I have a bit of an interest in statistics as I'm sure I'm not the only one here on the site and for whatever reason I recently had an idea to combine critic and user scores across different sites to find the average and see which games are most highly regarded "across the board". So I did, and I figured I might as well share my "findings".
While I usually prefer OpenCritic I choose Metacritic for the critic scores in this case since it goes way further back and for games that couldn't be found on there (SNES or earlier) I used GameRankings. For user scores I've used two different sites because I feel they outweight each other's biases nicely, GameFAQs is an old school site with a console preference while HowLongToBeat is a modern site with a slight PC preference.
I've generally gone with the highest rated version of each game (including GOTY editions or remasters) on each site unless it was based on significantly less votes. The same goes for expansions that are essentially synonymous with the main game (StarCraft: Brood War or Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne).
Here's the list:
Rank | Title | Metacritic | GameFAQs | HWLTB | Average |
1 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | 99 | 4.58 | 92 | 94.2 |
2 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 97 | 4.53 | 93 | 93.5 |
3 | Persona 5 (Royal) | 95 | 4.51 | 95 | 93.4 |
4 | Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater | 94 | 4.53 | 94 | 92.9 |
5 | Chrono Trigger | 96 | 4.56 | 91 | 92.7 |
6 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | 97 | 4.35 | 93 | 92.3 |
7 | Elden Ring | 96 | 4.38 | 93 | 92.2 |
8 | Super Mario Odyssey | 97 | 4.46 | 90 | 92.1 |
9 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 93 | 4.46 | 94 | 92.1 |
10 | Resident Evil 4 (2005) | 96 | 4.55 | 89 | 92.0 |
11 | The Last of Us | 95 | 4.44 | 92 | 91.9 |
12 | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | 96 | 4.32 | 93 | 91.8 |
13 | Super Mario Galaxy | 97 | 4.41 | 90 | 91.7 |
14 | Super Mario Galaxy 2 | 97 | 4.46 | 89 | 91.7 |
15 | Super Metroid | 97 | 4.46 | 89 | 91.7 |
16 | Mass Effect 2 | 96 | 4.45 | 90 | 91.7 |
17 | Persona 4 Golden | 93 | 4.55 | 91 | 91.7 |
18 | Bloodborne | 92 | 4.43 | 94 | 91.5 |
19 | Baldur's Gate 3 | 96 | 4.22 | 94 | 91.5 |
20 | Portal 2 | 95 | 4.42 | 91 | 91.5 |
21 | The House in Fata Morgana | 96* | 4.36 | 91 | 91.4 |
22 | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night | 93 | 4.55 | 90 | 91.3 |
23 | Half-Life: Alyx | 93 | 4.35 | 94 | 91.3 |
24 | God of War: Ragnarök | 94 | 4.38 | 92 | 91.2 |
25 | Metal Gear Solid | 94 | 4.53 | 89 | 91.2 |
26 | Metroid Prime | 97 | 4.43 | 88 | 91.2 |
27 | The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | 95 | 4.42 | 90 | 91.1 |
28 | Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn | 95 | 4.4 | 90 | 91.0 |
29 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | 95 | 4.55 | 87 | 91.0 |
30 | Super Mario World | 94 | 4.54 | 88 | 90.9 |
31 | The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | 96 | 4.39 | 89 | 90.9 |
32 | Resident Evil 4 (2023) | 93 | 4.36 | 92 | 90.7 |
33 | God of War (2018) | 94 | 4.34 | 91 | 90.6 |
34 | Xenoblade Chronicles | 92 | 4.54 | 89 | 90.6 |
35 | Half-Life 2 | 96 | 4.37 | 88 | 90.5 |
36 | Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (The Frozen Throne) | 92 | 4.52 | 89 | 90.5 |
37 | Gothic II (Night of the Raven) | 95** | 4.36 | 89 | 90.4 |
38 | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 96 | 4.41 | 87 | 90.4 |
39 | Final Fantasy VI | 92 | 4.55 | 88 | 90.3 |
40 | Red Dead Redemption | 95 | 4.4 | 88 | 90.3 |
41 | Grand Theft Auto V | 97 | 4.34 | 87 | 90.3 |
42 | Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots | 94 | 4.54 | 86 | 90.3 |
43 | Super Mario Bros. 3 | 94 | 4.54 | 86 | 90.3 |
44 | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | 96 | 4.44 | 86 | 90.3 |
45 | Final Fantasy IX | 94 | 4.38 | 89 | 90.2 |
46 | Final Fantasy VII | 92 | 4.47 | 89 | 90.1 |
47 | Dark Souls | 89 | 4.45 | 92 | 90.0 |
48 | Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | 92 | 4.3 | 92 | 90.0 |
49 | Shadow of the Colossus (2005) | 91 | 4.45 | 90 | 90.0 |
50 | The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | 95 | 4.39 | 87 | 89.9 |
*Based on the Dreams of the Revenant collection.
