Video Games have been around since forever, and they’re one of the top-grossing forms of entertainment in the world, even surpassing TV and cinema. Each year, millions of gamers either purchase a video game console or a computer on which they can play these games.
Also, every year, thousands of games are released across 10+ platforms that players can access them on and immerse themselves in a digital world with an interactive form of storytelling. While there are more than 5 million video games released over time, ever since they were born in 1958 with Tennis for Two, we’ve narrowed them down to the 50 best video games of all time that every gamer should have on their playlist!
50) The Sims 2
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
Sims 2 lets players experience virtual characters who experience life through growth, love, combat, and death, which results in permanent virtual memories. The title stands as a sequel that builds upon the original game while creating new life simulation possibilities.
When it was released in 2004, it was unlike anything else on the market. Your Sims experienced their first moment of freedom from their pixelated puppet existence. They were born, studied in schools, got jobs, fell in love, got married, and when they died, they transferred their individual traits to their descendants.
It required such deep strategic thinking because you built a family legacy instead of playing a standard video game. The adoption of 3D engine technology brought about a complete transformation throughout the entire industry. Sims 2 enabled players to discover a world through their decision-making because their choices generated fresh narrative paths. Your Sim’s first date disaster could lead to a permanent feud or create a new family legacy through a random meeting.
49) Crysis
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
Crysis provides its most important value in gaming through its groundbreaking technological advancements instead of its storyline. It was a benchmark for PC gaming upon its release, a title so visually advanced that it became a running joke that no computer could “run Crysis.” It’s a masterpiece of visual design and technical prowess, with an incredibly detailed world and a physics engine that was far ahead of its time.
The game featured advanced graphics, but its gameplay evolved through the Nanosuit system, which granted players superhuman capabilities, including speed enhancement and strength boost, and the ability to become invisible.
The system brought a fresh level of gameplay freedom to combat through its ability to let players make strategic decisions within a structured linear shooter design. The franchise did not achieve the same level of success, but Crysis stands as a landmark in gaming history because it forced hardware to its maximum capacity while establishing a new visual standard for games.
48) It Takes Two
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
It Takes Two brings a new perspective to gaming through its cooperative gameplay, which demonstrates the power of playing together. The video game industry primarily focuses on single-player experiences and competitive multiplayer, but It Takes Two presents a perfectly designed co-op gameplay that requires two players to play together.
The game achieves its core excellence through this design element, which extends past its surface-level appearance. The entire game structure, from puzzles to platforming sections and boss battles, requires players to work together since they possess unique abilities.
Through its narrative, the game depicts a couple getting divorced, while its gameplay system demonstrates their relationship issues by requiring them to work together. It Takes Two brought co-op gameplay evolution through its organic team-based design, which produced meaningful connections that strengthened bonds between friends and romantic partners.
47) Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) established itself as a groundbreaking title that demonstrated that Western RPGs could both preserve the spirit of a cherished franchise and enhance it. The game takes place thousands of years before the movies to create a vast story with multiple branching paths.
The gameplay core loop enabled players to select between the Light Side and Dark Side of the Force by making their choices in both gameplay and dialogue. The system generated physical effects in the story through its particular narrative progression and its impact on player abilities. BioWare achieved a new standard for licensed game adaptations through its exceptional storytelling, deep combat system, and complex characters. KOTOR developed a rich narrative expansion of the Star Wars universe, which fans now rank as one of its best stories, thus securing its position as one of the top RPGs of all time.
46) Age of Empires II
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is the gold standard for real-time strategy (RTS) games. The game expanded its previous version through better resource management, historical age progression, and multiple unique civilizations.
Players can use their resources to build their economy and military through the “build-and-conquer” system, which creates an endless gameplay experience. The game maintains its popularity through its intricate strategic gameplay mechanics and active online multiplayer community. The new Definitive Edition further enhances its legacy for new and veteran players because of its timeless design and the everlasting fan love for its historical authenticity and competitive gameplay.
45) Borderlands 2
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
Borderlands 2 established the looter-shooter genre as a popular mainstream gaming style. The game expanded upon its initial version through the addition of a more compelling antagonist, improved gameplay mechanics, and an extensive collection of loot. Its procedural weapon generation system stands as its fundamental identity because it creates new, powerful weapons in every chest and enemy, and even during a boss fight.
The mechanics of the “loot hunt” system developed an addictive loop that attracted players to continue playing in co-op multiplayer sessions. The game’s unique personality emerged from its humorous approach and colorful characters, as well as its cel-shaded visual presentation. Borderlands 2 has gained fan popularity over the years because of its endless gameplay, its outrageous personality, and the excitement of discovering the perfect loot.
44) Tekken 2
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
The fighting game genre reached its most important achievement through Tekken 2 because of its groundbreaking 3D combat system. The original game created the series, but Tekken 2 took the gameplay to the next level and made it better. The game added fighters with diverse fighting techniques and interesting personal histories, which went beyond the standard fighting games of that time.
Tekken 2’s combat mechanics delivered an interactive and complex fighting system, which required players to perform complex combos and juggle enemies in the air. The game required precise technical skills, which established Tekken 2 as a top arcade and home console title.
43) FIFA 12
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
FIFA 12 holds a special place in the history of sports video games for its revolutionary gameplay changes that set a new standard for the genre. The game brought three major new features to the series through its Player Impact Engine, Tactical Defending, and Precision Dribbling systems.
The Impact Engine brought authentic player interactions and multiple obstacles to the game, which replaced the previous pre-programmed animation sequences to improve gameplay. Tactical Defending shifted the focus from simple button-mashing to a more thoughtful, strategic approach to defense, requiring players to time their tackles and position their players correctly. The new Precision Dribbling system provided players with better ball control, which enabled them to execute more complex and skillful attacking moves.
The game underwent a complete transformation through these updates, which shifted from arcade-style gameplay to skill-based and tactical gameplay. Classic FIFA fans appreciated the new level of realism and the enhanced gameplay depth that FIFA 12 introduced to the series, and these features soon became the standard in future FIFA games.
