Bryce’s Top 10 Video Games of All Time

Over the past 30 years, a new form of media has emerged as one of the most impactful, namely video games. Developers have realized that video games are more than fun time wasters but can be impactful creations that last with the player. Today, I wanted to take a look at some of the games that have had a significant impact on me. However, before we begin, I wanted to issue a disclaimer: this is my opinion; everyone has their own list of video games or media that changed them, because everyone has their own unique experiences with things, so don’t take this list as a definitive list. But with all that out of the way, let’s begin with number ten. 

10# Super Mario 64  

Released by Nintendo in June 1996, Super Mario 64 is a 3d collectathon platformer that follows Mario attempting to save Princess Toadstool after the evil King Bowser traps her within the castle walls. Overall, the game is straightforward, but the reason it is on this list is for how well it has stood up. Super Mario 64 was the first of its kind, one of the first 3d platforms, and even nearly 30 years later, the game is extremely fun and enjoyable despite a lot of the flaws. However, with the game being nearly 30 years old, the controls are a bit wonky, but overall, it is a fun, light platformer that is still fun despite its age.  

9# Batman Arkham Asylum

On June 23, 2015, created by RockSteady Studios, Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best superhero games in the video game market. The plot follows Batman, who must stop his arch-nemesis, Joker, from escaping Arkham Asylum and taking over Gotham City. The game does an excellent job of making you feel like Batman and really feels like a comic book come to life. The game adapts all of Batman’s gadgets and introduces an interesting combat system where you can block and parry enemy attacks. Overall, Batman: Arkham Asylum is an extremely well-made game that does an amazing job at making you feel like the Caped Crusader.

8# Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)

However, talking about superhero video games, I believe that Insomniac’s 2018 Spider-Man is without question one of the best superhero video games ever. The story follows Peter Parker as he attempts to save New York from various villains, and he grapples with the fact that he can’t save everybody. The game excels at making you feel like Spider-Man, with some of the most fluid movement and combat I have ever seen in a video game. The game feels just like a Spider-Man movie or comic that you can play, which makes it a really special experience. 

7# Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a small indie game created by Eric Barone that follows the player moving into rule town after receiving a farm from their late grandfather. The game is a nice, cozy experience that allows you to customize and build your own farm. The game also includes unique NPCs that you can befriend, and you can even help them rebuild their community. Stardew Valley is a unique game because it’s pretty simple but very nice and cozy.

6# Hollow Knight: Silksong

Going from a sweet and cozy game to a game that makes me want to tear my hair out, Hollow Knight Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to the indie darling Hollow Knight, created by Team Cherry. The game follows Hornet, who is kidnapped and taken to the kingdom of Pharloom and is forced to venture through its fallen kingdom. The game is one of the most challenging games I have ever played due to its tight controls and difficult bosses; however, the feeling of beating a boss you have been stuck on for hours is like no other.     

5# Minecraft

Released in 2009, there is a reason Minecraft is considered the best sandbox game of all time. Anything is possible in Minecraft, and anything you can think of, you can build or code. The things that I’ve seen people make in this game are awe-inspiring, and it’s no wonder that Minecraft is so popular. 

4# Fallout New Vegas

Fallout New Vegas, created by Obsidian Entertainment, is an open-world action role-playing game (RPG) set in nuclear war-torn America. The story of this game is so tightly written, and your actions have an impact on everything around you. Everyone in the game is impactable, and your actions impact what happens in the story of the wasteland and the choice of where the world should go after a nuclear disaster. The factions of the game are all flawed in their own way, which makes them interesting and makes your decisions more impactful.

3# Silent Hill 2 Remaster

Originally released in 2001 by Konami and recently remastered in 2024, Silent Hill 2 is a Psychological Horror game following a man named James Sunderland receiving a letter from his late wife, Mary, telling him to meet her in the town of Silent Hill. The game deals with guilt, trauma, and the mystery of what really happened to Mary. This is easily one of the most emotional games I have ever personally played. 

2# Bioshock 

BioShock is a first-person shooter released in 2007, set in the city of Rapture, an underwater city set into ruin after a civil war. The game follows Jack, who, after an incidental plane crash, seeks refuge in the sunken city. The gameplay is still smooth and very enjoyable. The game stands apart from other shooters from the time with its unique weapons, like being able to shoot lightning and fire from your hands, to throwing objects with your mind. But easily the best portion of this game is the twist the narrative gives you, I won’t spoil it, but it truly on of the best writing choices I have ever seen in a video game, and it is no wonder why so many games are inspired by it.

1# Red Dead Redemption 2

This game is easily the best video game I have EVER played. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the 2018 sequel to the breakout success Red Dead Redemption, originally released in 2010. The game is set at the end of the 1800s, following a dying gang of outlaws known as the Van Der Linde Gang, desperately trying to make enough money and escape the law. You play as a man named Arthur Morgan, an outlaw who starts as a ruthless killer and slowly redeems himself due to the events in the game. Arthur Morgan is one of the most interesting and detailed protagonists in any piece of media ever written, and I really connected with his character. The gameplay, as well, is very fun; everything feels so smooth and authentic to the real world. 

If you take anything away from this article, play Red Dead Redemption 2. It is, in my opinion, the best video game ever made.