This is a meta-list of the best video games of all time. I created it by finding 15 lists of the best video games of all time on the Internet (the “original source lists”) and combining them into a single meta-list. The video games on the most original source lists are at the top of the meta-list. The meta-list below includes every video game on at least three of the original source lists. Video games that are on the same number of lists are presented chronologically from oldest to newest.
NOTE: Although I have listed the games numerically for formatting purposes, all the games on the same number of lists are tied in rank. For example, three games are tied for first place (14 lists), three games are tied for second (13 lists), five games are tied for third place (12 lists), and so on.
On 14 Lists
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Nintendo 64
Genre: Action-Adventure
- The Last of Us (2013)
Developer/Publisher: Naughty Dog/Sony Computer Entertainment
Original Platform: PlayStation 3
Genre: Action-Adventure
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii U
Genre: Action-Adventure
On 13 Lists
4. Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Original Platform: GameCube
Genre: Survivor Horror; Third-Person Shooter
- Mass Effect 2 (2010)
Developer/Publisher: BioWare/Microsoft Game Studios & Electronic Arts
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Xbox 360
Genre: Action Role-Playing; Third-Person Shooter
- Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
Developer/Publisher: Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
Original Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action-Adventure
On 12 Lists
7. Tetris (1985)
Developer/Publisher: Alexey Pajitnov
Original Platform: Electronika 60
Genre: Puzzle; Tile-Matching
- Super Mario 64 (1996)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Nintendo 64
Genre: Action-Adventure; Platform
- Half-Life 2 (2004)
Developer/Publisher: Valve
Original Platform: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Bioshock (2007)
Developer/Publisher: 2K Boston & 2K Australia/2K (Irrational Games)
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Xbox 360
Genre: First-Person Shooter
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
Developer/Publisher: CD Projekt
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre: Action Role-Playing
On 11 Lists
12. Shadow of the Colossus (2005)
Developer/Publisher: Team Ico
Original Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Action-Adventure; Puzzle
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
Developer/Publisher: Naughty Dog
Original Platform: PlayStation 3
Genre: Action-Adventure; Third-Person Shooter
- Minecraft (2011)
Developer/Publisher: Mojang
Original Platform: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Sandbox; Survival
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
Developer/Publisher: Bethesda Game Studios
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action Role-Playing
- Red Dead Redemption II (2018)
Developer/Publisher: Rockstar Games
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre: Action-Adventure
- God of War (2018)
Developer/Publisher: Sony Santa Monica
Original Platform: PlayStation 4
Genre: Action-Adventure; Hack and Slash
On 10 Lists
18. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991)
Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Original Platform: Arcade
Genre: Fighting
- Doom (1993)
Developer/Publisher: id Software
Original Platform: MS-DOS (PC)
Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Final Fantasy VII (1997)
Developer/Publisher: Square/Sony Computer Entertainment
Original Platform: PlayStation
Genre: Role-Playing
- Metal Gear Solid (1998)
Developer/Publisher: Konami
Original Platform: PlayStation
Genre: Action-Adventure; Stealth
- Silent Hill 2 (2001)
Developer/Publisher: Team Silent/Konami
Original Platforms: PlayStation 2
Genre: Survival Horror
- Dark Souls (2011)
Developer/Publisher: FromSoftware/Namco Bandai Games
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action Role-Playing
- Portal 2 (2011)
Developer/Publisher: Valve/Valve & Electronic Arts
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Puzzle-Platform
On 9 Lists
25. Super Mario World (1990)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
Genre: Platform
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: SNES
Genre: Action-Adventure
- Chrono Trigger (1995)
Developer/Publisher: Square
Original Platform: SNES
Genre: Role-Playing
- Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)
Developer/Publisher: Konami
