VGChartz: Your 50 Favorite Games of All Time!

[sapphi_snake]

50. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (PC)

A fun arcade racer that feels like an action packed Hollywood movie, with cool cinematic sequences, fast cars and hot chicks. I enjoyed it even though I'm not into all that (the fast cars that is, not the hot chicks which I always enjoy ).

 

49. Portal (PC)

"The cake is a lie! The cake is a lie!" Portal's  fun first-person puzzle satire of video games that has witty dialogue (more like monologue), cool innovative gameplay, and a creepy/funny/awsome villain.

 

48. Mass Effect (PC)

The team over at BioWare are true masters of RPGs, and Mass Effect continues their streak of high quality games. Granted, it may not be their best effort (though even "all right" BioWare games are still better than most of the other games out there), but this epic (albeit cliche) space opera is probably one of the best written Action RPGs out there.

 

47. Mario Kart DS (DS)

"Itsa me, mario!" ... And this time he's kart racing with his friends. Mario Kart DS is a nifty little game on a nifty little handheld. Fun gameplay, cool tracks, and very good multiplayer (if only any of my friends owned a DS ).

 

46. Ico (PS2)

Ico is a weird little game. Probably the first "artsy" game I ever played. However it manages not to seem over pretentious as one such game might end up being. It's simple, unique, charming, and has an amazing box art.

 

45. Nintendogs (DS)

Puppies!!! What's not to love???!!! Nintendogs was the first DS game I ever played (it came bundled with my DS), but I became interested in it ever sincer I first heard of it's existence. The game makes perfect use of the DS's capabilities, offering a truly unique experience. It gets boring after a while but the puppies are always cute to look at when I'm bored.

 

44. Professor Layton and the Lost Future (DS)

Third time's the charm . I love the Professor Layton series, and the third game is probably the best in the series so far, with great puzzles, an unusual mystery, an amazing story (which is touching and sentimental at times) and of course time traveling!!!

 

43. Age of Empires (PC)

The very first strategy game I ever played, and one with which I instantly fell in love. The game was meant to be a mix between Civilization and Warcraft, and while it didn't do this as good as it's predecessor, it still ended up being a pretty awsome game (which really brings back fun memories).

 

42. Super Mario Bros. (NES)

The very first game I ever playes (and one of the few NES games I ever owned), Super Mario Bros. was not a game I instantly fell in love with. I pretty much sucked at it. I really got into Mario games much later, however having given this game another go not too long ago I found it charming and fun to play more than 2 decade after it's release.

 

41. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)

I was excited to play this game ever since it was announced, and it sure didn't disappoint. Using The Wind Waker's art style and the DS's technology (touch screen, mic), Phantom Hourglass offers a fresh and exciting handheld Zelda experience.

40. Gears of War (PC)

While I'm not a huge fan of extremely violent gory games, Gears of War caught my attention imediately after viewing some gameplay videos of it. The game may be somewhat monochromatic, but it's appropriate considering the atmosphere the developer's were aiming at. It looks gorgeous (from both a atechincal and artistic point of view), and the gameplay's awsome.

 

39. StarCraft (PC)

Probably the most popular strategy game of all time, StarCraft surprisingly holds up well even today (well over a decade after it's release). Great universe, cool diverse factions, solid gameplay and awsome online multiplayer make StarCraft a timeless classic.

 

38. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA)

One of the first GBA games I ever played, and my very first Mario RPG, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga impressed me right from the start. Overall a fun experience, with all the charm you'd expect from a Mario adventure.

 

37. Ratchet & Clank 3 (PS2)

This was the first PS2 game I ever played, and the first (and so far only) Ratchet & Clank game I've played. The writing is sharp and funny, and the mix between platforming and shooting (from a third-person perspective) makes for a fun and unique game to play. You'll feel just like you're playing a Pixar animation.

 

36. Final Fantasy XII (PS2)

Despite being hated by a lot of fans of the series, I found Final Fantasy XII to be a quite an amazing game. The art style is probably the very best of the series, the graphics is amazing (for PS2 game) and the gameplay is interesting and innovative. I liked the fact that there was no melodramatic love story, and I only wish Vaan and Penelo had been omitted from the game. And I also love the box art (especially the US one ).

 

35. Psychonauts (PC)

Tim Schafer is a funny man, well known for funny games. Psychonauts is no different. It's a hilarious game with funny and charming characters. The whole concept of going into people's minds kinds seems similar to Inception (though in Nolan's movie you go into people's dreams, while in Psychonauts you go into people's minds). The platofrming is nice (though not the best out there), and the atmosphere is simply amazing.