**GameRankings score based on 1 review
A fairly predictable top 2 perhaps, but I think there are some interesting results beyond that. Even just the top 10 feels a bit more varied than when it comes down to popularity contests. And though they might come with asterixes attached, two fairly obscure titles (The House in Fata Morgana and Gothic II: Night of the Raven) were highly regarded enough across all three sites to make it to the top 50.
Here's the full top 200 for those extra curious:
51 | Super Smash Bros. Melee | 92 | 4.48 | 88 | 89.9 |
52 | Soulcalibur | 98 | 4.42 | 83 | 89.8 |
53 | Grand Theft Auto: San Adreas | 95 | 4.36 | 87 | 89.7 |
54 | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | 94 | 4.36 | 88 | 89.7 |
55 | Beat Saber | 93 | 4.35 | 89 | 89.7 |
56 | Divinity: Original Sin II | 93 | 4.34 | 89 | 89.6 |
57 | Hades | 93 | 4.29 | 90 | 89.6 |
58 | Skies of Arcadia | 93 | 4.44 | 87 | 89.6 |
59 | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 93 | 4.39 | 88 | 89.6 |
60 | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | 96 | 4.28 | 87 | 89.5 |
61 | Ninja Gaiden Black | 94 | 4.33 | 88 | 89.5 |
62 | Batman: Arkham City | 94 | 4.42 | 86 | 89.5 |
63 | Super Mario 64 | 94 | 4.42 | 86 | 89.5 |
64 | Hollow Knight | 90 | 4.36 | 91 | 89.4 |
65 | Bioshock | 96 | 4.35 | 85 | 89.3 |
66 | Planescape: Torment | 91 | 4.4 | 89 | 89.3 |
67 | Super Mario Bros. Wonder | 92 | 4.35 | 89 | 89.3 |
68 | Disco Elysium (The Final Cut) | 91 | 4.34 | 90 | 89.3 |
69 | Fire Emblem: Awakening | 92 | 4.44 | 87 | 89.3 |
70 | Silent Hill 2 (2001) | 89 | 4.39 | 91 | 89.3 |
71 | X-COM: UFO Defense | 94 | 4.34 | 87 | 89.3 |
72 | Persona 3 Reload | 87 | 4.48 | 91 | 89.2 |
73 | The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | 91 | 4.42 | 88 | 89.1 |
74 | Okami | 93 | 4.4 | 86 | 89.0 |
75 | Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island | 96 | 4.35 | 84 | 89.0 |
76 | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | 93 | 4.3 | 88 | 89.0 |
77 | Deux Ex | 90 | 4.39 | 89 | 88.9 |
78 | Resident Evil (2002) | 91 | 4.44 | 87 | 88.9 |
79 | Day of the Tentacle | 95 | 4.32 | 85 | 88.8 |
80 | Ori and the Will of the Wisps | 90 | 4.32 | 90 | 88.8 |
81 | Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door | 87 | 4.46 | 90 | 88.7 |
82 | Astro Bot Rescue Mission | 90 | 4.3 | 90 | 88.7 |
83 | Bayonetta 2 | 91 | 4.45 | 86 | 88.7 |
84 | Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty | 93 | 4.35 | 86 | 88.7 |
85 | The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth | 88 | 4.3 | 92 | 88.7 |
86 | The Last of Us Part II (Remastered) | 93 | 4.15 | 90 | 88.7 |
87 | Dragon Age: Origins | 91 | 4.34 | 88 | 88.6 |
88 | NieR: Automata | 91 | 4.34 | 88 | 88.6 |
89 | Panzer Dragoon Saga | 93 | 4.29 | 87 | 88.6 |
90 | Dark Souls III | 89 | 4.33 | 90 | 88.5 |
91 | Dwarf Fortress | 93 | 4.33 | 86 | 88.5 |
92 | Paper Mario | 93 | 4.38 | 85 | 88.5 |
93 | Celeste | 92 | 4.27 | 88 | 88.5 |
94 | Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age | 91 | 4.32 | 88 | 88.5 |
95 | Diablo II (Lord of Destruction) | 88 | 4.41 | 89 | 88.4 |
