I was considering running another countdown since the last big project we did on VG&T was four years ago but instead I fell down the rabbit hole of great lists. I took note of IGN and Edge, before returning to the greatest video game community of them all GameFaqs to help supply us with a list.

Believe it or not, this list is actually better than those other lists.

So I'm curious of the 100 games listed, how many of these have you beaten? Are there any from outside of this list that would make your Top 10 no questions asked?

For the sake of variety, I also limited it to one game per series except in the case where the gameplay was significantly different eg. 2D vs. 3D.

So here's the list for reference.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Persona 4
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Chrono Trigger
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Xenoblade Chronicles
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Mother 3
Resident Evil 4
Shenmue II
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix
Suikoden II
Final Fantasy VI
Super Mario World
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Lunar: Eternal Blue
Super Mario Odyssey
Final Fantasy X
Shadow of the Colossus
Super Smash Bros Melee
Animal Crossing New Leaf
The World Ends With You
Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Dark Souls
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
Mass Effect 2
Bayonetta 2
Cave Story
Rune Factory 4
Tales of Symphonia
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The Last of Us
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Skies of Arcadia
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Okami
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
Starcraft: Brood War
Bloodborne
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
SoulCalibur
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Planetscape: Torment
Silent Hill 2
Portal 2
Journey
Batman: Arkham City
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Deus Ex
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
God of War (2018)
Diablo II
Metroid Prime
NiER: Automata
Pokemon SoulSilver
Final Fantasy Tactics
Donkey Kong Country 2
Fallout 3
The Elder Scrolls IV
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Yakuza 0
Red Dead Redemption
Fantasy Life
Dragon Quest VIII
Half-Life 2
Disgaea 4
Xenogears
Storyof Seasons: Trio of Towns
Banjo Kazooie
Ratchet and Clank Up Your Arsenal
Ninja Gaiden Black
Soul Sacrifice Delta
Bravely Default
Shovel Knight
Mario Kart 8
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Katawa Shoujo
Mega Man X
Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth
Warcraft III
Grand Theft Auto V
Rock Band 2
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
BioShock
Valkyria Chronicles
Terranigma
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
Theatrhthm Final Fantasy Curtain Call
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F
Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace
Super Mario Maker
Devil May Cry 3
Stardew Valley
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Patapon 3
Goldeneye

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Persona 4
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Chrono Trigger
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Xenoblade Chronicles
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Mother 3
Resident Evil 4
Shenmue II
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix
Suikoden II
Final Fantasy VI
Super Mario World
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Lunar: Eternal Blue
Super Mario Odyssey
Final Fantasy X
Shadow of the Colossus
Super Smash Bros Melee
Animal Crossing New Leaf
The World Ends With You
Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Dark Souls
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
Mass Effect 2
Bayonetta 2
Cave Story
Rune Factory 4
Tales of Symphonia
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The Last of Us
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Skies of Arcadia
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Okami
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
Starcraft: Brood War
Bloodborne
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
SoulCalibur
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Planetscape: Torment
Silent Hill 2
Portal 2
Journey
Batman: Arkham City
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Deus Ex
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
God of War (2018)
Diablo II
Metroid Prime
NiER: Automata
Pokemon SoulSilver
Final Fantasy Tactics
Donkey Kong Country 2
Fallout 3
The Elder Scrolls IV
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Yakuza 0
Red Dead Redemption
Fantasy Life
Dragon Quest VIII
Half-Life 2
Disgaea 4
Xenogears
Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns
Banjo Kazooie
Ratchet and Clank Up Your Arsenal
Ninja Gaiden Black
Soul Sacrifice Delta
Bravely Default
Shovel Knight
Mario Kart 8
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
Katawa Shoujo
Mega Man X
Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth
Warcraft III
Grand Theft Auto V
Rock Band 2
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
BioShock
Valkyria Chronicles
Terranigma
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
Theatrhthm Final Fantasy Curtain Call
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F
Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace
Super Mario Maker
Devil May Cry 3
Stardew Valley
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Patapon 3

Goldeneye

So that's 66/100 I've yet to beat. There's a few games on here I'd consider pretty niche but there's some games like Symphony of the Night, Bloodborne, Metal Gear Solid 3, Chrono Trigger that are fairly big blind spots.

And a few games that would make my Top 10 would be TF2, WWF No Mercy, Advance Wars Dual Strike, Street Fighter 3 Alpha, Civilization V and Tekken 3.