42) Persona 4
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
The iconic JRPG Persona 4 delivered an exceptional gaming experience through its combination of conventional dungeon exploration and its complex social simulation features. Set in the quiet, rural town of Inaba, the game follows a group of high school students as they investigate a series of mysterious murders tied to a supernatural “Midnight Channel.”
Persona 4 stands out through its calendar system, which requires players to manage their time between dungeon exploration and social development with their friends. The S.Links function as core gameplay components because they allow players to access new combat mechanics and create new Persona combinations. The game provided an intense emotional experience because of its compelling mystery plot, its memorable characters, and its artistic visual presentation.
Fans appreciate its endearing small-town atmosphere alongside its touching portrayal of friendship and self-discovery, with its distinctive combination of social interactions and supernatural battles that established the Persona franchise’s contemporary style.
41) Devil May Cry 3
Words by Pranav Maytray
Dante and Vergil are two names that every gamer out there is familiar with, and Devil May Cry 3 had a huge role in building this reputation for them. Devil May Cry 3 perfected what we can call “stylish action” in video games. The game featured an innovative combat system that allowed players to switch between multiple combat styles for Dante. Every style in the game makes the combat feel extremely cool and cinematic, while also serving a functional role.
This style-switching combat enabled the devs to create a gameplay loop that rewarded creative combos and discouraged players from just mashing buttons to get through a level. This allowed for a fluid combat system that was a rare sight in games of the time. Furthermore, Devil May Cry 3’s controls were extremely intuitive, and it enabled the enemy variety to shine as one of the game’s most crucial factors.
Apart from the gameplay, Devil May Cry 3 was also a great title for players who loved the story. The title also rectified a lot of mistakes from Devil May Cry 2, and players got a chance to play as the cocky demon hunter Dante once again. Players got to experience a fun yet gripping storyline that revolved heavily around the brotherly rivalry between Vergil and Dante.
With its influence seeping into other titles like Bayonetta, Devil May Cry 3’s DNA lives on to this day in games like Devil May Cry 5, proving Devil May Cry 3 as one of the blueprints for hack-and-slash action games.
40) World of Warcraft
Words by Pranav Maytray
There is a minimal chance that a gamer out there doesn’t know what World of Warcraft is. The title had a huge role to play in taking the MMORPG genre mainstream when it came out in 2004, popularizing itself with accessible quests, massive worlds to explore, and an intuitive interface. All of these aspects allowed both hardcore and rookie gamers to enjoy World of Warcraft.
Modern MMORPGs owe a lot to World of Warcraft, as it perfected systems like guilds and raids. The game even set up economies that were entirely player-driven within the game’s ecosystem. This helped World of Warcraft climb the ranks as a generational title while also raising the bar for MMORPGs as a whole. Players didn’t have to worry about grinding too much as World of Warcraft developed itself with live-service updates and content driven by the community.
In what can be seen as one of its most impactful contributions, World of Warcraft pioneered subscription models in live-service games. These systems have become a big part of the modern gaming industry, and World of Warcraft’s subscription systems served as the blueprint for titles like Fortnite and Destiny, which provide evolving experiences with the “games as a service” model.
Now, World of Warcraft’s legacy endures as the definitive MMORPG experience of all time, even after two decades going strong and receiving countless expansions.
39) Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Words by Pranav Maytray
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a true testament to the fact that gaming is not just about challenging boss battles and competition. The game not only provides a sense of cozy escapism but also elevates the genre. It emphasizes player-driven customization as well as real-time events and seamless multiplayer gameplay.
New Horizons features innovative features like the Island Designer, which leads to every player’s island having a unique and evolving personality. All of this works towards the game’s cozy gaming formula. By featuring things like low-stakes activities and adorable designs, Animal Crossing: New Horizons popularized the life sim subgenre and influenced other titles in the process.
With a release smack dab at the beginning of the pandemic, Animal Crossing: New Horizons exploded to 47 million sales worldwide. This shattered Switch records and ended up grossing over $2 billion in its first year. All of this was due to the game offering community events like virtual concerts and museum experiences during the lockdown.
Furthermore, New Horizons played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between gamers and non-gamers. The game provided a space for not only community events but even activism, bringing people together and giving them a chance to fight for their beliefs in tough times. With its financial and social impact, New Horizons boosted Nintendo’s stock while also proving itself as a mental health lifeline for many.
38) Metro Exodus
Words by Pranav Maytray
There are very few titles in gaming that do atmospheric survival horror as well as Metro Exodus. The game, which has earned a persistent fanbase, showcased an amazing blend of immersive storytelling and level design. It redefined post-apocalyptic shooters, with the game focusing on semi-open-world regions set through an irradiated Russia. The setting, along with the overall gameplay design, makes Metro Exodus a thoroughly tense and memorable experience.
Taking advantage of a semi-open-world design, the title avoids the usual bloat that comes with an open-world formula. The sandbox format focuses on elements of exploration, stealth, and survival horror, forcing players to think about every step they take. All of this, mixed with mechanics like resource management and dynamic weather, definitely set the bar for what an FPS survival shooter can be.
Metro Exodus, while being a fairly recent title, had a huge impact on story-driven shooter games. The title, despite providing gripping action and survival horror moments, also focused on human connections and choices that players have to make. These choices help in shaping the ending of the game and provide karma based on your actions. This encourages players to think about every step they take, further immersing them in Exodus’s world.
6 years on from its release, Metro Exodus stands out as a premier survival horror title and is hailed as one of the best book adaptations by many critics.
37) Fortnite
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
Fortnite is more than simply a game – it is a global cultural phenomenon that has drastically transformed the battle royale genre and the concept of a “live service” game. While not the first battle royale, it was the first to master the formula and turn it into a mainstream phenomenon. Its main innovation was the building mechanic, which lets players quickly build walls, ramps, and boxes for defense, traversal, and strategic advantage.
This addition resulted in a dynamic, high-skill ceiling that distinguished it from competitors. But Fortnite’s true legacy lies in its potential to grow. It pioneered the Battle Pass idea, created a constantly changing map, and, most crucially, transformed into a social hub for concerts, movie screenings, and brand collaborations.