96 | Persona 3 FES | 89 | 4.41 | 88 | 88.4 |
97 | Resident Evil 2 (2019) | 91 | 4.31 | 88 | 88.4 |
98 | Starcraft (Brood War) | 88 | 4.41 | 89 | 88.4 |
99 | GoldenEye 007 (1997) | 96 | 4.35 | 82 | 88.3 |
100 | Kingdom Hearts II (Final Mix) | 87 | 4.4 | 90 | 88.3 |
101 | Mario Kart 8 | 92 | 4.35 | 86 | 88.3 |
102 | Monster Hunter: World (Iceborne) | 90 | 4.3 | 89 | 88.3 |
103 | Rock Band 2 | 92 | 4.35 | 86 | 88.3 |
104 | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | 90 | 4.2 | 91 | 88.3 |
105 | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | 94 | 4.4 | 83 | 88.3 |
106 | The World Ends With You | 88 | 4.45 | 88 | 88.3 |
107 | System Shock 2 | 92 | 4.29 | 87 | 88.3 |
108 | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest | 90 | 4.38 | 87 | 88.2 |
109 | Perfect Dark | 97 | 4.33 | 81 | 88.2 |
110 | Pokemon Gold and Silver | 91 | 4.38 | 86 | 88.2 |
111 | Banjo Kazooie | 92 | 4.37 | 85 | 88.1 |
112 | Grand Theft Auto IV | 98 | 4.22 | 82 | 88.1 |
113 | Half-Life | 96 | 4.21 | 84 | 88.1 |
114 | Resident Evil 2 (1998) | 89 | 4.36 | 88 | 88.1 |
115 | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (DX) | 91 | 4.36 | 86 | 88.1 |
116 | Mother 3 | 84 | 4.45 | 91 | 88.0 |
117 | Stardew Valley | 89 | 4.35 | 88 | 88.0 |
118 | Tekken 3 | 96 | 4.2 | 84 | 88.0 |
119 | Super Mario 3D World | 93 | 4.34 | 84 | 87.9 |
120 | Super Smash Bros. Brawl | 93 | 4.39 | 83 | 87.9 |
121 | Halo: Combat Evolved | 97 | 4.23 | 82 | 87.9 |
122 | Lunar: Eternal Blue (1994) | 91 | 4.43 | 84 | 87.9 |
123 | Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory | 94 | 4.33 | 83 | 87.9 |
124 | God of War II | 93 | 4.32 | 84 | 87.8 |
125 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | 95 | 4.22 | 84 | 87.8 |
126 | Pokemon SoulSilver Version | 87 | 4.42 | 88 | 87.8 |
127 | Undertale | 92 | 4.27 | 86 | 87.8 |
128 | Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward | 88 | 4.42 | 87 | 87.8 |
129 | God of War III | 92 | 4.31 | 85 | 87.7 |
130 | EarthBound | 88 | 4.35 | 88 | 87.7 |
131 | Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate | 86 | 4.55 | 86 | 87.7 |
132 | Xenoblade Chronicles 3 | 89 | 4.25 | 89 | 87.7 |
133 | Fallout 3 | 93 | 4.39 | 82 | 87.6 |
134 | Forza Horizon 3 | 91 | 4.29 | 86 | 87.6 |
135 | Rayman Legends | 92 | 4.29 | 85 | 87.6 |
136 | The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series | 89 | 4.34 | 87 | 87.6 |
137 | Unreal Tournament (1999) | 92 | 4.29 | 85 | 87.6 |
138 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | 89 | 4.33 | 87 | 87.5 |
139 | Mega Man X | 89 | 4.38 | 86 | 87.5 |
140 | Rock Back 3 | 93 | 4.28 | 84 | 87.5 |
141 | Animal Crossing: New Leaf | 88 | 4.47 | 85 | 87.5 |
142 | Burnout 3: Takedown | 94 | 4.17 | 85 | 87.5 |
143 | Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King | 89 | 4.37 | 86 | 87.5 |
144 | Factorio | 90 | 4.22 | 88 | 87.5 |
145 | Pikmin 4 | 87 | 4.32 | 89 | 87.5 |
146 | Civilization II | 94 | 4.21 | 84 | 87.4 |
147 | Portal | 90 | 4.31 | 86 | 87.4 |
148 | The Talos Principle II | 88 | 4.26 | 89 | 87.4 |
149 | Thief II: The Metal Age | 87 | 4.36 | 88 | 87.4 |
150 | Yakuza 0 | 85 | 4.36 | 90 | 87.4 |