Not beaten, but I've played way more than I would've thought:

Super Mario World**
Super Smash Bros Melee*
Starcraft: Brood War**
SoulCalibur*
Red Dead Redemption*
Half-Life 2*
Mario Kart 8*
Warcraft III**
Grand Theft Auto V**
Rock Band 2*
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare**
Goldeneye

* - played a different version in the series
** - played multiple versions within the series

Ranking a personal top ten just based on those, I'd probably go:

10. Super Smash Bros.
9. SoulCaliber
8. Mario Kart
7. Super Mario World
6. Grand Theft Auto
5. Super Mario World
4. Goldeneye
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
2. Starcraft: Brood War
1. Warcraft III

Beat:

Panzer Dragoon Saga
Suikoden II
Final Fantasy VI
Super Mario World
Final Fantasy X
Mass Effect 2
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The Last of Us
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Bloodborne
SoulCalibur
Portal 2
Deus Ex
Donkey Kong Country 2
Fallout 3
The Elder Scrolls IV
Yakuza 0
Red Dead Redemption
Banjo Kazooie
Ratchet and Clank Up Your Arsenal
Ninja Gaiden Black
Mega Man X
Grand Theft Auto V
BioShock
Devil May Cry 3
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Goldeneye

Played:

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Persona 4
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Chrono Trigger
Xenoblade Chronicles
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Shadow of the Colossus
Dark Souls
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Skies of Arcadia
Okami
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Journey
Batman: Arkham City
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Diablo II
Metroid Prime
NiER: Automata
Xenogears
Shovel Knight
Mario Kart 8
Rock Band 2
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

I would have put in FF 7 over 6 and 10. Chrono Cross in over Trigger. For the Tales of series probably Vesperia or Berseria. Skyrim over Oblivion. Demon's Souls over Dark Souls

---

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Resident Evil 4
Shenmue II
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix
Super Mario World
Shadow of the Colossus
Super Smash Bros Melee
Dark Souls
Mass Effect 2
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The Last of Us
SoulCalibur
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Silent Hill 2
Portal 2
Journey
Batman: Arkham City
God of War (2018)
Metroid Prime
Donkey Kong Country 2
Fallout 3
The Elder Scrolls IV
Yakuza 0
Red Dead Redemption
Banjo Kazooie
Ratchet and Clank Up Your Arsenal
Ninja Gaiden Black
Shovel Knight
Mario Kart 8
Mega Man X
Grand Theft Auto V
Rock Band 2
BioShock
Devil May Cry 3
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Goldeneye


Played all of these, beat all except SSB: Melee.

Feb 6, 2020 10:37:00 GMT Big Pete said:

So that's 66/100 I've yet to beat. There's a few games on here I'd consider pretty niche but there's some games like Symphony of the Night, Bloodborne, Metal Gear Solid 3, Chrono Trigger that are fairly big blind spots.

And a few games that would make my Top 10 would be TF2, WWF No Mercy, Advance Wars Dual Strike, Street Fighter 3 Alpha, Civilization V and Tekken 3.

Just curious were the bold games the ones you beat or didn't beat? I originally assume those were the ones you beat then the text below lead me to believe the other way.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Super Mario World
Final Fantasy X
Dark Souls
Donkey Kong Country 2
Banjo Kazooie
Mario Kart 8
Warcraft III
Grand Theft Auto V
Super Mario Maker
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Goldeneye

Feb 7, 2020 4:54:19 GMT X-zero said:

Feb 6, 2020 10:37:00 GMT Big Pete said:

So that's 66/100 I've yet to beat. There's a few games on here I'd consider pretty niche but there's some games like Symphony of the Night, Bloodborne, Metal Gear Solid 3, Chrono Trigger that are fairly big blind spots.

And a few games that would make my Top 10 would be TF2, WWF No Mercy, Advance Wars Dual Strike, Street Fighter 3 Alpha, Civilization V and Tekken 3.

Just curious were the bold games the ones you beat or didn't beat? I originally assume those were the ones you beat then the text below lead me to believe the other way.

Didn't beat.

So I should have been clearer, when I was putting this thread together my idea was to highlight blindspots and discuss how they may have influenced our perspective on gaming. I also wanted to explore why these blindspots exist and whether the game just didn't interest you or if the game is just too difficult to get a hold of. There's certainly some games on this list that are pretty niche and I wouldn't consider them essential experiences.

This thread makes me sad because I don’t have time to play games.

I’ve surprisingly played a lot more of these than I expected though. But some I have never even heard of.

I’ll probably list the ones I’ve played/beat later.

Beaten
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Persona 4
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Resident Evil 4
Shenmue II
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix
Final Fantasy VI
Super Mario World
Super Mario Odyssey
Final Fantasy X
Shadow of the Colossus

Super Smash Bros Melee

Animal Crossing New Leaf

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
Tales of Symphonia
The Last of Us
Skies of Arcadia
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Metroid Prime
NiER: Automata
Pokemon SoulSilver
Final Fantasy Tactics
Donkey Kong Country 2
Yakuza 0
Dragon Quest VIII

Half-Life 2

Banjo Kazooie

Shovel Knight
Mario Kart 8

Grand Theft Auto V
Terranigma
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Goldeneye

I would have put in FF 7 over 6 and 10.