It reimagined what a game could be, going beyond the traditional media to become a virtual universe for millions of players. Fans adore Fortnite for its accessibility, frequent updates, and the sense that they are always a part of a larger, ever-evolving universe.
36) Max Payne
Words by Pranav Maytray
Remedy Entertainment really changed the game when they first launched Max Payne, as it elevated the cinematic action shooter genre of games to new heights. Featuring action set pieces that felt like movies rather than a game, Max Payne set itself apart with the use of the bullet time mechanic. With bullet time, players could not only feel really cool while taking down the bad guys but also come up with creative solutions for different combat scenarios.
Max Payne’s innovation went way past the bullet time mechanic, though. The title featured a visually striking yet slightly goofy graphic novel style while ditching the usual way of doing cutscenes. This gave the game a completely different personality from other action shooters of the time. It has since gone on to serve as the blueprint for many games that aim to recapture the addictive feeling of the game.
Max Payne ended up spawning a whole gaming franchise, with Max Payne 2 carrying the momentum set up by its predecessor, and the bullet time mechanic seeping into other franchises like Red Dead Redemption. With the title selling millions of copies and gaining critical acclaim, Max Payne was not only Remedy’s golden goose at the time but would also impact action shooters for years to come.
35) Bioshock
Words by Aryan Singh
BioShock arrived at a time when first-person shooters had a penchant for being boisterous power fantasies. Irrational Games’ foray into philosophical sci-fi bucked that trend by blending punchy first-person gameplay with an incredible dieselpunk aesthetic that remains just as captivating as it was in 2007.
Rapture is by far BioShock’s crowning achievement. A crumbling Art Deco monument to unchecked objectivism, the city tells its story through audio logs, environmental cues, and the lingering aftermath of a utopia gone rancid. Its thematic focus on free will and ideological extremism was so unusually ambitious for a big-budget release in 2007, and it gave the game a gravitas that few shooters have been able to match.
Mechanically, BioShock was solid rather than revolutionary. The fusion of traditional first-person gunplay with plasmid-based abilities encouraged creative problem-solving, while encounters with the hulking Big Daddies remain some of the most iconic in gaming history.
Then there was the intrigue surrounding Frank Fontaine, an enigmatic antagonist who could deliver a TED talk on manipulation. The moral choice surrounding the Little Sisters is another standout, adding weight to player decisions instead of treating them as binary checkboxes.
Time hasn’t been kind to every aspect of BioShock. Combat can feel clunky, and certain systems lack depth by modern standards. But with a narrative so strong and lines such as “Would you kindly?” being so culturally poignant, it’s impossible to deny the game a seat in the pantheon of single-player shooters.
34) Minecraft
Words by Aryan Singh
Minecraft’s presence on this list doesn’t need any spelling out. What began as a modest indie project with visuals that bordered on primitive quickly evolved into a generational phenomenon that transcended traditional gaming circles. The fact that Microsoft shelled out $2.5 billion for Mojang back in 2014 alone speaks volumes about the title’s impact and evergreen status.
At its core, Minecraft has always been about freedom. Players are dropped into a procedurally generated world with no explicit goals beyond survival, and from there, the game becomes whatever they want it to be. Whether you’re constructing sprawling cities, recreating real-world landmarks, dabbling in the survival mechanics, or trudging through its deep rabbit hole of secrets, Minecraft is the perfect sandbox to let your creativity run wild.
Its central premise is both accessible and satisfyingly complex, inspiring an entire sub-genre of YouTube and facilitating the rise of some of the most popular gaming creators ever. Even 15 years later, Minecraft content attracts millions of views as players continue to defy what is ‘possible’ within its sandbox. Every new update is welcomed with fanfare as each new addition, big and small, enriches its bustling realm of innovation. To surmise, Minecraft is as close to an ‘evergreen’ game as this industry has ever seen, and we’ll likely be marvelling at its insane creations for another 15 years.
33) Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Words by Aryan Singh
I’m not going to bother you with the exhaustive preamble where I go over the game’s dismal state at launch before recounting its triumphant revival. Instead, I’ll thump my chest and say that Cyberpunk 2077, in its current state (with the Phantom Liberty expansion included), lives up to every bit of the hype it generated.
Its mature and contemplative themes feel especially profound at a time when the world is barreling towards a technocratic hellscape. The game shows you the dismal product of a city ravaged by capitalism, and in the same breath, its richly written characters prove that humanity will always persevere. The RPG is also one of the few games where the celebrity cast pulls their weight, with both Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba delivering performances that are flashy, vulnerable, and captivating.
Walking around Night City’s neon-lit streets, AVs buzzing overhead, obtrusive advertisements everywhere to see, NPCs draped in kitsch, modern, postmodern, and punk – it’s all visually stimulating in a way that no open-world has ever been. Then there’s the incredibly underrated gameplay that lets you switch between a cybernetic samurai and a time-blazing tank in the press of a few buttons.
Stack on top the choice-rich narrative that, depending on your chosen ending, can feel existential, optimistic, or nihilistic in nature – further advancing your connection with Mike Pondsmith’s universe. The final result is a quality package with minimal fluff, and one that I constantly wish I were able to experience for the first time again.
32) Hollow Knight
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Hollow Knight revolutionized the metroidvania genre, while also becoming one of the first indie games to challenge becoming on par with AAA studios. The game shattered the perceived idea of Metroidvania having only small and separate levels. It created a sense of open-world in a genre limited to side-scrolling, and achieved it better than most third-person open-world games of that time. Hollow Knight included a massive map that could be explored from different directions, an incredibly polished and responsive combat system, and a set of incredible bosses.
Team Cherry mixed souls-like elements with a traditional metroidvania, making every encounter a challenge, while also being fair and precise. Hollow Knight inspired so many outstanding games, from Dead Cells to Blasphemous, and its recent sequel broke all major gaming platforms at release.
