The List: Introduction

Last List Update: 7.11.2010

The following pages contain the 200 greatest video games ever made. Or, rather, the 200 best video games according to some of the world's top video game critics. The list features best-sellers (The Sims), cult classics (Ōkami) and some video game icons (Mario, repeatedly). It includes epic solo experiences (Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn) as well as multi-player masterpieces (Counter-Strike); games that tap into our primal lust for violence (DOOM), ones that aid our absurd quest for universal order and structure (Tetris), and some that feed our need for social interaction (Guitar Hero).

Certain entries represent an entire series of games, rather than just individual installments. This is done in cases where new installments in a series are essentially upgraded version of previous installments (such as fighting games, strategy games and sports titles). This prevents the list from being littered with Street Fighter games and, thus, allows other deserving titles to enter. Series entries have a 'recommended games' section at the bottom of their page, which lists all of the games in that series that have received votes. I have used either North American or European release dates for the games since all of the lists that I have used are from North America, Europe and Australia. This is because I have been unable to find lists from other areas of the world, not because I am excluding them. To reiterate for those who have not read the 'about' page, the list is not indicative of my own opinion. Instead, it represents the general critical consensus.

I present two ways to view the list. 'Expanded'  includes images, information and quotes taken from some of the video game critics and publications that I have used in my database. 'Basic' is only text. It is boring, but fast.

The List: Select Version

Basic [text only]