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September 11, 20262026's Best Games
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Gaming as an arts and entertainment medium may be one of the youngest. It’s predated by film, music, and certainly sculpture, yet has still managed to contain some of the select few pieces of pop culture which are permanently ingrained into the public psyche. If I described a yellow circle which eats dots and is chased by ghosts… you’d all instantly shout “PAC-MAN!”.
All this to say, just like any other art form, certain games progress beyond simple entertainment, paving the path forward and becoming eternal through sentimental value and public knowledge.
To celebrate National Video Games Day, join me as we look through some of the best games to grace our screens, and how they forever shaped the many playstyles we know today.
1972 – Pong
For all intents and purposes, Atari’s Pong was the first commercially successful video game. It brought PvP gaming to the forefront, with the arcade machine having two paddles for each side. It brought to light the entertainment video games could bring, and in turn began the arcade boom of the late 70s and early 80s.
In short, Pong may not have been the exact first, but it’s certainly the most crucial of all early titles.
1980 – PAC-MAN
As alluded to earlier, when people think of the arcade era, the first and most iconic title likely running through their head is this mellow yellow orb, PAC-MAN.
Arcade machines were definitely popular before this title was released, but once PAC-MAN machines hit arcades across the world in 1980, the scene boomed like never before, becoming the driving force of the movement.
The addictive loop of collecting dots whilst being chased by ghosts, the idea of having a mascot, and even power-ups all stem from this defining arcade classic which perfectly encapsulates the arcade era.
1985 – Super Mario Bros
After the gaming crash of 1983, Nintendo realised that home consoles worldwide would likely be their only avenue out. To expand their success, they developed the NES, and alongside it as release titles, Super Mario Bros and Duck Hunt.
The former has become arguably the most important game of all time, defining what a 2D platforming experience should be, popularising the idea of a home console, and likely saving gaming as we know it now.
Without Super Mario Bros, which is somehow only around 40KB in size, modern platformers would be vastly different.
1986 – The Legend of Zelda
With the Famicom and NES now a staple in just about every household worldwide, Nintendo needed to capitalise on the success. What better way than creating a vast open-world to explore, an immersive fantasy narrative, and one of the first games to allow you to actually save your progress.
The original Legend of Zelda practically birthed the open-world genre, contained what many view as gaming’s first NG+, and above all, is still a fantastic entry.
1991 – Street Fighter II
In the early 90s fighting games were becoming quite the popular genre, with the blend of action and obtaining a high score gripping players worldwide. Street Fighter II looked at this and proposed one idea: head to head, player vs player battles. As we now know, it was an instant success, not only revolutionising the franchise, but the genre itself.
The introduction of combos, thanks to a mistake in programming, left Street Fighter II feeling the most fluid fighter of the time, resulting in the boom of head to head esports culture which remains popular in the present.
1993 – DOOM
Following on from Wolfenstein, id Software knew they had to hit hard with their next release… what better way than slaying demon hordes from hell in DOOM?
Taking the pseudo-3D camera and graphics they produced with Wolfenstein, id Software ended up popularising FPS mechanics, and in-turn, leaving the genre a cultural phenomenon.
DOOM is also to thank for popularising early LAN multiplayer matches, impacting online gaming as we know today. Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and even the recent battle-royale craze – many owe at least some gratitude to DOOM.
1996 – Pokemon Red/Green
90s kids will have no trouble remembering taking their Gameboys into school, linking them with a friends and trading Pokemon.
At the time, this was revolutionary and changed the view of gaming in many eyes from a geeky activity or waste of time, into real social interaction. This is all without mentioning the 151 distinct Pokemon to catch or the multimedia empire built upon card games, an anime, and toys, completely taking the decade by storm. And it all started with Red and Green…
Pokemon still now remains the highest grossing franchise of anything ever, leaving its inclusion as a pivotal game guaranteed.
1996 – Resident Evil
Alone in the Dark released in 1992 and invented the survival-horror genre; the gripping idea that you search for resources and solve puzzles, all the while being hunted by spooky foes, stemmed from this title.
And whilst that may have invented the genre, Resident Evil truly popularised and pushed survival-horror into what it’s known as today. Where Alone in the Dark had clunky design, cheap deaths, and reduced tension through allowing for saves anywhere, Resident Evil was unrelenting and eerie, throwing in a fun B-movie dynamic.
The characters were enjoyable and gripping, and the narrative was so over the top it was hard not to love. Many survival-horrors still follow the conventions this classic created.
1996 – Super Mario 64
The most influential gaming franchises often seem to have more than one entry which changed the game (pun intended) and nowhere is that more clear than with Mario.
As consoles progressed into the third dimension, so did everyone’s favourite Italian plumber, and it was a transition so groundbreaking it is still enjoyable and a favourite among fans today.
The early attempt at exploring a vast 3D playground to discover collectibles, paired with Mario’s thrilling move-set now pandered to the third dimension, left Super Mario 64 a template for every 3D platformer which followed.
1997 – Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy could’ve taken various spots on this list, after all there are about twenty of them, however I’m sure there’ll be no disagreement over Final Fantasy VII making the list.
