Gaming fans have enjoyed many memorable stories in the medium, with the recent God of War: Ragnarök and the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom being likely and modern examples. But the gaming industry has celebrated many such monumental titles over the decades, with handfuls of them being regarded as all-time greats that should be experienced at least once.
Such games span several console generations going back to the '90s and have, in some form or another, changed the standards of their respective genres. Batman: Arkham City was a revolution for the character and superhero genre in gaming, while Skyrim upped the standard for open-world RPGs.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Though it's technologically well behind the likes of The Witcher 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim manages to endure today as one of the most addicting open-world action RPGs. The game was a revolution back in 2011, proving to be a milestone title when it comes to how ambitious open-world games in general could be.
Skyrim takes place in a dynamic land in terms of things to discover; enemies to fight; and characters to meet, all with a J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired high fantasy world. The side questlines available are impressively fleshed out, and what makes this game even more engaging is how its fluid character progression system allows players to make many build combinations for their Dragonborn. If anything, it's a game that will be hard to play only once.
Batman: Arkham City
Batman is undoubtedly one of DC Comics' most popular characters, and one of the most beloved superheroes in general. When Rocksteady came around in 2009 with Arkham Asylum, the team managed to usher in a Christopher Nolan-like revitalization of the Dark Knight and superheroes in the gaming scene.
Any fans of the hero owe it to themselves to play all the mainline games in the series, from Origins to Knight, as the Arkhamverse is a love letter to the source material and Paul Dini and Bruce Timm's DCAU take on Batman. However, Arkham City managed to succeed in every gameplay and story aspect of its direct predecessor, providing a grimily stylish open-world adventure with cathartic combat that immerses the player in the role of the Caped Crusader.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developer CD Projekt Red is partly responsible for propelling Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher franchise into the mainstream, with Wild Hunt debatably standing as the team's crowning achievement. It's another game that's entered the discussion of "greatest games ever made," and with good reason.
This sweeping epic still stands as one of the best modern dark fantasy RPGs, with Geralt of Rivia's sendoff proving to be deeply rewarding and engrossing. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt features a stunning open world, excellent storytelling, and a plethora of substantive content to play through -- from the side quests to the equally lauded DLC expansions. On the whole, this game is surely one to leave a lasting impression on RPG fans.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Like other games of similar nature, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a milestone game in the industry. As with the likes of Skyrim, for instance, Breath of the Wild raised the standard for how superbly and dynamically open worlds can be developed in gaming.
From the meticulously detailed physics-based combat/puzzle-solving/traversal mechanics to dynamic climates -- and how they affected gameplay -- this iteration of Hyrule was thoroughly exhilarating to explore with the latest incarnation of the Hero of Time. There was something meaningful to find in any direction, and open-world game design arguably hasn't been pushed forward to such a degree until last year's Elden Ring.
BioShock
Part of the critical acclaim for BioShock was how it promoted the discussion of "video games as an art form." The game combined elements of first-person shooters with survival horror for a unique tale with an enthralling level of nuance. All three games in the series were well-received for similar reasons, but the original was quite a statement.
Set in a dystopian biopunk-style setting, BioShock told a gripping story highlighting themes of corporate greed, corruption, and cyclical oppression. On top of some of the greatest plot twists in the gaming medium, BioShock is a generational game that many players would be sure to lose themselves in today.
Chrono Trigger
The Super Nintendo era was also commonly known as the golden era of JRPGs. Many of them were in the beloved 16-bit art style that's become so nostalgic now -- and with games like Octopath Traveler bringing it back with aplomb -- and Chrono Trigger is often cited as the most influential game of its subgenre during that time.
Square Enix's game stands the test of time as a retro JRPG that can be easily accessible today for anyone with a passing interest in these types of games. The turn-based combat is accessible while still rewarding to hardcore fans, the story is engaging, it has a colorful cast of characters, and it's a creative cocktail of multiple genres -- fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, etc. And it's all bolstered by Akira Toriyama's iconic artwork.
Mass Effect Trilogy
Though it might feel like a bit of a cop-out to cite an entire trilogy of games as a must-play single entity, BioWare's original Mass Effect games are all too important to be separated. For fans of sci-fi, the original trilogy is a grandiose saga that hearkens back to elements of acclaimed genre IPs like Star Trek.
The story begins with Commander Shepard and his crew, and each game has a story that has direct implications for the tale that succeeds it that's best enjoyed altogether. Excellent character writing; a rich, lore-dense world; rewarding role-playing mechanics; and exciting third-person shooting gameplay make this a timeless spectacle -- and one that's even more accessible thanks to the polished remastered Legendary Edition collection.
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
While the aforementioned Breath of the Wild is a brilliant modern example of how much The Legend of Zelda has evolved over the decades, Ocarina of Time remains a masterpiece to many fans. Just as well, it's also a worthwhile game that can be appreciated today.
Alongside Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time was a massive step forward in 3D adventure games, in addition to fantasy storytelling in gaming. It's an intriguing world that encourages exploration and inquisitiveness, with a core gameplay loop that holds up impressively well. The Nintendo 3DS remastered port of this acclaimed Zelda title also breathes just enough life for a modern-day playthrough.
Super Mario World
Nintendo's Super Mario franchise is another one of the most prolific IPs in the industry. Mario games make up some of the best platformers, as well as one of the most iconic mascot video game characters.
There are many valid cases for must-play games in the series, like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, but Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo is a hallmark of the time that still holds up today. It's a masterclass in the 16-bit era of platformers, ushering the beloved Italian plumber into a new age -- at least until the aforementioned 64 proved to be another game changer.
Portal Duology
Similar to other titles, the two Portal games are both things that are best enjoyed as a collective. Valve isn't known for developing too many games, but when it does, they usually release impressive results. Set in the same universe as Valve's famous Half-Life series, Portal is a sci-fi-themed puzzle-platformer, tasking the player with using the portal gun to traverse the games' various levels.
It's one of the most unique puzzle games available, incorporating intricate physics challenges, platforming, and an enticingly mysterious sci-fi story at its core. And what adds to these adventures is the co-op mode. Couch co-op is, unfortunately, not nearly as prevalent anymore, and the Portal and Portal 2's puzzle-centric gameplay loop with a friend makes them one-of-a-kind experiences the first time around.