Top 100 Video Games: 10-1

10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 
System: SNES
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: April 13, 1992

While not necessarily the greatest Zelda game ever developed, A Link to the Past is definitely the quintessential Zelda experience; it established many of the items, enemies, and tropes that appear in almost every Zelda game. Once again players control Link, the once and future hero of Hyrule, in his quest to rid the land of evil. Along the way, he crisscrosses a huge world map filled with oddball characters, ingenious dungeons (A Link to the Past has the most dungeons of any Zelda game), and more secrets than the life of an American teenager. If Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess achieved greatness, it's because they stood on the shoulders of this giant.

9. Super Metroid 
System: SNES
Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Release date:  April 18, 1994

Set immediately after the events of Metroid II, Super Metroid once again pits intergalactic bounter hunter Samus Aran against the Space Pirates. Whereas previous games in the series had been a little rough around the edges, Super Metroid was about as polished a product as one could find on the SNES. The game features a perfect balance of exploration, action, puzzle-solving, and strategy, all wrapped up in an atmospheric package. Super Metroid has it all: haunting music, a bittersweet story, tight play controls, epic boss fights, perfect pacing, and some of the prettiest 16-bit graphics you will ever see.

8. Tomb Raider
System: Sony Playstation
Developer: Core Design
Release date: November 14, 1996

Beginning in 1996, video game enthusiasts for the first time had a choice of consoles that not only represented cosmetic and hardware differences, but which supported software with thematic differences. Those who gravitated toward the N64 had family-friendly games likes Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings; those who were developing a taste for more mature content found on the Playstation Resident Evil and, a few months later, Tomb Raider. With its action-packed globetrotting storyline, its fearsome enemies and its brash, brainy and buxom heroine, Tomb Raider was emblematic of a new generation of software that introduced more bullets, more blood, and more breasts, but which retained all the best elements found in action-adventure games.

7. Super Mario 64 
System: Nintendo 64
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: September 26, 1996

Among the small number of games that have had the greatest influence on the video game industry, Super Mario 64 stands alone as the most influential. The finest example of the great migration from two-dimensional sprites to three-dimensional polygons, Super Mario 64 gave the platform genre unprecedented freedom of movement. It also introduced a revolutionary camera system that allowed players to manipulate the camera angles in the game. Set once again in the Mushroom Kingdom, Super Mario 64 sets Mario on a path to a final confrontation with his arch-enemy Bowser, who has once more captured Princess Toadstool. Super Mario 64 features fifteen diverse game environments and several hidden areas.

6. Half-Life 2 
System: PC
Developer: Valve
Release date: November 16, 2004

In Half-Life 2 players resume to role of Gordon Freeman, whose heroics in the original Half-Life appear to have only temporarily forestalled an alien takeover of planet Earth. Once again Freeman must use his weapons and his wits to save mankind, in this instance from alien overlords and their human collaborators. Boasting an incredible physics system, in which objects and people obey the laws of gravity, friction and buoyancy, remarkably sophisticated artificial intelligence, and superior graphics, Half-Life 2 is the very definition of next-generation. Half-Life 2 unfolds across several chapters, some of which involve the use of vehicles, some of which are heavy on problem-solving. Chapter VI, “We Don’t Go to Ravenholm,” is among the scariest episodes to date in any video game.

5. Final Fantasy III
System: SNES
Developer: Squaresoft
Release date: October 11, 1994

Many point to Final Fantasy VII as the ultimate Final Fantasy experience, but its older brother is a more complete game, and a better one. Epic in size and in scope, Final Fantasy III (Final Fantasy VI in Japan) features over a dozen playable characters, all of whom carry significant emotional baggage and who endure trials that range from rafting across raging rapids to, quite literally, the end of the world. There are several unique events in the game, including an opera, a dinner party, and a number of multi-party battles, which allow the player to divide his or her party into two or more battle groups in order to fight off a multi-party enemy. Final Fantasy III is the finest SNES game ever released, which is lofty praise considering its library of games.

4. Resident Evil 4 
System: Nintendo Gamecube
Developer: Capcom
Release date: January 11, 2005

Before Resident Evil 4, the Resident Evil franchise had been one of the great video game series, and certainly the definitive survival horror series. With Resident Evil 4, it achieved new levels of greatness. Set in a rural village somewhere in Europe, RE4 follows Leon S. Kennedy (one of two heroes from Resident Evil 2) in his search for the missing daughter of the American president. Capcom removed the fixed camera angles that had haunted previous installments, and allowed the camera to follow Leon wherever he went. Thus RE4 became something of a survival-horror and third-person shooter hybrid, with some RPG elements thrown in for good measure. The game is thrilling, terrifying, and addictive, all at once. Action set pieces and cinematic cut-scenes are brilliant.

