Video games that were ahead of their time

15. Deus Ex

Deus Ex, released in 2000, was a groundbreaking game that revolutionized both RPGs and first-person shooters. It offered players an unprecedented degree of freedom, allowing them to approach missions in a truly personal way. | © Ion Storm

14. Super Mario 64

A masterpiece of design, Super Mario 64 remains an iconic title that influenced not only the Mario series but the entire platforming genre for generations to come. Its open-world levels, intuitive controls, and dynamic camera system redefined how players navigated virtual spaces, making every jump feel natural. | © Nintendo

13. Red Faction

Red Faction stood out in 2001 as a first-person shooter with a groundbreaking Geo-Mod feature that allowed for nearly 100% destructible environments. This innovation gave players unprecedented freedom to create their paths, blow through walls, or outsmart enemies in ways no other game had offered. | © Volition Inc.

12. Half-Life

Half-Life redefined first-person shooters by delivering a seamless narrative experience and a level of immersion that set it apart from contemporaries like Thief: The Dark Project and Unreal. Its crowbar, a simple but iconic weapon, introduced a tactile, physical feel to gameplay that felt revolutionary compared to the often clunky mechanics of this era. | © Valve Corporation

11. Doom

Doom changed the landscape of PC gaming forever when it debuted in 1993, introducing a viscerally immersive first-person shooter experience that felt like stepping into 3D gaming. With groundbreaking innovations like non-linear level design, and support for multiplayer modes, Doom redefined what games could achieve technically and creatively. | © Bethesda Softworks

10. Pac-Man

Pac-Man revolutionized gaming in 1980 by introducing the first power-up mechanic, allowing players to turn the tables on enemies, and featuring the earliest cutscenes to add charm and personality to its levels. As one of the pioneers of the maze genre, its deceptively simple gameplay offered endless replayability. | © Namco

9. God Of War

God of War pushed the PlayStation 2 to its limits, delivering a stunning visual and gameplay experience that still holds up today. Detailed character models, impressive textures, and the ability to run in 480i high definition made it feel like a generation ahead. | © SIE Santa Monica Studio

8. Crysis

Crysis has become the legendary benchmark for PC performance with visuals so advanced most systems couldn’t fully handle them. Powered by the CryEngine 2, it boasted jaw-dropping detail, including 850,000 shaders and a gigabyte of texture data, creating an immersive world that felt years ahead of its time. | © Crytek

7. Far Cry

Far Cry revolutionized video game visuals in 2004, bringing to life a lush, organic-looking island environment that set a new standard for outdoor settings in gaming. The game offered groundbreaking graphics and level design that showcased the potential of immersive first-person shooters, combining exploration and action. | © Ubisoft

6. Portal

Portal is a masterclass in game design, blending innovative physics-based puzzles with sharp storytelling and an unforgettable villain. Its portal gun mechanic redefined how players navigate the game world, starting with simple tasks and escalating into complex challenges requiring strategy and creativity. | © Valve Corporation

5. Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII revolutionized RPGs in 1997, introducing players to a visually stunning, emotionally rich world that elevated the genre to mainstream popularity. Despite its dated visuals, the game’s groundbreaking storytelling and immersive world-building ensure its legacy as one of the most beloved and influential titles ever. | © Square Enix

4. Metal Gear Solid

Metal Gear Solid redefined gaming in 1998, combining groundbreaking 3D graphics with sophisticated storytelling to create a stealth-action masterpiece. Its inventive mechanics and memorable characters set a new bar for what games could achieve, making it a generational title in gaming history. | © Konami

3. Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 has set a new gold standard for RPGs, becoming a modern masterpiece that will likely influence RPG design for years. Larian Studios perfectly captured the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons, blending deep storytelling, memorable characters, and a richly detailed world at a time when fans were craving a return to form for the genre. | © Larian Studios

2. Grand Theft Auto III

Grand Theft Auto III transformed the gaming landscape by introducing players to one of the first fully realized 3D urban environments in Liberty City. Its groundbreaking open-world design, cinematic storytelling, and bold embrace of mature themes redefined what games could achieve. | © Rockstar Games

1. Fortnite

Fortnite revolutionized gaming with its dynamic world, groundbreaking collaborations, and unparalleled player engagement. This innovative title set a new standard for creativity, culminating in a world record of over 14 million current players, showcasing its immense global appeal. | © Epic Games