With the launch of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X|S comes the start of a new console generation, but that doesn't mean the older games are forgotten. There are still hundreds of quality titles available to pick up and play right now, and games on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch will continue to be released in the near future despite the existence of new console counterparts.
Every generation is defined by a number of landmark titles, and the current eighth generation (encompassing the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch) is no different. From console launch titles to releases still to come, these gaming platforms have seen more than a few breathtaking RPGs, FPS games, and open world adventures. Some were great, some were merely okay, and some are worth remember for their sheer ridiculous and/or popularity alone (looking at you, Fall Guys).
Here are some of the best video games of the eighth console generation, chosen by Screen Rant's editorial team.
Game of the Generation - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Selected by Alex Leadbeater, Screen Rant's Managing Editor
Open world games became the lazy AAA option of the ending generation, often coasting on previous hits and iterating development annually. But when a developer properly brought the many elements together, there was still the chance for something really special. Spider-Man's New York City allowed for exhilaratingly accurate gameplay, and Horizon: Zero Dawn melded character and story to the post-apocalypse map in increasing surprising and emotive ways.
But the clear best - in ambition, scope and achievement - stands The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It's as big and dense as they come, although what is so remarkable is how carefully packed it is. The world's structure feels real, each area distinct and the missions within it tied to a unifying theme, and a sprawling sense that walking in any direction leads to adventure. Side-missions (often generic and repetitive in inferior games) are each as engrossing as the main story, to the benefit of actually adjusting the player's approach. Whereas many RPGs or open world games want you to play as a character in their world - or adapt the defined player character's morality - The Witcher 3 goes the other way, slowly conditioning you to play as Geralt would, make decisions of all colors from his perspective.
It's such a vast game that one main quest diversion delivers a Nordic fantasy adventure as complete (and more engrossing) than Skyrim, and that's just the fraction of the total.
Game of the Generation - The Last of Us: Part 2
Selected by Mansoor Mithaiwala, Screen Rant's Lead Features Editor
The Last of Us: Part II tells a passionate story that's deeply human and, coupled with its groundbreaking graphics and impressive gameplay, is the epitome of video games as an art form. Seven years ago, at the tail-end of the PlayStation 3's life-cycle, Naughty Dog released the post-apocalyptic game The Last of Us, a title that went on to define a generation - not of consoles but of gamers. Everything was compared to it - and for good reason; The Last of Us was hailed as an achievement.
What's interesting is, considering The Last of Us: Part II as the next game of the generation - for the PlayStation 4's generation, that is - feels almost like an understatement. What it's done is set a new benchmark across the board and further the industry in more ways than one; it's not a game that's just fun to play, it's a game that understands its place in the grand scheme of things. It's a game that, with its captivating design, will change the industry forever, whether Naughty Dog wanted it to or not.
There's undeniably a sense of familiarity with The Last of Us: Part II, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If one were to break down the game into basic categories - story, gameplay, graphics, soundtrack, etc. - they would be amazed by each aspect because they all work independently, but the true wonder of the sequel lies in how all of those elements work together in a seamless way, much like the cylinders of an engine work together to push a car forward. And underneath it all are ideas that challenge players. Yes, there's controversy and there are twists and turns that turn people away, but those should be celebrated, not condemned.
Overall, The Last of Us Part II is a masterpiece in storytelling, not only because it’s daring, but because it deconstructs the human condition in ways gaming has never seen - beautifully so.
Game of the Generation - Rainbow Six Siege
Selected by Rob Keyes, Screen Rant's Editorial Director
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is my best game of the generation, or at least, best example of what this generation of gaming meant for the future of the industry. Siege started out as another game entirely, first announced as Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6: Patriots before being scrapped in favor of an entirely competitive multiplayer game with uniquely advanced environmental destruction and manipulation mechanics.
When it launched, it felt lacking in content and polish, serving more as a tech demo, but it did something new and innovative and the developers stuck with it. Over time, unlike most comparable games, Rainbow Six Siege continued to evolve and continued to grow its player base along with it, month after month for years. It showcased how games can reinvent themselves (No Man's Sky being another example) after launch, and then continually grow as a "live service" game which became the norm this generation. For a while now Siege has been the best and most dynamic tactical competitive shooter ever made, and it features mechanics and systems that other AAA franchises are still trying to catch up with, and it's not done yet.