3. Halo: Combat Evolved
System: Xbox
Developer: Bungie
Release date: November 15, 2001

There are only so many truly revolutionary titles in the history of video games. The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario 64, and Wii Sports come to mind. Then there's Halo: Combat Evolved. What did it achieve? Well, by providing the nascent Xbox with a "killer app," it secured Microsoft's spot in the gaming world. It also introduced features, control schemes, and themes that have, for better or for worse, infiltrated almost every mainstream first-person shooter since. And, lastly, it shifted first-person shooters away from computers and onto home consoles. So it's a hugely influential title, but it's also an amazingly great game, with superior graphics, a standout soundtrack, a well-written story, outstanding level design, and perfect gameplay. Those who hate it have probably never played it. Those who love it will never forget it. 

2. Deus Ex
System: PC
Developer: Ion Storm
Release date: June 26, 2000

Where does Deus Ex belong? Is it an RPG? It has plenty of RPG elements: sidequests, upgradable stats, customizable weapons, non-playable characters, moral choices, a deep and engaging story. It is a first person shooter? It's loaded with plenty of projectile and melee weapons and not afraid to use them. Is it a stealth action game a la Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell? Players are often rewarded for sneaking past enemy patrols and using lock picks to bypass security. The answer is all of the above, and it's one of the main reasons Deus Ex is so good; it synthesizes the best of several different genres. Deux Ex tells the story of a dystopian not-too-distant future where player choices dramatically affect the game world. So where does Deus Ex belong? In this spot, as the best PC game ever made.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
System: Nintendo 64
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: November 21, 1998

My list of the top ten video games of all-time has seen a good amount of change since I finished the first draft back in 2005 -- several games that made the top ten then don't break the top 20 now. But the number one spot has remained remarkably constant. Except for a single week during which Halo: Combat Evolved earned the top spot, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has been number one. And for good reason. Ocarina of Time is a masterpiece, the pinnacle of Nintendo creativity and ingenuity, and the benchmark against which all games, past, present, and future, must be judged. It takes no amount of bravery on my part to choose Ocarina as number one; it is generally considered the very best console game of all time. In many ways it is the video game equivalent of Citizen Kane: critically acclaimed, hugely influential, and, until recently, the consensus pick for greatest of all time. Ocarina accomplished a great deal upon its release. It pioneered innovations like z-targeting, auto-jump, and context sensitive buttons. It took existing game mechanics like horseback riding, fishing, and the realistic passage of time and wove them into the game narrative like never before. All these things are now commonplace in video games. Ocarina also accomplished great things for the franchise: it pushed The Legend of Zelda into three dimensions using a modified version of the Super Mario 64 engine; it gave players never-before-seen glimpses into the origin of the Triforce and the genesis of Ganondorf; and it established a foundation for future titles Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, and Skyward Sword, all of which are among the greatest games of the past 15 years. Truly, Ocarina has everything: a sweeping musical score for the ages; vast, fully-realized three-dimensional worlds; innovative and easy-to-use controls; an epic and emotionally engaging storyline; and gameplay so rich, varied, and engaging that it has no equal. It is the only game on this list without a single perceptible flaw. It is a shining example of everything that is right about gaming. It is the greatest video game of all time.

Top 100 Video Games: 20-11

20. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
System: Playstation 2
Developer: Konami
Release date: March 16, 2006

It’s getting harder and harder to reconcile Hideo Kojima’s reluctance to identify his own games as art with the cold, hard fact that his games, especially Metal Gear Solid 3, are some of the most captivating, seamlessly constructed, and emotionally powerful video games ever made. In MGS3, Kojima traveled backward in time to give fans an origin story for the Metal Gear franchise and, in the process, gave the world a terrific game with diverse, deeply layered, perfect gameplay. Players control "Naked Snake" as he infiltrates the Russian jungle at the height of the Cold War to rescue a captured Russian scientist. He must elude patrols, raid supply depots, and survive by any means necessary. MGS3 features a great story, amazing voice acting, production design second-to-none, and the best collection of boss battles in any video game, ever.

19. Perfect Dark
System: Nintendo 64
Developer: Rare
Release date: May 22, 2000

Although it has absolutely nothing to do with James Bond or MI6, Perfect Dark is considered a spiritual sequel to GoldenEye 007, in large part because both were developed by Rare and both use the same engine. Like GoldenEye, Perfect Dark is a mission-based first-person shooter with an in-depth one-player campaign and an addictive multiplayer mode. Perfect Dark sets itself apart from its spiritual predecessor, however, with a terrific sci-fi narrative, graphical enhancements (with the help of the expansion pack), and a multiplayer mode that features increased customization and “simulants,” computer-controlled bots that can fight against or with a human player. Perfect Dark was followed five years later by a prequel, Perfect Dark Zero.

