The video game industry has exploded into life since the turn of the millennium, thanks to the ever-improving technology at its disposal, but that’s not to say that ingenious creativity wasn’t there before. Gamers have been blessed with must-play titles over the years, but several stand apart from the rest, as they have inspired a resurgence in their respective genres.
These games are the ones that everyone should play at least once in their lifetime, with their qualities clear for all to see, even if the specific genre isn’t for everybody. A major testament to where the gaming industry is now is that these must-play games are a mixture of indie and AAA titles.
10/10 Stardew Valley Inspired The Next Generation Of Farming Sim Games
It is no secret that Harvest Moon inspired Stardew Valley‘s concepts and premise, but what Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has managed to achieve with Stardew Valley is nothing short of incredible. Released in 2016, Stardew Valley has reshaped the simulation genre. Countless farming and life sim games have followed, recreating familiar mechanics and visuals in an attempt to reach the unprecedented heights that Stardew Valley got to.
Stardew Valley is open-ended, but with time constraints moving the game along through days, weeks, seasons, and years. Players have the freedom to stay on their farm if they wish to, they can interact with the townsfolk, or they can embark on a monster-slaying adventure. All eyes are now on the horizon as fans eagerly await ConcernedApe’s next big project, Haunted Chocolatier.
9/10 Fortnite Became A Groundbreaking Platform For Virtual Concerts As Well As Furthering The Battle Royale Genre
Battle royale games are not for everyone, but for many, the premise of being pitted against many other players with only one winner emerging at the end is an exciting prospect. The genre started gaining momentum in the 2010s, but 2017 cemented its legacy with the releases of both PUBG: Battlegrounds and Fortnite.
Due to its immediate popularity, Fortnite: Battle Royale was quickly changed to a free-to-play model. Fortnite has sparked plenty of controversy over the years, but it has also stood out as redefining the future of gaming. Not only has Fortnite inspired a huge wave of new battle royale games, but it has even provided a platform for musicians with in-game events, from Marshmello and Travis Scott to Ariana Grande.
8/10 Minecraft Has Granted Millions A Canvas For Endless Creativity & Expression
Minecraft‘s longevity and popularity is impressive, but not overly surprising in the grand scheme. Mojang initially made it public in 2009 before its full release in 2011, and it kept reaching new heights with Microsoft purchasing the property in 2014.
Minecraft has excelled because it allows and encourages creativity and imagination. Players can play however they want, if they wish to play solo or with friends, on survival mode or creative. Minecraft even gets updates and new content released at a reasonable pace, but not quickly enough to overwhelm players. As far as sandbox games go, there are none better.
7/10 The Last Of Us Shocked The World With Its Intense Storytelling
The Last Of Us is easily one of the greatest games of all time, and is easily the biggest win for PlayStation. They have kept it as a PlayStation exclusive since its release in 2013, although a Windows version is now finally in the works. The Last Of Us is an action-adventure thriller with some of the best storytelling ever seen in video games.
Its sequel, The Last Of Us Part II, also received rave reviews. The franchise will get a hotly-anticipated television series in 2023, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie. The Last Of Us alone was responsible for hordes of gamers buying a PlayStation console just so they could be a part of this tremendous experience.
6/10 Red & Blue Were The Starting Point For This Long & Successful Pokémon Journey
The Pokémon games aren’t always in the discussion for the greatest games of all time, but the franchise remains one of the most popular. As the mainline series approaches its ninth generation of games with Scarlet & Violet, fans are excited about this new level of freedom that these games promise to bring.
However, a specific moment in time has to be thanked for Pokémon‘s popularity, and that has to be the original Red & Blue games, as well as Green in Japan. The original games introduced this role-playing experience with turn-based combat, which no one quite realized would stay rooted in nostalgia for years to come and kickstart an incredible franchise. The originals may pale in comparison to the new generations in terms of graphics and mechanics, but they are still to thank for Pokémon‘s success.
5/10 Pokémon Go Added A Whole New Dimension To The Franchise
Pokémon has grown so much that it has expanded beyond the mainline games. Mystery Dungeon, Snap, and Ranger barely even scratch the surface, but another major release has been the more recent Pokémon Go. Released in 2016, Pokémon Go is an augmented reality mobile game that has taken on a life of its own.
Pokémon Go has been played by millions but has not been limited to die-hard fans of the franchise. The premise of walking around in the real world in order to find new species of Pokémon has been healthy, not just for people but the franchise itself. Pokémon Go is free-to-play, but with microtransactions helping players get more items and benefits, it has seen the game truly thrive and improve over time.
4/10 Red Dead Redemption 2 Proved That Long Campaigns Could Be Consistently Compelling
Rockstar Games are well-known for the GTA and Red Dead Redemption franchises, but have always divided opinions with their online modes. However, with Red Dead Redemption 2, they delivered an absolute masterclass in storytelling and the general single-player experience.
Red Dead Redemption 2‘s beautiful visuals and realism add to this immersive western experience as players follow Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang. The game has sold over 45 million copies worldwide since its 2018 release, which is a testament to how good it truly is. It is considered one of the most significant campaigns in video game history, and is viewed as a measuring stick for new games.
3/10 Super Mario Bros. Paved The Way For A Successful Mario Franchise & Countless Platformers
Mario has been a driving force for multiple genres over the years, with Mario Kart, Mario Party, and various Mario sports games taking on lives of their own. Yet Super Mario Bros. remains the quintessential Mario game. The lovable plumber actually made his first appearance in Donkey Kong in 1981, but the Super Mario franchise was born with Bros in 1985.
The platformer has inspired many similar games, both within the franchise and outside, but it is still seen as one of the original and most iconic platformers. The game cemented Mario‘s move out of the arcades, and the iconic theme will be ingrained into anyone’s brain after one playthrough.
2/10 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Shows How Far The Franchise & Platform Fighters Have Come
As Nintendo gained momentum and numerous titles throughout the 1990s, they were eventually in a position where they could pull off a massive crossover game in Super Smash Bros. Smash became another Nintendo property to gain a life of its own, thriving under the game’s encouragement of cooperative play.
The series grew in the following years with the releases of Melee, Brawl, and an additional game for 3DS and Wii U in 2014, but in 2018, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate arrived. The roster of playable characters has grown considerably in recent years, now sitting at over 80. The Smash Bros. model has paved the way for numerous new titles to try their hand at the platformer fighter, with varying levels of success. MultiVersus is a recent example of a successful attempt that appears to have a promising future on the horizon.
1/10 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Brought Gamers Back In Love With Open World Exploration
The Legend of Zelda franchise has come a long way since the original game was released in 1986. Players and fans will have their favorites of the numerous titles that have followed, but Breath of the Wild represents a seismic shift not only in the Zelda franchise, but also in the gaming industry. As a result, Breath of the Wild will often be a part of the conversation for the greatest game of all time, and rightfully so.
Breath of the Wild allows players to travel the open world at their leisure while also making the story components incredibly compelling. Solving puzzles and completing side quests has never felt so enjoyable, with new exploration games now also considering their importance in application. Its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, will be out in 2023, but everybody should play the original first.
Originally published at Melbourne News Vine
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