If you haven't played these games, you're truly missing out. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for video games every player should experience at least once, from indie masterpieces to groundbreaking classics. But we'll only be including one game per franchise.
Category
🎮️
GamingTranscript
00:00Geralt of Rivia. Pleasure.
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for video games every player should experience in their lives at least once, but we'll only be including one entry per franchise.
00:19Number 20, Journey.
00:27The video games as an art form.
00:29Conversation really took off in the early 2010s, and in the indie scene, no game better argued that than 2012's Journey.
00:35As a lone wanderer, players navigate a vast desert in an attempt to reach a distant mountaintop.
00:40Along the way, you solve puzzles and collaborate with similar figures who turned out to be other players, without anyone uttering a single word.
00:47Through stunning visuals and a Grammy-nominated score from Austin Wintory that adapted to gameplay, Journey delivered an emotional experience that got everyone talking.
00:56It's one of the most renowned indie games of all time, and it firmly proved video games were a worthy medium for storytelling.
01:11Number 19, Tetris.
01:20It almost seems silly to include Tetris on this list, because surely you've played it before, right?
01:25Well, even if you haven't, you're more than aware of its reputation.
01:28The groundbreaking puzzler is brilliant in its simplicity, which has led to its immense staying power.
01:32On release, players everywhere were enraptured by the joy of fitting different blocks together, and that's still true more than three decades later.
01:39It's hard to top the satisfaction you feel from narrowly escaping a loss as the wall climbs higher and higher.
01:44No matter if you're playing the OG version or one of its many refreshes, Tetris will have you glued to the screen.
01:56Number 18, Halo Combat Evolved.
02:02Honestly, if you didn't experience this groundbreaking shooter when it was released, it's hard to describe how breathtaking of a moment it was.
02:08Still, it's a vital piece of video game history that every player should seek out.
02:12As the now-iconic Master Chief, we are all sucked into a dense sci-fi world with intriguing lore, treacherous villains, and some of the most satisfying gunplay to ever grace a console.
02:21Multiplayer was a gem, too, and we're sure there are tons of players with fond memories of LAN parties.
02:26While sequels would go on to improve everything the first Halo offered, we'd still recommend taking a look at the franchise's excellent foundation, whether through an original copy or through its remaster.
02:43Number 17, Undertale.
02:44Although it was inspired by old-school RPGs like Earthbound, there's really nothing else like Undertale.
02:55The simple premise about a child who falls into an underground world of monsters goes in wildly unique directions thanks to the game's ability to adapt to how you play.
03:03It teaches that you can play as kindly or viciously as you like.
03:06Every fight comes with the option to spare a monster, often through humorous or even empathetic methods.
03:11Or you can slay everything in your path in the infamous genocide route, increasing the difficulty and the monster's hatred of you.
03:16Either way, combat is wholly original, but Undertale really shines in its characterization and incredible soundtrack.
03:28Number 16, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
03:36Firstly, if you haven't played a single Mario Kart, what are you even doing?
03:40Secondly, if that's the case, there's no better entry you could pick than the 8.
03:43First released on the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 got a new lease in life with the Switch's Deluxe version.
03:48There's a reason Nintendo hasn't released a new installment in a decade, instead updating and supporting this one.
03:53Visuals are pristine, the soundtrack is full of catchy earworm tracks, and the courses are a joy to blast through.
03:59Most importantly, though, smooth-as-silk controls and the franchise's signature chaotic items combine for an utterly addictive gameplay hook.
04:06It's a near-perfect package and one of the best racing games of all time.
04:10Number 15, Batman Arkham Asylum.
04:21With Arkham Asylum, superhero video games entered a new era.
04:24Trapped inside the infamous mental institution, Batman contended with some of Gotham's most dangerous criminals,
04:30allowed to roam free and caused chaos by the Joker.
04:33Combat was sleek and satisfying, as we pummeled goons in Batman's wonderful rogues gallery alike.
04:38And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill,
04:41who reprised their respective roles as Batman and the Joker, and did so incredibly well.
04:45Many consider its sequel to be the best in the series, but Arkham Asylum still paved the way for superhero narratives in video games.
04:52Number 14, Chrono Trigger.
04:57Not only is Chrono Trigger one of the best RPGs of all time, it's one of the best games, period.
05:02Everything about it is completely timeless, which is why fans still champion and recommend it all these years later.
05:07Travelling through different time periods to stop and reload, it's one of the best RPGs of all time.
05:13Everything about it is completely timeless, which is why fans still champion and recommend it all these years later.
05:18Travelling through different time periods to stop and reload, it's one of the best RPGs of all time.
