Top Ten Greatest Video Games of All Time: Honorable Mentions

Video games are fairly new to the entertainment world. After many attempts with systems such as the Atari 2600, Nintendo’s release of the revolutionary Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985 is what transformed gaming from inserting stacks of quarters into arcade machines to playing the same games right in your home, and it solidified the gaming world into what it is today.

Since then, video games have drastically evolved. Within thirty years, game creators have been able to go from a limit of 8-bit graphics and 56-color palette to these incredible pieces of art we have today. An entire community rapidly spawned as a result from this.

When it comes to arguing which games are the best, however, it becomes frustrating. Video games are quite possibly the most difficult form of entertainment to rank among its community. But why is this? How come fans of cinema or music can usually pick out a clear winner, but fans of the gaming community can’t decide whether Mario or Zelda is better? Is it because video games aren’t meant to be ranked? Are they just products only meant to be liked or disliked personally by the player? Is there really any good way to tell how good a video game is based off certain criteria?

I took on this task by forming my own, personal list. I will be judging games based off of this criteria: innovation, replay value, retrospective, and of course, fun.

DISCLAIMER: This list is obviously subjective, so feel free to disagree with any of my options. I have also not had the chance to play many games that players consider to be classics (such as Half-Life 1 & 2, The Last of Us, Skyrim), so this is not the most definitive list.

The following games I consider to be just shy of worthy for the top ten.

Inside

Playdead’s eerie platformer was released in 2016, and became an instant hit among both gamers and critics, earning favorable reviews upon its release.

Not only is it a platformer, but it contains elements of puzzle and horror as well. Its controls are simple and easy to adapt to, using only a stick to move, and a button used for action. One thing you also can’t help but compliment about the game is its amazing sound design.

Inside, however, contains a few boring sections which are barren and force you to wait on the slow-moving character. The game is also far too easy, and has a ton of checkpoints with no penalties, so you can fail as much as you want without risk. This shouldn’t detain you from trying the game out, though. It has many moments of tension and is a thrilling, bizarre experience overall.

Super Mario World

Super Mario World was the launch title for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It was released in Japan in 1990, and a year later in North America. The game was a smash hit, selling over 20 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling game on the console.

Nintendo’s charming platformer is considered by many a classic, and was the debut of the beloved sidekick, Yoshi. Super Mario World also took on the platforming genre differently by adding many secrets and alternative routes.

The only downfall with Super Mario World is its failure to be innovative and diverse, especially compared to the series’ previous entries. This makes the game stale and repetitive in some aspects, but this doesn’t stop the game from being as fantastic as it is, and it is recommended you don’t miss out on playing it given the opportunity.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

The sixth installment in the prolific Call of Duty franchise is one of the finest first-person shooters ever made. Released worldwide in 2009, it is considered by many fans to be the best in the series.

If you’re looking for a fair, fun first-person shooter with great multiplayer, then look no further than MW2. The weapons are balanced, the maps all have unique designs, and the signature, fast-paced gameplay is as present as ever.

Infinity Ward manages to pull off a campaign with both a compelling narrative and gameplay mechanics that are constantly changing. On the surface, MW2 may seem flawless, but the game is missing a substantial amount of polish which can sometimes take you out of the experience. Nonetheless, it is a classic first-person shooter.

Overwatch

Though this may seem like an odd pick to some, Blizzard’s Overwatch is a perfect blend of strategy and combat that is often accused of being a rehash of their PC game, Team Fortress 2. It was released in 2016 as well, and received the award for Game of the Year.

Overwatch stands out in so many ways with unique characters across the board, and a set of compact maps. There are so many different strategies the player can use to approach their opponents. Characters are somewhat balanced, but thankfully no one character is too overpowered.

Overwatch can become boring to play alone because of its lack in player progression. The game also lacks a single-player mode, so its replay value becomes very minimal after playing it for so long. Despite this, Overwatch is incredibly fun when you first get into it, and when you play with a full team.

Come back soon when I start the countdown of the top ten greatest video games of all time.