Best Video Games of All Time: Top Picks
The best video game of all time is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It redefines open-world exploration with a physics-driven sandbox where every hill hides a secret, and it respects your intelligence by letting you solve problems your own way. No other game has matched its blend of freedom, discovery, and polished mechanics.
What to Look For
When judging a game as “all-time great,” four criteria matter more than hype or sales figures:
- Innovation: Did it introduce mechanics or a genre that others copied? Games like Super Mario 64 and Doom are here because they changed the medium, not just because they were fun.
- Timelessness: A great game remains enjoyable decades later. Pixel art can age gracefully; clunky controls and unfair design do not.
- Emotional or intellectual impact: The best games make you feel something — awe, sadness, triumph, or pure curiosity — long after you put down the controller.
- Replayability: Whether through multiplayer, branching choices, or speedrunning, a true classic keeps you coming back.
Avoid judging solely by graphics or Metacritic score. A 95 average from critics is a good sign, but a game that pioneered a genre with 85s may be more historically important.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
Strengths: A seamless open world with no invisible walls, where weather, fire, and gravity all interact. You can climb almost anything, glide from peaks, and solve shrines with creative physics. The story is minimal but touching, and the soundtrack is sparse yet perfect.
Trade-offs: Weapon durability can frustrate players who hoard gear. The main dungeons are weak compared to previous Zelda games. Performance on the original Switch can dip in grassy areas.
Who it suits: Anyone who loves exploration, puzzle-solving, or just wandering a beautiful world. If you hate being told where to go, this is your game.
Super Mario 64 (1996)
Strengths: The first true 3D platformer, and it still controls brilliantly. Each level is a miniature sandbox with multiple objectives, rewarding curiosity and experimentation. The movement — long jumps, wall kicks, backflips — is so deep that speedrunners still find new tricks.
Trade-offs: The camera is notoriously finicky, especially in tight corridors. The graphics are dated, and some later levels (like the rainbow ride) are frustratingly hard. It’s only available on Nintendo 64, Wii Virtual Console, or the 3D All-Stars collection.
Who it suits: Platformer fans, speedrunners, and anyone who wants to see where modern 3D games began. If you have patience for old-school camera quirks, you’ll find a masterpiece.
Half-Life 2 (2004)
Strengths: A first-person shooter that tells a story entirely through gameplay — no cutscenes, no loading screens. The gravity gun is a physics toy that makes every battle a sandbox. The dystopian atmosphere and pacing are unmatched, and the modding community (Counter-Strike, Portal) grew from this engine.
Trade-offs: The shooting feels dated by modern standards — enemies are bullet sponges. The vehicle sections (the hovercraft, the buggy) drag on. It requires Steam, and the ending is a notorious cliffhanger that was never resolved.
Who it suits: FPS veterans who value narrative and physics over twitch reflexes. Also great for modders and anyone interested in game design.
Minecraft (2011)
Strengths: The best-selling game of all time, and for good reason. It’s a pure creativity engine: build anything, explore infinite worlds, survive monsters, or just farm. The crafting system is intuitive, the modding scene is massive, and it runs on almost anything, including a Raspberry Pi.
Trade-offs: The base game has no story or goals — you must make your own. Graphics are intentionally blocky, which some find ugly. The Java edition and Bedrock edition have different features, which can confuse new players.
Who it suits: All ages. Great for families, educators, and anyone who likes building or exploring. If you need a structured campaign, look elsewhere.
Chrono Trigger (1995)
Strengths: A Japanese RPG with a time-travel story that avoids paradoxes and features multiple endings. The combat system lets enemies and allies share a timeline — no random encounters, and combo moves between characters add depth. The soundtrack by Yasunori Mitsuda is legendary, and the pixel art is still gorgeous.
Trade-offs: It’s short by JRPG standards (~25 hours), and the difficulty is on the easy side. The original SNES version is hard to find; the DS and Steam ports have minor issues. The story is linear until the final act, despite the time travel.
Who it suits: RPG fans who value story and music over grind. Also great for newcomers to the genre, since it’s accessible and doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Doom (1993)
Strengths: The game that popularized first-person shooters and online deathmatch. Its engine was revolutionary, and the level design is a masterclass in non-linear exploration. The modding community is still active, with thousands of user-created levels (WADs).
Trade-offs: It’s brutally hard and has no story to speak of. The 2D sprites look dated, and the movement (no vertical aiming) feels primitive. You’ll need a source port like GZDoom to run it smoothly on modern PCs.
Who it suits: FPS purists, speedrunners, and anyone curious about gaming history. If you want a modern shooter with a story, skip it.
How to Choose
Your budget and platform matter more than any “best” list. Here’s how to narrow it down:
- Budget: All of these are old enough to be cheap. Minecraft is the only one that still costs full price (~$30). The others are often on sale for under $10 on Steam or the Nintendo eShop. If you’re on a tight budget, Doom is free via the shareware version, and Chrono Trigger is frequently discounted.
- Platform: Breath of the Wild is Nintendo Switch/Wii U only. Super Mario 64 is on Switch (via 3D All-Stars) or emulation. Half-Life 2 and Doom are on PC, with console ports for Half-Life 2 (Xbox, PS3). Minecraft is everywhere. Chrono Trigger is on Steam, mobile, and DS.
- Use case: For a family game night, Minecraft or Super Mario 64 (co-op mods aside) are best. For a solo immersive story, Half-Life 2 or Chrono Trigger. For pure exploration, Breath of the Wild. For competitive multiplayer, Doom (via mods) or Minecraft PvP.
- Common trade-offs: Older games have clunky controls or graphics, but they offer historical value. Newer games are polished but often less innovative. If you can’t decide, pick the one that matches your preferred genre — you can’t go wrong with any of these.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single best game of all time?
There’s no objective answer, but Breath of the Wild is the most common pick among critics and players in recent years. It combines innovation, polish, and emotional resonance better than any other.
Are these games still worth playing in 2025?
Yes. All of them have aged well in terms of gameplay, even if graphics are dated. Doom and Super Mario 64 require some tolerance for old-school mechanics, but they remain fun.
Which is better: Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom?
Tears of the Kingdom improves on building and adds more content, but Breath of the Wild has a purer exploration experience. If you want the original masterpiece, start with Breath of the Wild.
Can I play these on a modern PC?
Half-Life 2, Minecraft, and Chrono Trigger run natively. Doom needs a source port like GZDoom. Super Mario 64 and Breath of the Wild require emulators (like Project64 or Cemu), which are legal but require you to own the original game.
What about Ocarina of Time or Skyrim?
Both are also strong candidates. Ocarina of Time is the 3D pioneer that Breath of the Wild deconstructed. Skyrim is more about role-playing and mods. They didn’t make this list because Breath of the Wild and Minecraft cover similar ground with more innovation.
Are there any modern games that could become all-time greats?
Elden Ring (2022) and Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023) are already being discussed in the same breath. Give them a decade to see if they hold up, but they’re excellent starting points for modern gaming.
Bottom Line
If you only play one game from this list, make it The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — it’s the most complete, innovative, and joyful experience ever made. For a cheaper or more accessible option, Minecraft is a close second. For a historical foundation, start with Super Mario 64 or Doom. The rest are all masterpieces in their own right, so you can’t make a bad choice.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.