18. Metal Gear Solid
System: Sony Playstation
Developer: Konami
Release date: October 21, 1998

Before the blurring of the line between video games and movies was a fait accompli, Metal Gear Solid arrived on the scene and revolutionized the industry by presenting itself in an unparalleled cinematic way. Metal Gear Solid unfolds like a billion dollar blockbuster, with first-rate voice acting and masterful camera work. Set in a remote nuclear facility in Alaska, Metal Gear Solid follows the adventures of elite soldier Solid Snake, lured out of retirement and asked to liberate the facility from members of his former squad. Apart from its ground-breaking cinematography, Metal Gear Solid effectively invented the modern stealth action game, which has become a popular sub-genre. Its descendents include Splinter Cell and Hitman.

17. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
System: Nintendo 64
Developer: Nintendo
Release date: October 26, 2000

Perhaps forever destined to be overshadowed by its N64 counterpart, Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask is a masterwork in its own right, one that actually improves upon its predecessor in several ways. Majora’s Mask is set in Termina, a region threatened with destruction by a giant foreboding moon. Link has 72 game hours to search dungeons, find artifacts and recover masks before the moon destroys Termina; when the 72 hours near completion, Link can play the Song of Time and return to 6 AM on the first day. Players repeat this three-day cycle until all the game’s objectives are complete. Where masks were largely secondary in Ocarina of Time, they are essential to progress in Majora’s Mask. Using masks, Link can transform into a Deku Scrub, a Goron, and a Zora.

16. Super Mario World
System: SNES
Developer: Nintendo
Release date: August 13, 1991

Bundled with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991, Super Mario World was proof of the advanced processing power of the newest Nintendo console system and an important check to the growing power and influence of Sega’s 16-bit project. Like its immediate predecessors on the NES, Super Mario World is a platform game that demands its players jump, run, duck, and swim to survive hazards and enemies in each level. It retains the overland map of Super Mario Bros. 3, but makes the game world and the levels within that world much larger, more graphically detailed, and more diverse: ghost houses, fortresses, and castles dot the landscape. Super Mario World marks the first appearance of Yoshi, who would become one of Nintendo’s most famous mascots.

15. Metroid Prime
System: Nintendo Gamecube
Developer: Retro Studios
Release date: November 17, 2002

Of the big three Nintendo franchises, Metroid was the last to receive a three-dimensional treatment. Unlike Mario and Zelda however, which retained their tradition third-person perspective in the leap to three dimensions, Metroid adopted an entirely new first-person perspective in its remarkably smooth transition from 2D to 3D. The result: Metroid Prime, a game which featured the elements which made its predecessors so popular but which gave players new glimpses into the Metroid mythology. Crucial to success in Metroid Prime are its heads-up display (HUD), which features information vital to Samus, and a system of exchangeable visors though which she can pick up heat signatures, use x-rays, and scan objects and enemies, collecting useful information from both.

14. Ico
System: Playstation 2
Developer: Team Ico
Release date: September 24, 2001

This Playstation 2 game is a real gem, an action-adventure game stripped down to the basics. Players take control of Ico, a young boy born with horns. The customs of Ico's village dictate that every child born with horns is a bad omen and must be escorted to an isolated castle and imprisoned there. Ico is fortunate enough to escape his cell and afterward wanders through the immense fortress, where he meets Yorda, a young girl also trapped in the castle. For the rest of the game, Ico explores the castle, solving its puzzles and protecting Yorda from enemy spirits who ceaselessly try to reclaim the young girl. Ico was designed and directed by Fumito Ueda, who created in his game a minimalist yet immersive experience, short on story, text and music, but long on emotion and ambiance.

13. Banjo-Kazooie
System: Nintendo 64
Developer: Rare
Release date: June 30, 1998

The impressive library of Nintendo 64 games would seem much less substantial without all the contributions from Rare (then Rareware), Nintendo’s second-party game developer. Microsoft bought the company in 2002, but Rare’s best game, Banjo-Kazooie, can still be booted up on Nintendo’s 64-bit system. Players control the bear-bird duo of Banjo and Kazooie as they explore Spiral Mountain in an effort to rescue Banjo’s kid sister from the evil clutches of the witch Gruntilda. Like most Rare games, Banjo-Kazooie excels in graphics, sound, and a uniquely British sense of humor. Gameplay is largely derivative of Super Mario 64, but features notable stylistic and thematic differences. Banjo-Kazooie was followed two years later by Banjo-Tooie.