31) League of Legends
Words by Ishan Adhikary
Staying at the top of the multiplayer charts for over a decade is not easy, yet League of Legends has managed it without collapsing under its own age. Most multiplayer games slowly fade due to stale gameplay or weak content updates. LoL survived by refusing to choose between the two. It kept refining its gameplay while constantly feeding players new content, all wrapped inside the carefully built universe of Runeterra.
Because of that, the game never really leaves the conversation. Gamers around the world are either actively playing League of Legends or talking about it. Even if you are a Dota 2 fan, chances are you still have opinions about LoL. MOBAs are usually a niche genre, but League of Legends broke out of that space and went mainstream. It expanded into other game genres and even delivered a full animated series with Arcane, which pulled in people who had never touched the game.
Then there is the music. Riot’s character themes and cinematic tracks feel almost excessive in quality. At times, it genuinely makes you wonder if League of Legends deserves a spot in conversations about the best music production of all time, not just in games. Few multiplayer video games manage that kind of cultural weight, and LoL has been doing it for years.
30) Diablo 2
Words by Aryan Singh
Diablo 2’s greatest achievement was establishing the template that loot-driven action-RPGs are still abiding by to this date. Blizzard’s dark fantasy opus is oppressive, atmospheric, and alive, but the real brilliance lies in the systems. Every character class offers a radically different playstyle with skill trees that encourage experimentation. The result is an addictive experience where putting together hybrid builds becomes as satisfying as any other element of the game.
The loot mechanic is similarly brilliant with its randomized set of stats, rarity, and affixes. Combine this with the deceptively deep combat, where knowing when to kite, which spells to chain, how to exploit elemental weaknesses, and when to retreat is as important as the weapons themselves, and you have an almost obsessive loop that encourages ‘one more boss’ and ‘one last dungeon’ in search of a Unique weapon.
The game also helped legitimize online multiplayer as a core feature of PC gaming and showed that a high replay value could be engineered without resorting to shallow grinding. Two decades later, Diablo II’s DNA is visible in almost every action-RPG released, and its obsessive, addictive loops remain the benchmark against which all of its future contemporaries are measured.
29) Final Fantasy 7
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
When I look back at the 90s games that revolutionized JRPGs the most, the only name that comes to mind is Final Fantasy 7. Although it was not the first JRPG by any means, nor the first in its franchise, it brought the genre into the global mainstream, mainly rooting its feet in the West. Final Fantasy 7 did all this with an incredibly cinematic story design, gorgeous graphics and visuals, and in-depth RPG systems.
The game allowed a huge number of different builds for players to dabble in, making each experience starkly unique. It also had some of the best characters who have become faces of the entire franchise, like Sephiroth, Cloud, and Tifa. There is a reason that Square Enix is making an entire trilogy of remakes from that one game released back in the 90s.
28) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Words by Aryan Singh
Modern Warfare 2 is the perfect representation of Call of Duty firing on all cylinders. From the campaign and multiplayer to the loadout system and progression loop, every inch of this revolutionary shooter feels intentional and meticulous in construction.
Starting with the unforgettable campaign, MW2 delivers a thrilling narrative that could rival most blockbusters. You go from skirmishes in Brazil’s Favelas to a mad dash towards the White House, with the ferocity of a homing missile – one that’s spurred on by a pulsating score from Hans Zimmer, no less. There’s a humdinger of a twist along the way, coupled with the most satisfying of conclusions, making for a campaign that hasn’t been topped by any Call of Duty since.
Of course, Multiplayer is where Modern Warfare 2 truly redefined the landscape. The refined progression system, complete with killsteaks, camos, and perks, created an addictive feedback loop that kept players returning for months and even years. It also introduced features like customizable loadouts and online achievements, laying the groundwork for almost every modern FPS that followed, while defining the Xbox 360 era in the process.
And there was the slate of maps, including timeless picks such as Rust, Highrise, Shipment, and Terminal. Modern CoDs are lucky if they deliver a halfway memorable map, while Modern Warfare 2 packed four iconic arenas that have been remastered multiple times due to high demand. The game truly was Call of Duty at its zenith in every conceivable way, and you’ll still find players populating 360 lobbies for the nostalgia hit.
27) Assassin’s Creed 2
Words by Ishan Adhikary
RPG is a genre vastly dominated by the concept of character customization and upgrades. While that is a focus in most games, identifying what a game does extra on top of that always comes down to its identity. That is where Assassin’s Creed 2 builds upon. If I could include three games in this section, I would highly recommend you go and play all three Ezio Trilogy games from the AC franchise. But it is not the RPG factor of the game that makes it special.
Ubisoft already created the first Assassin’s Creed game, where we see Altair as the protagonist. However, there were issues that got fixed in the sequel, and it did deliver. Assassin’s Creed 2 takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the stories, side missions, and exploration, but what makes all that openness fun is the exceptional parkour.
The game defined what jumping from roof to roof in the old crusade cities of Italy would look like. And to top it all off, the developers added an adaptive combat system. It was simple enough that even a kid who touched an adventure game for the first time as a teenager would easily get into it from the first slash. Assassin’s Creed 2 and its two other sequels set a benchmark for adventure games that few games can surpass.
26) Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Prince of Persia Sands of Time was a household name for every gamer back in the day. It revolutionized parkour and action combat, bringing a sort of flair that was previously unseen. From wall running to parkouring through hoops and traps, Sands of Time’s incredible movement was barely seen in other games back in those days. But what truly made it stand out was the time rewind system that allowed players to resolve their mistakes in seconds, instead of waiting for the loading screen to restart after their deaths.
To top it all off, Prince of Persia Sands of Time had one of the best combats of that time. The combat had a huge variety of moves, from jump slashes to vault attacks, each having unique effects. The Prince of Persia franchise later went on to influence the Assassin’s Creed games, and it all began with Sands of Time.
25) Pokémon Red and Blue
Words by Arnamoy Das
Like me, most Pokemon fans might have started their journey into the world of Pokemon with Red and Blue. Both of these games were first released in 1996 and were translated into a global version after 3 years. I still remember that I started playing this game after finishing the first season of Pokemon (Indigo League). I wanted to experience the world of Pokemon, in the shoes of the main protagonist, Ash. However, the game followed Red, which initially disappointed me, but eventually won me over as I reached the end of the story.
