Gaming
New Nintendo Direct This Week? Known Leaker Seems Confident
2000 - Perfect Dark (Metacritic: 97)
Perfect Dark broke new ground with its innovative gameplay, laying the foundation for modern classics like Dishonored and Deus Ex. Its focus on open-ended levels and intricate objectives made it a pioneer—many of today’s games are still built on the concepts it introduced. | © The Initiative
2001 - Grand Theft Auto 3 (Metacritic: 97)
Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized open-world gaming, establishing a new standard that others would follow for years. It wasn't just a game; it was a defining experience of its era, blending classic vibes, an iconic soundtrack, and a sprawling city that felt alive. Even today, it stands tall as one of the most memorable titles of its time. | © Rockstar Games
2002 - Metroid Prime (Metacritic: 97)
Metroid Prime is a timeless classic that captured the eerie isolation of space exploration like no other. Its atmospheric world, intricate puzzles, and seamless transition to 3D defined an entire era of gaming. The original experience remains legendary, striking a perfect blend of exploration, action, and an unforgettable Metroid atmosphere. | © Retro Studios
2003 - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Metacritic: 96)
The Wind Waker captures the magic of the Zelda series with stunning cel-shaded visuals that still hold up today. The dungeons, like the Earth Temple and Tower of the Gods, are cleverly crafted and full of memorable moments, even if they aren’t the most challenging. | © Nintendo
2004 - Half-Life 2 (Metacritic: 96)
Half-Life 2 redefined the first-person shooter genre with its immersive storytelling, physics-based puzzles, and groundbreaking AI. The dystopian world of City 17, combined with the unforgettable gravity gun, created an experience that set a new standard for interactive gameplay. | © Valve
2005 - Resident Evil 4 (Metacritic: 96)
Resident Evil 4 offers an immersive horror experience that stands out with its grounded protagonist and realistic setting. Balancing the original's charm with enhanced story, strategy, and atmosphere, it brings a richer, more intense adventure that redefined survival horror and left an unforgettable mark on gaming history. | © Capcom
2006 - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Metacritic: 95)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess delivers a fantastic gameplay experience, paired with a darker, more realistic art style that sets it apart from other Zelda titles. While the story leans heavily on helping others rather than focusing on a lone hero’s journey, and some items feel underutilized, the core adventure remains thrilling. | © Nintendo
2007 - Super Mario Galaxy (Metacritic: 97)
Super Mario Galaxy offers a delightful Mario adventure, filled with imaginative level design and an unforgettable soundtrack that creates a truly enchanting atmosphere. The game’s gravity-defying mechanics, stunning visuals, and top-tier sound design combine seamlessly, delivering an experience that is as thrilling as it is magical. | © Nintendo
2008 - Grand Theft Auto IV (Metacritic: 98)
Grand Theft Auto IV brings the most grounded, realistic experience the series has ever seen, emphasizing real-life elements over the spectacle of its successors. Its revolutionary physics engine and meticulous attention to detail create an immersive world like no other. | © Rockstar Games
2009 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Metacritic: 96)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is where Naughty Dog truly hit its stride, crafting a polished and exhilarating adventure. The game is filled with unforgettable moments, like the epic train sequence that keeps the action fresh and thrilling. This redefined cinematic gameplay and set a new standard for the genre. | © Naughty Dog
2010 - Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Metacritic: 97)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 stands as one of the finest 3D Mario adventures ever crafted. With its tighter level design and creative power-ups like Yoshi and the Cloud Flower, the game constantly presents fresh challenges, pushing platforming to new heights. Each galaxy is filled with surprises and inventive puzzles, making every moment creative and fun. | © Nintendo
2011 - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Metacritic: 96)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim stands as a quintessential open-world RPG, offering players an unparalleled opportunity to shape their destiny amid sprawling, awe-inspiring environments. Its vast world invites exploration, from towering mountains to ancient ruins, each teeming with secrets and stories. | © Bethesda Game Studios
2012 - Mass Effect 3 (Metacritic: 93)
