THE 10 BEST VIDEO GAMES OF ALL TIME: THE EXPERT'S CHOICE

There are many video games that gamers play and like. With countless worlds and stories to explore, the appeal of video games never fades. There are an incredible number of titles out there, but a few stands above the rest.









10. TEAM FORTRESS 2


Publication date: October 10, 2007

This is a game that is fondly remembered and still played today. Team Fortress 2 is a multiplayer FPS game that uses fast-paced military action and humorous elements to create a very unique experience. If you play this, you know it's one of the smartest, funniest multiplayer games out there.

In Team Fortress 2, two teams fought with an array of weapons and character classes for classic objectives like Capture the Flag or King of the Hill. Both Valve (the developer) and the community have released a lot of content. It even has a competitive position.

It's not a typical military game due to its cartoonish graphics, but this just adds to the atmosphere of the critically acclaimed game. The personalities and performances of the different classes were also impressive. Team Fortress 2 is a great game to play both casually and competitively if you want, with a very dedicated fan base.


9. KINGDOM HEARTS


Publication date: March 28, 2002

Kingdom Hearts is a game where the player follows Sora to fight the forces of darkness with… Disney characters? It seems like a strange idea at first, but those who have played the KH series know that this mix of seriousness and lightness made for an incredible adventure.

This game had a fantastic orchestral score and innovative graphics (so far) that helped add to the game's immersive story. This story combined the serious elements of Final Fantasy and the light elements of Disney together flawlessly as well.

This action RPG pushed the boundaries of its time and had a compelling story that attracted millions around the world. As a result, it has received several sequels and is one of the most beloved video game franchises of all time.


8. DOOM 2


Release date: September 30, 1994

DOOM 2 is the second installment in the DOOM series, which takes the familiar space sea to a horde of gentle demons. Unlike its predecessor, it had a commercial release and was not limited to distribution programs and mail orders. This helped spread the game to a wider audience.

DOOM 2 wasn't that different from DOOM as it mainly had the same graphics and gameplay. There were few updates, but the main difference is that the levels are bigger and there are slightly fewer liners. So this means the player can explore more around to find power-ups and a better way to loot.

Critics panned DOOM 2 for what it was. They didn't focus on a weak story because that's not what you bought for DOOM. You bought it for absolute carnage, and that's exactly what it did so well. It's a historic game with a huge impact on the first-person shooter genre, celebrated for as long as video games have existed.


7. METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER


Publication date: November 17, 2004

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a discontinued Metal Gear series. It served as a precursor to the games that came before it and was set in a jungle environment, unlike the commercial environments used in previous games. But the core stealth-oriented gameplay remained unchanged.

Codenamed Naked Snake, he went on a mission to rescue a rocket scientist and eliminate a defector. The game revolved around the mechanics of theft, which was greatly improved from its predecessors, with new mechanics and tools that make the tasks more interesting.

Metal Gear Solid 3 got a lot of love when it was released. Many praised the advanced graphics, stealth-oriented gameplay, setting, and story, but found fault with the game's writing and dialogue. Despite these flaws, it was still a great adventure that did well in furthering the Metal Gear franchise.


6. SUPER MARIO BROS.2


Release date: October 9, 1988

That's meee, Mario! As we all know, Mario is perhaps the most famous video game character and franchise of all time. The original Super Mario Bros. was a huge success and its sequel deserved to continue with such a legacy.

However, the gameplay was much more ambitious as the player was able to collect, throw and stack objects to progress through the levels. It featured co-op gameplay and players could choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess Peach on their way to defeat the game's evil Wart.

It didn't get as high of a rating from critics as some of the others on this list, but Super Mario Bros. 2 is undoubtedly a great game when considered as part of the Super Mario franchise and as a standalone game. Re-released on a few different systems over the years, this game's appeal is more than obvious.


5. BANJO-KAZOOIE



Publication date: June 29, 1998

Banjo-Kazooie is another iconic platform video game of the 90s. In this game, the player plays Banjo (a bear) and Kazooie (a bird) as they stop the evil witch Gruntilda's evil plans. It's a game that's meant to appeal to all audiences and certainly does a decent job of it.

First, the game focuses on collecting notes and puzzles to progress through the levels. But there are also tons of puzzles that can be solved to collect more of these pieces. For those who don't know, it's similar to Super Mario 64, and many claims it's a better and more refined adaptation.

Banjo-Kazooie was adored by critics. The graphics were next-level, vastly improving on the polygonal look of other similar games and utilizing better lighting, textures, and animations. With so many good things accomplished, it would be criminal not to include Banjo-Kazooie on this list.


4. FINAL FANTASY IX


Publication date: July 7, 2000

The ninth game in the Final Fantasy series was the last game on the original Playstation and holds a special place in fans' hearts. In this game, the player followed the story of the bandit Zidane as he joined forces with Princess Garnet and a growing cast of lovable characters.

Interestingly, this game took a departure from the futuristic setting of the Final Fantasy games immediately before it and went back to a medieval fantasy feel instead. In addition, it added new features to the game, all of which added new depth and customization to the gameplay.

Currently, Final Fantasy IX is the highest-rated Final Fantasy game on Metacritic and has been hailed by some as the best in the entire franchise. Although some may disagree, it is a fantastic game with an interesting story that has captured the hearts of millions.


3. CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT


Release date: March 20, 1997

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is the sequel to Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and follows Dracula's son Alucard as he investigates his father's castle when it reappears after the disappearance of Richter Belmont. It is a 2D side-scrolling game with RPG elements such as stat points and horizontal leveling.

But this game has a lot of new aspects that are not found in the prequel. Namely, there are more weapons to use (instead of just a whip) and the game has mostly non-linear progression. Because of this, there are more opportunities to get to know the castle the way you want.

Surprisingly, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night did not do well on release. It sold poorly, but thanks to critical acclaim from critics and gamers, it eventually became a hit. Although not considered a mainstream game, it is a cultural classic that deserves recognition.


2. MARIO PARTY


Publication date: December 18, 1998

Party games are some of the most casual fun you can have with friends, and one of the pioneers of this genre was Mario Party. In this game, you can play with up to four friends in a series of mini-games where you collect stars. Whoever collects the most wins!

Players can choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Wario, or Donkey Kong. You are playing a virtual board game where each mode has a different minimum game or effect. There are 50 mini-games to experience (plus one hidden) that keeps the fun going.

Critics praised this game for its party-based, multiplayer experience, but criticized the single-player experience. Being a lot less enjoyable to play solo, it lost some points, but overall Mario Party was a very successful game that started the rise of party games.


1. THE STALLION AND THE BLIND FOREST


Publication date: March 11, 2015

Stallion and the Blind Forest is a very touching, natural journey that stands out from most other video games. In it, you play as Ori, a small white guardian spirit who becomes an orphan and must save a withering forest from disaster.

Ori is joined by Sein, who guides Ori and helps them in their enemies. The game is played as a 2D side scroller and the main goal is to restore balance in the spirit tree. It has a visually pleasing art style and unique storytelling that reinforces the main themes.

Most of Ori and the Blind Forest loved it for its art, graphics, smooth gameplay, great narrative, and gorgeous setting. There's a lot to love about the game, and those drawn to a well-thought-out story and natural elements will love it.