Pokemon Red and Blue were entirely based in the Kanto region, and you get to pick among the OG Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. You defeat all eight gym leaders, face off against Team Rocket, and climb your way up in the Pokemon League, eventually becoming the champion. But that’s not the end, as here comes a part which every Pokemon fan might be most excited about. You get a chance to catch one of the greatest Pokemon of all time: Mewtwo. Yeah, I remember how I used to save and reload the game just to catch it.
Playing this game on the tiny mini Gameboy felt like carrying an entire world in my pockets. The foundation of the world of Pokemon, couldn’t have been better without the pixelated black and white game: Pokemon Red and Blue.
24) Tetris
Words by Arnamoy Das
Tetris is the game that even a non-gamer will recognise. This is undoubtedly one of the most, if not the most, popular games out there. And no, it’s not just for kids, but for grown adults too. This game was initially released as a physical game. However, with time, it became so accessible that you could play it on almost any device. I used to play it on my TV, keypad mobile, and other devices. And the best part? Most of the Tetris games don’t require any internet connection.
Tetris might seem easy, but it’s a challenging one, as if it’s almost unending. To be honest, I feel Tetris is a game that makes you really good at solving puzzles and making quick decisions. While it may seem easy, the game gets more difficult when you last longer, and that’s when you need to make those quick decisions. I was already hooked on Tetris as a kid, and sometimes I still play the game for the kid inside me. Tetris is the king of puzzle games, one of the very first ones to ever exist. And now it has inspired the creation of other puzzle games.
23) Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Words by Aryan Singh
Before being bogged down by monetization and the egregious lootboxes, Counter-Strike Global Offensive was as refined and polished as a tactical shooter could ever hope to be. The recoil patterns, the round economy, the movement tech, it all toed the line between easy to grasp and difficult to master perfectly. The game naturally became more hardcore after it was associated with a dynamic money market, but the fundamentals remained as strong as day one.
What truly ascended CS: GO to legendary status, however, was its esports scene. Tournaments like ESL One, the Majors, and BLAST Premier draw millions of viewers worldwide, with prize pools rivaling traditional sports. Clutch moments, impossible 1v5s, and nail-biting overtime rounds have become part of gaming folklore, with clips from these competitions racking up hundreds of millions of views.
CS: GO helped cement the idea that esports could be a legitimate spectator sport, proving that a reliable and well-tuned game could support a thriving professional scene for over a decade. Its influence is visible in nearly every modern tactical shooter, from Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, and Counter-Strike 2 (of course), which borrow its focus on precision, strategy, and team coordination. In short, CS: GO defined what competitive gaming could be, and its successor has seamlessly carried forward its legacy.
22) Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is often referred to as the best game that was produced by FromSoftware. Yes, this game even beats Elden Ring when it comes to pure technical quality, although it fails in many other aspects, which is why we have ranked it lower. But it’s a fact that Sekiro has made parrying an entire genre in gaming, instead of just another combat mechanic.
Before Sekiro, parrying was just an afterthought in the little games that had that feature. FromSoftware made parrying the most satisfying feeling ever, designing their entire gameplay around it.
But it’s not just parrying alone that made Sekiro such a huge success. The game features some of the best bosses. The entire game loop is just going from one incredibly strong enemy to another. In other words, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice became a gold mine for players looking for a challenge.
21) Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Words by Ishan Adhikary
Talking about the greatest video games and not including Hideo Kojima should be a criminal offense. But if we talk about the genius’s greatest creations, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater earns its place by stripping the series back to survival and purpose. The jungle is more than just a setting, and adding the constant threat of what is around the corner, it automatically forces players to think about sound, visibility, stamina, and terrain. Systems like camouflage, hunting, and injury treatment make stealth feel something we have never tasted before. That is where Kojima’s visionary kicks in.
The game allows real freedom in approach, letting you play patiently or aggressively without breaking its design. Boss fights such as The End stand out because they reward observation and planning over raw reflex. Its story is more restrained than earlier entries, which gives its themes of loyalty and sacrifice real weight. Technical cramps exist here and there, but they do not derail your experience of the Kojima masterclass. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remains one of the best examples of a stealth game done right.
20) Metroid Prime
Words by Arnamoy Das
Talking about FPS games, and not including Metroid Prime, isn’t possible. Metroid Prime is undoubtedly one of the greatest video games that mankind has ever seen. This was also one of the first games to use 3D computer graphics and a first-person perspective. We can say that a lot of present-day games follow the footsteps of Metroid Prime.
Nintendo released its new GameCube console in 2001, and Metroid Prime was one of the games that stood above all, and still blesses Nintendo’s library. The story of Metroid Prime is top-notch, and let’s not forget that the atmospheric tension and world-building, combined with the background music, evoked various feelings inside us. As you continue your journey, you might have noticed how every bit of area continues to change, which is something I feel modern games rarely achieve.
Exploration has been one of the main aspects of Metroid Prime, and you can savour every bit of it as the game doesn’t feel repetitive. In fact, it rewards you for visiting the same area again and again. The game faithfully recreated the adventure and exploration aspects of the 2D games without turning the game into an actual shooter-focused game. If you love playing older games, I’d recommend that you play Metroid Prime and see how the game was already ahead of its time. I’m pretty sure that you’ll be grateful for this suggestion.
19) Super Mario Kart
Words by Arnamoy Das
Super Mario Kart is another one of those childhood games that we grew up with. We have some of the best characters of the gaming world, with a very simple story. This makes it one of those games that you can always just hop on, no matter how you feel, and have a fun time. I’ve been playing Super Mario Kart since I was a kid, and I still go back to it whenever I need to relax. However, the best part of the game is that you can play it with your friends. Yes, you probably know that, and that’s the reason why almost everyone walks out of the Nintendo store with 10 copies of the game.
Mario Kart is enjoyable for anyone, even beginners, because it’s easy enough to get started. The system is designed to push players forward if they’re stuck in the back or screw up everyone in front of them. Though it might be easy, the game requires an immense amount of strategic depth and mastery of different techniques to get around the track as quickly as possible. The fact that the game is easy, but has its own challenges, makes it a top game for players over the decades.
