# Nominate 10 video games as the best of all time. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 3, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423 "2015-10-03T21:52:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/1 "2015-10-03T21:52:51Z")
GameFaqs is apparently running another one of those poll contests. They are asking for “best game of all time nominees”, but you can only list 10. I didn’t put much thought into mine, but I did find 10 very easily. You do not have to prioritize your order. I picked: Psychonauts Chrono Cross Okami Final Fantasy VI Planescape: Torment Rayman Origins Myst Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 Portal 2 Monkey Island 2: Lechuck’s Revenge What would you pick? Limit your choices to 10, but feel free to prioritize them or not. Okami or Psychonauts are now my top choices, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/2 "2015-10-03T22:20:51Z")
Elite Pacman Defender ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/3 "2015-10-03T22:38:14Z")
Half Life 1 and 2 Fallout 3 and NV Football Manager Hearts of Iron 2 ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/4 "2015-10-03T22:42:14Z")
Sim city Fallout 2 and 3 Half Life 1 and 2 Borderlands Age of Empires Baldurs Gate Tiger Woods Golf, PC version Madden Football ---
**Author:** ![Memnon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/5 "2015-10-03T22:55:08Z")
Bioshock. Resident Evil. Silent Hill. Final Fantasy VII. Wolfenstein. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/6 "2015-10-03T23:15:06Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Elite > Pacman > Defender Sorry, got distracted. Those three plus: Missile Command Civilisation (I-IV) PGA Tour Golf Lemmings Jet Set Willy F1GP Championship/Football Manager ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/7 "2015-10-03T23:44:33Z")
In no particular order; XCOM - UFO Defence Starflight Elite Gunship 2000 Portal 1 Portal 2 Half Life 2 Dragon Age: Origins Call of Duty - Modern Warfare There’s a few others that I love but I can’t choose between Gabriel Knight/Space Quest/Leisure Suit Larry. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/8 "2015-10-03T23:51:18Z")
Tetris Deus Ex Half Life 2 Super Mario World Chrono Trigger Baldur’s Gate 2 Mario Kart 64 Fallout 3 Final Fantasy VII Portal ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/9 "2015-10-03T23:53:27Z")
Nobody’s said Doom yet? Kerbal Space Program Super Marios Bros Team Fortress 2 Minecraft (not my cup of tea but I have to recognize) ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/10 "2015-10-04T00:04:59Z")
Walking Dead Season 1 Final Fantasy VII BioShock Red Dead Redemption Warsong Tetris Rock Band ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/11 "2015-10-04T01:36:05Z")
Civilization III Sim City 4 Neverwinter Nights and the greatest of all: Dwarf Fortress ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/12 "2015-10-04T02:58:44Z")
I think adding some notes makes the recommendations more interesting: 1. The Civilization franchise. I don’t have a particular favorite, but I love the depth of gameplay and have played this franchise more than any other game. 2. Portal: it contains my all-time favorite game moment, which I’ve talked about before (when I thought the game was done, ported to a little dead-end area out of curiosity, and saw the game open up before me). 3. Starcraft: Oh, the hours I put into this game; and the plot surrounding Kerrigan was beautifully handled. 4. Minecraft: I was a skeptic for a long time, but it’s truly the best game I’ve ever encountered for creativity. 5. Planescape: Torment: I have very fond memories of the game, and spent a lot of time thinking about it when I was done playing. Second tier: 6. XCom: Enemy Within. What can I say? I know some purists despise this game for dumbing down the franchise, but maybe me dumb. The pacing of the game was great. 7. Batman: Arckham City. Another game with great pacing, and really cool boss fights. 8. Hexen: the little-known brother of Doom, I thought it had a little more complexity (e.g., more interesting weapons). Back in the day, I and my roommates would spend hours getting our null modem cables connected to each other, and when we finally got it hooked up for my first-ever multiplayer experience, I could not believe the adrenaline rush. 9. World of Warcraft: I was a huge skeptic of MMORPGs, but WoW won me over. Haven’t played in nearly a decade now, and deliberately so, given the time sink. 10. Grim Fandango: my all-time favorite adventure game, with a lovely new re-release. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/13 "2015-10-04T04:15:34Z")
Super Mario Brothers 3 is the greatest game of all time. OF ALL TIME ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/14 "2015-10-04T04:35:53Z")
Pong, for starting it all. Space Invaders, for showing gaming can work as a business. Pac-Man, for moving gaming firmly into popular culture. Atari Adventure, just about every nerd-of-the-era’s first cRPG. Intellivision’s Utopia, possibly the first PvP RTS game? Elite, truly massive sandbox on a single-sided floppy. Not sure of the rest off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/15 "2015-10-04T04:36:13Z")
TIE Fighter ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/16 "2015-10-04T05:35:01Z")
