm’s Deus Ex is a game that turns the traditional RPG genre on its ear. Also a first person shooter with many of the traits of an action-adventure game the title appeals to a wider gamut of gamers than most RPGs. With a cyberpunk theme and an incredibly detailed plot that could rival many Hollywood scripts the game is as about as immersive as it gets. Unfortunately, despite its incredible single player mode, the game shipped with no multiplayer option. However, the developers quickly realized their mistake and added that functionality in later patches, and though the afterthought multiplayer doesn’t measure up against its competitors it adds enough replay value to ensure this title a rightful spot on the list of the best video games ever made.

41 – Super Mario Kart – One of the best things about video games is the social aspect of sitting on a couch, going head to head against your buddies and trash-talking them as you lay the smack down. This is a tradition that goes back to the days of the Atari 2600, and has only gotten stronger over the years despite the proliferation of online multiplayer options. However, no game before or since has been as successful at developing that buddy rivalry as Nintendo’s Super Kart. The cute little racing game enjoyed massive popularity in its day, and the more than 8 million copies sold make it the third best-selling game of all time on Nintendo’s SNES system. Want to take a trip down memory lane? Next time you’ve got a few buddies over pull out the old SNES, and pop in this game. I guarantee you’ll have an absolute blast, and will be forcibly reminded that fancy graphics are a very small part of the equation when it comes to gaming enjoyment.

40 – Metal Gear Solid – Much like Mario, Sonic, Link and Master Chief, over the years Solid Snake has taken his rightful place in modern lore as one of video gaming’s most recognizable heroes. Developed by video game master Hideo Kojima of Konami the game is one of the most critically acclaimed of all time. The game pushed the PSX hardware to its limits, featuring incredible cinematic cut-scenes that blended seamlessly with the in-game action and stellar voice acting that had a Hollywood feel to it.

39 – Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out – One of the common traits of early video games was pattern memorization. Players would play games over and over again, failing time and again, until they learned by trial and error exactly how to beat a level. In this incredibly frustrating, incredibly fun boxing video game you had to recognize the tells of your opponents (eyebrow wiggles, head wobbles, glowing gems) in order to time your dodges, blocks or punches. Though it sounds like a recipe for sheer frustration – and believe me I threw a lot of controllers across the room playing this game – there was something purely addictive and fun about this game. The final boss – Mike Tyson himself – was as tough an endgame opponent as any in the history of video games, but if you are one of those rare few who put him on the mat you are truly a legend among video gamers.

38 – Super Mario Galaxy – It is truly amazing that a mustachioed little Italian plumber has become such a worldwide icon over the years. With the release of Nintendo’s revolutionary Wii console one of the biggest anticipations among gamers was the release of the first Mario game for the console. With Super Mario Galaxy that huge anticipation was met and exceeded. Much like they had with Super Mario 64 a decade earlier Nintendo really delivered the goods, this time sending the plumber into space, and incorporating their motion controls for maximum immersion and fun as Mario explores the galaxy. This is one of those rare titles that sells consoles all by itself, and only cements the Mario series as the greatest franchise in the history of video games.

37 – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – No company has been as big a force in the video game RPG genre than Canadian developer Bioware over the past decade or so. From traditional PC RPG games like Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights to console offerings like Mass Effect and Jade Empire every game released by Bioware is incredibly polished, balanced and fun. However, with the Star Wars license in their back pocket the Bioware team did their best work with 2003’s KoTOR. Another system selling title, KoTOR helped Microsoft gain some much needed ground against rivals Sony and Nintendo as the Xbox was the only console the game was available on. With a unique combat system, and an incredibly deep storyline the game is a pure pleasure to play, even if you aren’t a Star Wars nut.

36 – Halo 2 – Speaking of Xbox selling games, none can measure up to the enormously successful Halo franchise. The original Halo by Bungie Software was single-handedly responsible (in my opinion) for allowing Microsoft to gain a toehold in the bitterly contested console wars. After the massive success of the original a sequel was a no-brainer. Few video games have been as breathlessly awaited as this sequel, and Bungie poured all their talent and resources into living up to those expectations. When the game finally hit store shelves it sold in the millions and eventually became the best selling Xbox game ever. Critics and gamers alike gushed over the game with many major gaming publications awarding it a perfect score.