Game of the Generation - Red Dead Redemption 2
Selected by Christopher J. Teuton, Screen Rant's Lead Gaming Editor
This generation of video games started off rather weak but ended incredibly strong. At the time of writing there are still highly-anticipated current-gen titles like Cyberpunk 2077 which have yet to release, but even the CEO of CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077's developer, has stated one of the reasons they are putting so much effort into the title is because they intend their game to be just as polished as Red Dead Redemption 2.
It's not just the graphics, the animations, and the massive open world that makes Red Dead Redemption 2 so special, but the game's confidence and pacing. While many players may have felt RDR2 moved far too slowly, the way Rockstar Games forced players to take their time and engage in the world around them purposefully and successfully immersed users in the world, and gave them a better understanding of Red Dead Redemption 2's characters than any amount of audio logs could ever do. While it may not have moved video games forward as drastically as the VR-exclusive title Half-Life: Alyx, Red Dead Redemption 2 represents the epitome of open world storytelling. From the way the game subtly hints at different character motivations and mentalities to the plethora of small touches it utilizes, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterclass in characterization, motivation, and game design, and also happens to be one of the greatest stories of the American West ever told.
Game of the Generation - NieR Automata
Selected by Cody Gravelle, Screen Rant's Game Reviews Editor
A lot has already been said about NieR: Automata by some very intelligent people and rehashing it won’t do a lot of good so, in discussing the game itself, I’ll just say go read up on it and make up your mind from there. There are plenty of worse games to sink dozens of hours into even if you’re not a fan of mind-and-genre-bending madness, and if you are, you’ve probably already played it.
The reason NieR: Automata is my game of the generation is because of what it represents for the next one. Yoko Taro’s brilliance is on full display throughout, and it’s undeniably an obtuse sort of journey - the kind that will turn off just as many people as it excites. The fact NieR: Automata remains beloved and discussed by thousands of fans years after its debut, however, is a demonstration of how thinking outside the box isn’t limiting in scope. Doing it well will land a big audience, even if it doesn’t feel as assured as something suitably gritty and violent like The Last Of Us. That’s a promising concept, one that can be stretched so much further by what’s possible on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. For that - and for being a damn excellent game in its own right - NieR: Automata is my game of the generation.
Game of the Generation - Final Fantasy 15
Selected by William Cennamo, Screen Rant's Game Guides Editor
The Final Fantasy series has always been a part of my gaming life, from the early days of Nintendo till now. Sadly, after Final Fantasy X, my interest waned with each subsequent release. It never stopped me from playing each new game, but the magic spark just wasn't there anymore. When Final Fantasy XV was announced, I followed along with the development and kept my expectations low, knowing that I was going to purchase it either way. I'm happy to say that this game brought back the love for the series I desperately missed.
Final Fantasy XV brought the heart back into the series, creating a "best buds" story filled with intrigue, adventure, and good times with friends. I genuinely cared about my team and never saw them as simple archetypes. The amazing boss fights kept me on my toes and the solemn moments hit hard, especially Lunafreya. Final Fantasy XV took everything that worked in past games and improved on it. The open world was lush and inviting, the active-time battle system was smooth, and the overall creature design was beautiful. I am excited to be a Final Fantasy fan again and see where the new generation of consoles takes the series.
Game of the Generation - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Selected by Camden Jones, Screen Rant Game Features Editor
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is, so far, the fullest realization of open-world games' "go anywhere" promise. Many open worlds of the eighth console generation continued the same exhausted and exhausting formula established by Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed, using their maps more like giant checklists of gamey tasks than worlds worth exploring. Breath of the Wild broke this trend, its boundary-free climbing system and unmarked map forcing players to discover Hyrule's interesting landmarks and activities on their own. The result is world where a quiet trek along a rocky coastline is just as satisfying as nailing a freeform combat encounter or coming upon a gorgeous mountaintop view.
Game of the Generation - Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Selected by Phillip Tinner, Screen Rant Gaming News Editor
While mostly comprised of games from a decade prior, Halo: The Master Chief Collection stands out amongst the past ten years of remakes and remasters, and it leads the charge in gaming's growing shift toward a multiplatform future. Originally releasing in 2014 with broken matchmaking, glitches, and omissions galore, 343 Industries' post-launch efforts have clawed Halo: The Master Chief Collection's way out of first-party humiliation and into the most ambitious, feature-rich collection of games ever compiled.