12. Super Mario Bros. 3
System: NES
Developer: Nintendo
Release date: February 12, 1990

It would be difficult to find a person, young or old, male or female, diehard gamer or novice, who has played Super Mario Bros. 3 and didn’t enjoy it. Among the thousands of video games released over the past thirty years, it might be the single most popular. Although the Super Mario franchise had veered slightly off the road with Super Mario Bros. 2, it returned to form with Super Mario Bros. 3, the best NES game ever made. Designed with the same platform elements typical of its predecessors, Super Mario Bros. 3 introduced several additions, including mini-games, many new power-ups (e.g. Tanooki Suit) and an overland map that allows players to select which levels to play and which to bypass.

11. StarCraft
System: PC
Developer: Blizzard
Release date: March 31, 1998

Real-time strategy (RTS) games owe a lot to StarCraft, a pioneering game in the genre. By introducing three unique, dramatically-different, and balanced races into the equation instead of two more-or-less equal sides with similar units, Blizzard changed RTS games forever. Base-building, unit growth, and unit limits were dictated by each race -- Terran, Zerg, and Protoss -- so the mechanics of the game shifted each time a player chose his or her side. StarCraft was also one of the first RTS games to feature a compelling story that was woven into the gameplay. Apart from its stellar single-player campaign, StarCraft features several multiplayer modes available through Blizzard's Battle.net internet service; it remains one of the most popular online games in the world.

Top 100 Video Games: 30-21

30. Tetris
System: Game Boy
Developer: Bullet Proof Software
Release date: August, 1989

For its relatively short life, the video game industry has been dominated by Japan and by the United States, by England and by France. In 1984, however, the U.S.S.R. made a hugely significant contribution to the video game world with Tetris. Designed by Alexey Pajitnov, Tetris appeared on a number of personal computers throughout the 1980s, but its Game Boy version is the one that catapulted the game to stardom. Bundled with the Game Boy in 1989, Tetris introduced huge audiences to the greatest puzzle game ever made and created a generation of Tetris-addicted kids. The object of the game is to prevent blocks from piling up and reaching the top of the screen. Endlessly imitated but never duplicated, Tetris is the alpha and omega of puzzle games.

29. Tomb Raider II Starring Lara Croft
System: Playstation
Developer: Core Design
Release date: November 18, 1997

Its very title indicates that the cult of Lara was already in full-effect by 1997, but Tomb Raider II is surprisingly non-exploitative; Lara Croft continues to be one of the industry’s greatest heroines, not merely an object of sex. In Tomb Raider II Croft is once again raiding tombs, crypts, caves, and long-forgotten temples. Her latest target is the Dagger of Xian, which is also coveted by a dangerous Italian mobster named Marco Bartoli. Although Tomb Raider II uses the same engine which made the original Tomb Raider such a hit, it improves upon the graphics and play control of its predecessor. Environments are bigger and are capable of presenting larger and more complex polygons. Tomb Raider II is more action-oriented than the original, and the first Tomb Raider game to feature vehicles.

28. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
System: Nintendo Gamecube
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: March 24, 2003

Unfairly criticized for its cartoonish appearance, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker features some of the most memorable and vibrant graphics of any Zelda adventure and boasts, without a doubt, the most visually expressive Link of any franchise game. Set on a huge, never-ending great sea, The Wind Waker is the story of Link’s quest to rescue his captured sister. Unlike other Zelda games, in which Link travelled by foot or on horseback, The Wind Waker asks its players to navigate across the vast ocean in a small sailboat. Aside from its gorgeous graphics, The Wind Waker boasts a terrific soundtrack and a deep, sometimes unpredictable story complete with several mid-game revelations and a truly shocking ending.

27. Super Mario Galaxy
System: Nintendo Wii
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: November 12, 2007

Over the years Mario has accumulated a long and impressive resume: plumber, tennis star, golfer, go-kart driver, doctor. Now you can add astronaut. In Super Mario Galaxy, Mario for the first time has an extraterrestrial adventure, a jaunt among the stars which owes a lot to Super Mario 64, but which dwarfs it in size and scope. Super Mario Galaxy introduces an innovative physics system to accompany its spherical platform engine, whereby Mario can circumnavigate small planetoids, all the while a gravitational pull keeping him from flying off into space. The Wii remote and nunchuk are employed conservatively in Super Mario Galaxy, used mainly to perform a spin attack or to remotely collect “star bits,” colorful star-shaped gems used to defeat enemies or bypass obstacles.

26. GoldenEye 007
System: N64
Developer: Rare
Release date: August 25, 1997

Before the release of GoldenEye 007 in 1997, most first-person shooters were corridor shooters that had one simple philosophy: shoot first, ask questions later. These shooters, mostly clones of Doom, asked their owners to shoot everything that moved, and little else. GoldenEye changed the prevailing paradigm by introducing mission objectives that demanded a combination of firepower and brainpower. GoldenEye is perhaps most famous for its legendary multiplayer modes, which allow four friends (or enemies) to shoot at each other in a number of environments with a variety of weapons. The legacy of GoldenEye is most evident when this fact is considered: console games released post-GoldenEye which did not feature a multiplayer mode were considered somehow incomplete.

