Josh’s 30 Greatest Video Games of All-Time
Ever since I was a small child, gaming has always played a huge part in my life thanks to growing up when the medium exploded onto the market. Even as a 32 year old man with children of my own today, gaming plays just as large of a part as it did when I was growing up. I have a good 28 years of experience playing video games under my belt so I figured I would share the 30 best video games I have cherished throughout my life. Let’s get started.
30. Donkey Kong (Gameboy)
Nintendo’s sudo “remake” of Donkey Kong for the original Gameboy was pleasant surprise. Not only did the game include the original Donkey Kong arcade stages, but after you complete them the game opens up into a full-fledged puzzle game that tasks Mario into finding and carrying keys to unlock doors to progress to the next stage. The game included around 100 levels and the puzzles were addicting and a blast to solve. This is the game that inspired the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series as we know it today. Highly recommend Gameboy owners have this game in their library.
29. Metal Gear Solid
The original Metal Gear Solid for the Sony Playstation was a revolutionary game for the action genre. It was one of the first true cinematic games that I played and included one hell of a weird espionage story. I remember spending countless hours trying to perfect my stealth skills through each area of the game. Metal Gear Solid spawned some of the most memorable sequences in gaming history including the astonishing battle with Psycho Mantis and the first encounter with Gray Fox. Kojima crafted one of gaming’s most memorable experiences and elevated the Metal Gear franchise from obscure to AAA.
28. Shadow Dancer
Released as a Shinobi spinoff by Sega, Shadow Dancer blew all of the other Shinobi games away in my mind. Playing Shadow Dancer as a kid had a huge impact on me since it was the first game I played that included a pet that aided you in gameplay and the game had some amazing visual effects (such as the burning backgrounds in the first stage) that made my jaw drop coming off of an NES. To this day Shadow Dancer is one of my favorite Genesis games and one of my all-time favorite action platformers.
27. Pokemon Red/Blue
Even though when Pokemon released, I was a little bit out of the target demographic for the game and I didn’t particularly enjoy turn-based battle systems. Fortunately due to the game’s popularity I decided to see what the fuss was about and fell in love with it. I spent every morning on the school bus for months trying to catch all of those little pocket monsters. While I didn’t jump into the Poke-craze at the time, I loved the games and still do to this day.
26. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
I’ve always loved Star Wars games, but to me Bioware’s Knights of the Old Republic takes the cake as the greatest Star Wars game ever made. The story is genuinely intriguing, the quests are fun and interesting and the combat is accessible and fun to actually watch play out before your eyes. The game has one hell of a Shyamalan twist at the end too. KOTOR is one of the most memorable games from the sixth generation of gaming and it holds up extremely well today.
25. Super Mario Bros. 3
The king of Super Mario 2D platfomers! Super Mario Bros. 3 has the strongest level design, coolest power-ups and most memorable music in the series. The game is highly replayable and includes a ton of secrets that are fun to scramble around to discover. Seeing the big world for the first time blew my young mind. I still remember the Mario hysteria when this game released and how hard it was to get my hands on as a kid. Love it.
24. Toejam & Earl
Being one of the first games that introduced me to the Sega Genesis, Toejam & Earl’s unique gameplay, great sense of humor and addictive couch co-op made me switch from Nintendo to Sega with little effort needed. The game has one funky soundtrack, some fun social commentary and randomly generated stages that make each play through different than the last. Toejam & Earl is a game that never gets old and is still fun to blow through with a buddy today.
23. Bioshock Infinite
While Bioshock was an amazing game in its own right, I have to give the nod to Bioshock Infinite for my personal favorite due to the absolutely amazing story and breathtaking atmosphere and art design. The ending had me thinking about the game for weeks on end and I honestly can’t remember a story I was enthralled with as much as this since Ocarina of Time. Even though the game tends to get a bit of hate from gamers, I think Bioshock Infinite is a modern masterpiece.
22. Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil was a surprise sleeper hit on the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube that was quite an amazing game. The protagonist was likable and relatable, the story was fun and the music was top-notch. I’ve always wanted a sequel and Ubisoft has been teasing one for years but due to the fact that the game sold poorly, I’m not holding my breath. Still, BG&E is an amazing action adventure game that deserves to be in every gamer’s library.
21. Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon
This quirky Action RPG borrowed a lot of elements from the Zelda series, but the setting and characters were unique enough to make it stand on its own. Playing Mystical Ninja made the wait for Ocarina of Time a little easier. The game had some fun mech combat elements, a great overworld to explore and a great soundtrack. Easily one of my favorite N64 titles and the only game where I get to hit dudes with a tobacco pipe.
20. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Konami (before they alienated their fans) took the Castlevania franchise in a brand new direction with Symphony of the Night on the Playstation and it definitely paid off. The game helped pen the “Metroidvania” sub-genre by borrowing a page from the Metroid design manual, giving us an open castle to freely explore while implementing RPG elements and upgrades throughout. Symphony of the Night is easily the greatest Castlevania game of all and includes some of the most hilariously cool dialog in gaming history. A gem for a title indeed.