18) Halo 2
Words by Aryan Singh
By this point, it should be established that Halo 2 is the franchise’s peak (come at me if you disagree). The 2004 release is the antithesis of the sequel syndrome, being better than the genre-defining original in every possible way. It features more guns, more glimpses at the broader Halo universe, more vehicles, more Multiplayer, more of Marty O Donnell’s spacefaring score, more stoic one-liners, more of everything you could ask for.
At a time when all the audience wanted was more Master Chief, Bungie cooked up an even more compelling character in the Arbiter. And it’s the dynamic between the two, coupled with the inter-societal tensions within the Covenant, that lend Halo 2’s narrative a profound sense of depth. This is a story that hits every single time, featuring a conclusion that feels just as thrilling as it did back in the day.
Halo 2 can also be credited for kickstarting the Xbox Live era and normalizing online gaming on consoles. Bungie’s matchmaking system removed the friction that had previously kept multiplayer confined to LAN cables and crowded living rooms, replacing it with ranked playlists, persistent stats, and instant competition.
Game modes like Slayer, Capture the Flag, Oddball, and King of the Hill extracted different strengths from the same sandbox, while Big Time Battle nurtured coordination and chaos like no other multiplayer experience at the time.
In a nutshell, Halo 2’s multiplayer reshaped expectations for console shooters. It established Xbox Live as a legitimate competitive platform and set the standard for matchmaking and progression systems. The game’s undying influence can be found in nearly every mainstream first-person shooter, whether that’s in something as fundamental as map design or as granular as post-match performance breakdowns.
17) Mass Effect 2
Words by Arnamoy Das
Mass Effect was the first game that I tried after watching Star Wars, and when Mass Effect 2 was released, I knew I had to try it. Mass Effect 2 embodies the top-notch aspects that a game should have, like music, characters, story, graphics, and so on. Everything about the game was perfect and better than its predecessor. The writing was great, getting the loyalty of the crew, the choices you make, every little decision stays with you.
If the game feels too easy, you can bump up the difficulty and make it harder. What makes the game so special is its atmosphere. The ambience of the surroundings, combined with Jack Wall’s soundtrack, made the game feel alive to me. Mass Effect 2 aged well and is undoubtedly one of the best role-playing games out there in 2025.
16) Uncharted 2
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Uncharted 2 became the blueprint for cinematic action-adventure games. It held some of the best cinematic gaming moments back in the day, seamlessly tying them up with gameplay. Add to that the charming personality of Nathan Drake, and we have not just a game, but an actual Hollywood-level action movie gameplay.
Although the cinematic action-adventure genre is often remembered by the Tomb Raider reboot, it was Uncharted 2 that paved the path for it. It defined the ‘playable blockbuster movie’ formula.
15) Doom
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Doom invented the modern first-person shooter genre. It was not just a game, but a cultural phenomenon. For the first time, gamers had a 3D game with WASD mechanics where they could simply run around and absolutely destroy monsters. Doom was fast, visceral, and pure adrenaline-driven. There was no need to think while playing Doom, because all you had to do was jump in and pop monsters that appeared on the screen.
Doom also allowed community-driven maps that sort of ended up becoming the backbone for the modern modding community. There wouldn’t be a Halo, Call of Duty, or Battlefield today without Doom.
14) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
The Elder Scrolls series has been one of the big names that made Bethesda today, and out of all their games, Skyrim is at its peak. This game revolutionized the concept of an ‘Open World’ game. For the first time, we had a game where every place you could see was also a place you could reach. From far-off mountains that were generally background placeholders in other games, were actual locations you could walk to in Skyrim. And the best part about it was that it was probably not empty as well.
Every corner of Skyrim is filled with content, from random dragon encounters to finding mystical warriors and NPCs that trigger entire questlines. Skyrim also had some of the best quests that gamers still look back on fondly. From becoming a Vampire to a werewolf, Skyrim offered a freedom of gameplay that was unseen at that time. Even today, most RPGs fail in comparison to this Bethesda masterpiece.
13) Half-Life 2
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Half-Life 2 might be the most influential single-player FPS in the 20th century. It is one of the earliest games that told the story through environment and not cinematics. When playing Half-Life 2, you become Gordon Freeman, the protagonist, and every NPC directly interacts with you without the camera ever changing the view. But that’s not all, Half-Life 2 pioneered the physics-based gameplay, making it a standard in most AAA FPS games.
The world-building in Half-Life 2 was also incredible. Every area had this unique touch with eerie enemies and NPCs. The game paved the road for other single-player FPS classics like Bioshock, Metro, or Titanfall. This game was so revolutionary that gamers have been patiently waiting for the third installment for 20 years, which Valve continues to ignore with all its might. Putting humour aside, Half-Life 2 became a staple for single-player FPS games and is often considered the best in its genre.
12) Fallout New Vegas
Words by Aryan Singh
Fallout: New Vegas is possibly the jankiest, most infuriating game on this list. Its gunplay lacks precision, its set-pieces feel compressed in scale, and no matter what workarounds you apply, it will crash on you several times. Yet, despite the lack of mechanical finesse, New Vegas has amassed the most devoted of fanbases on the back of its atmosphere and dialogue.
Obsidian’s RPG boasts some of the sharpest dialogue the medium has ever produced. The kind that has you debating Hegelian dialectics with the leader of a nationalist, imperialist, totalitarian state one moment, before learning about “Commie Ghosts” from a rambling hobo the next. These tonal whiplashes are emblematic of the broader experience, and I haven’t played an RPG since that commits so fully to both the dramatic and the absurd with such confidence.
That commitment extends to its systems. Faction reputations, skill checks, and branching questlines ensure that player choice feels ideological rather than cosmetic. Your build, your alliances, and even the words you choose can meaningfully reshape the Mojave’s future, culminating in endings that feel earned rather than selected.
Then there’s the Mojave itself – a haunting yet inviting wasteland colored in doodo brown and gunky grey that delivers a masterclass in exploration which feels autonomous and directed at the same time. You can’t go 5 minutes without finding something worth checking out, but these distractions never feel densely packed together.