 

34. The Sims (PC)

I have very fond gaming memories of The Sims. Creating my character, creatin equivalents for all my friends and family, coming up with funny scenarios for them, making my cousin eat food 'till she became obese... Ah, I loved that game and probably spent hundreds of hours playing it. The franchsie may have lost most of it's magic, but this game will always hold a special place in my heart.

 

33. Castlevania (GBA)

Also known as Castlevania: Circle of the Moon outside of Europe, this was the very first GBA game I ever played. I loved the atmosphere, the whole vampire hunter theme, the gameplay (platforming, magic powers etc.), and the sweet boss fights. The title sequence was also impressive. Overall a great game.

 

32. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)

This game is almost my favorite DS game, and by far my favorite handheld Mario. The gameplay is 2D platfroming awsomeness, the art style's great, and the level design and the world's are overall amazing.

 

31. Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia (PC)

I loved this game. I loved it a whole lot, and I still love it. By far my favorite turn-based strategy game ever. The factions where awsome, the story was good, and the whole game had a boardgame feel to it. I spent dozens of hours playing this on multiplayer with my friends, and we still play it on hoteseat sometimes.

 

30. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PC)

Now I'm not too big on violence and I hate criminals, but that didn't stop me from loving Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The gameplays' awsome, and has elements from severl types of genres (third person shooter, racing game, rhythm game, dating sim etc.). The game's huge with loads of things to do, making it very hard to get bored. And to top it all off the story's simply hirarious.

 

29. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)

This game had very big shoes to fill, and it did so admirably. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask had a lot of cool gameplay elements and design decision, the most interesting of which being the fact that you had only a 3 day cycle to finish the game (you could rewind time of course). This added challenge to the game. The story was also very interesting, and though it lacked the feelng of the epic quest to save the world that other Zelda games have, Majora's Mask is probably the most original anddark game in the series.

 

28. Half-Life 2 (PC)

When I saw the amazing critical reception Half-Life 2 was getting, I just had to buy it. While I only played a little bit of the first Half-Life, and did not enoy it that much, the second one was leaps and bounds better. While I;m not a huge FPS fan, I really enjoyed this game. The story was surprisingly good for a FPS, the art direction was amazing, really making you feel like you're in a dystopian world. The gameplay is awsome, mainly due to the gravity gun, and the ending s really cool when you be come way overpowered. A great game overall.

 

27. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC)

I do not like military shooters. I do not like war, and military shooters often seem like they're glorifying war and are military propaganda. Not to mention that it's overall a pretty generic subgenre of shooters. However, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was special. Maybe it was the fact that it's setting was fresh at the time (most such games had a WWII setting). Maybe it was the over the top gameplay. Maybe it was the James Bond atmosphere. Anyways, whatever it was, I really really liked this game. I even gave the online multiplayer a shot (though I don't usually do that), and although I sucked at it, I still had fun.

 

26. Metroid Fusion (GBA)

Metorid Fusion is most definaely my favorite GBA game ever! It was also the very first Metorid game I ever played. All I can't say is that I imediately realised why this series is so popular. The gameplay is simply amazing, and very very fun. From what I've noticed this game is more liniar than the other entries in the series, but I didn't find that to be an impediment at all.

 

25. Diablo II (PC)

My very first RPG, Diablo II was just awsome. 4 different and unique classes, great music and cutscenes, and all the  hacking and slashing one could want from a game. 10 years after it's release it's still a jouy to play.

 

24. Tomb Raider (PC)

Originally meant to star a guy and be an Indiana Jones type game, the developers decided to be more original (and pervy), and made the main character a smart big boobed heroin, who can kick bad guy's asses. None of the other entries in the series managed to reach the wow factor of the original.

 

23. Fallout 3 (PC)

Fallout 3 was a game I was highly anticipating before it's release, and I sure wasn't disappointed with it.  I could never get into the previous Fallout games (they haven't aged well), but focus on action gameplay really suited the game well (the V.A.T.S. system was probably the main gameplay attraction). I (of course) just loved the post apolayptic setting, and the story overall.

 

22. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PC)

Despite not liking games/movies/books who focus on criminals, there was something about GTA: Vice City which drew me in. Maybe it was the funny story. Maybe it was the fabulous city. Maybe it was the 80s music. Or, maybe it was that unique feeling when you bang a hooker for the first time, run her over with your car and then get your money back. Ah, good times!