25. Super Street Fighter II
System: SNES, Genesis
Developer: Capcom
Release date: June 25, 1994

For some strange reason, Street Fighter II Turbo is generally considered the best console version of Street Fighter II, but it pales in comparison to Super Street Fighter II, the game with the most characters, moves and modes. Super Street Fighter II features sixteen playable characters, twelve carried over from the previous games and four new to the franchise: Cammy, T. Hawk, Fei-Long and Dee Jay. Other novelties include eight color schemes for each character’s costume, new moves and new animation frames, music and sound effects, as well as adjustable game speed. Its greatest achievements, however, are its new game modes, which include time trial, group battle and tournament battle, an eight-player single elimination tournament.

24. Banjo-Tooie
System: N64
Developer: Rare
Release date: November 20, 2000

The much-anticipated sequel to Banjo-Kazooie again pits the bear-bird duo against the evil witch Gruntilda along with her two wicked sisters. As in the first installment, players explore several enormous game environments with hidden collectables, the most important being “jiggies,” golden jigsaw pieces that allow the player to progress through the game. Additions include the ability to play as former non-player character Mumbo, new moves, and the option to split Banjo and Kazooie apart, thus taking advantage of the unique skills each possesses. The varied and expansive worlds include a prehistoric wasteland, an amusement park, and a factory. Banjo-Tooie also features several hidden Easter eggs which first appeared in Banjo-Kazooie.

23. Final Fantasy VII
System: Playstation
Developer: Square
Release date: September 7, 1997

Originally slated for release on the SNES, Final Fantasy VII was originally pushed back for release on N64. But when the storage space on the N64 cartridge was deemed insufficient, developer Square decided to release the game on Sony's Playstation. Thus began a decade of Sony exclusivity for Final Fantasy, and a decade of decline for Nintendo -- although the two are only tangentially related. So Final Fantasy VII had a big impact on the industry, but it had an ever larger impact on public perception of RPGs. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to claim that FFVII was the first mainstream RPG -- it has sold 10 million copies, the most of any Final Fantasy game -- and was one of the first games to place a huge emphasis on story and production values. In fact, the game cost $45 million, the most expensive game of its time, and required a team of roughly 120 artists and programmers. It's not the best Final Fantasy game, but it's certainly the most influential.

22. SoulCalibur
System: Dreamcast
Developer: Namco
Release date: September 9, 1999

Many people consider Soul Calibur to be the greatest fighting game ever made. It's difficult to argue with them. Soul Calibur is the continuation of the Soul series, which debuted in arcades as Soul Edge and found a home on the Playstation console renamed as Soul Blade. Like its predecessor, Soul Calibur is a 3D weapons-based fighter. Each colorful character uses a distinct weapon and employs a specialized fighting style. Unlike its predecessor and unlike every 3D fighter to come before it, Soul Calibur introduced a revolutionary 8-way run, where fighters could move freely in three dimensions. Soul Calibur also features a “mission mode,” in which players can complete mission objectives to gain points, which can be used to purchase costumes and artwork.

21. BioShock
System: Xbox 360, PC
Developer: 2K
Release date: August 21, 2007

Designed with elements of survival-horror games and role-playing games, BioShock is a first-person shooter that truly transcends its genre. Players control Jack, an unlucky man whose passenger plane crashes over the Atlantic Ocean. In a nearby submarine bay he discovers passage to Rapture, a hidden city beneath the waves. Once there, Jack encounters the twisted and gruesome inhabitants of Rapture, who stop at nothing to eliminate him. Jack can interact with almost everything in the underwater metropolis, including enemies, containers, machines, and audio diaries, scattered throughout the city. In Rapture, players can upgrade weapons and create custom ammunition; they can also alter Jack’s very genetic code, infusing superhuman powers into his body in the process.

Top 100 Video Games: 40-31

40. Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
System: Nintendo Gamecube
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: November 14, 2003

Mario earned his racing stripes on the SNES and N64, but it wasn’t until Mario Kart: Double Dash on the Gamecube that Nintendo go-kart racing reached its pinnacle. Double Dash is the fourth Mario Kart game, but the first to feature two characters per cart: one to drive, one to use items. Not only does this system of two interchangeable characters make Double Dash insanely perfect, but it introduces a cooperative mode previously unseen in Mario Kart. Players can choose from 20 playable characters, 11 of whom are new to the series. Each character has also been given a special item unique to him or her, like Mario’s fireballs or Donkey Kong’s giant banana. The only weakness in Double Dash is its battle arenas, which never quite match those in Mario Kart 64.