05:23But as remarkable as the game is, it's also innovative.
05:26There was a greater emphasis placed on building characterization through side quests.
05:30There are a ton of different endings to reach, and there are just enough changes to standard turn-based combat to make it fresh and exciting.
05:36That's not to mention its impressive visuals and Nobuo Uematsu's enchanting score.
05:42That's not to mention its impressive visuals and Nobuo Uematsu's enchanting score.
05:46Number 13, Half-Life 2
05:52You don't need to play the first Half-Life to understand why everyone was, and still is, obsessed with its sequel.
05:56Despite an extremely strong foundation, everything from its visuals to its gameplay to its story was such an improvement, we feel confident placing it here over the original.
06:05Twenty years after the alien invasion of the first game, Dr. Gordon Freeman awakens from stasis to join the Resistance.
06:11With a new game engine and exceptional physics-based gameplay, Valve set out to redefine the first-person shooter, and every moment of Half-Life 2 is exciting.
06:19So if you've ever wondered why fans won't stop asking where Half-Life 3 is, there's no better way to learn than by trying it out for yourself.
06:33Number 12, The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
06:35Your perseverance will only lead to disappointments.
06:40In 2011, Skyrim was as freeing as an open-world experience could get, and every single person who played it fell in love with it.
06:46Although that type of experience has since been surpassed and the game is filled with more than a few bugs, no one can deny how enthralling it is to explore this world, which means there is still a lot of joy to be found if you have yet to play it.
06:58While the story about a world-ending dragon is fun, what really sucked us all in was the lore, the secrets, and the treasure that can be gained from delving into every cave and keep.
07:06Building your character up along the way is also incredibly rewarding.
07:18Number 11, Red Dead Redemption
07:19Red Dead Redemption
07:25Rockstar's seminal take on the death of the Wild West remains one of the strongest video game narratives we've had the pleasure of experiencing.
07:31Red Dead Redemption follows John Marston, a reformed outlaw forced to hunt down members of his former gang in order to save his family.
07:38The strong story was enhanced by the game's morality system, with the world and characters adapting to how you play.
07:44Gameplay was also exhilarating, across its many tense shootouts, and the world itself was engrossing thanks to Rockstar's focus on realism, making us all never want to leave.
07:53There aren't many Western games, but Red Dead Redemption, along with its 2018 prequel, is the pinnacle of the genre.
08:06Number 10, Bioshock
08:14Christ, is somebody there?
08:17From the moment we descended into the watery depths and came across Rapture for the first time, we knew we had something special.
08:23With what we believed to be one of the finest FPS campaigns ever crafted, we were forced into the middle of a city at war.
08:30Around every corner were drug-grazed citizens, political machinations, and philosophical quandaries that kept us diving deeper.
08:36Rapture's lore and characters fascinated us, but the gameplay of Bioshock was also highly gratifying.
08:42At first, we felt like a lamb led to slaughter, but with upgradable weapons and a plethora of super-power-engranting plasmids to unlock, we became a god among men.
08:51Utterly thrilling in every sense, Bioshock is a masterpiece in tension and world-building.
09:01Number 9, Portal 2
09:02And it's not out of the question that you might have a very minor case of serious brain damage.
09:09If you're looking for a game to flex your puzzle-solving muscles while experiencing a creative and often hilarious narrative, you should look no further than Portal 2.
09:17Both the single-player and multiplayer campaigns built on the incredible foundation of the first game, expanding in delightful ways.
09:25The new voice-cast additions of J.K. Simmons and Stephen Merchant, as well as the return of Ellen McClain and GLaDOS, made the story fly off the screen.
09:32While playing alone, you'll uncover more dark history of Aperture.
09:35While playing with a friend, you'll find some of the best camaraderie-building brain-teasers ever seen in video games.
09:41Simply put, there's no going wrong with Portal 2.
09:50Number 8, Doom
09:57The FPS genre owes an awful lot to Doom.
10:00While Wolfenstein 3D may have come first, it's the Slayer's first outing that's the more influential.
10:05Never before had we felt so powerful and vicious within a video game, and there are few games in existence that have managed to top that feeling since.
10:13Genius in its simplicity, we could spend hours running around blasting through demonic hordes with extreme prejudice.
10:19How id Software managed to pack so much awesome into its gameplay and soundtrack still confounds us.
10:25There's a reason Doom has been ported to every platform under the sun, as well as a ton of non-gaming devices by passionate fans, because it's something everyone should experience.
10:39Number 7, The Last of Us
10:47Part 2 may have divided the fanbase, but there's no denying how exceptional the first game is.
10:52Although the premise of a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a virus seems done to death, Naughty Dog proved it had an entirely new direction to take it in.
