Ranking the best video games of all time is a task bound to leave someone disappointed; inevitably, someone’s favorite game gets left off the list.
Yet, certain games appear on every list, and for good reason. They transformed the medium itself, sold millions of copies, and evoked deep emotions within us.
We looked at Metacritic scores, sales, player reviews, and the kind of influence that lasts decades. Then we narrowed it down to ten.
No filler. No random picks. Just the games that genuinely earned the label.
This list is based on a blend of critics’ ratings and popularity.
Your personal number one pick might be different, and that’s perfectly fine.
That’s just how it goes in gaming.
#1 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Platform: Nintendo 64
There’s a reason this one still sits at a 99 on Metacritic.
Ocarina of Time took Zelda into 3D and somehow nailed it on the first try. Lock-on targeting? That started here. A day-night cycle that mattered? Here. Dungeons that felt like real places?
It’s not just about nostalgia.
This game still holds up incredibly well today. It has a compelling story and fantastic music. If you’ve never finished it, you definitely should. Choosing it as one of the greatest video games of all time would be the right decision.
#2 Minecraft (2011)
Platform: Multi-platform
Minecraft is the best-selling game ever. Over 350 million copies. That number is almost impossible to wrap your head around.
But the sales aren’t why it’s here.
It’s here because it gives players a blank canvas and says, “Do whatever.” Build a castle. Survive the night. Recreate your school. Play with friends. Minecraft doesn’t care.
It works for kids, adults, speedrunners, and artists alike. That kind of freedom doesn’t come around often.
#3 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
Platform: Nintendo Switch / Wii U
Nintendo took a hard look at the Zelda formula and completely reinvented it.
‘Breath of the Wild’ is an open-world game of a kind rarely seen even today. If you see a mountain, you can climb it. If you spot something unusual, you should probably go check it out.
It scored a 97 and won just about every award imaginable.
More importantly, it changed open-world design. Elden Ring, Genshin Impact, and a dozen other games owe it a nod. It’s the Zelda game that made everyone feel like an explorer again.
#4 Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Rockstar has spent years building this world, and it clearly shows.
The pace of ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ is deliberately slow. You hunt. You ride horses. You talk to the people in your camp. You watch Arthur Morgan grapple with his identity.
Then the story hits you like a train.
It’s one of the few games that made us sit quietly through the credits. It holds a 97 on Metacritic and has sold over 70 million copies. Not bad for a cowboy game.
#5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
Platform: Multi-platform
In most games, side quests are merely a way to pass the time.
In The Witcher 3, however, they are often even better than the main story. There is a reason why the ‘Bloody Baron’ quest is still talked about today; it is complex and tragic, involving decisions that lack clear-cut answers.
The game scored a 92, but player love pushes it higher.
Over 50 million copies sold. If you want the best RPG with real characters and real consequences, this is the one.
Geralt may be a monster hunter, but the monsters are rarely the worst part.
#6 Super Mario 64 (1996)
Platform: Nintendo 64
Before Mario leaped into 3D, no one knew whether it would succeed or not.
Then Nintendo launched ‘Super Mario 64,’ and suddenly, every developer began taking cues from it. Its controls were incredibly precise. The camera was used very intelligently.
The castle felt like a playground.
It holds a 94 on Metacritic and sold nearly 12 million copies. Those numbers don’t scream “biggest ever” today, but influence matters. Without this game, 3D platformers might look very different. It’s pure joy in cartridge form.
#7 Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)
Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Larian did something wild.
They made a huge Dungeons & Dragons RPG that respects your choices, your companions, and your time.
Baldur’s Gate 3 scored a 96 and was named the best game of all time by PC Gamer in 2025.
Every decision matters. Every companion has an opinion. You can talk your way out of fights, start them by accident, or do something so strange the game actually accounts for it.
Over 15 million copies sold. It’s a modern classic that already feels like it’s been around forever.
#8 Elden Ring (2022)
Platform: Multi-platform
FromSoftware has made hard games before.
Elden Ring made a hard game that everyone could approach on their own terms. The open world gives you room to explore, level up, and come back stronger.
It scored a 96 on PS5.
It sold over 30 million copies.
And it has that special feeling where every victory feels earned. The Lands Between is full of secrets, and the game never holds your hand. That’s the point. It’s brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable.
#9 Portal 2 (2011)
Platform: Multi-platform
Portal 2 is funny.
Like, actually funny. Not “game funny.”
It has jokes that land, characters you quote years later, and puzzles that make you feel smart.
The portal gun is still a brilliant idea. The writing is sharp.
GLaDOS and Wheatley are an incredible pair. It holds a 95 on Metacritic and sold over 13 million copies. It proves you don’t need a 100-hour campaign or a giant map.
Sometimes a clever idea and great writing are enough.
#10 Half-Life 2 (2004)
Platform: PC, Xbox
Half-Life 2 changed shooters. The physics engine wasn’t just for show. The gravity gun made everyday objects into weapons and tools.
Stack crates.
Launch sawblades.
Solve problems in ways that felt new.
It scored a 96 on PC. It sold over 12 million copies.
The story is told without cutscenes, which was bold then and still works now. And that ending? Still painful. It’s a piece of gaming history that holds up better than most.
Final Thoughts: What Makes a Game the “Best”?
Every game on this list did something different.
Ocarina of Time perfected 3D design.
Minecraft gave creativity to everyone.
Red Dead Redemption 2 made us care about a cowboy.
Baldur’s Gate 3 trusted players to be smart.
That’s what the best video games of all time have in common. They took risks. They didn’t just copy what worked. They pushed the medium forward.
So whether you’re replaying a favorite or trying one for the first time, these ten are worth your time. And if your personal No. 1 isn’t here? That’s the fun part.
The list is never really finished.