Truth be told, it would take pages to fully unpack Fallout: New Vegas’ brilliance. But the most damning praise I can give it is this: it was developed in just 18 months, and it still outclasses everything Fallout has produced in the 15 years since.
11) Baldur’s Gate 3
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Baldur’s Gate 3 redefined the potential of turn-based RPGs, showing the gaming community that CRPGs are not dead but here to stay. The game was released at a time when turn-based games had a niche playerbase, and big AAA studios that made games in that genre were starting to shift to action RPGs instead, Final Fantasy XVI being a major example. But Larian Studios proved all of them wrong, showing the CRPGs were here to stay.
There has not been another game with as much freedom as Baldur’s Gate 3, as far as I can remember. From an immensely large number of interactable NPCs, making all of them react to the hundreds of different spells straight out of DnD handbook was no easy task, and BG3 did it without a sweat.
Baldur’s Gate 3 was also one of the first games that evaded criticism from every group. The game offered something for everyone, allowing true freedom to build your character and play the game the way you want. Whether you want a vanilla experience of the game’s story or want to become a mass murdering villain, Baldur’s Gate 3 will scratch all your dark urges without judging one bit, even though society might.
10) God of War Remake (2018)
Words by Aryan Singh
By 2018, God of War had dissipated into the background of gaming discourse. Its previous outing in Ascension drew lukewarm reviews, and you got the sense that a reinvention was required to resurrect this god – and reinvent Sony Santa Monica did. They took on an almost sacred character defined by rage and spectacle, and transformed him into a contemplative father who matured with his audience without dulling the edge that made him iconic in the first place.
They gave him a capable son, with the angst and existentialism of most teenagers, and crafted a story about deities that felt truly human. They paired this premise with an auteurist edge, evident in the single-shot camera and the blockbuster-eque presentation. In the process, they also gave the PS4 its first true system-seller and laid down a clear marker for what the console would come to represent.
That same sense of deliberation carries through to the game’s mechanics. Combat is slower, closer, and more visceral than in previous entries, with the Leviathan Axe emerging as one of the most satisfying weapons in gaming history. You can feel Kratos’ restrained anger in every swing, his resilience in every parry, and his anguish in every desperate yell. When he resorts to retrieving the Blades of Chaos, you see his hands trembling with trepidation, and you can practically sift through the conflict spelled out on his face.
God of War succeeds because every system feeds its themes. It’s a reinvention that respects its past while confidently forging a future, and one that proved Kratos still belongs among gaming’s pantheon – just older, wiser, and far more compelling.
9) Batman: Arkham City
Words by Ishan Adhikary
There have been many superhero comic-inspired games in the industry, but none have impacted the genre as the Arkham series has. However, one game that stood out to many is Batman: Arkham City. It was the first game that rewrote the expectations for licensed games. Most critics called it “the best licensed video game ever made,” and deservedly so. Beyond sales and awards, Arkham City influenced how studios treat superhero properties in games and helped prove that licensed titles could be prestige projects.
Arkham City raised the bar for character building in comic-inspired video games. Although you know about the characters before entering the game, developers plant their presence in your frames and make sure you care. Batman: Arkham City also refined the concept of a free-flow combat system and stealth efficiently. My favorite, however, was how seamlessly you could enter the detective persona of the cover star of Detective Comics. And the cherry on top was when Rocksteady brought back Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as the voices of Batman and Joker to make it accurate to the Batman voice acting lore.
8) Super Mario World
Words by Ishan Adhikary
If platformers were always underappreciated as a timepass, Super Mario World came in and saved the genre by perfecting platforming fundamentals while adding some modern elements of gaming to it. Its level design teaches players silently, using space, enemies, and momentum instead of tutorials or dialogue. The introduction of Yoshi, secret exits, and branching paths added depth without clutter, rewarding curiosity of the player. Movement is precise and expressive, giving players control that feels natural even decades later. The game trusted players to explore, fail, and learn, which made discovery feel exciting.
In technical terms, SMW showcased the Super Nintendo’s strengths through smooth animation, rich colors, and layered environments. Koji Kondo’s adaptive soundtrack subtly reacted to gameplay, reinforcing immersion without pulling focus. Long after release, it remains central to speedrunning and game design study because its systems are consistent and deep.
7) Resident Evil 4 (Classic)
Words by Ishan Adhikary
Resident Evil 4 is undoubtedly the blueprint of how survival horror should be done. While it involved Capcom’s already introduced storyline of a zombie apocalypse, characters like Leon and Ada made you believe in the universe. Enemy design and AI kept pressure constant, switching simple village spaces into unpredictable danger zones. But the gameplay still feels believable due to the exceptional pacing in storytelling that transitions between action and horror sequences without flinching. Whether it is the inventory management, exploring for that extra herb, or finding a rare gem you could sell to the merchant, the adventure part of the game feels complete from all angles.
However, the eye of the storm for the game is the over-the-shoulder gameplay camera. Through that style of POV, Resident Evil 4 reinvented third-person shooters across genres. It influenced everything from horror to mainstream action games. Even today, its mechanics feel deliberate and sharp, not dated. If you still call any zombie-involving games or movies Resident Evil, then the major influence behind it comes from the success of Resident Evil 4.
6) The Witcher 3
Words by Ishan Adhikary
Narrative-driven games are one type that mostly focus on story and world building, but there is one game that made this genre something every gamer loves to date. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the most influential games behind the model of modern narrative RPGs. But it does not stop at just being novel in visual form. That world feels alive through small, believable details such as overheard village conversations, subdued music, and regions that shift in tone just as much as they do in landscape. Its characters feel like people meant to be understood, not systems meant to be replaced.
Instead of clean heroics, the quests deal in moral discomfort, where decisions linger well after the task is done. Geralt’s relationships give the story its spine, adding weight to moments that would pass unnoticed in lesser games. Combat is not the most complex in the genre, but at greater difficulties, it becomes tense and personal. Many RPGs will try to claim their spot as the greatest of all time, but when it comes to gripping storytelling and making you believe in characters, nothing will surpass the greatness of The Witcher 3.