39. Gears of War
System: Xbox 360
Developer: Epic Games
Release date: November 7, 2006

Third-person shooters tend to get overlooked in favor of their first-person cousins, but it’s difficult not to be impressed with a game as technically sound and thrilling as Gears of War. Released roughly a year into the lifecycle of the Xbox 360, Gears of War was the first game to truly justify the purchase of Microsoft’s expensive hardware. Gears of War is the story of a deadly, protracted war between humans and a subterranean menace called the Locust Horde. The battles between the game’s hero, Marcus Fenix, and the Locust, which come in all shapes and sizes, are exhilarating, terrifying, and emotionally exhausting. Gears of War features dazzling graphics and special effects and an intuitive battle system that places an emphasis on moving in and out of cover.

38. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
System: PC
Developer: Bethesda
Release date: May 1, 2002

Although Final Fantasy VII went a long way towards pushing the RPG into the mainstream, the genre still repels those gamers uncomfortable with the complexities and minutiae of hardcore RPGs. Consequently, ambitious titles like The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind are not for everyone. For those who love the endless customization, huge variety, and epic storytelling of hardcore RPGS, however, Morrowind is a dream come true. Although Morrowind has a central storyline, it allows players to explore freely the expansive and richly detailed game world, interacting with people and events that have only a marginal connection to the main story arc. This level of freedom and open-endedness, criticized by some, is what makes Morrowind so special.

37. Panzer Dragoon
System: Sega Saturn
Developer: Team Andromeda
Release date: May 11, 1995

Every video game system has at least one game or franchise unique to it and representative of its processing power and philosophy. For the short-lived Sega Saturn, that game was Panzer Dragoon, one of the titles released during the Saturn’s accelerated launch on May 11, 1995. In Panzer Dragoon, players assume the role of a young hunter entrusted with a vital mission and a powerful blue dragon. Panzer Dragoon is a rail shooter, not unlike Star Fox, and thus movement is limited along vertical and horizontal axes. Players can attack enemies with a rapid-fire rifle or with a lock-on energy blast that can seek out several targets at once. Panzer Dragoon also allows players to rotate the camera around 360 degrees to fight off enemies coming from the north, south, east, and west.

36. Devil May Cry
System: Playstation 2
Developer: Capcom
Release date:October 17, 2001

Action game fans need look no farther than Devil May Cry, one of the most frenetic and dynamic video games ever made. Developed by Capcom, Devil May Cry borrows a lot of atmosphere and gloominess from its cousin Resident Evil, but introduces a brand-new demonic storyline and mythology. The game follows the half-human, half-devil Dante who travels to a far off island to confront a growing evil. Although Devil May Cry has a fair share of puzzle-solving and inventory management, the core of its gameplay are the fights between Dante and the demonic agents he encounters on Mallet Island. Armed with several weapons, special attacks, and the ability to transform into a super-powerful demonic creature, Dante is an indomitable fighting force.

35. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
System: Nintendo Wii
Developer: Sora, Game Arts, Monolith Soft
Release date: March 9, 2008

Hardcore fighting fans no doubt point to the Street Fighter, Tekken and Soul Calibur series when discussing the industry’s best one-on-one fighters, but the Super Smash Bros. brand has slowly but surely inserted itself into the conversation. Uncomplicated compared to more serious fighting games, the crossover Smash Bros. franchise reached its peak in 2008 with Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Like its predecessors, Brawl uses a simple battle system and features a huge assortment of Nintendo mascots. Brawl for the first time also introduces non-Nintendo characters: Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake. Apart from supporting excellent offline and online multiplayer modes, Brawl features an incredible one-player adventure mode called “The Subspace Emissary.”

34. The Legend of Zelda
System: NES
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: August 22, 1987

Within three years of its existence, the NES had produced two of the most important video games ever made and, in the process, introduced the world to what would become two of Nintendo’s most popular and profitable franchises: Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. Although both were developed by a team led by Shigeru Miyamoto, The Legend of Zelda was a far cry from its cousin Super Mario Bros. Set in a fantasy world of swords and sorcery, The Legend of Zelda is a nonlinear action-adventure game that introduced a quest so large that new technology was needed to support it. It was the first console game to feature an internal battery that allowed players to save their progress; no longer did would-be adventurers have to complete a game in a single sitting.