The studio's since added Halo 3: ODST (and, more recently, Firefight), Halo Reach, and original and new multiplayer and customization options initially absent for free, and it's now ported the definitive edition of each game - with Halo 4 arriving soon - to PC for the first time ever. Considering the current perilous state of the franchise, Halo: The Master Chief Collection solidifies 343's legacy as the steward of Bungie games rather than an innovator, but it provides infinite lessons to learn from and apply in future Microsoft titles.
Game of the Generation - Control
Selected by Brian Lawver, Screen Rant Gaming News Editor
The best games of this generation didn’t just dazzle players with their technical achievements; they built some of the most exciting virtual worlds ever and offered new ways of exploring them. And there may have been no game this generation that did that better than Control. Everything about Control is impressive at a glance, from its high-powered, satisfying combat to the gorgeous and bizarre environment it all took place in, but its real strength doesn’t show until you take the time to dig in.
The ever-shifting office building that Control takes place in is a masterpiece of environmental design, where even the contents of vending machines help bring the world to life. Its slow-burn story is shocking from the start and only gets more delightfully surprising as it goes on. As incredible as it is to fight off extradimensional intruders in the Bureau of Control with powers like flight and telekinesis, Control shines brightest in moments when you’re walking through an empty motel or talking to bored civil servants about their jobs. But even more than its masterful use of color, its pitch-perfect tone of disquiet, and its mind-bending story, the most impressive part about Control might just be that it manages to do the impossible and actually make audio logs interesting.
Game of the Generation - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Selected by Riley Little, Screen Rant Gaming News Editor
Gamers are coming off of an especially strong generation. In fact, it was so strong that it makes the act of narrowing down what should be a very long list of some of the best titles ever released quite difficult – but not doing so would defeat the premise of this article. If there can only be one, though, then Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has my full endorsement. Never in the history of gaming has a crossover of this magnitude been created, and to this day I still occasionally just load up the game and look at the roster. Add in the fact that the game is one of the most enjoyable and refined fighting games to ever release, and it’s hard not to recognize Nintendo’s fight title as a clear winner.
Oh, and Xbox/Rare’s Banjo and Kazooie finally got a much-needed facelift alongside their debut in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and it’s hard not to remain in awe of that.
Game of the Generation - Frostpunk
Selected by Hannah Shaw-Williams, Screen Rant Features Editor
After turning the temperature down for the moving 2014 survival story This War of Mine, 11 Bit Studios brought an even harsher winter in the 2018 society survival game Frostpunk. Set in the Victorian era, the game imagines a climate crisis in which a mysterious new ice age takes hold of the world and humanity must learn to adapt - or die. The player is put in the unenviable role of captaining a group of refugees from London and building a new city for them around a generator that requires a constant supply of coal. If you run out of fuel, people will die. If you run out of food, people will die. If people die, discontent will rise and hope will fall. If you cross ethical lines to prevent people dying, discontent will rise and hope will fall. A game with this much relentless stress and misery shouldn't be fun, but all the different ways to lose only make it that much more satisfying when you succeed.
Games of the Generation - Destiny 2, Horizon: Zero Dawn, & More
Selected by Ben Kendrick, Screen Rant's Publisher
There’s no question the PS4 and Xbox One pushed console gaming innovation forward in numerous ways; however, the biggest leap came where it meant the most: emotional storytelling and memorable characters. While Destiny 2 ultimately soaked up the majority of my gaming time, nearly every other game that made my list featured worlds and people that I can’t wait to see again (in some form) on the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
From Aloy in the post-apocalyptic world of Horizon: Zero Dawn to Jesse Faden in Control’s Oldest House, from Ethan Winters investigation of the Baker plantation to Jin Sakai as the titular Ghost of Tsushima, and from the Peter Parker-Mary Jane team-up in Marvel’s Spider-Man to the unexpected subversion of Ellie and Abby’s story in The Last of Us: Part II, the current generation pushed world-building and interactive storytelling to new heights - heights that I’m excited to see shattered “next-gen.”