Original Platforms: PlayStation, Sega Saturn
Genre: Action Role-Playing; Platform-Adventure
- Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
Developer/Publisher: Bungie/Microsoft Game Studios
Original Platform: Xbox
Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Metroid Prime (2002)
Developer/Publisher: Retro Studios/Nintendo
Original Platform: GameCube
Genre: Action-Adventure
- World of Warcraft (2004)
Developer/Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Mac OS X
Genre: Massively multiplayer online role-playing (MMORPG)
- Bloodborne (2015)
Developer/Publisher: From Software/Sony Computer Entertainment
Original Platform: PlayStation 4
Genre: Action Role-Playing
On 8 Lists
33. Super Mario Bros 3 (1991)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Genre: Platform
- Super Metroid (1994)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo & Intelligent Systems/Nintendo
Original Platform: SNES
Genre: Action-Adventure
- Final Fantasy VI (1994)
Developer/Publisher: Square
Original Platform: SNES
Genre: Role-Playing
- GoldenEye 007 (1997)
Developer/Publisher: Sony Santa Monica
Original Platform: PlayStation 4
Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2004)
Developer/Publisher: Sony Santa Monica
Original Platform: PlayStation 4
Genre: Action Role-Playing, Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing (MMORPG)
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
Developer/Publisher: Konami
Original Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Action-Adventure; Stealth
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Developer/Publisher: Infinity Ward/Activision
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Batman: Arkham City (2011)
Developer/Publisher: Rock Steady Studios/Warner Bros.
Original Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action-Adventure
- Journey (2012)
Developer/Publisher: Thatgamecompany/Sony Computer Entertainment & Annapurna Interactive
Original Platform: PlayStation 3
Genre: Adventure; Art Game
- Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Action-Adventure; Platform
- Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Developer/Publisher: P-Studio/Altus, Deep Silver & Sega
Original Platform: PlayStation 4
Genre: Role-Playing; Social Simulation
- Disco Elysium (2019)
Developer/Publisher: ZA/UM
Original Platform: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Role-Playing
- Hades (2020)
Developer/Publisher: Supergiant Games
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), macOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Role-Playing; Roguelike
On 7 Lists
- Super Mario Kart (1992)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: SNES
Genre: Kart-Racing
- Diablo II (2000)
Developer/Publisher: Blizzard North/Blizzard Entertainment
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Classic Mac OS, and macOS
Genre: Action Role-Playing; Hack and Slash
- Fallout 3 (2008)
Developer/Publisher: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Genre: Action Role-Playing
- Left 4 Dead 2 (2009)
Developer/Publisher: Valve
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Xbox 360
Genre: First-Person Shooter; Survival Horror
- Fortnite (2017)
Developer/Publisher: Epic Games
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre: Survival; Battle Royale; Sandbox
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
Developer/Publisher: Bandai Namco Studios & Sora Ltd./Nintendo
Original Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Fighting
- Elden Ring (2022)
Developer/Publisher: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco Entertainment
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Genre: Action Role-Playing
On 6 Lists
53. Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Platform
- Grim Fandango (1998)
Developer/Publisher: LucasArts
Original Platform: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Graphic Adventure
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000)
Developer/Publisher: Neversoft/Activision
Original Platform: PlayStation
Genre: Sports
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Nintendo 64
Genre: Action-Adventure
- Wii Sports (2006)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Wii
Genre: Sports
- Portal (2007)
Developer/Publisher: Valve
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Genre: Puzzle-Platform
- Red Dead Redemption (2010)
Developer/Publisher: Rockstar San Diego/Rockstar Games
Original Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action-Adventure
- Undertale (2015)
Developer/Publisher: Toby Fox/Toby Fox & 8-4 Ltd.