33. Halo 2
System: Microsoft Xbox
Developer: Bungie
Release date: November 9, 2004

Bungie Studios described Halo as "Combat Evolved." And although it didn't redefine the rules of war, it certainly redefined a genre. Halo 2 could just as easily have been called "Multiplayer Evolved." Its multiplayer modes and networking options were second-to-none when it arrived in homes in late 2004; it’s still a blast to play today. The one-player campaign is shorter and more episodic than that in its predecessor, but to call it an afterthought would be wrong. Although brief (somewhere between 10 and 15 hours), the campaign in Halo 2 is nothing short of brilliant, with inspired level design, incredible production values, and top-flight mechanics. The most exceptional and unexpected feature of Halo 2 is the ability to play as both Master Chief and a disgraced Elite (a Covenant infantryman).

32. Beyond Good & Evil
System: Gamecube, PS2, PC, Xbox
Developer: Ubisoft
Release date: November 11, 2003

Tragically ignored by consumers, Beyond Good & Evil was a financial disappointment despite critical acclaim. Set on an alien world, Beyond Good & Evil follows the exploits of an investigative reporter named Jade, who stumbles upon a massive conspiracy. Stealth is an important component of the gameplay in Beyond Good & Evil: while Jade does carry an offensive weapon, she often has to embrace a clandestine approach when faced with overwhelming enemy forces. One of the most engaging and immersive elements in the game is the ability to take photographs with Jade’s camera. The camera can be used to photograph evidence of the conspiracy or simply to snap pictures of the fauna on Hillys.

31. Metroid: Zero Mission
System: Game Boy Advance
Developer: Nintendo
Release date: February 9, 2004

The Game Boy Advance made a living off its enhanced remakes and ports, from Super Mario Advance to Final Fantasy VI Advance. Its best, however, is Metroid: Zero Mission, a retelling of the events of the first Metroid game. As in the original, Zero Mission takes place on Zebes, where Samus has tracked the Space Pirates, scourge of the galaxy and abductors of Metroids, highly dangerous parasitic life forms. Because of its familiar storyline and geography, Zero Mission is a treat for fans familiar with the Metroid mythology who wish to relive one of the most important games on the NES; it’s similarly a perfect starting point for those new to the franchise. Although Zero Mission closely follows the chronology of the original, it does not quite finish where Metroid ended.

Top 100 Video Games: 50-41

50. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
System: Game Boy Advance
Developer: Konami
Release date: May 6, 2003

Although Castlevania games have appeared on over seven systems, the Game Boy Advance (GBA) collection might be the finest. The best of the bunch is Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, the first Castlevania game set in the future. Aria of Sorrow is the story of high-school student Soma Cruz, who accidently finds himself in Dracula’s castle, thirty-six years after the dark lord’s final defeat. Although Aria of Sorrow plays like Circle of the Moon and Harmony of Dissonance, the other GBA titles, it introduces a “tactical soul” system, whereby Soma can absorb and equip the souls of defeated enemies. Each soul has a different function: some grant projectile weapons, others raise attributes; the most important, “ability souls,” grant Soma skills needed to access certain areas in the castle.

49. Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
System: Playstation
Developer: Oddworld Inhabitants
Release date: September 19, 1997

When it was released, Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee was unjustly criticized for its level of difficulty and shortage of save locations. The game can be frustrating at times, but most great games dish out healthy doses of frustration to sweeten the eventual reward of success. Apart from a steep learning curve, Abe's Oddysee infuses traditional platform elements (running, jumping, crawling) with new and creative options. One of the most unique additions is "Game Speak," the ability to communicate with enemies, friends, and animals with everything from words and whistles to growls and flatulence. Abe’s Oddysee is set on an alien planet called Oddworld where Abe, an unlikely hero, does battle with an evil corporation threatening the planet’s native species with extinction.

48. Elite Beat Agents
System:Nintendo DS
Developer: iNiS
Release date: November 6, 2006

The Nintendo DS is perhaps the most significant piece of Nintendo hardware released in the past ten years and plays host to unique and innovative titles that combine traditional video game elements with new levels of interactivity thanks to the touch-screen and stylus. One of the most inventive titles for the DS is Elite Beat Agents, a rhythm game with a great sense of humor and huge replay value. Elite Beat Agents follows a trio of government agents who fly to the rescue of everyday people in need, using music and dancing to motivate them. Players must use the stylus to tap, drag, and rotate objects on the touch-screen in rhythm with one of sixteen pop or rock songs. Most of the episodes in Elite Beat Agents are very funny; others are touching and emotionally powerful.

47. Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
System: Gamecube, PS2, PC, and Xbox
Developer: Ubisoft
Release date: December 1, 2005

Rarely does a video game trilogy close with its finest chapter, but that’s precisely what happened with the Prince of Persia trilogy. Set after the events of Warrior Within, which introduced more mature content into the series, The Two Thrones borrows elements from both its predecessors. The Two Thrones takes place in Babylon where the Prince encounters an old enemy and an old flame and once again attempts to set things right. Apart from the puzzles and acrobatics that define the series, The Two Thrones introduced new stealth fighting techniques, chariot stages and the emergence of a dual personality inside the Prince. This “Dark Prince” emerges at scripted moments in the game, allowing the player the use of the “daggertail,” a medium-range bladed whip.