Mass Effect 3 perfected the series' combat, offering the smoothest and most polished gameplay of the trilogy - so good it even introduced multiplayer. While the story and ending were divisive, with inconsistent lore and player choices that lacked impact, the grand set pieces and world-building were unforgettable. | © BioWare
2013 - The Last of Us (Metacritic: 95)
The Last of Us is a storytelling masterpiece that captivated players with its emotional depth and unforgettable characters. The story is the heart of the experience, delivering a powerful tale of survival, love, and loss that resonates long after you finish the game. | © Naughty Dog
2014 - Grand Theft Auto V (Metacritic: 97)
Grand Theft Auto V redefined the open-world genre, offering players an expansive, richly detailed world where crime-driven escapades are combined with a humorous storyline. GTA also revolutionized the genre with its iconic online multiplayer experience, setting a new standard for what an open-world game could achieve in terms of player freedom, social interaction, and endless content. | © Rockstar Games
2015 - Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Metacritic: 93)
The Phantom Pain is the peak of Metal Gear Solid franchise that pushes the boundaries of stealth-action games, delivering an open-world experience packed with tactical freedom and cinematic storytelling. If you take your time and plan your assault, you can have a lot of fun in this game. | © Konami
2016 - Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (Metacritic: 93)
A Thief's End is the great finish for Nathan Drake’s story in the games, but it also leaves you knowing that even more adventure happens with him and Elena, Sully, and Sam. It's a polished game packed with tactical freedom and cinematic storytelling. | © Naughty Dog
2017 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Metacritic: 97)
Breath of the Wild breathed new life into the well-known series, redefining what an open-world RPG could be. The game's mesmerizing music and emphasis on player freedom set a new standard for adventure games, making every discovery feel truly personal and every challenge a rewarding journey. | © Nintendo
2018 - Red Dead Redemption 2 (Metacritic: 97)
Red Dead Redemption 2 stands as one of the greatest games ever made - a masterpiece that captures the essence of the Wild West like no other. Every moment, from the sweeping landscapes to the deep character interactions, feels rich and alive, making Red Dead Redemption 2 the ultimate cowboy adventure that sets an unmatched benchmark in gaming. | © Rockstar Games
2019 - Disco Elysium (Metacritic: 91)
Disco Elysium is a choice-driven role-playing adventure with thought-provoking writing and a very cool blurry art style. The dialogue is so exceptional that it sets an unmatched standard for storytelling in games, making it hard to enjoy others that claim to have great writing, despite it not being an action-packed RPG. | © ZA/UM
2020 - Persona 5 Royal (Metacritic: 95)
Persona 5 Royal delivers a top-tier JRPG experience, blending a captivating presentation with engaging turn-based combat. While the story may not be the genre's strongest, it still stands out, providing a rich and stylish adventure that remains among the best in JRPGs. | © Atlu
2021 - The House in Fata Morgana (Metacritic: 96)
The House in Fata Morgana is a one-of-a-kind visual novel that immerses players in its haunting narrative with striking art, chilling music, and deeply complex characters. Each twist is amplified by the game’s masterful use of the visual novel format, creating an emotional journey that lingers long after the story ends. | © NOVECT
2022 - Elden Ring (Metacritic: 96)
Elden Ring blends the iconic elements of FromSoftware's design challenging combat, intricate lore, and rewarding exploration into a vast open-world RPG that feels truly spectacular. This fusion not only expands the studio's signature style to an epic scale but also solidifies FromSoftware's reputation as one of the best game developers. | © FromSoftware
2023 - Baldur's Gate 3 (Metacritic: 96)
Baldur's Gate III is easily one of the greatest games ever made. Its brilliance lies in many areas, particularly its flexible storytelling, which offers players true autonomy in shaping the game world. The deep, meaningful relationships with companions make every interaction feel significant | © Larian Studios
2024 - Astro Bot (Metacritic: 94)
Astro Bot is one of the most technically advanced video games that showcases PS5’s capabilities, offering ingenious level design, detailed visual presentation, and flawless controls. You can feel every step, every jump, and every attack with haptic feedback, visual feedback, and sound effects. | © Team Asobi
2025 - Grand Theft Auto VI
Grand Theft Auto VI is not released yet, but it promises to take open-world gaming to the next level and become the best video game of the decade. Do you agree with this ranking? Let us know your thoughts in comments! | © Rockstar Games
