Another mass update:
28. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2, remade in HD as part of ICO/SotC package on PS3)
This is typically held up as a prime example when people start describing games as an art form and it's pretty easy to see why. Unlike a lot of arty style media, this also had the bonus of being an entertaining game. The simple concept of a game filled with epic boss fights in a wonderfully unique environment just plain works, but the real beauty of the game comes in the subtle ways the game invokes emotional responses from the player, from the expressions on the colossi to the way Agro feels like riding a real horse.
27. Starcraft + Brood War expansion (PC, also on N64 as Starcraft 64)
Talk about unoriginal this game adding nothing new to RTS gameplay; 2 resources, 3 factions, basic RTS techs and units. It just did it all prefectly. Very few games in the genre are as amazingly polished as this one. The 3 races were incredibly well balanced and in the coming years were patched to perfection whilst they managed to incorporate a decent campaign mode into the game.
26. Chrono Trigger (SNES, also on DS, VC, PSN & PS)
There aren't many JRPGs like this one, it really stands out in the genre as an absolute gem of a game. The characters were all interesting, the epic story felt like a true odyssey through time and with multiple paths and endings this really does still stand as one of the best games ever made. The graphics have aged pretty well too.
25. Neverwinter Nights + Expansions Shadows of Undrentide & Hordes of the Underdark (PC)
I unfortunately didn't get into Baldurs Gate when it came out, so this was my first real foray into Western RPGs. From the start I loved it. The story was brilliant starting with a plague in Neverwinter and multiple problems aflicting the city to the betrayal of the Aribeth and the way the player handles each situation. The expansions were also good adding in prestige classes as well as new stories. Played this co-op with my partner which worked very well.
24. Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty (PC)
Sequel to the game that's a Korean national sport and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, Starcraft 2 is just superb. Everyone knows its popular in multiplayer (although the Terrans were somewhat overpowered and the Zerg the opposite on release), but what I was suprised with was the excellent single player campaign. You can see a lot of care and effort went into building a good story and campaign mode. Bring on Heart of the Swarm!
23. Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Game of the Year Edition (PC, also on X-box)
This game just shows why the Elder Scrolls series is considerred one of the best WRPG franchises in existence. A wonderful open world that's highly unique in it's art-style and architecture; cities made from the carcasses of giant crabs, nomadic tribes, mechanical ruins and a range of natural scenery. As soon as you get off the boat there is just so much to do, so many skills to learn, places to explore and guilds to join. One of the best open-world RPGs ever created.
22. Age of Empires II + The Conquerors expansion (PC)
Sequel to the award winning Age of Empires and one of the greatest multiplayer RTS' ever created. The civs were well balanced, there was a whole range to choose from and each had their unique specialties (I both loved and cursed British longbowman!). Take your Civ from the Dark Ages, through to an era of castles and trebuchets, cavalry charges, infantry rushes, Korean war wagons and those blasted longbowman! A great RTS.
21. Gran Turismo 5 (PS3)
I believe this is the only racing/driving game on my list which shows you how highly I rate GT5 (although the new F1 games come mighty close to top 50). The driving physics as always are great, but it's the sheers amount of content and support from the devs that make this game so fantastic. The constant update of online events, patches and upgrades is astounding, especially for a game that already has such a huge amount of content. The new spec 2.0 is a great addition improving some of the inconsistencies and making the endurance races that bit more doable.