I was surprised X placed in-front of VII and as it turns out I had it wrong. It was the X/X-2 HD Remastered that ranked ahead and I ignored all the compilation games. So VII should jump into that spot.

Super Metroid should have also been on the list between Phoenix Wright and Mass Effect 2.

Feb 7, 2020 5:49:02 GMT Big Pete said:

Feb 7, 2020 4:54:19 GMT X-zero said:

Just curious were the bold games the ones you beat or didn't beat? I originally assume those were the ones you beat then the text below lead me to believe the other way.

Didn't beat.

So I should have been clearer, when I was putting this thread together my idea was to highlight blindspots and discuss how they may have influenced our perspective on gaming. I also wanted to explore why these blindspots exist and whether the game just didn't interest you or if the game is just too difficult to get a hold of. There's certainly some games on this list that are pretty niche and I wouldn't consider them essential experiences.

I know a lot of my blinds spots came from it was a Nintendo game and wasn't much of a Nintendo person as in owning the systems need to play them.

So going through the lists so far, the only games we've all managed to beat is Super Mario World and Grand Theft Auto V.

I understand you didn't have an N64 X-zero but what's your excuse 🤯?

Feb 8, 2020 14:40:50 GMT Big Pete said:

So going through the lists so far, the only games we've all managed to beat is Super Mario World and Grand Theft Auto V.

I understand you didn't have an N64 X-zero but what's your excuse 🤯?

Huh? I had an N64 for like a million years. Excuse for what?

Sorry had a brain aneurysm.

What's your excuse for not beating Ocarina of Time?

Feb 8, 2020 14:58:59 GMT Big Pete said:

Sorry had a brain aneurysm.

What's your excuse for not beating Ocarina of Time?

Never played it. Not a Zelda guy. Even the preN64 versions.

Feb 8, 2020 15:50:07 GMT 🤯 said:

Feb 8, 2020 14:58:59 GMT Big Pete said:

Sorry had a brain aneurysm.

What's your excuse for not beating Ocarina of Time?

Never played it. Not a Zelda guy. Even the preN64 versions.

At all? Never wandered around Kokiri Forest trying to collect the sword and shield to get past Mido?

Feb 8, 2020 15:56:59 GMT Big Pete said:

Feb 8, 2020 15:50:07 GMT 🤯 said:

Never played it. Not a Zelda guy. Even the preN64 versions.

At all? Never wandered around Kokiri Forest trying to collect the sword and shield to get past Mido?

Nope. Zero reference on what you're talking about.

You've got to be joking me.

So when everyone on the planet was talking about how amazing Zelda was in 98, you said "eh pass"? What, why? You're the N64 guy.

I feel like you've deprived yourself of 22 years of amazing memories.

Feb 8, 2020 16:07:46 GMT Big Pete said:

You've got to be joking me.

So when everyone on the planet was talking about how amazing Zelda was in 98, you said "eh pass"? What, why? You're the N64 guy.

I feel like you've deprived yourself of 22 years of amazing memories.

Blame THQ/AKI's wrestling games?

Between those and Rare's Goldeneye/Perfect Dark, I literally made zero time for anything else.

Especially back in the day when the best part about video games was couch multiply with 1-3 buddies, single player Zelda held zero interest for me. Even Mario 64 was a huge step back with no Luigi for co-play.

Now that you mention it, Gauntlet Legends did seem like a strangely specific co-op game to be nostalgic about.

Still, just emulate it for 30 minutes and beat the Great Deku Tree. If you need more motivation, there's a land full of horny women who capture men and make them their sex slaves.

Feb 8, 2020 17:02:51 GMT Big Pete said:

Now that you mention it, Gauntlet Legends did seem like a strangely specific co-op game to be nostalgic about.

Still, just emulate it for 30 minutes and beat the Great Deku Tree. If you need more motivation, there's a land full of horny women who capture men and make them their sex slaves.

Naked Disney princesses, you say?

Feb 8, 2020 17:18:05 GMT 🤯 said:

Feb 8, 2020 17:02:51 GMT Big Pete said:

Now that you mention it, Gauntlet Legends did seem like a strangely specific co-op game to be nostalgic about.

Still, just emulate it for 30 minutes and beat the Great Deku Tree. If you need more motivation, there's a land full of horny women who capture men and make them their sex slaves.

Naked Disney princesses, you say?

I'm not even joking when I say everything in that game wants to jump your bones.

Everything.

There's a scene where you run away from attempted gang rape.