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC); mac OS X
Genre: Role-Playing
- Inside (2016)
Developer/Publisher: Playdead
Original Platforms: Xbox, Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 4
Genre: Puzzle-Platform
- Dishonored 2 (2016)
Developer/Publisher: Arkane Lion/Bethesda Softworks
Original Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows (PC), Xbox One
Genre: Action-Adventure; Stealth
- Stardew Valley (2016)
Developer/Publisher: ConcernedApe
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Role-Playing; Farm Life Sim
On 5 Lists
- Space Invaders (1978)
Developer/Publisher: Taito/Midway, Atari
Original Platform: Arcade
Genre: Fixed Shooter
- Pac-Man (1980)
Developer/Publisher: Namco/Midway
Original Platform: Arcade
Genre: Maze
- Ms. Pac-Man (1981)
Developer/Publisher: General Computer Corp./Midway
Original Platform: Arcade
Genre: Maze
- Mega Man 2 (1988)
Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Original Platform: NES
Genre: Action, Platform
- SimCity 2000 (1993)
Developer/Publisher: Maxis
Original Platform: Mac OS, MS-DOS
Genre: City-Building
- Myst (1993)
Developer/Publisher: Cyan/Broderbund
Original Platform: Mac OS
Genre: Graphic Adventure
- StarCraft (1998)
Developer/Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Original Platform: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
- Resident Evil 2 (1998)
Developer/Publisher: Sony Santa Monica
Original Platforms: PlayStation 4
Genre: Survival Horror
- Deus Ex (2000)
Developer/Publisher: Ion Storm/Eidos Interactive
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), Mac OS
Genre: Action Role-Playing, Immersive Sim, First-Person Shooter, Stealth
- Assassin’s Creed II (2009)
Developer/Publisher: Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft
Original Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action-Adventure, Stealth
- Borderlands 2 (2012)
Developer/Publisher: Gearbox Software/ 2K
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action Role-Playing, First-Person Shooter
- The Last of Us Part II (2020)
Developer/Publisher: Naughty Dog/Sony Interactive Entertainment
Original Platforms: PlayStation 4
Genre: Action-Adventure
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Social Simulation
On 4 Lists
- Donkey Kong (1981)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Arcade
Genre: Platform
- Galaga (1981)
Developer/Publisher: Namco/Midway
Original Platform: Arcade
Genre: Fixed Shooter
- Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge (1991)
Developer/Publisher: LucasArts
Original Platform: MS-DOS, Mac OS, Amiga, FM Towns
Genre: Graphic Adventure
- Streets of Rage 2 (1992)
Developer/Publisher: Sega
Original Platform: Genesis/Mega Drive
Genre: Beat ‘Em Up
- Mortal Kombat II (1993)
Developer/Publisher: Midway
Original Platform: Arcade
Genre: Fighting Game
- EarthBound (1994)
Developer/Publisher: Ape Inc. & HAL Laboratory/Nintendo
Original Platform: SNES
Genre: Role-Playinge
- Pokémon Red & Blue (1996)
Developer/Publisher: Game Freak/Nintendo
Original Platform: Game Boy
Genre: Role-Playing
- Tekken 3 (1997)
Developer/Publisher: Namco
Original Platforms: Arcade, PlayStation
Genre: Fighting
- Fallout 2 (1998)
Developer/Publisher: Black Isle Studios/Interplay Productions
Original Platform: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Role-Playing
- Shenmue (1999)
Developer/Publisher: Sega AM2/Sega
Original Platform: Dreamcast
Genre: Action-Adventure, Life Simulation, Social Simulation
- System Shock 2 (1999)
Developer/Publisher: Irrational Games & Looking Glass Studios/Electronic Arts
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Action Role-Playing, First-Person Shooter, Survival Horror
- Planescape: Torment (1999)
Developer/Publisher: Black Isle Studios/Interplay Entertainment
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Role-Playing
- Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)
Developer/Publisher: BioWare/Black Isle Studios & Interplay Entertainment
Original Platform: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Role-Playing
- Grand Theft Auto III (2001)
Developer/Publisher: DMA Design/Rockstar Games
Original Platforms: PlayStation 2
Genre: Action-Adventure
- Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)
Developer/Publisher: HAL Laboratory/Nintendo
Original Platforms: GameCube
Genre: Fighting
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001)
Developer/Publisher: Konami
Original Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Action-Adventure, Stealth
- Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (2001)
Developer/Publisher: Polyphony Digital/Sony Computer Entertainment
Original Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Racing Simulation
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell (2002)
Developer/Publisher: Ubi Soft Montreal/Ubi Soft
Original Platform: Xbox
Genre: Stealth
96. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: GameCube
Genre: Action-Adventure
97. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
Developer/Publisher: Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
Original Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Action-Adventure
98. Halo 2 (2004)
Developer/Publisher: Bungie/Microsoft Game Studios
Original Platform: Xbox
Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Civilization IV (2005)
Developer/Publisher: Firaxis Games/2K
Original Platform: Microsoft Windows (PC)
Genre: Turn-Based Strategy, 4X
- Mass Effect (2007)
Developer/Publisher: BioWare/Microsoft Game Studios
Original Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action Role-Playing
- Halo 3 (2007)
Developer/Publisher: Bungie/Microsoft Game Studios
Original Platforms: Xbox 360
Genre: First-Person Shooter
- Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platform: Wii
Genre: Platform, Action-Adventure
- Fable II (2008)
Developer/Publisher: Lionhead Studios/Microsoft Game Studios
Original Platforms: Xbox 360
Genre: Action Game, Role-Playing
- Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
Developer/Publisher: Rockstar North/Rockstar Games
Original Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action-Adventure
- Dragon Age: Origins (2009)
Developer/Publisher: BioWare/Electronic Arts
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Role-Playing
- Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
Developer/Publisher: Obsidian Entertainment/Bethesda Softworks
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action Role-Playing
- Dota 2 (2013)
Developer/Publisher: Valve
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), OS X, Linux
Genre: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
- Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (2013)
Developer/Publisher: Square Enix
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 3
Genre: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG)
- Fire Emblem: Awakening (2013)
Developer/Publisher: Intelligent Systems/Nintendo
Original Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Genre: Tactical Role-Playing
- Hollow Knight (2016)
Developer/Publisher: Team Cherry
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), macOS, Linux
Genre: Action-Adventure, Metroidvania
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016)
Developer/Publisher: Naughty Dog/Sony Computer Entertainment
Original Platform: PlayStation 4
Genre: Action-Adventure, Third-Person Shooter
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
Developer/Publisher: Nintendo
Original Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Kart Racing
- Nier: Automata (2017)
Developer/Publisher: PlatinumGames/Square Enix
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), PlayStation 4
Genre: Action Role-Playing
- Return of the Obra Dinn (2018)
Developer/Publisher: Lucas Pope/3909 LLC
Original Platforms: Microsoft Windows (PC), macOS
Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
On 3 Lists
- The Oregon Trail (1971)
- Pong (1972)
- Zork (1980)
- Gauntlet (1985)
- The Legend of Zelda (1986)
- Castlevania (1986)
- SimCity (1989)
- The Secret of Monkey Island (1990)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (1995)
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996)
- Star Fox 64 (1997)
- Gran Turismo (1998)
- Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (1999)
- Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999)
- System Shock 2 (1999)
- The Sims (2000)
- Final Fantasy IX (2000)
- Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000)
- Max Payne (2001)
- Ico (2001)
- Final Fantasy X (2001)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
- Kingdom Hearts (2002)
- Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003)
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2003)
- Counter-Strike 1.6 (2003)
- The Sims 2 (2004)
- Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004)
- Burnout 3: Takedown (2004)
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2005)
- Psychonauts (2005)
- Kingdom Hearts II (2005)
- Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening (2005)
- Ōkami (2006)
- Spelunky (2008)
- Dead Space (2008)
- Braid (2008)
- Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (2008)
- Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
- League of Legends (2009)
- Civilization V (2010)
- StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (2010)
- Rock Band 3 (2010)
- Xenoblade Chronicles (2010)
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)
- The Walking Dead: Season One (2012)
- Dishonored (2012)
- Hotline Miami (2012)
- Bioshock Infinite (2013)
- Papers, Please (2013)
- Overwatch (2016)
- Divinity: Original Sin 2 (2017)
- Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)
- Celeste (2018)
- Outer Wilds (2019)
- Half Life: Alyx (2020)
- Ghost of Tsushima (2020)