19. Resident Evil
The original game in Capcom’s long-running survival horror series is one of the most memorable Playstation titles in history for me. Janky dialog and voice acting aside, the game was unique at the time and the atmosphere was on-point. I’ll never forget the first time I stepped into the eerie guest house behind the mansion that’s invaded by spiders, or the terrifying shark tank I was forced to run through. While Resident Evil 2 is technically a much better title, the original is still my favorite due to the environments feeling much more claustrophobic and creepy.
18. Rock Band 3
In my 30 years of gaming, I cannot recall a multiplayer game as enjoyable as the Rock Band series. It was a focal point of many parties thrown while in my 20’s and I have fond memories of playing this game with my wife when we first met and started dating. Rock Band is a game that can get gamers and non-gamers alike together in a room to rock out and laugh at everyone’s attempt at acting out their favorite rock stars. I’ve spent countless amounts of money on DLC and instruments for this game. The third game has the best soundtrack and the best presentation of the bunch. I love Rock Band to death.
17. Chrono Cross
While many consider it an unworthy successor to a classic RPG, I found Chrono Cross to be a very solid RPG with a compelling story, a colorful cast of characters, an interesting battle system and one of my favorite soundtracks in gaming history. It may not be Chrono Trigger, but it was damn close for me.
16. Chrono Trigger
One of the RPGs that really got me into the genre, Chrono Trigger was a beautiful mixture of great storytelling, awesome characters, phenomenal music and stellar atmosphere. The battle system was fun and the ideal of time shifting and bending the existence of these characters was fascinating. One of the greatest RPGs of our time.
15. Silent Hill 2
I can safely say that Silent Hill 2 is the first and only game to successfully freak me out. Not only does it have a fascinating story and a screwed up sense of reality, but Silent Hill 2 was genuinely frightening without having to rely on jump scares and closet monsters. The first Silent Hill was the best example of a legitimate psychological horror game I’ve ever played, but the second title cranked everything up to 11 by delivering an iconic soundtrack, some truly unsettling moments and one screwed up villain. I consider Silent Hill 2 to be the greatest survival horror game ever made.
14. Super Mario 64
Nintendo revolutionized gaming with Super Mario 64 by giving us one of the first true analog controlled full 3D platformers while paving the way for just about every 3D game succeeding it. The stages were expertly crafted, the soundtrack is the strongest in the series and the game was lengthy and challenging. I still consider it to be the best Super Mario game in the franchise and easily one of the best platformers out there.
13. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
It’s no secret that I’m a massive Legend of Zelda fan and “A Link to the Past” is considered one of the greatest adventure games of all-time. I actually didn’t play through it until after I completed Ocarina of Time, and while I do consider Ocarina to be the better game, Link to the Past is still one of the best games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. Stepping into the Lost Woods for the first time is one of my most cherished gaming memories from my childhood.
12. Bloodborne
I can honestly say that not many modern games are able to resonate with me the way many classic games that I grew up with have, but man is Bloodborne one of the most memorable games I’ve ever laid my hands on. The Lovecraftian world that From Software has built is frightening, oftentimes beautiful, and mysterious. The story travels to so many weird places and makes for a fascinating narrative that players really have to dig deep into the environments and items in order to piece together. I can already tell this is an experience I’ll never forget.
11. Lumines: Electronic Symphony
Most of my gaming career has been spent hating just about any puzzle game besides Tetris and Dr. Mario. All of that changed when Lumines hit my hands. The fusion of amazing music with unique puzzle mechanics that weren’t the same old stale “match-three” concepts really made Lumines stand out for me. I love how the game is basically an electronica light and art show behind a puzzle board with a blaring techno soundtrack that combined makes the entire experience visually and audibly pleasing. I picked Electronic Symphony because it has the best soundtrack of the entire series in my opinion. This is a game that I can pick up and play anytime and it never gets old.
10. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Many may argue, but I consider THPS3 to be the best in the series. It had the coolest stages, it retained the tight gameplay and progression from the original two games, had killer graphics at the time and the best soundtrack of the franchise. I sat and played through the entire game with each skater in the roster and put so many hours into it that it was probably my most played game in the PS2 generation. I still crack it open to this day and have just as much fun as I did when I first experienced it during the launch of the GameCube.
9. NiGHTS Into Dreams
This quirky Saturn exclusive is an odd title to look at but happens to be one of the most unique and fun games Sega has ever created. Sonic Team crafted a fun, score-based flight adventure game with a charming story and one hell of a great soundtrack. This game is so endearing that I literally want to hug it. Mixed with some frightening boss battles and some imaginative stages, NiGHTS into Dreams is an unforgettable game that sadly many gamers missed out on. Grab the HD remake of this bad boy today!