 

21. Okami (PS2)

It may look like a mere Zelda clone, but Okami manages to rise up to the quality that you'd expect from the best of Zeldas. The art style is unique and wonderful, the music is amazing, the story brings some insight into Japanese mythology and the gameplay (celestial brush technique mainly) is very innovative (did something you'd expect from a Wii game). One of the most charming games ever! Such a shame it sold so poorly.

 

20. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (PC)

When I first saw this game I was simply amazed. With such amazing 3D graphics (which I never thought at the time that a strategy game could have), the ability to zoom in, and those movie-like cutscenes, it's not hard to see why I was blown away by the game's presentation. I just loved the different factions, the story was surprizingly good, and the multiplayer was sweet (though I didn't spend too much time with it). It was probably the last startegy game that managed to truly get me hooked.

 

19. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)

The prequel to Ico, Shadow of the Colossus was just as unique, and overall a much much better experience. The game is esentially one boss battle after the other, but that actually makes the game awsome. The art style is amazing, the music is lovely, and despite no dialogue you really do get attatched to your character and his horse. You gotta love those hairy beasts too!

 

18. Final Fantasy X (PS2)

Final Fantasy X was the first game in the series to have full 3D graphics and voice acting. On the graphics front the game was amazing for it's time. It was simply drop dead gorgeous. The gameplay is some of the best in the series, the music is amazing, and the story is very intersting, with lots of cool twists and a bold and moving ending. The one negative aspect of this game is probably the terrible terrible voice acting and the bad character animations during dialogue. An amazing game regardless though.

 

17. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (PC)

My favorite strategy game ever! An amazing historical setting, a great story (especially for a strategy game), 13 playable civilizations, cool multiplayer and a good map creator had me playing this baby for hundreds of hours. Ah, if only a modern strategy game could captivate me as much as this one...

 

16. Pokemon Gold and Silver (GBC)

Probably the best sequel in the franchise, Pokemon Gold and Silver (I had Silver) added improved (and colored) graphics, cool gameplay features and improvements (no more overpoered psychic type), plus a whopping 16 (!) badges, making this probably the longest game in the series.

 

15. God of War II (PS2)

The second God of War game was also probably the last PS2 game to really wow me. The graphics were amazing (considering the hardware, and despite the tricks used), the story was epic and the gameplay was just simply awsome with brutally over the top combat and lots of gore (I don't care that much for gore, but I didn't mind it, being overwhelemd by this game's awsomeness). The sex minigame was also cool.

 

14. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC)

Oblivion was the very first current gen game I played and also my first Elder Scrolls game. I was blown away by the amazing graphics and the sheer size of the game. The score is epic, the story wasn't perfect, but the sidequests were some of the best I've ever seen in a RPG. The scene when you first exit the sewers is simply epic, and probably the most impressive scene I've seen in a video game this gen. The almost 200 hours I spent played this game were well worh it.

 

13. GoldenEye 007 (N64)

One of the best licensed games ever, and the first awsome FPS for consoles, GoldenEye 007 was simply a blast. Amazing grahics (for it's time), revolutionary gameplay (especially loved the objective based gameplay, and how the difficulty settings worked) and addictive 4 player split screen multiplayer. The only thing that was missing was the theme song by Tine Turner.

 

12. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PC)

This is one game who simply blew me away the moment I set my eyes on. The graphipcs was simply mind-blowing and the art style was simply beautful. The writing was good and the characters were simply charming (the Prnce and Farah are one of the best video game couples). The gameplay was amazing, and I found the whole rewinding time mechanism interesting considering the game's story dominated by the theme of redemption. The only complaint I have about this game is that it was very short, but this is clearly a case where quality >quantity.

 

11. Final Fantasy IX (PS)

This was not the first Final Fantasy I played, but it was the first I managed to complete. While it's not the most popular game in the series amongst gamers, I personally found Final Fantasy IX to be simply amazing. I loved had an old school feel to it, bringing the series back to a medieval fantasy-like setting, and characters who actually have classes. The cartoony characters were charming, and the art style was actually good this time round, unlike the other PS1 Final Fantasy games. The whole game felt like a Disney animation.

 

10. Halo: Combat Evolved (PC)

Halo was is essentially like playing a very good action game. The gameplay is awsome and the music is epic and really gets your adrenaline pumping. The multiplayer is fun and addictive, and the singleplayer campaign is one of the best out there. Amazing game overall.

 

9. Pokemon Red and Blue (GB)

My first interaction with the Pokemon universe was with the anime, which was massively popular over here when it first came out. When I found out that there was also a Pokemon video game I immediately did everything in my power to get my hands on it. It was magical, simply magical.