Ask me on a different day and my choices and order will likely be very different. But three games will always make my list: **Portal** - It suffered a fair amount of backlash because of the pervasive memes it inspired, but it’s truly one of the most inspired and best paced media experiences I’ve ever encountered. When I finished the game I actually looked at the world differently, both more cognizant of my own limitations and the possibilities if they were overcome. **Deus Ex** - I don’t think its level design has ever been surpassed. It was one of the very, very few games that was really willing to be hands off letting you approach problems however you wished. The vast majority of game designers are determined to force you to see every piece of the levels they so slavishly developed. Deus Ex said “Oh, you want to jump over that wall and skip that whole section? Sure, no problem.” and was much richer for it. **Planescape: Torment** - The large majority of games stories suck. They can do a good job with developing characters and worlds, but the stories themselves feel like pale imitations of other media. Torment has a legitimately great story that actually utilizes the medium effectively. The Nameles One’s struggle with identity is actually enhanced by the player choice where most stories would have fallen apart. It’s one of the few games I can take those analysis tools I learned and high school English class and use them to get more out of the experience. The rest are subject to my current feelings: **Super Mario Bros. 3** or **Super Mario World** - The most timeless of platformers. **FTL: Faster Than Light** - Definitely a personal choice, evokes being a spaceship captain better than anything else. **Chrono Trigger** - I may have greater personal nostalgia for Final Fantasy 6, but Chrono Trigger has aged better I think. **Super Mario 64** - The camera controls have not aged well at all, but it’s still a joy to play. **Mario Kart 64** - I’d put it over the original just because four players at once was a better party experience. **Fallout 1** or **2** - Really fantastic world and options. **Minecraft** - It’s LEGO for the current generation of youngsters. I’m too old to really get into it (though I do love me some Terraria), but I can appreciate the brilliance of it. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/17 "2015-10-04T07:28:11Z")
My nominations: Deus Ex Diablo II Doom Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy X SoulCalibur II Starcraft Super Smash Bros. Melee Team Fortress 2 Unreal Tournament (1999) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/18 "2015-10-04T08:09:40Z")
in no particular order Elite Mario Kart 8 R-Type Super Mario Galaxy 2 Return to Castle Wolfenstein Knight Lore (an old ZX spectrum game) Blood Money (an Amiga game) Lemmings Pikmin 3 Legend of Zelda: Links awakening (the original game boy) ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/19 "2015-10-04T09:52:40Z")
[ul] [li] **Super Mario Galaxy 2** - it is the best distillation of “fun” I’ve ever seen in a video game. Other games might have more immersive gameplay, stronger challenge, world building, graphics, etc. but for my money no game brings a smile to my face like SMG2.[/li][li] **Final Fantasy Tactics** [/li][li] **Okami** [/li][li] **Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time** [/li][li] **Portal 2** [/li][li] **Myst** [/li][li] **Grand Theft Auto III** [/li][li] **Tetris** [/li][li] **The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim** [/li][li] **Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber** (A personal sentiment and not actually top 10 worthy. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent with this game.)[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423/20 "2015-10-04T14:40:18Z")
> [@Wolverine](#): > > [ul] > [li] **Super Mario Galaxy 2** - it is the best distillation of “fun” I’ve ever seen in a video game. Other games might have more immersive gameplay, stronger challenge, world building, graphics, etc. but for my money no game brings a smile to my face like SMG2.[/li][li] **Final Fantasy Tactics** [/li][li] **Okami** [/li][li] **Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time** [/li][li] **Portal 2** [/li][li] **Myst** [/li][li] **Grand Theft Auto III** [/li][li] **Tetris** [/li][li] **The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim** [/li][li] **Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber** (A personal sentiment and not actually top 10 worthy. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent with this game.)[/li][/ul] Glad to see you have played and come around to\*\* Okami\*\*, Wolverine. Played on the Wii? I don’t have a Wii copy yet, but I plan to get it from my local library for my next playthrough. I wish Steam would get the rights to the PS3 HD re-furbishing. **Skyrim** almost made my list. Probably should have. It’s almost so much a given that I skipped it. I need to get a legendary copy and play it through. I haven’t played the DLC. Fun note about Myst. **Myst IV** is the best sequel and really the only one needed. Despite Riven’s brilliance, it is skippable in my opinion. I’d strongly recommend everyone play Myst and then jump to Myst IV. It is a true sequel to the original. You enter the prison books from Myst and learn what has happened to Atrus’ kids. And it is 100% awesome. I like it the most of all 5 games in the main series. Ocarina of Time probably should be on the list, but it is like Skyrim in that it was almost too obvious for me to list. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-10-video-games-as-the-best-of-all-time/733423.md?page=2)