8. Jet Set Radio: Future
I know I have quite a bit of Sega exclusives on my list, but this is just a testament to how strong their game design was in the 80’s and 90’s. Jet Set Radio Future was an Xbox exclusive sequel to Jet Set Radio that took a turn for a more open world approach with a killer soundtrack, tight controls and a lot of content packed in each area. The art design is stellar and zipping through Neo Tokyo stages to a hot electronica soundtrack was mesmerizing. I still consider Future to be the best of the two and probably my favorite title for the original Xbox.
7. Shenmue
It may not have sold as well as Sega would have liked, but Shenmue on the Dreamcast was an amazing experience when it released in 2000. Being one of the first games that made me truly feel like I was exploring a living, breathing world, Shenmue broke barriers by delivering a cinematic and emotional story combined with a highly interactive, detailed city. I still remember my jaw dropping when I could literally walk up to a capsule machine and collect the little toys within. I adore this game and cannot wait for the third entry.
6. Streets of Rage
Growing up I always had a fondness for the brawler/beat-em-up genre in arcades and home consoles. Many hours were spent with friends playing games like Double Dragon, TMNT: The Arcade Game and The Simpsons Arcade Game. To me, the best game in the entire genre will always be the original Streets of Rage. The soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro is a contender as my most favorite soundtrack in all of gaming. Gameplay is extremely tight and the gritty art style of the stages and characters make the game feel like a dark cop drama. While technically its sequel is a better game, I will always consider the original the best due to the more grounded stages and stronger soundtrack.
5. Dark Savior
You know our motto “there is no such thing as a bad game, just games that aren’t for you?” Well this choice proves that this philosophy is quite true. Dark Savior is an action RPG with a battle system similar to a fighting game that released on the Sega Saturn to pretty bland reviews. Since the system had very limited choices in games in North America, I played games regardless of their quality just to have something new to play. Thankfully, Dark Savior fell in my lap thanks to a trailer on a demo disc that peaked my interests and I ended up purchasing and absolutely loving the game. Dark Savior has a gameplay system that drastically shifts the story into different directions depending on your speed through the game’s prologue and I have yet to see a game do anything as unique as this since. The story was interesting, the battle system was fun and the music was fantastic. I don’t care what anyone says, I adore Dark Savior.
4. Blade Runner
Ridley Scott’s classic Sci-Fi film is one of my favorites but don’t let my love for the movie fool you; Westwood Studio’s Blade Runner point-and-click adventure title is a legitimately amazing adventure game for PC that channels the movie wonderfully. The recreation of the film’s gritty cyberpunk vision of Los Angelas was perfect in the Blade Runner game and the noir story and dark tones of the film’s story were brought over to the game beautifully. I loved exploring this game’s world and feeling like a real detective by scrounging for clues, solving the mystery and having my actions mold the story for me. I highly recommend adventure fans to seek this one out. RIP Westwood Studio.
3. Final Fantasy VII
I know this seems to be a cliche choice, but Final Fantasy VII is really THAT good. I had a connection with the story and characters right from the beginning intro when I pressed X on “New Game” and it never loosened its grasp on me. The music is easily one of gaming’s best soundtracks and the battle system was the one that turned me from a JRPG hater to a JRPG fan. Exploring the slums of Midgar for the first time will always be one of my most cherished gaming memories. Final Fantasy VII is an extremely iconic game thanks to its wonderful cast of characters and engrossing story that it’s a no-brainer to find this one on most gamers’ top ten lists.
2. Dark Souls
Considered one of the only games that has come close to dethroning my #1, Dark Souls is one behemoth of a title. I haven’t played a game before that has invoked so many different emotions in one experience before. Oftentimes I would find beauty in such a bleak and frightening world. I loved exploring every inch and crevice of Lordran. I often felt fear, anxiety, humor, determination and many other emotions during my playthrough of this amazing action game.
Having the story and lore packed into every aspect of the game’s world made for a fascinating narrative that I actually had to work towards uncovering instead of having spoon fed to me. Even though I typically hate overly difficult games, I found the sense of challenge addictive and the feeling I had when overcoming my obstacles intoxicating. Dark Souls is such a compelling, beautiful and mechanically tight game with mechanics so deep that replaying through it always allows me to discover something new each time. I love it.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
If I could pick one game that has molded my love for gaming, it would be Ocarina of Time. This game helped transcend gaming from high scores to impactful experiences for me. The first time I walked into Kokiri Forest and watched the particle effects fly around the environments, the amazing music kick in and started to interact with the children in the forest was a pretty big moment for me in gaming. The first time I felt emotion in a game was when I saw the somber interaction between Saria and Link on the bridge connecting Kokiri Forest to Hyrule field as Link left his childhood best friend to embark on his journey.
Ocarina of Time is a master class of game design, story, music and gameplay system that would mold modern gaming as we know it. Even today I see signs of Ocarina of Time in modern game design and I don’t think many gamers realize how influential this game really was. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is easily the best video game I’ve ever played and I still love experiencing it all over again today.
