We live in a world where there is a video game for everyone. It’s not just for teenagers anymore either; it’s for adults, kids, and seniors! Whether you are looking to get lost in an MMO, want something quick like Angry Birds, or enjoy a console experience, we’ve compiled the top games with some honorable mentions. Let’s get started!
Pac-Man
It’s hard to imagine a video game cultural icon bigger than Pac-Man. The original arcade version of the game is a classic. Still, the overall franchise (which now encompasses dozens of entries across multiple platforms) has more than enough lasting power to earn Pac-Man a spot on this list.
No matter how old you are, it’s likely that you’ve enjoyed at least one “Pac-Man” game in your life. Even if you’re not a fan of the actual gameplay, you can’t deny the cultural significance of this historic franchise.
The first game was released in 1980 and quickly became a hit with people of all ages. While some may complain about the lack of depth or variety in gameplay, this is still one of the most recognizable video games ever created. Many people think about it when they hear “video games.”
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda was the first Zelda game, and it’s still one of the best. Link is on a quest to rescue Princess Zelda from Ganon and, along the way, will need to explore 10 dungeons and collect items such as bombs, a bow and arrows, and a boomerang.
You’ll also need to collect rupees (money) to buy medicine, lantern oil, a raft, and magic swords. Link can’t jump, but he can push blocks around or pick them up and throw them at enemies. The graphics are simple but effective as you explore this top-down dungeon-based adventure.
There are three difficulty levels: Easy for beginners, Normal for those who have played before, and Hard for those who want a real challenge. You can choose the order in which you tackle the dungeons, which adds replay value to the game. The Legend of Zelda is an all-time classic that you should play if you haven’t already!
Halo 2
Halo 2 is the best-selling game on the original Xbox and one of the most influential first-person shooters ever made. And like USDT casinos games, it’s a great game to play.
The game’s story was split between two protagonists: Master Chief, an invincible super-soldier who never takes off his helmet, and an alien called The Arbiter, who has a more human personality. The split allowed players to experience both sides of a war between humans and aliens, culminating in a moment that makes you feel bad for shooting at your enemies.
It’s been 10 years since the original Halo 2 was released, but now it’s available on PC as part of Microsoft’s new Halo: Master Chief Collection. Suppose you’ve never played any of these games before. In that case, this collection is worth checking out for its multiplayer modes and outstanding campaign mode — but if you’re not interested in playing online or cooperatively with friends, better options are available.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3 is considered by many to be the best Nintendo game ever made — and for a good reason. The game’s scope is incredible – there are eight unique worlds to explore, and each is massive. There are also new power-ups introduced in this game that offer a new dimension of gameplay, including the Super Leaf that turns Mario into Raccoon Mario and the P-Wing that lets you fly through levels.
And let’s not forget the mini-games that accompany each stage that have you doing things like catching fish as a frog or dodging obstacles while running on a giant ball. Despite being released 31 years ago, it’s still an absolute joy to play and one of the greatest games ever created.
Final Fantasy X
You’re most likely familiar with the Final Fantasy franchise if you’re a video game fan. It has been around for decades and is one of the most well-known video game series. While each Final Fantasy installment has its own story and characters, they share a few common themes, such as crystals and airships.
The tenth installment of the franchise is one of the first to use voiceovers instead of text bubbles to tell its story, which led to an increased emotional impact on players. The characters were also more realistic, with dynamic facial expressions and body language.
The game follows young Tidus, transported from his native Zanarkand to Spira after an event known as “the rampage.” He meets Yuna, a summoner on a pilgrimage to defeat Sin — a gigantic monster that terrorizes Spira — and joins her quest. Players battle enemies by selecting commands from the menu in real-time; special attacks called “overdrives” can be performed once a character’s overdrive gauge is full.
Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II is one of the world’s most beloved video games. It redefined the fighting genre and made Capcom a household name.
It was released in 1991, but it didn’t become a worldwide hit until 1992. Early versions were released for arcades, but Capcom wanted to see if people would come to the game as much for its story as for its gameplay. In that regard, Street Fighter II succeeded: By the time they did its story mode, more than 20 million people had played it.
Street Fighter II’s success wasn’t just limited to arcade machines. The game was eventually ported to every major home console, from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to the PlayStation 2.
It remains popular today, thanks partly to the series of crossover fighting games that followed it, including Street Fighter III and Street Fighter IV on home consoles and Street Fighter X Tekken on mobile devices.
Goldeneye 007
You know a game’s good when the developer has to make a whole new console to handle it properly. Goldeneye 007 was one of the Nintendo 64’s biggest hits.
Not only is GoldenEye the best James Bond movie to date (sorry, Daniel Craig), but it’s also the most excellent first-person shooter ever made. Sure, the movie license helped, but it was multiplayer that kept us coming back for more.
GoldenEye still holds up very well today thanks to its diverse arsenal of weapons and cheat options and its surprisingly single-player solid component. The N64 classic may not have the most up-to-date graphics and sound, but the core gameplay mechanics are more than makeup.
The game would be a must-own if you grew up in the ’90s, as there’s a good chance your childhood memories are filled with GoldenEye’s split-screen deathmatches. I’d be happy to play a few rounds of Dam and Facility with some friends even today.
The Last of Us
The Last of Us is Naughty Dog’s crowning achievement and was crowned our Game of the Year in 2013. This list-defining game marries its storytelling with its gameplay, and nothing made us feel quite as badass as using a pipe bomb to explode a horde of zombies before moving through the stragglers with a hail of bullets.The Last of Us has some of the most stunning graphics seen in this generation, and even though it’s a three-year-old game, it hasn’t aged a day since its release. If anything, The Last of Us looks better now than it did in 2013.
As far as zombie games go, The Last of Us is one of the best examples – and one that anyone who owns a PlayStation 4 should check out.
Conclusion
Some of these games may be older, some newer, but all are impressive for different reasons. That’s what makes the video game industry great to get involved in, no matter how old you happen to be. As the older games age, the newer games continue to produce more stunning graphics; take note of that.
Like its counterpart Tether betting, the video game industry is undoubtedly one of the most fast-paced industries! While we tried our best to rank every single best video game ever made on an equivalent scale, it’s hard to compare apples and oranges. Some of these old games have been remastered or have had sequels made that expand on their ideas. We considered this when determining the best games ever made.