151 | Bioshock Infinite | 94 | 4.2 | 84 | 87.3 |
152 | Shovel Knight (Treasure Trove) | 91 | 4.35 | 84 | 87.3 |
153 | Fallout: New Vegas | 84 | 4.39 | 90 | 87.3 |
154 | Journey | 92 | 4.39 | 82 | 87.3 |
155 | Suikoden II | 82 | 4.49 | 90 | 87.3 |
156 | Thief: The Dark Project | 92 | 4.24 | 85 | 87.3 |
157 | Doom II | 95 | 4.28 | 81 | 87.2 |
158 | Final Fantasy Tactics (1997) | 83 | 4.38 | 91 | 87.2 |
159 | Grim Fandago | 94 | 4.38 | 80 | 87.2 |
160 | Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | 94 | 4.32 | 81 | 87.1 |
161 | Return of the Obra Dinn | 89 | 4.17 | 89 | 87.1 |
162 | Halo 3 | 94 | 4.16 | 84 | 87.1 |
163 | Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars | 89 | 4.46 | 83 | 87.1 |
164 | Yakuza: Infinite Wealth | 89 | 4.16 | 89 | 87.1 |
165 | Chrono Cross | 94 | 4.2 | 83 | 87.0 |
166 | Mass Effect 3 | 93 | 4.15 | 85 | 87.0 |
167 | Metal Gear Soliv V: The Phantom Pain | 93 | 4.25 | 83 | 87.0 |
168 | Civilization V | 90 | 4.34 | 84 | 86.9 |
169 | Demon's Souls (2020) | 92 | 4.19 | 85 | 86.9 |
170 | Halo 2 | 95 | 4.14 | 83 | 86.9 |
171 | Unreal Tournament 2004 | 93 | 4.19 | 84 | 86.9 |
172 | Golden Sun: The Lost Age | 86 | 4.43 | 86 | 86.9 |
173 | Gran Turismo 2 | 93 | 4.13 | 85 | 86.9 |
174 | Street Figther III: The Third Strike | 86 | 4.38 | 87 | 86.9 |
175 | Theatrhythm Final Bar Line | 87 | 4.33 | 87 | 86.9 |
176 | Age of Empires II: Age of Kings | 92 | 4.22 | 84 | 86.8 |
177 | Civilization IV | 94 | 4.22 | 82 | 86.8 |
178 | Final Fantasy VII Remake (Integrade) | 89 | 4.26 | 86 | 86.7 |
179 | Heroes of Might and Magic III | 87 | 4.36 | 86 | 86.7 |
180 | Steins;Gate | 83 | 4.36 | 90 | 86.7 |
181 | It Takes Two | 88 | 4.15 | 89 | 86.7 |
182 | Marvel's Spider-Man | 87 | 4.3 | 87 | 86.7 |
183 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | 90 | 4.35 | 83 | 86.7 |
184 | Horizon: Zero Dawn | 89 | 4.24 | 86 | 86.6 |
185 | Metroid Dread | 88 | 4.19 | 88 | 86.6 |
186 | Outer Wilds | 85 | 4.19 | 91 | 86.6 |
187 | Gran Turismo 4 | 89 | 4.28 | 85 | 86.5 |
188 | Marvel's Spider-Man 2 | 90 | 4.08 | 88 | 86.5 |
189 | Pikmin 3 (Deluxe) | 87 | 4.33 | 86 | 86.5 |
190 | Virtua Figther 4: Evolution | 93 | 4.18 | 83 | 86.5 |
191 | Forza Horizon 4 | 92 | 4.17 | 84 | 86.5 |
192 | Assassin's Creed II | 90 | 4.26 | 84 | 86.4 |
193 | Dark Souls II | 91 | 4.36 | 81 | 86.4 |
194 | God of War (2005) | 94 | 4.21 | 81 | 86.4 |
195 | The Curse of Monkey Island | 89 | 4.31 | 84 | 86.4 |
196 | The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword | 93 | 4.21 | 82 | 86.4 |
197 | Devil May Cry 3 (Special Edition) | 87 | 4.29 | 86 | 86.3 |
198 | Forza Horizon 5 | 92 | 4.14 | 84 | 86.3 |
199 | Gears of War 2 | 93 | 4.19 | 82 | 86.3 |
200 | Inside | 93 | 4.19 | 82 | 86.3 |
Obviously this isn't any sort of definitive list, there could be lots of ways to do it. You could have chosen to weigh critics at 50 % or to use different sites, but figured it was still an interesting little experiment as is.
Last edited by UnderwaterFunktown - on 13 May 2024Try out my free game on Steam
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