Of course the gameplay was thrilling, arguably being the greatest of any title that had been released up until this point, yet that still isn’t what cemented its place in history.
Final Fantasy VII’s narrative was bold. It had world ending stakes, deep and thoughtful characters, and simply allowed the idea of Hollywood blockbuster stories in gaming.
With so many Sony titles these days pushing for bigger and bigger narratives, there is only Final Fantasy VII to thank for making it an option.
1998 – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The second and final series to make a double appearance, and it’s none other than the highest rated, and my personal favourite, game of all time.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time isn’t full of firsts like these other entries; sure it introduced the idea of targeting enemies and 3D horseback riding, yet it’s what the title polished and perfected which is why it paved the path forwards. One huge interconnected world, upgradable weapons, side quests, a gripping grand adventure story, 3D puzzles and dungeons which use environmental effects and logic.. the list could go on forever.
Simply put, there is a reason Ocarina of Time sits at a 99 on Metacritic and holds so much gravitas. It influenced every action-adventure game which followed.
2000 – The Sims
The Sims deserves a spot on this list simply for taking the mundane and making it a gripping and enjoyable experience. Its greatest accomplishment is the sheer number of non-gamers it managed to capture, bringing them to the PC market on a mass scale.
The Sims set the blueprint for expansion packs too, allowing users to integrate their own content, and creating excitement whilst having no clear goal. Even now, players are simply happy to just see how long their Sim can survive.
Every following life-sim has taken influence from The Sims, with its impact on the genre as a whole being immeasurable. I mean, what other series could create a fictional language and invite artists like Katy Perry to come record their songs in said fictional language.
2001 – Grand Theft Auto III
Open-world games seem to be the norm these days. For every non open-world title which releases there are the inevitable “The map looks tiny” or “Only 50 hours of playtime?”.
There is one common thread which links the love everyone shares for all these varying open world entries… Grand Theft Auto III.
Previous games contained 3D open worlds, but GTA III’s was the largest and first to fully utilise this space. NPCs could live day to day lives, the gunplay was blended with traversal and other forms of action, and the world didn’t need loading screens between areas even for its day-night cycle. This is all without getting started on the stellar narrative, or freeing sandbox design which allowed players to do whatever they desired.
Each open-world game today contains at the very least a small fraction of DNA from Grand Theft Auto III.
2004 – World of Warcraft
Once online gaming had begun to take off, it was only a matter of time until huge expansive worlds full of hundreds of other players in one session were realised. Plenty came before, but the one to popularise this idea for the general public was World of Warcraft, and thus the standard was set for the MMO genre.
It brought great dungeon design, eradicated the stress and grind of previous MMOs, and maintained high-level narratives and expansions to keep the player base growing.
Birthing the modern MMO, World of Warcraft’s influence is simply unmatched for the genre.
2011 – Minecraft
If ever there was a game to be named the most popular of all time, this would be my pick. Of course numbers say Tetris is the best selling, or any other number have greater review scores, yet Minecraft seems to have been the most played and well known of… well any game ever.
Minecraft blends open-world sandbox design with the freedom to do whatever the player desires, and build anything your mind can comprehend, perfectly summing up the idea that your imagination is the only limitation.
What made Minecraft so impactful and popular was the way in which it managed to pander to each type of gamer and even those who weren’t familiar with the medium. The choice between survival or creative, endless possibilities of things to build, and assigning whatever endgame goal you wanted truly left it an eternal experience.
2011 – Dark Souls
When a sub-genre is named after a game, you know it must’ve been impactful in one way or another, as is true for Dark Souls and the Soulslike genre.
Where its predecessor, Demon’s Souls, was rough around the edges and lacked one truly interconnected world, Dark Souls refined the difficult trial and error design philosophy into one huge world connected through a hub and secret shortcuts.
The sheer freedom to practically do, kill, and traverse whatever, whoever, and wherever, fulfilled many RPG issues people had with other more restricting titles. Merge this with a heightened sense of difficulty through challenging combat and bosses than what was popular in most mainstream games, and Dark Souls marked the rise of difficulty in titles, and the entire Soulslike genre.
2017 – Fortnite
Topping off this list, it couldn’t really be any other game than the universally recognised Fortnite.
As is a common theme amongst the entries of this list, Fortnite didn’t invent the popular battle-royale genre it was so effective at, instead popularising and refining the foundations PUBG and H1Z1 laid out.
The unique selling point of Fortnite was the building system, transforming gunfights using natural cover into battles in which players designed huge fortresses using their building prowess.
Going almost ten years strong and showing no signs of slowing down, Fortnite epitomises the multimedia crossover synonymous with modern day micro-transactions, collaborating with just about every franchise you can imagine.
Gaming has captured and captivated the hearts of so many over the decades. Something about the sheer diversity, accessibility, and immersion each distinct entry brings leaves the medium bound to contain at least one experience everyone will enjoy. As we keep progressing through the years, there are certainly many modern classics still to come, even in a year that has already been a wonderful one for gamers worldwide.
For those who use gaming as an escape, or simply enjoy it as entertainment, it continues to unite people through ever-dividing factors. Happy National Video Games Day!
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