Ranked · Culture
Best video games of all time
The ten best video games of all time, from Tetris and Super Mario 64 to Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3, and why each one still deserves your time.
Bitezine Editorial TeamRankings, reviews & guides 10 min read
AI generatedThe best video games of all time are not only the most technically impressive ones of their day. They are the games that invented or perfected a way of playing that others copied for years afterwards, and that still feel good to pick up now. The ten below range from a falling-block puzzle from 1984 to a sprawling role-playing game from 2023.
We compared long-running critics' and reader polls of the greatest video games ever, review aggregates, Game of the Year awards and sales records, and weighed each game's influence on the medium. We favoured games you can still buy and play today on current hardware, and aimed for a spread of genres: puzzle, platformer, shooter, open world and RPG.
At a glance
#1 · Best for Players who love exploring
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Open world freedom done best
Link wakes up in a ruined Hyrule and can head almost anywhere from the first hour, climbing any surface and solving problems with physics and chemistry rather than set solutions. Nintendo rebuilt its classic series around curiosity, and the result changed how open world games are designed. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2017.
- Climb, glide and explore freely
- Physics-based puzzles and combat
- Over 100 optional shrines
- Sequel: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)
- Developer
- Nintendo
- Released
- 2017
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Wii U
- Genre
- Open world action-adventure
#2 · Best for Quick games and all ages
Tetris
The perfect puzzle game
Falling shapes, one rule: complete a line and it disappears. Alexey Pajitnov created Tetris in the Soviet Union in 1984, and the Game Boy version turned it into a worldwide hit. Its design is so clean that it still works on every device, and modern versions such as Tetris Effect and Tetris 99 show how much depth it hides.
- Learn in seconds, master over years
- Available on almost every platform
- Competitive scene still active
- Great for short sessions
- Creator
- Alexey Pajitnov
- Released
- 1984
- Platforms
- Nearly all consoles, PC and mobile
- Genre
- Puzzle
#3 · Best for Gaming history fans
Super Mario 64
The blueprint for 3D games
Super Mario 64 launched with the Nintendo 64 and showed how a character could run, jump and swim freely through 3D worlds using an analogue stick. Peach's castle works as a hub with paintings leading to open levels full of stars to collect. Its controls still feel lively, even if the camera shows its age.
- Defined 3D platforming controls
- Hub world with 15 main courses
- Collect 120 stars
- Playable via Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack
- Developer
- Nintendo
- Released
- 1996
- Platforms
- Nintendo 64, later Nintendo re-releases
- Genre
- 3D platformer
#4 · Best for Families and creative players
Minecraft
The best-selling game ever
Minecraft drops you into a world made of blocks that you can dig, mine and build with, alone or with friends. Survival mode adds monsters and hunger, while Creative mode is an endless digital building set. With more than 300 million copies sold, it is the best-selling video game of all time and a staple in schools and families.
- Survival and Creative modes
- Cross-platform multiplayer (Bedrock Edition)
- Huge community of mods and servers
- Education Edition for schools
- Developer
- Mojang Studios
- Released
- 2011 (full release)
- Platforms
- PC, Mac, consoles, mobile
- Genre
- Sandbox, survival
#5 · Best for PC players and shooter fans
Half-Life 2
The shooter that set the bar
Gordon Freeman returns to a city occupied by an alien regime and fights his way out, with no cutscenes breaking the first-person view. Valve's physics engine and the Gravity Gun turned the environment into a tool, and the pacing mixes combat, puzzles and vehicle sections. Its influence on first-person storytelling is still clear today.
- Story told without cutscenes
- Physics puzzles and the Gravity Gun
- Varied pacing and set pieces
- Episodes One and Two continue the story
- Developer
- Valve
- Released
- 2004
- Platforms
- PC (Steam), plus older consoles
- Genre
- First-person shooter
#6 · Best for Players who want a challenge
Elden Ring
A tough, unforgettable adventure
FromSoftware took the demanding combat of Dark Souls and set it in a vast open world, with fantasy writer George R. R. Martin contributing to its mythology. You choose where to go, which bosses to face and how to build your character. It is hard, but the sense of discovery is unmatched, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022.
- Challenging, skill-based combat
- Open world full of hidden areas
- Huge range of builds and weapons
- Shadow of the Erdtree expansion (2024)
- Developer
- FromSoftware
- Released
- 2022
- Platforms
- PC, PlayStation, Xbox
- Genre
- Action RPG
#7 · Best for Story lovers with time to spare
Red Dead Redemption 2
The most detailed open world
Outlaw Arthur Morgan rides with a gang in decline at the end of the American frontier era. Rockstar filled its world with small details and characters who react to you, and the story is one of the most affecting in games. It moves slowly and deliberately, which suits players who like to soak in a place.
