You’ve probably seen the lists.
They usually start with a pixelated plumber and end with a cowboy crying in the snow. It feels like every time we talk about the greatest video games all time, we’re just reciting a script written by a group of people who haven't touched a controller since 2004. Honestly, it’s kinda exhausting. If you ask ten different people to name the GOAT, you’ll get twelve different answers and at least one heated argument about whether Tetris is even a "game" or just a digital stressful job.
But what actually makes a game "the greatest"?
Is it the sales numbers? Minecraft has sold over 300 million copies, basically outperforming small countries. Is it the critical score? The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time still sits at a 99 on Metacritic, a score so high it feels like a mathematical error from 1998. Or is it that weird, unquantifiable feeling you get when the music swells and you realize you haven’t blinked in three minutes?
The truth is, the conversation is changing. By 2026, the way we rank these things has shifted away from just "which game was first" toward "which game actually changed the way my brain works."
The Ocarina of Time Paradox
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Ocarina of Time.
For many, this is the undisputed king. It’s the game that taught the world how to move in 3D. Before Link stepped out into Hyrule Field, developers were basically guessing. They were throwing things at the wall to see if a 3D camera could exist without making players physically ill. Nintendo didn't just solve the camera; they invented Z-targeting. Every single third-person action game you play today, from Elden Ring to Grand Theft Auto, owes its life to that one lock-on mechanic.
But here’s the thing: Have you played it recently?
It’s clunky. The Water Temple is still a nightmare that feels like doing taxes underwater. Some critics, like those on modern forums and retrospective deep-dives, argue that while it was the most important game, it might not be the best anymore. It’s a foundational text, like the Iliad. We respect it, but we might prefer reading a modern thriller on the beach.
When Open Worlds Actually Became "Open"
For a long time, "open world" just meant a big map with a bunch of chores. You’d open the menu, see 4,000 icons, and feel your soul slowly leave your body.
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Then The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild happened in 2017.
It’s hard to overstate how much this game broke the rules. It took the "Ubisoft towers" and turned them into actual vantage points where you looked for smoke on the horizon instead of following a GPS. It treated the player like an adult with a functioning brain. If you saw a mountain, you could climb it. If you wanted to go straight to the final boss in your underwear with a stick, the game said, "Good luck, weirdo," and let you try.
Then came Elden Ring.
FromSoftware basically took the Breath of the Wild philosophy and added a layer of "this world actively wants you dead." It removed the hand-holding entirely. There is no quest log. There are no waypoints. You just wander into a swamp, see a giant lobster, and realize you’ve made a terrible mistake. This level of trust in the player is why these titles are consistently ranked as the greatest video games all time. They don't just give you a world; they give you an experience that feels earned.
The Narrative Heavyweights
We can’t talk about greatness without mentioning Naughty Dog.
The Last of Us Part I is essentially a playable prestige HBO drama. It’s the game people show their parents to prove that gaming isn't just about shooting aliens. The relationship between Joel and Ellie is so tightly written that it makes most Hollywood scripts look like a first draft.
But then there’s The Last of Us Part II.
Talk about a divisive masterpiece. It’s technically one of the most impressive feats in gaming history—the animations, the sound design, the sheer brutality of the combat. But it also took massive narrative risks that half the fanbase hated. It forced you to play as the "villain." It made you feel disgusting for things you chose to do. Is a game "the greatest" if it makes you feel miserable? Many experts say yes, because it provoked a reaction that no other medium could.
A Quick Reality Check on the "Big Three"
If you look at the consensus across IGN, Edge, and Famitsu as of early 2026, a few names appear on every single list without fail:
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- Tetris: The perfect game. You could play it in 1984 or 2026, and the dopamine hit from a long-bar clear is exactly the same. It’s the only game on this list that will likely be played 500 years from now.
- Super Mario 64: The "Big Bang" of 3D. It turned a screen into a playground.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: The gold standard for side quests. It proved that "fetch quests" could actually be heartbreaking stories about family and loss.
The Games That Nobody Talks About (But Should)
Everyone mentions Skyrim. Everyone mentions Halo.
But what about Disco Elysium?
If we’re talking about the greatest video games all time, we have to talk about the ones that pushed the boundaries of what a game can even say. Disco Elysium is a detective RPG where you can literally argue with your own Limbic System. It’s a game about failure, politics, and a talking tie. It doesn't have a combat system in the traditional sense, yet it’s more intense than most shooters.
Then there's Hades.
Supergiant Games did the impossible: they made a rogue-like where you actually wanted to die so you could go home and talk to your dad. It blended high-octane action with a soap opera featuring Greek gods. It’s a perfect loop.
Why We Get It Wrong
The biggest mistake we make is thinking "greatest" is a permanent title.
Gaming is a medium tied to technology. A great book stays great because the "hardware" (the human eye and brain) hasn't changed in millennia. But a great game from 1995 can be physically painful to play on a 4K OLED screen in 2026.
We also suffer from "Recency Bias" vs. "Nostalgia Blindness."
- Recency Bias: "This new game is the best thing ever because the graphics are shiny!"
- Nostalgia Blindness: "Nothing will ever be as good as the game I played when I was twelve and didn't have to pay rent!"
The real "greats" are the ones that manage to survive both. Bloodborne is a perfect example. Even with its choppy frame rate, the atmosphere and world-building are so thick you can practically smell the incense and wet pavement. It’s a game that gets better the more you think about it.
The 2026 Perspective: Where We Are Now
As we move further into the decade, the list is expanding. We’re seeing more "indie" titles like Outer Wilds (not The Outer Worlds, don't get them confused) being cited as life-changing experiences. Outer Wilds is a game about space exploration that you can only truly play once, because the "upgrades" are just things you learn as a player. It’s a masterpiece of non-linear storytelling that makes you feel like a genius and a speck of dust at the same time.
How to Build Your Own GOAT List
Stop looking at Metacritic.
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If you want to find the greatest video games all time for you, you need to look at what you actually value in a digital experience. Do you want to be challenged? Go play Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Do you want to cry? Play Outer Wilds or Journey. Do you want to forget that the real world exists for 100 hours? Persona 5 Royal or Baldur's Gate 3 are your best bets.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your "Pile of Shame": Most of us have The Witcher 3 or Portal 2 sitting in our Steam library unplayed. Pick one of the "consensus greats" and give it at least 5 hours.
- Ignore the "Retro" Label: If you’ve never played Chrono Trigger, don't let the 16-bit graphics scare you. It’s more tightly paced than 90% of modern AAA titles.
- Vary Your Genres: Don't just play shooters. The "greatest" titles often hide in genres you think you hate.
- Support the New Wave: Keep an eye on developers like Larian or FromSoftware who are currently in their "prime" and defining what the next generation of "greatest" looks like.
Gaming isn't a museum; it's a living thing. The best game of all time might not have been made yet—or maybe it's the one you’re about to start tonight.
Next Step for You: Pick a game from a genre you usually avoid (like a CRPG or a Narrative Sim) and play it for three hours without looking at a guide. You might just find your new personal GOAT.