35 – Donkey Kong – There’s that little Italian plumber again. Yes, Mario made his first appearance in this 1981 arcade classic created by video game legend Shigeru Miyamoto. Quick reflexes were required to get Mario up to the top of the construction site to rescue Pauline from Kong. Obstacles included fireballs, bouncing weights and a never-ending supply of barrels hurled from above by Kong. If you want to take a humorous look at the history of this ground-breaking arcade game give the documentary (mockumentary?) The King of Kong a rent.

34 – Half Life 2 – Despite the success of console FPS games like Halo and Golden Eye the PC has remained the king of the FPS game, due to the precision control afforded by the keyboard and mouse combination. There have been dozens of incredible first person shooters developed for the platform, but arguably none have been as polished or as groundbreaking as Valve’s Half Life series.

33 – Doom – Though it wasn’t the first FPS on the market, this revolutionary title by Id Software popularized the genre that is now arguably the most popular in PC gaming. The game was relatively simple in design and the plot lacked the depth of most of the FPS offerings that have come since, but the game had that all-important fun factor that seems to elude many game developers. Playing a space marine blasting demons into quivering chunks of meat with a first person point of view was a pure visceral thrill back in the mid-90s, and few games before or since have made such a huge impact on the industry.

32 – Final Fantasy II (North America) – Though the RPG genre has enjoyed its largest success on the PC one company has carved out a huge niche for itself in the console RPG market. Japanese developer Square Enix has sold millions of copies of its spectacular Final Fantasy series. The bulk of this success came as a result of a lucrative partnership with Sony that saw the series become a worldwide phenomenon on Sony’s Playstation consoles. However, back in the day it was Nintendo’s NES and SNES consoles that the first Final Fantasy games appeared on. Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV in Japan) was released on the SNES console and was absolutely massive in scope compared to most of the console games of its era. With incredible character development, a surprisingly deep plot, great graphics, sound and action the game was fun and addictive from beginning to end, and is one of the best games in any genre ever released on the SNES console.

31 – Grand Theft Auto IV – Though parents and police officers might not enjoy the gameplay of Rockstar Games’ cash cow series Grand Theft Auto there is no denying that the company has struck a chord with gamers, particularly in North America, where sales of the series has gone into the tens of millions. Though the series started humbly as a 2D crime romp back in the day it has involved into a virtual world with incredible freedom to roam, Hollywood style scripting and voice acting, and cutting edge graphics that push the limits of today’s modern hardware. Add in long awaited multiplayer options and you’ve got a game with virtually unlimited replay value. Grand Theft Auto IV is one of those rare games that not only justifies its price tag, but would be still worth it at three times the price.

30 – Super Mario Bros. – I know Mario is showing up a lot on this list, but almost every game involving this Italian plumber is a classic for the ages. Super Mario Bros. is no exception. In this NES console game Mario has a little help, in the form of his younger brother Luigi. Together the brothers must jump their way through a sidescrolling platform game world to try and rescue Princess Toadstool (known these days as Princess Peach). The game was incredibly fun both in single player and cooperative mode, and much like Doom did for the FPS genre this game popularized the sidescrolling platform game.

29 – Star Wars: Tie Fighter – As everyone knows George Lucas’s Star Wars series is arguably the most popular movie franchise of all time. With that popularity any video game based on the movies will do well in sales. However, often video games based on popular movies fail to deliver the goods in terms of gameplay. Star Wars: Tie Fighter is the exception to that rule. I have never played a space combat simulator before or since that was more fun and more addictive than this one. Despite its relatively simplistic graphics the game was incredibly immersive, and I’d find myself leaning out of my chair as I twisted and turned, trying to track down and destroy an enemy fighter. Despite being an all-time classic this is one game that begs to be remade. With today’s incredible graphics, sound and all around production value an updated Tie Fighter game would be insane. Are you listening Lucas Arts?