11:00The tale of Joel and Ellie, two deep characters forced into companionship, is one that will forever be celebrated in the annals of video game history.
11:08Thought-provoking and heartbreaking, The Last of Us expertly navigates complex themes and characterization,
11:13though the wonderful performances of Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker in the lead roles deserve just as much praise as the writing.
11:19On top of being a masterclass in storytelling, it's also frequently terrifying.
11:40Arguably, gamers should play at least one entry in this long-running RPG series, but for us, the peak of greatness came in Generation 2.
11:47Gold and Silver included the main drawing points of the original games, cute, powerful monsters to battle with.
11:52However, it made several small changes to enhance the experience. Adding a hundred new Pokémon and Great Ones at that felt incredibly exciting.
12:00New gameplay features could give you the edge in battle, with new attacks and types, and your party's ability to carry items.
12:06Others were just fun inclusions, like the ability to breed Pokémon.
12:09Gold and Silver are near-perfect examples on how to build the sequel and expand your fanbase.
12:14You can't go wrong with the DS remakes, either.
12:175. Minecraft
12:32Minecraft is such a massively popular game that chances are you've already played it at least once anyway.
12:37But if you haven't, we'd be okay if you want to pause this video to rectify that.
12:41For more than a decade now, players have been getting sucked into the creative possibilities of these blocky worlds.
12:46Although its presentation is simple, that doesn't matter when you're building, crafting, exploring, and vanquishing surprisingly tough foes when you explore too deep.
12:54Seeing what players have been able to build, whether they be impressive recreations or monuments to their own imagination, has astounded us.
13:01Thankfully, Minecraft still receives constant updates to keep the playerbase happy, and the inventiveness flowing.
13:114. The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt
13:17There are a plethora of must-play open-world fantasy RPGs, including the groundbreaking Skyrim.
13:23However, the open fantasy world we keep returning to time and time again is that of The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt.
13:29Although he'd starred in two previous games, it was here that we became enraptured with Geralt of Rivia
13:34through his profound relationships with Ciri, Vesemir, and Yennefer.
13:38The political strife of the continent compelled us, instilling a desire to play a part no matter how dastardly we were.
13:44The fantastical beasts were at times imposing, and in others downright disgusting.
13:49But we loved using Geralt's variety of spells to take them down regardless.
13:53Believe me, these folks need all of it.
13:563. Super Mario Bros. 3
14:04To be completely honest, every player should play any Mario game at least once.
14:07But given our one-per-franchise rule, we have to go with this NES.
14:11With the rulers of various kingdoms transformed into animals, Mario and Luigi set out to make things right.
14:16Super Mario Bros. 3 is such a flawless platformer and a monumental step above what came before it in terms of game design.
14:23It began the trend of different themed worlds, scaling beautifully in difficulty,
14:27and included exciting new power-ups like the Tanooki Leaf and the Hammer Seed.
14:31Despite its age, it's just as fun to play today as it was on release,
14:35and every Nintendo fan owes it to it.
14:382. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
14:49Like Mario, multiple entries in Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series could appear here.
14:53But thanks to the engaging world, the amazing soundtrack, and the terrific characterization of its protagonist,
14:58San Andreas is a tough one to top.
15:00Upon returning home following his mother's murder, CJ is brought back into his old lifestyle,
15:06and must contend with corrupt police officers and warring gangs.
15:09Rockstar took the real-life events of early 90s Los Angeles and melded them into its own narrative.
15:14It paid homage to the time period while giving us the tools to run rampant-causing mayhem, a staple of the franchise.
15:20Though it may not look it, San Andreas is still fun to play today.
15:23It's just a shame the remaster didn't do it justice.
15:26Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
15:32You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
15:36If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
15:421. The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
15:52Ocarina of Time is one of the most important games ever released.
15:55So of course every gamer should experience it.
15:58Its influence on the action-adventure genre can still be seen today.
16:02Yet itself still plays tremendously well.
16:04Everything from its music to its lore, from its characters to its puzzles enchanted us then.
16:09And remarkably, they still do.
16:11Set up as a simple good versus evil story in a fantasy world,
16:14it subtly explores the loss of childhood and innocence,
16:17as well as the sacrifice that comes from answering a higher calling.
16:20Its levels and characters, whether big or small, remain some of the most iconic of the series.
16:25If you've never played it, you're missing out on something truly extraordinary.
16:33What's a video game you think every player should try?
16:35Share your thoughts in the comments.
16:37How do you like my puppet? What say we cut him down?
16:40Did you enjoy this video?
16:42Check out these other clips from WatchMojo.
16:44And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
16:55See you next time.