5) Elden Ring
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Elden Ring is the absolute peak of what the Souls-like genre can offer. After years of honing their craft with Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Demon Souls, FromSoftware culminated all that experience into one single game, making it their biggest success ever. Elden Ring is a true testament to an open-world game that doesn’t steer gamers into one path. It throws them into the deep water and tells them not be afraid to take on challenges, because that’s the only way to learn.
The game can be traumatic and challenging, but it also offers equal reward. Any Elden Ring player would remember getting swept into Caelid, one of the hardest areas that is conveniently placed next to the beginner area. There, you may die multiple times, but your character will come out much stronger than you went in, giving a sense of reward that is proportional to the difficulty.
Exploration is also Elden Ring’s strongest point, with each nook and cranny filled with something unique. You can stumble onto an entire underground map by just running around in a random corner of a forest. The sense of entering Siofra River Well for the first time after sitting on a random elevator for two minutes, wondering if the game is stuck, remains one of the purest joys I have experienced. And it’s not just open areas; every location has unique weapons, bosses, enemies, and NPCs that leave a lasting impression on you. And the bosses in Elden Ring are unparalleled in the genre. From Radahn to Malenia, every boss has etched its memory onto our minds.
But what made Elden Ring become such a massive success compared to other Souls-like games? It was the introduction of on-demand summons that made the game more accessible to newcomers to the franchise. The game also offered a hundred different ways to build your character, which gamers continue to utilize to create wacky game-breaking builds, even after years of the game’s release.
4) Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Words by Aryan Singh
GTA: San Andreas was the gateway into the franchise for millions, and in some cases, it was their first video game experience ever – talk about setting the bar sky-high. The notion of baking an entire state into a single, unrestricted open world is audacious even by 2025 standards, yet Rockstar pulled it off expertly back in 2004. Moving between the fog-choked streets of San Fierro, the sunbaked sprawl of Los Santos, and the neon excess of Las Venturas felt transformative, as if you were stepping into entirely different games stitched together by ambition alone.
Populating these locations was an absolute wealth of distractions, ranging from gyms, real estate, casinos, restaurants, garages, RC racing, dating, and so much more. This, by itself, made for as rich a sandbox as you could ask for, even today. But these spaces are elevated by the stories they contain.
Los Santos kicked things off on a humble note with inter-gang tensions. San Fierro provided a whimsical counterbalance as you employed toys for high-stakes espionage. And finally, Las Venturas upped the scale in unprecedented fashion, having you execute scores and usurp casinos like you were acting out a mob movie. This gradual, sandbox-centered escalation is a narrative tool most games use to this day, but very few manage to do it with the finesse of San Andreas.
On paper, a story that is fundamentally about street-level gangsters shouldn’t mesh with detours to Area 51 or black-ops missions for a mysterious agent, yet they do – and it works. It all fits this wonderfully satirical and impossibly realized version of USA’s West Coast. And the fact that Rockstar hasn’t attempted anything of this magnitude, despite all the technological advancements in the world, speaks volumes about how singular GTA: San Andreas is.
3) The Last of Us
Words by Ishan Adhikary
If we talk about video games going mainstream, The Last of Us will always come first in the discussion. The game won Game of the Year, but its real identity comes from the grounded storytelling and great sequences that can make adults cry like children. Gameplay draws no boundary between humanity and survival. This automatically makes every frame a risk for life. What makes it unique is how tightly its gameplay and narrative coexist with action. It feels desperate rather than heroic, and survival that always comes at a cost. Joel and Ellie’s relationship unfolds naturally, built through shared hardship instead of scripted emotion.
The world speaks through silence, decay, and restraint, trusting players to notice every detail. Many games aim for emotional impact, but few commit fully to tone, pacing, and consequence the way this one does. The game also sets up the sequel by building characters that feel like they’re right out of a movie. That honesty is why The Last of Us became a cultural touchstone and remains difficult to imitate. All we can say is that the story is so good that even the adaptation won multiple awards for both seasons.
2) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Words by Ishan Adhikary
Before we jump to numero uno, let us talk about the game that made people believe in relaxed gaming. Aesthetics that make freedom feel more conscious, yet exciting. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild earns its place at number two for many reasons. The game lets the players do more than almost any open-world game before it. It hands you a world instead of a checklist and lets curiosity do the guiding. Every mountain feels like an invitation, and objectives sometimes feel like the least important part. Weather and physics follow clear rules, making experimentation feel natural and rewarding.
BOTW teaches through consequence, where instruction is a lesser priority, and mistakes lead to discovery. Its quiet tone leaves room for ‘finding your way’ to feel more natural and noticable. While open world games over the year chase size and noise, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offers calm freedom with a level of confidence.
1) Red Dead Redemption 2
Words by Ishan Adhikary
Finally, it is time for the greatest video game of all time. While many games are masters in their own space, Red Dead Redemption 2 has become a phenomenon over the years for all the right reasons. The game builds slowly and lets you immerse yourself in the world that exists, even if you were not a part of it.
Each character (including the NPCs) makes sure you feel the warmth of existing in the west. The frontier feels authentic through daily routines, chance encounters, and details most games would never stop to notice. Arthur Morgan’s story unfolds as it tests the player’s patience, where small conversations and fleeting expressions carry more weight. Gameplay supports that tone, making violence feel costly and reflection unavoidable. And to complement that, the world responds subtly, offering consequences without noise.
Red Dead Redemption 2 makes you believe in Arthur Morgan not only through the storytelling but also through the gameplay nuances. Rockstar trusts the player’s intelligence and knowingly chooses a slow unfolding over an adrenaline rush go-go-go format. That restraint allows emotion to surface naturally instead of being forced. The result is a game that feels honest in its pacing and intent. Red Dead Redemption 2 is undeniably the face of video games if a non-gamer wants to try the world of it.
So that wraps up our list of the 50 best video games of all time. Any games you think should have been a part of this list? Let us know in the comments below!
Aryan Singh