28 – Halo – For those of you happily playing your Xbox 360 right now I firmly believe you can thank Bungee Software and more specifically this game. With very little ammo other than its deep pockets Microsoft faced a huge uphill struggle against console giants Sony and Nintendo. If not for this ridiculous fun FPS with its revolutionary control system Microsoft might very well have been forced to pull the plug on their console gaming division. The single player experience was incredible and just never seemed to get old no matter how many times you died and had to start over again. However, it was the multiplayer that really made the game so massively popular. Split-screen cooperative multiplayer mode was so much fun in this game, and deathmatch over LAN caused many sleepless nights in college dorms all over North America.

27 – Ms. Pac-Man – I wonder how many millions of dollars in quarters have been pumped into this game over the years? Who would have thought that navigating a 2D maze, eluding ghosts while munching down pellets and fruit could be so addictive and fun? Ms. Pac-Man is a game that has stood the test of time to this day, and I still can’t resist giving it a go every time I spot it in a games room.

26 – Soulcalibur – Though Street Fighter II might get the credit for popularizing the fighting video game genre in my opinion this title stood on Street Fighter’s shoulders and took the genre to the next level. Originally released in the arcade the game didn’t become a smash hit until it was ported Sega’s underappreciated Dreamcast console. Revolutionary for its control system and for the depth of its story (for a fighting game) the game is widely considered one of the best Dreamcast games ever made.

25 – Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory – If you are a fan of stealth games like Thief and Metal Gear Solid then you’ve probably played Ubisoft’s critically acclaimed Splinter Cell series. In the games you take control of Sam Fisher and employ a combination of stealth and mad daring to infiltrate your enemy’s lair and win the day. The original received rave reviews from critics and gamers alike, but Ubisoft really outdid themselves with the 3rd installment in the series – Chaos Theory – producing a game that was not only fun and challenging, but was so far technologically head of its time that its graphics still stand up a hardware generation later against today’s best-looking games.

24 – Super Smash Bros. Brawl – One of the best-selling Nintendo Wii games to date, Super Smash Bros. Brawl built upon the massive popularity of its predecessor: Super Smash Bros. Melee. There are a plethora of recognizable Nintendo characters as well as recognizable game heroes from third party software titles to choose from in this incredibly fun fighting game. Not a traditional fighting game like Virtua Fighter or Soulcalibur the game is a hybrid of sorts, but the object is still to beat your opponents into submission. Like most games of this nature it is best when played with friends, and few video games can compete with this one for pure trash-talking, smack-laying goodness. If you have a Nintendo Wii, you need this game in your library – now.

23 – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – Though this game was initially released on a console with 3D capability (Sony Playstation) it was actually a throwback to games from consoles like the SNES and Sega Genesis in that it is a 2D platformer. However, what made this game particularly brilliant and innovative was its departure from the standard linear gameplay associated with most platformers. Instead it incorporated a more open-ended style of gameplay and resembled an RPG in many ways. As you can tell from the name there is a vampire theme here, but even if you are sick to death of Twilight and all things vampire don’t let that stop you from giving this game a try. It is a true classic and the best chapter of a critically acclaimed video game series.

22 – Resident Evil 4 – Too big to really be considered a subgenre, but not in the same league as first person shooters, RPGs and RTS games the survival horror genre has slowly been gaining traction in the gaming community. With the horsepower of modern consoles upping the ante on immersion factor look for this genre to explode in popularity in the next few years. To date, arguably the best representation of the survival horror genre is Resident Evil 4 (Biohazard in Japan). Originally released for the Nintendo Gamecube and later ported to the PS2, Nintendo Wii and PC the game is among one of the most graphically impressive of the past console generation. Add to that the spine-tingling gameplay and the movie quality cinematics and you’ve got an experience similar to Hollywood’s best horror movies.

21 – Metal Gear Solid III: Snake Eater – When I compiled this list my aim was to have as much variety as possible. However, as you can tell the same series keep showing up over and over again. These games are just too good to keep off the list. Metal Gear Solid III pushed the PS2 console to the max, taking Snake into the outdoors for the first time into a lush and richly detailed junglescape. The new setting breathed new life into the franchise, and players and critics alike responded positively to the change, resulting in almost 4 million copies sold.

