Making a list of the best video games based on a specific factor, like popularity, is pretty simple. It’s evident from the thousands of blogs you’ll find on the internet.
But when you include the words ‘of all time,’ things get a little more challenging.
You’re no longer talking about the best-selling video games or the greatest video games of a specific console; you’re encompassing everything that came before, spanning generations, in one place.
It was an enormous task, but after years of research, decades of hard work, and centuries of diligence (okay, not really), we’ve finally managed to do just that.
In this blog, we’re going to discuss the best video games of all time.
So, gear up for a bumpy ride.
We could NOT have started this list without mentioning a version of Pac-Man. The franchise has been running for over 40 years; its latest game, Pac-Man Museum+, was released in May this year.
Ms. Pac-Man is the sequel of Pac-Man, the game that started it all. Players assume the role of Pac-Man’s wife and are required to eat the pellets while avoiding the four colored ghosts at the same time.
The Midway-published game has been considered groundbreaking, primarily for introducing a female protagonist.
And that’s precisely why Ms. Pac-Man has reserved a spot in The Strong National Museum of Play’s World Video Game Hall of Fame.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s highly unlikely that you haven’t heard about Dota 2. It is so popular that for some, it’s not just a game; it’s a lifestyle.
Dota 2 especially enjoys a massive fan following in the Electronic Sports (esports) industry, with various teams playing in professional leagues yearly.
The premise is quite simple: two teams of five players compete against each other to take down the opponent’s Ancient – a large building located within their base.
With over 100 characters (or heroes, as they’re referred to in the game) to choose from, the world’s your oyster.
Oh, and the best part? You won’t have to grind endlessly to unlock them; they’re free to play.
Many would argue that this position should’ve been given to the first Street Fighter. After all, it walked so future games could run. And we agree; Street Fighter introduced the ‘street fighting’ genre.
But Street Fighter 2, with its evolved gameplay and enhanced graphics, made the franchise a phenomenal success. Consequently, more and more arcades throughout the US and several other countries across the globe played Street Fighter 2.
In fact, it was Street Fighter 2’s success that served as a benchmark for the Tekken and Virtua Fighter series. But none could surpass it in terms of fighting style, gameplay mechanics, and character roster.
Rockstar Games had tasted success with the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise. No one was expecting them to spawn yet another popular game series. But they proved everyone wrong with Red Dead Redemption (RDR).
If you ask our honest opinion, there aren’t a lot of differences between the two franchises. And you’ll find many people who’ll say the same. They claim that Rockstar Games took the same formula for the GTA games and implemented it on the RDR series.
But, as they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Set in 1989, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to Red Dead Redemption; it follows an outlaw, Arthur Morgan, as he and his gang struggle to find their place in the Western World. They engage in heists, hunting, shootouts, horse riding, and everything else you’ll expect in a yee-haw game.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is considered the best western video game in history.
Female characters have consistently been underrepresented in the gaming world. They exist, but only to provide support to the main leads, who, no surprises here, happen to be men.
But then came Lara Croft – a British archeologist endangering her life searching for lost treasures and artifacts. Her tasks often lead her to raid ruins and tombs (hence the name Tomb Raider).
The Tomb Raider series has spawned 12 games, but Rise of the Tomb Raider takes the cake.
Released in 2015, Rise of the Tomb Raider sees the titular heroine, Lara Croft, travel to Siberia in search of a city called Kiezh. But she has to steer clear of the paramilitary organization Trinity’s way. They intend to exploit the city, which ostensibly grants immortality.
One of the many ways Rise of the Tomb Raider differs from other games is that the developers took a keen interest in player feedback during the development process. Their hard work paid off, as evident from the game’s astounding critical reception, sales, and accolades.
If someone had told us that a game about mining and crafting stuff would become the best-selling game of all time, we wouldn’t have believed them. But Minecraft, having sold over 238 million copies since its release date, i.e., November 2011, proved us wrong.
So, what exactly is so special in the game that even after a decade, it has almost 140 million active monthly players? Well, it’s hard to say, really. Even though you can ‘end’ Minecraft, gamers are free to create their own worlds and stories.
We could be wrong, but the reason behind the game’s popularity is that it provides a beautiful escape from the horrors of the real world.
For instance, Minecraft always begins with a bright day and a sunny day. In your surroundings are colorful trees, oceans, and animals.
It all seems pleasant… until the sun goes down.
Out come the monsters, like zombies, giant spiders, endermen, creepers, and skeletons.
Whether you survive the night or get killed by one of them depends on how well you’re equipped with weapons.
Portal was released in 2007 with no publicity. And looking at the gameplay, it’s understandable why. The game didn’t have spectacular graphics, an immersive storyline, or even a character you could see.
Where Portal won, however, was the puzzling gameplay.
In Portal, you assume the role of a young woman, Chell, who happens to be a test subject in a scientific facility run by an evil and ruthless AI. The only thing you have is a portal gun, using which you need to solve challenges and ultimately escape.
The concept is a bit weird to explain. But once you start playing Portal, there’s no going back. With its ridiculous puzzles, the game draws you in like a good book and doesn’t let you go until you’ve completed a level – or several.
Portal’s only drawback was its short gameplay. If you’re good at puzzle-platform games, it’ll take you just over an hour to complete.
Fortunately, the sequel, Portal 2, takes more than just an hour to finish.
The Zelda games have enjoyed a successful run going back all the way to the late 1980s. But it wouldn’t be wrong to say that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild changed not just the franchise but the gaming industry.
In the earlier installments, players couldn’t run off to explore the world; this was changed in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Players can do whatever they want without completing a specific mission first.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild combines the classic features of the franchise with some new additions. For instance, in this game, Link, the protagonist, has supernatural abilities.
Considering the positive points, it’s no wonder The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was called a landmark in open-world game designs, winning several ‘Game of the Year’ awards.
Most post-apocalyptic games have a pretty standard formula; they’re set in a technologically advanced world where players have to use futuristic guns and innovative gadgets.
The Fallout, NieR: Automata, and Mad Max series are just a few of the many titles that fall in the same category.
But what if the technological revolution came while dinosaurs still roamed Earth?
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Guerilla Games answered that question with Horizon Zero Dawn. The story takes place in post-apocalyptic land ravaged by robotic creatures, mostly dinosaurs. Players control a young woman named Aloy, who uses a variety of weapons to kill enemies, including explosives, spears, and bows.
The game doesn’t have any guns; according to the developers, it’s intentional. Since they wanted to make Horizon Zero Dawn as primitive as possible, adding pistols or launchers would’ve ruined the concept.
In addition to the spectacular graphics, Horizon Zero Dawn was driven by an engrossing narrative, revealing Aloy’s backstory and why the world was the way it was.
The titles mentioned in this blog changed the gaming industry forever. Of course, there are a plethora of other names, but we’ll let you complete the task.
So, tell us in the comments which games you think should’ve made the cut.
Micheal - Writer at DealZoneOne.com 
No Spam. Just the 'Real' Deal.