NSFW

I can't believe I just watched that.

Confirmed: zero interest in Zelda.

That's a shame, as you can see it's heralded as the greatest game of all-time and it has the N64 aesthetic so it would be right up your alley. Honestly I'm not that shocked by the apprehension either. I remember bringing it around a relatives place when it first came out and showing it off as THE greatest game of all-time and they thought it was a lawn-mowing simulator since I spent so much time chopping grass. It's actually a great adventure and while I think it peaks at just the right time (right near the end) it gives a strong first impression.

I'm curious if @x-zero dropped it for any reason, or if they only got to sample a small piece at a friends house.

I kind of cosign with 🤯,. I had a nintendo 64 but not really a zelda person. I played a few minutes of a few due to my cousin and friends in college but it never really hooked me. Nintendo 64 is the only nintendo thing I ever asked for so had one of those but had less then 20 games on nes, snes, and n64. And probably less then 10 on various gameboy which were mainly pokemon and kirby. I was more of a sega kid.

Now the bigger question how did you Big Pete, miss Bioshock. It is on PS3, PS4, 360, XBOX One, and PC? It is also February PSN+ game of the month.

And if you played Last of Us you got a PS4 and Bloodborne was a free game of the month with PSN+.

Honestly I think OOT was a big selling point of me for N64. Post-SNES I went to PS1, but they pulled me back in with that, SSB and the wrestling games.

It's a bold claim to make that you're "not a Zelda person" when you never even played the opening of Ocarina. How would you know you're not a Zelda person if you never tried it? Hmph. 🤯 is just unlucky for not happening to start it as a kid.

You can still play it today and it's still good, but he will never humble himself to realize that he has been wrong all these many years. I feel where he is coming from with couch co-op though. I absolutely loved Gauntlet Legends. I played that when I was like 12 with a friend and his older brother who was like 20 and one of his older brother's friends. The game was incredibly fun and I rarely got chances to play co op games like that again. I still remember the powerful feels. I wish I could have played it with people more on my level because those OLDER PEOPLE were crazy good compared to us of course and cleared through everything. And yet it was still fun. The endless minions coming out of those wooden doors until you destroyed them is one of the most nostalgic memories I have.

Four Swords is one of the most amazing co op games ever too but I've only been able to play it for an hour. Good luck getting three other people to play that with you.

Ranking the games I've played:

Defeated
Final Fantasy VI
Shadow of the Colossus
Persona 4
Half-Life 2
Shovel Knight
Final Fantasy X
Dragon Quest VIII
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Batman: Arkham City (Asylum is better)
Portal 2
Resident Evil 4
Silent Hill 2
Devil May Cry 3
Golden Sun: The Lost Age (Golden Sun I is better)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Seriously, how did this make the list? It's innovative as hell, but not particularly good beyond that)

Rock Band 2 (Don't know how to rank this as it's not really like a regular video game)

Undefeated
Chrono Trigger
Super Mario World
Okami
Diablo II
Final Fantasy Tactics
Banjo Kazooie

In general I have some issues with this being the greatest games of all times list. But clearly it's constructed by the hardcorest of gamers because I've never heard of many of these games.

For example, Mother 3. What the hell is Mother 3? What about Mother 2 and Mother 1?

I always thought the original Kingdom Hearts was the best game in the series. Guess I'm wrong.

I know Terranigma is part of an unofficial trilogy with Illusion of Gaia and one other game. Illusion of Gaia is incredible. Is Terranigma better? These people think so.

Seeking opinions on the following, because these are games I'm vaguely interested in checking out.
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

Feb 8, 2020 21:55:33 GMT Lionheart said:

It's a bold claim to make that you're "not a Zelda person" when you never even played the opening of Ocarina. How would you know you're not a Zelda person if you never tried it? Hmph. 🤯 is just unlucky for not happening to start it as a kid.

You can still play it today and it's still good, but he will never humble himself to realize that he has been wrong all these many years. I feel where he is coming from with couch co-op though. I absolutely loved Gauntlet Legends. I played that when I was like 12 with a friend and his older brother who was like 20 and one of his older brother's friends. The game was incredibly fun and I rarely got chances to play co op games like that again. I still remember the powerful feels. I wish I could have played it with people more on my level because those OLDER PEOPLE were crazy good compared to us of course and cleared through everything. And yet it was still fun. The endless minions coming out of those wooden doors until you destroyed them is one of the most nostalgic memories I have.

Four Swords is one of the most amazing co op games ever too but I've only been able to play it for an hour. Good luck getting three other people to play that with you.

Gauntlet was/is an amazing coop experience I forgot which one I placed but had a lot fun with it. Had 6 people who were playing around the same time so had to play in shifts.