20 – The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – I’m not sure if Zelda fans are going to breathe a sigh of relief to see a Link game finally show up on the list, or if they will be outraged because it is only #20. Spoiler: Don’t worry, it won’t be the last Zelda game to make the cut. Released in North America way back in 1992 for the Super Nintendo system the game went on to become one of the biggest selling SNES games of all time, with nearly 5 million copies sold. The game was significantly different from the first 2 chapters and established many of the signature traits of the series that are still adhered to in the latest installments. If The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii was your first introduction to the series you should definitely go back and play this game to get a taste of how the series evolved.

19 – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – You’ll notice that most of the games on this list are aged classics that have withstood the test of time. However, just because a game is brand new, like this particular title, shouldn’t preclude it from making the list of the best video games of all time. The production value of this exclusive PS3 title by Naughty Dog Software is absolutely through the roof. In fact, the graphics, sound, animation, action, plot, and voice acting are all so good that one can spend hours watching someone else play the game and be entertained the whole time. That is a true testament to just how great this game is. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was a fantastic game, but somehow Naughty Dog managed to not only improve upon it, they completely blew it out of the water. If you have a PS3 you need to buy this game. It is the best single player experience available on the console, and with multiplayer included this time around gamers will be enjoying this title for months, if not years to come.

18 – Grand Theft Auto III – Though not quite as polished as sequels like GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas I am giving this chapter in the multi-million selling Grand Theft Auto series a coveted spot on this list because it was the game that first brought Rockstar’s baby into glorious 3D. Despite a lack of a multiplayer component the replayability of the title was off the chart because of the sandbox style of gameplay where players could go anywhere in a sprawling city and commit illegal acts of nearly every description. However, though the free roam mode and all the little extras gave the game a ton of replay value, there was also an underlying mission to complete, and an absorbing plot to keep those fans of linear style games entertained throughout. At last count sales of the game were approaching a staggering 15 million copies, and GTA III certainly earns a well-deserved spot as one of the most groundbreaking video games ever made.

17 – Super Mario 64 – Speaking of groundbreaking video games, this cute and revolutionary platformer wowed gamers everywhere upon its 1996 release on the Nintendo 64 console. Taking Mario into 3D for the first time the game was a graphically stunning technological feat of video game programming. I still remember seeing the game on display in the video store and being absolutely blown away by what was at the time an unparalleled technical marvel. Though the N64 was antiquated in some ways, particular with Nintendo’s stubborn adherence to a cartridge-based system, Super Mario 64 showed just what this underrated console had under the hood, and ranks right up there with Halo as perhaps the biggest console launch title of all time.

16 – Sid Meier’s Civilization II – You knew you hadn’t heard the last of this guy. Though he has had many successful franchises during his decades in the computer video game industry his signature work has to be his incredibly detailed strategy series: Civilization. Though there have been 4 installments, plus several expansion packs released over the years Civ II is considered the pinnacle of the award-winning turn-based strategy series and I know several people who still play the now 13 year old classic religiously.

15 – Half Life – One of the most unique, original, creative first person shooters ever developed this game had jaws dropping around the gaming world following its 1998 release. Built on the Quake engine the game was not only arguably the best looking game to date at the time of its release but featured a complex engaging storyline sadly lacking in many other FPS games. This potent combination had critics raving and garnered the title Game of the Year awards from more than 50 publications.

14 – Super Mario Bros. 3 – Getting sick of Mario yet? Well, sorry to all the Nintendo haters out there, but I just can’t leave this classic off the list. The game built upon the massive popularity of the original and flew off shelves in both the U.S. and Japan. In fact, according to Guiness the game is the best-selling off all time (not bundled with a system) with a whopping 18 million copies sold worldwide. With brilliantly fun and addictive gameplay and surprisingly good graphics (for an NES game) Super Mario Bros. 3 is one of Nintendo’s best creations, and that is saying a lot considering how many quality games this company has put out over the years.

13 – Final Fantasy VII – Yes, a second Final Fantasy game on the list, and truth be told I could have added a couple more. This classic, which was originally released on the Sony PSX is the best-selling Final Fantasy game to date, and took the series from cute 2D sprites into the far more compelling and visceral world of 3D. The game was beautiful, fun and offered endless hours of gameplay, with a massive well-written story that peaked perfectly for the game’s ultimate climax. The game remains incredibly popular to this day, more than a decade after its release, as evinced by the more than 100,000 times it has been downloaded on the Playstation Network following its release as a classic PSOne title.

