Published on: 17/12/2021

What Are The Greatest Games of All Time?

It’s a bit of a sore spot, but as gamers, we’re naturally very opinionated people. We’re free to choose the games that we like (and don’t like), and we often pass judgment on them quite harshly. If they don’t meet our extremely high expectations, we’ll often end up sour and disappointed. However, sometimes, a game or a franchise will come around that changes the face of the industry. In this article, we’re going to discuss these titles, answering the question, what are the greatest games of all time?

To answer this, we’re looking at aggregate platforms like Metacritic, reviewing outlets like IGN, and awarding bodies like The Game Awards. This isn’t an arbitrary list – every game featured in this breakdown is a critically-acclaimed title, standing out from the crowd with ease. Let’s find out what the greatest games of all time are.

The Awards to Back Up the Action

The Last of Us Part II (2020)

In January of 2021, it was revealed that The Last of Us Part II had broken the record to become the most highly awarded game in history. Despite a rocky reception that was plagued by ‘review bombing’, The Last of Us Part II ultimately came out on top. It was a phenomenal game, featuring beautiful scenery, world-class acting, and exhilarating combat. In 2020, The Last of Us Part II picked up three hundred wins out of a possible 576 Game of the Year awards.

The Witcher 3 (2015)

When it launched in 2015, The Witcher 3 became an instant blockbuster hit. It was remarkable because the previous two games in the franchise went relatively unnoticed, but developers CD Projekt Red stepped up the action for the third iteration. It was an overwhelming success, with the game being bought out by millions of players. It boasted a gorgeous, expansive open world, immersive story, and unbeatable RPG action. It remained the most highly awarded game in history up until 2020 when The Last of Us Part II stole the crown.

The Top of the Table

When it comes to the greatest games of all time, it’s often the numbers that make the difference. On Metacritic, the top three greatest games of all time are dramatically different from one another, covering multiple genres. Out of the tens of thousands of videogames that exist, these three are rated higher than any others out there, across all releases on all platforms.

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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

For Nintendo fans, few titles are as legendary as the original Ocarina of Time, released on the Nintendo 64 console. This was a game-changer for Nintendo, and it quickly became regarded as one of the most fantastical adventures to ever come to the world of gaming. Today, it boasts the highest ranking on the entire Metacritic platform, sitting with a firm score of 99/100.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000)

It seems bizarre that a skateboarding game could be so highly rated, but here we are. On Metacritic, THPS2 is rated as one of the greatest games of all time, coming in with a remarkable score of 98/100. It’s such a niche title that this scoring might seem perplexing at first, but ultimately, THPS2 was an extremely popular and prolific title for the PlayStation. It was one of the last ‘incredible’ games to be released for the console.

Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

We wrap this list up with one of the greatest games of all time from arguably the most popular open-world franchise in history. When Grand Theft Auto IV launched in 2008, it changed the face of the genre and the franchise itself. It introduced a gritty, urban, and hyper-realistic platform to Grand Theft Auto, and it remains a popular game for fans of the series. It stands proud with a score of 98/100 on Metacritic.

The Best of the Best

These titles make up some of the greatest games of all time, but sometimes, it just doesn’t come down to the numbers.

We’re all unique individuals, and the game that we enjoy most might just be the biggest pet hate of the next gamer. While you might not agree with this list, the ratings suggest that they truly are the greatest games of all time.

What do you think?

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