46. Wii Sports Resort
System: Nintendo Wii
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Release date: July 26, 2009

It might share a title with Wii Sports, which was bundled with the Nintendo Wii in 2006, but Wii Sports Resort is light years ahead of its predecessor in terms of quality. Instead of five sporting events, Wii Sports Resort boasts 12, almost all of them winners. They include: swordplay; wakeboarding; frisbee; archery; basketball; table tennis; power cruising; canoeing; cycling; air sports; and golf and bowling, both returning from the original Wii Sports. All events make use of the Wii MotionPlus add-on, which is necessary to play the game, and therefore respond much more accurately to player movements. Wii Sports Resort is a title that could easily be overlooked or dismissed as a sports bundle for the very young or very old. On the contrary, Wii Sports is one of those rare games that appeals to all generations, has something for everyone, can be played – and enjoyed – alone or in a group, and can be used ad infinitum.

45. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
System: Xbox 360, PC
Developer: Bethesda
Release date: March 20, 2006

Had Bethesda stopped its production of The Elder Scrolls with its third installment Morrowind, it would be remembered as one of the top developers of both computer and console RPGs. In 2006, however, Bethesda released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and added to its resume a hugely ambitious title with some of the most beautiful graphics ever seen on a console game. Oblivion takes place in Cyrodiil, the central imperial province of Tamriel, where a secret cult is working to literally open the gates of hell. Like Morrowind, Oblivion is an open-ended RPG where players can postpone the main quest indefinitely, opting instead to undertake any number of side-quests or simply wander around the gorgeously rendered game world.

44. Far Cry Instincts
System: Microsoft Xbox
Developer: Ubisoft
Release date: September 27, 2005

A remake of the PC hit, Far Cry Instincts is less open-ended and more linear than the original Far Cry, but adds several innovations that distinguish it as a unique experience. Far Cry Instincts is the story of antihero Jack Carver, hired to transport a woman to a remote archipelago. Once there, the seemingly innocent job becomes more complicated and much more deadly. Far Cry Instincts covers a lot of diverse terrain, including rainforests, jungles, canyons, rivers, mines, and volcanic wastelands, and features seven vehicles and seventeen weapons. Apart from a wide assortment of weapons, Jack is equipped with trap-making skills and, later in the game, “feral abilities” unique to the console version of Far Cry. “Feral abilities” include increased speed, night vision and a violent melee attack.

43. Excitebike 64
System: N64
Developer: Left Field Productions
Release date: April 30, 2000

Of all the great Nintendo 64 games, Excitebike 64 is probably the most overlooked. It’s neither as sexy nor as famous as titles like GoldenEye 007 or Super Mario 64 but it’s an essential game in the N64 library and the best racing game to appear on the system, surpassing fan favorites like Wave Race 64 and F-Zero X. Like its ancestor on the NES, Excitebike 64 is a motocross racing game that combines a realistic physics engine with some arcade embellishments. Players can choose one of six riders and compete against the CPU or against three friends in twenty indoor and outdoor tracks. Excitebike 64 features several special tracks, stunt courses and a track editor, which allows players to build their own personalized tracks from scratch.

42. The Last Blade
System: Neo Geo
Developer: SNK
Release date: January 29, 1998

The Neo Geo played host to a great assortment of one-on-one fighting games, but none ever matched the style and substance of The Last Blade. Released late in the lifecycle of the Neo Geo, The Last Blade is considered by many fans to be a spiritual sequel of the Samurai Shodown series, another SNK weapons-based fighter. The Last Blade features an orthodox control scheme but adds a new flavor with the ability to deflect an opponent’s attack mid-swing and the option to choose a mode of attack before each match. Those who fight frenetically and rely on stringing together combos can choose “Speed mode”; those who fight with slower but more devastating moves can choose “Power mode.”

41. Shadow of the Colossus
System: Playstation 2
Developer: Team Ico
Release date: October 18, 2005

The development team that produced the cult hit Ico returns with Shadow of the Colossus, an action game that pits a young warrior against sixteen colossi, enormous, formidable creatures that roam the plains, deserts, ruins and lakes of a forbidden and forgotten land. A mixture of organic and architectural parts, each colossus is a wonder to behold; each encounter with a giant is unique and memorable. Shadow of the Colossus eschews glossy graphics and complicated control schemes, opting instead to focus on mood, atmosphere, and expressionism. Although director Fumito Ueda has hinted at links between Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, it is officially a spiritual successor and not necessarily a direct sequel.