12 – God of War – If I had to pick the best PS2 game of all time my vote would be for this incredible title. Based on Greek mythology this action-adventure title is dark, violent and fun all at the same time. As the player you take the role of Kratos, a Spartan who makes it his mission to kill Ares – the God of War. Few games have ever been as action-packed as this one, and you will fight your way through hordes of enemies, employing your Blades of Chaos with devastating effect. The combat system is as good as I’ve seen in a video game and despite the seemingly never-ending battles you’ll never find yourself growing bored of repetition. Nearly every major gaming publication gushed about this game, and its Metacritic score is one of the highest of all time. If you still own a PS2 and you haven’t played this game, you owe it to yourself to rectify that oversight as soon as possible.

11 – Guitar Hero – There have been relatively few times in video game history where the entire business has literally been altered by the release of a single console or game. The release of games like Doom and Super Mario 64, or of an innovative new control scheme like Nintendo’s Wii certainly qualify as industry-altering moments. Another example would be the 2005 release of RedOctane’s Guitar Hero. Though not the first game based around a musical instrument it was the first one that really delivered the experience of being a rock star, and the first one to achieve massive mainstream success. From toddlers to grandparents, male or female the game held appeal for just about every demographic imaginable, and the title immediately became the game to have on hand when hosting a party. As with most great video games this one inspired sequels, and the series has now reached a 5th installment, along with band-specific spin-offs. It has now evolved as a multi-instrument band game, but it is the original guitar only game that was the true pioneer of the genre.

10 – Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots – Since the Metal Gear series has been such a big part of this list it seems only fitting that the most recent chapter would mark the entrance into the top 10 video games of all time. Snake is back for his final adventure in this magnificently polished game for the PS3. With gorgeous graphics, an incredibly involving storyline that includes literally hours of Hollywood blockbuster quality cutscene cinematics, and the fun and addictive gameplay that has been a trademark of every Metal Gear game the title is the pinnacle of a series that takes its place among the greatest video game series ever created. With a 5th installment reportedly on the way it will be interesting to see if Hideo Kojima can jump the impossibly high bar he has set for himself.

9 – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess – Nintendo took a huge chance with their Wii console. After being the runaway industry leader during the days of the NES and SNES consoles the “Big N” lost a lot of ground in the console race with their N64 and Gamecube consoles. In an effort to end their losing streak they developed a console with a revolutionary new control system, eschewing graphical horsepower for fun and addictive gameplay. In hindsight the risk they took was a brilliant one as the Wii is the clear leader to date during this console cycle. A big reason for their early success was the fact that they launched the console with one of their strongest franchises: Zelda. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess had all the ingredients that made the previous titles so great while introducing players to Nintendo’s new control system. While purists would argue that the control scheme wasn’t perfect, it was certainly impressive and gave players an immersion factor in controlling Link that had never previously been possible. No, Twilight Princess doesn’t rank as the best Zelda game of all time, but #9 isn’t too shabby.

8 – Super Metroid – Samus Aran earns another spot on the list with this 1994 SNES classic. Like most of the best games on that particular console this one is another platformer. However, you don’t just run, jump and duck – this game is pure action and those with a violent streak get to kill plenty of baddies as they quest to retrieve the Metroid from the space pirates who have stolen it. Though the series, like most old classics, has now evolved into 3D there is something so simple, enjoyable and accessible to these old 2D platformers. The game is also available on the Nintendo Wii’s virtual console, and those who never got to play it the first time around should definitely give it a download and check it out.

7 – Starcraft – Despite efforts by Ensemble Studios with their Age of Empires series and Westwood Studios with their Command and Conquer series Blizzard Entertainment is still widely considered the Kings of the RTS genre. Yes, their Warcraft games are part of the reason, but the main factor in granting them that particular title is their creation of the most polished, balanced RTS ever made: Starcraft. Though initially it was considered by many as simply “Warcraft in space” the game has surpassed the Warcraft series by leaps and bounds to become the standard by which all other RTS games are measured. To date the game has sold 11 million copies, and still remains one of the biggest games in Korea where people pack sports stadiums to watch the best players battle on giant screens. Blizzard has the unenviable task of besting this legendary title with the forthcoming release of Starcraft II. Good luck Blizzard, you’ll need it.