- Long, character-driven story
- Highly detailed world and wildlife
- Hunting, fishing and side stories
- Online mode included
- Developer
- Rockstar Games
- Released
- 2018 (PC 2019)
- Platforms
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre
- Open world action-adventure
#8 · Best for Fantasy and RPG fans
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Side quests better than most main stories
Monster hunter Geralt searches for his adopted daughter Ciri across a war-torn fantasy world based on Andrzej Sapkowski's novels. Even small side quests carry moral choices with real consequences. Its two expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are among the best add-ons ever made, and the game won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2015.
- Choice-driven quests
- Two acclaimed expansions
- Card mini-game Gwent
- Free next-gen update in 2022
- Developer
- CD Projekt Red
- Released
- 2015
- Platforms
- PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Genre
- Open world RPG
#9 · Best for Players who love choices
Baldur's Gate 3
The best modern RPG
Built on Dungeons & Dragons rules, Baldur's Gate 3 lets you solve almost any situation through combat, conversation, stealth or creative use of the environment. Larian's companions are fully voiced and react to your choices, and whole storylines can change or disappear. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023 and supports online and split-screen co-op.
- Turn-based tactical combat
- Huge number of branching choices
- Online and split-screen co-op
- Based on D&D 5th edition rules
- Developer
- Larian Studios
- Released
- 2023
- Platforms
- PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
- Genre
- RPG
#10 · Best for Puzzle fans and co-op pairs
Portal 2
Clever puzzles, very funny writing
Armed with a device that creates linked portals, you solve test chambers in a crumbling research facility under the eye of the AI GLaDOS. The puzzles build steadily, and the writing is among the funniest in gaming. A separate co-op campaign for two players makes it a great game to play with a friend.
- Portal-based physics puzzles
- Two-player co-op campaign
- Sharp, funny script
- Short enough to finish in a few evenings
- Developer
- Valve
- Released
- 2011
- Platforms
- PC, Mac, Switch, older consoles
- Genre
- Puzzle
How to choose
Start with the hardware you own. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario 64 are Nintendo games, while Half-Life 2 and Portal 2 are best on PC, and several picks such as Minecraft, The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring run on almost everything. If you mainly play on a computer, the best PC games of all time here are Half-Life 2, Portal 2 and Baldur's Gate 3.
Then match the game to your time and taste. Tetris and Portal 2 suit short sessions and players who like puzzles. The best open world games on the list, Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring, each need dozens of hours. If you want the best story games or best RPG games of all time, go for The Witcher 3 or Baldur's Gate 3. Elden Ring is famously demanding, so pick it if you enjoy a hard challenge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best video game of all time?
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There is no single agreed answer, but The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Tetris and Super Mario 64 appear at or near the top of most critics' lists. Breath of the Wild won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2017 and changed how open world games are designed.
What is the best-selling video game of all time?
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Minecraft is the best-selling video game of all time, with more than 300 million copies sold across platforms according to its publisher. Tetris has also sold in huge numbers across its many versions, and Grand Theft Auto V is the other game usually near the top of sales charts.
What are the best open world games?
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Elden Ring are the open world games most often named as the best. Breath of the Wild is the most welcoming, Red Dead Redemption 2 the most detailed, and Elden Ring the most challenging.
What games are like Elden Ring?
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FromSoftware's own Dark Souls series, Bloodborne and Sekiro are the closest matches, with the same tough combat and cryptic storytelling. If you want open world exploration with a gentler difficulty, try Breath of the Wild.
Are old games like Super Mario 64 still worth playing?
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Yes. Super Mario 64 set the rules for moving a character in 3D and is still fun, although its camera feels dated. Nintendo makes it available through Nintendo Switch Online for members with the Expansion Pack, which is the easiest legal way to play it today.
Which game on this list is best for kids?
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Minecraft is the best choice for children and families, with a Creative mode that removes danger and lots of room for building together. Tetris and Super Mario 64 are also suitable. The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, Baldur's Gate 3 and Elden Ring are rated for adults.
Can I play Baldur's Gate 3 on console?
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Yes. Baldur's Gate 3 launched on PC in August 2023 and came to PlayStation 5 in September 2023 and Xbox Series X|S in December 2023. It is also available on Mac, and supports split-screen co-op on consoles.
If you play only one game from this list, Breath of the Wild is the best showcase of what freedom in a game can feel like. Minecraft is the best choice for families, and Baldur's Gate 3 is the best modern RPG. Mixing one old classic with one recent pick is the quickest way to see why these are the best games to play in 2026 and beyond.
How we research: We compare each product on the same criteria, using makers’ documentation, independent reviews and owner feedback, and re-check the list when products change.
Written by
Bitezine Editorial Team
Rankings, reviews & guides
Our editors research every piece from makers’ documentation, independent tests and owner reports, and update it when products change.