 

8. God Of War (PS2)

All my life I wanted to play a good action/adventrue game set in a mythical Greek setting, so when I saw God of War I just had to play it. Amazing gameplay? Check! Amazing audio (sound, music, voice acting)? Check! Amazing graphics and art stule? Check! Great story? Check! Cinematic feeling? Check! Sex minigame? Check!!!

 

7. BioShock (PC)

My favorite FPS ever! BioShock is definately not your conventional Shooter. The story is surprisingly ambitious, trying to explore political and ethical issues. The art style is amazing and the setting is unique. The audio is amazing from any POV possible. To top all that off the game has a polt twist which is both an ode to System Shock 2 (a game to which BioShock is considered a spiritual successor), but also wittingly makes fun of video games. A very classy game indeed.

 

6. Chrono Trigger (DS)

My personal favorite DS game ever, and also my personal favorite JRPG. A simply charming game that I played for the very first time last year and was simply amazed at how well it holds up, despite being almost a decade and a half old. The characters are charming and lovable, the story is good, the music is awsome, and so is the art style. The gameplay was very revolutionary, with fast paced batlles, allowing you to avoid random encounters, and giving you the opportunity to use stealth sometimes and make decisions that influence the game's ending. Way ahead of it's time, and blows any Final Fantasy out of the water.

 

5. Super Mario 64 (N64)

Mario's first 3D outing was a sweet one. Fun gameplay, charming graphics and art style, and memorable music. The first really great 2D to 3D transition,and definately one of the best. All that was missing was Luigi.

 

4. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (PC)

For some strange reason I wasn't very interested in this game when I first heard of it's existence. I was certainly a fool, as once I played finally got around to playing it, KotOR instantly became my favorite RPG ever! This game perfectly captures the whole Star Wars charm, sending you on an epic quest to save the galaxy from the dark side, not without twists and turns on your way to victory. The story is simply amazing, and IMHO superior to even the original Star Wars trilogy. Definately a Star Wars fan's dream come true, and definately how you should make a good licensed game.

 

3. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (PC)

I'm not a big fan of sports games, so it's actually quite funny that the only such game on my list lands in such a high spot. There was a time when Tony Hawk games used to be good, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 was most definately the best game in the series. The amazing and fun gameplay set this skating game appart from more traditional sports games, offering a truly thrilling experience.

 

2. Resident Evil 4 (PS2)

Resident Evil 4 is a very polarising game. When it initially came out it was met with wide critical acclaim, but soon after annoying Resident Evil purists started hating on the game, there were no zombies in it and the game actually had ggod gameplay and was (gasp) fun!!! Disregarding them, I was blown away when I first layed eyes on a gameplay video of this game. The graphics were amazing (even though the version I played wasn't as visually impressive as the original GameCube one), and the camera angle truly revolutionised the TPS genre. While I did love Gears of War, this game was much cooler. As I said the gameplay is actually fun (considering this is a survival horror), and the boss fights are epic). The game may not be very scary, but I don't mind that as I don't like being scared. Oh, and surprisingly the voice acting is not that bad.

 

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)

When a game recieves the type of acclaim this game has, you have certain expectations from it. It seldom happens that you finally play and say "it is that good", but in the case of Zelda Ocarina of Time it really is that good!

A guy who lived in my building had a N64 and got this game a couple of months after it came out. I heard him say how awsome it was, so I went to see what all the fuss was about. The game looked amazing, but he wouldn't let me play.

Fastforward a couple of years later when I buy his old N64 and a couple of the games he had left, including this one. I rush home happy that I could finally get to play this game (in the meantime I keep hearing about all the praise this game was recieving), while also being nervous that I'd fin the game outdated and that I missed my chance to really enjoy it fully. Luckily my fears turned out to be unfounded.

Other than the graphics, this game hardly seemed outdated when I played it then, and even today if I pop it in my ancient N64 I can still have a blast with it. Never have I seen a game that  feel like everything regarding it is just right. The art style, the musci, the story, the amazing revolutionary gameplay, there's simply nothing that's wrong with this game.

There's no feeling comparable to riding horseback on Hyrule field, exploring the game's world, fighting monsters in the dungeons, or defeating the game's epic bosses.

If there's one video game that deserves to be called a "timeless classic", making you feel nostalgia while you play it, while also seeming like it was released just yesterday, then this game is the one.

This gem never gets old, so bring on the 3DS remake Nintendo!