6 – Chrono Trigger – Though it is the Final Fantasy series for which developer Square Enix is best known, the company’s best work to date, in my opinion, remains the 1995 SNES RPG Chrono Trigger. Very similar in design and gameplay mechanics to the Final Fantasy series Chrono Trigger featured improved graphics, sound, music, and was so perfectly polished it is difficult to find flaw with this classic. Fans of the Final Fantasy series that haven’t tried this title are missing out. Don’t let the 2D sprite engine dissuade you. This is one of the best RPG experiences to be had on a console or PC. Give it a try. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

5 – Golden Eye: 007 – Despite a relative lack of titles on the N64, a fair few take their rightful place as among the greatest games ever made. With Golden Eye: 007 developer rare did for console FPS games what Id Software did to the PC shooter with Doom. The game featured cutting edge 3D graphics and is among the best looking games on the N64. However, the graphics are but a tiny part of the recipe that makes this game so great. A robust deathmatch mode that allowed up to 4 players at once playing via splitscreen gave the game almost unlimited replay value, and made the game one of the best trash-talking games of its time. The single player was just as good, incorporating revolutionary stealth options and mission-based gameplay that was just challenging enough to walk the narrow tightrope between frustration and fun.

4 – Shenmue II – This title is a bit of a dark horse, and there will be many people reading this who probably haven’t even heard of this game. Released for the Sega Dreamcast and the original Microsoft Xbox this beautiful Adventure RPG is a cult classic and anyone who has played the game will have no problem with its high ranking on this list. With a spectacularly written story that completely immerses the player into the game, great voice acting (Dreamcast version only), great action, and Easter eggs such as playable retro arcade classics this game belongs in any gamer’s library. If you are lucky enough to have a Dreamcast console I recommend getting that version. The Japanese voice-acting with the English subtitles just add to the immersion factor, and the game, which is increasingly hard to find, will no doubt be a valuable collector’s item someday.

3 – Super Smash Bros. Melee – Because I grew up playing video games in an era where online multiplayer didn’t exist to me the ultimate test of what makes a video game fun is how well it plays when sitting around the living room with a bunch of buddies. Granted, that isn’t the only factor for inclusion on this list, but it is an important one. With Super Smash Bros. Melee Nintendo absolutely nailed that fun factor. Much like Brawl the game is perfect for hours-long sessions of mayhem, trash-talking and controller throwing. If you are from the old school and like to play your multiplayer games face to face this title is a must-have for your game library.

2 – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – It was a pretty tough challenge just deciding which was the best Zelda game ever made, and no doubt some fans of the series will jump on me telling me I made the wrong choice. So be it. The whole point of these lists is to generate lively debate and to spark people’s passion and knowledge. Others may choose A Link to the Past, Twilight Princess or Wind Waker, but for my money this N64 classic that has since been ported to the Gamecube and Wii is the pinnacle of the series, and a sterling example of the action-adventure genre. Like all Zelda games the story is strong, the puzzles challenging, and the production value top-notch. The inclusion of music puzzles in this game makes it even more unique and fun. These platitudes only scratch the surface of everything that is great about the game. You have to play it to see for yourself just what makes this the best console video game ever.

1 – Tetris – Once again proving that gameplay trumps graphics every time, this addictive puzzle game has challenged gamers for billions of hours, and has made an appearance on almost every gaming platform imaginable from arcade machines to home game consoles to mobile phones to calculators. Hundreds if not thousands of spin-offs and copycat games have been released, building upon the foundation of this simple yet brilliant puzzle game. I won’t bother with further details of the game because if you haven’t heard of Tetris then you probably live in a cave somewhere, have no power and are thus not reading this article. With its massive impact on the gaming industry and its worldwide reach Tetris is the only logical choice to top the list of the best video games of all time.

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