From "Crash Bandicoot" To "Animal Crossing," Here's What Established Gamers Say Are The Best Video Games Of All Time

Since the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at the beginning of May, there has been plenty of talk about whether (or not) it's the best video game ever made, especially because it was rated the best game in 2023 (so far) on review aggregator OpenCritic.

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So, with all this talk, it was only natural that I reached out to the BuzzFeed Community to ask: "What is your favorite video game of all time and why?"

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Yes, if you had to "pick one game to be sent to a deserted island with" kind of favorite. (Hypothetically, of course — let's not get into the logistics of how to play your chosen game on said deserted island, okay?)

And honestly, the responses brought me so much joy.

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For instance, one thing that struck me was the pure affection that was emphasized when the community delved into the reasons why they loved certain games so much.

Seriously, I loved reading through all of the responses, and I am so here for the range of games that were spoken about — from the nostalgic kind to the popular but well-deserved mentions to some unique games that I've genuinely never even heard of.

So, whether you're a casual gamer or a competitive player, let me tell you that this video game list is going to give you all the feels. Here's what the community had to say...

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1."The entirety of the Uncharted series, but especially Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. This series has it all: phenomenal voice acting, plot, and humor plus challenging and rewarding gameplay with tons of secrets to find and gorgeous locations and environments. I love the Tomb Raider series, and this series is an obvious offshoot of that because there are lots of treasure hunting, history-based plots, and locals who fight with mercenaries (and sometimes mythical creatures)."

2."Diablo. I have been playing these games literally since the first one came out, and I am obsessed with every single one. For me, it's the customization in gameplay. I can play in normal mode for a super easy fly-through and beat up everything play-through, or I can amass PILES of loot playing the harder levels. The makers really know what makes their fans happy! The addition of treasure goblins in Diablo 3 gave my ADHD brain a real treat!"

3."Crash Bandicoot games; mainly the original trilogy. They were the first games I ever played way back on my PS1. It was my first system that was just mine and not shared with a sibling. When they came out with the Switch versions, I picked them up, and the obsession started all over again. They are just as fun and engaging as the first time. I just love that silly bandicoot!"

4."Animal Crossing. As someone with ADHD, it’s really easy for me to start a game and then never finish it because my attention goes elsewhere. But when I do go back to a game, I always end up going back to Animal Crossing (any of the versions). Since the mechanics are easy to remember and the pace is so slow, it’s not overwhelming coming back after months (or even years!) of a lull. And coming back to a home full of cockroaches and a town full of weeds just turns the spring cleaning mode on, and I’m absorbed once again."

5."Xenoblade Chronicles is honestly such a glorious game about choosing your own destiny and never giving up hope. In addition to that, I could explore the worlds for hours, just by enjoying the peacefulness of Bionis, as well as Reyn's incredible one-liners: 'You can't have a rainbow without Reyn, baby.'"

6."The Mass Effect trilogy, hands down. I could play through those games again and again and still enjoy them. The fact that the choices you make in the first game can impact segments in the third game still amazes me. The story was amazing, and most of the characters were well-rounded and brilliant. The gameplay did change throughout each one — but usually for the better — and once they nailed the ending, it was superb. It ticks all the boxes and makes it re-playable to me because you can have a different experience each time by making different choices."

7."The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I was never much of a video game lover. I would play Sims, Mario Kart, or other easy-going games, but I never really got into anything beyond that. Once the pandemic hit, my boyfriend had recently purchased a Nintendo Switch that was bundled with Skyrim, and he told me to give it a shot. I was hooked for three months and dove straight into the province of Skyrim in the realm of Tamriel and fell in love. The quests are endless, the map is massive, and I’m still discovering new locations even now. The freedom to be any kind of character and make different moral choices is amazing. You can go at your own pace, and you can follow the main quest line right away or 30 levels down the road. There are plenty of different factions and companions and homes to choose from. You could be a mage, a warrior, an alchemist, or a thief. It is truly a game you can go back to again and again and never get tired of."

8."Europa Universalis IV. The game is constantly evolving even eight-ish years later. This game made Machiavelli's Prince make sense. Somehow, I learned 14th-century Italian politics from this game. Want to overthrow the emperor? This is the game. This is the best game for leading your armies into battle. It's complicated, and the mastery takes forever, but is so much fun."

9."Really anything in the Legend of Zelda series, but especially Breath of the Wild. I love the storyline and every aspect of the game — even though I pretty much question my IQ the entire time."

10."Kingdom Hearts! The story is sooo good, and there are so many games and side stories that you literally cannot get bored of it. The graphics and gameplay are both amazing and get better as you go through the games, and there is so much to do. Not to mention, the amazing music and the deep backstories all the characters have."

11."Spyro! The original series, not the remaster!"

12."My husband and I are massive Resident Evil 4 fans. The series itself is great, but that one, in particular, is next level. We own five or six versions of the game because they re-release it and incorporated upgrades for different systems. The 3D version of the Oculus is unbelievable!"

13."Sea of Thieves! The game is awesome, but it’s also the way I got to spend time with my friends during the pandemic. I love the graphics, the quests, and the frequent new content. Sailing the seas with my friends has helped me become a better gamer and strategist."

14."Fallout 4 literally stole my soul. It's heartbreaking, it's beautiful, it's funny, and it has some of the best Easter eggs, characters, and creatures. I've never fallen in love with a game quite like it. I know the lore inside out, and I'm utterly obsessed with it."

15."Super Mario Odyssey. It’s super dorky, but the open world and loose structure make it the perfect game for me. I love it. There’s a distinct possibility that the open world makes it way more difficult for me to remain focused on saving Princess Peach — but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind too much if I take the time to collect 100 tortilla-shaped purple coins before I move on to the next world, right? Right??"

16."Final Fantasy Tactics. That was my first real foray into the tactical RPG genre, and only my third or fourth RPG overall. I got introduced to Final Fantasy through 3/6 on the Super Nintendo, and then soon after I got a PS1. And given a choice of games to buy, I picked that and a Tetris game. But when I popped the disc for Tactics in and saw the combat was grid-based, my heart jumped. Here was something I could plan and calculate for. It was exactly what I wanted yet didn’t know until I had it in my hands. Then, you add in a story with truly morally grey heroes, a wonderful subtext, and a robust job system for tons of character customization, and I couldn’t put it down. Fast-forward over 20 years later, and it’s the one game I can say I play every couple of years all the way through."

17."Max Payne 2. Yes, it's cheesy, but I've played it a million times and love it every time."

18."The Sims. This was the first video game I got, and I'm still playing it to this day. Besides, I can finally get my sim in a relationship with a fictional character."

19."It's not a well-known game, but Legend of Legaia. It's an old PS1 JRPG (aka Japanese role-playing game). This game holds a special place in my heart. I can't find the game anymore, so I had to download the ROM (read-only memory), but I come back to it every couple of years. The battle system is really cool, the story is good, and it's very imaginative for its time. I love it."

20."BioShock is my favorite. Any game in the series. I will continue replaying each of them over and over again. The stories and worlds are incredibly imaginative and compelling. I'm still hopeful we'll get another in the series someday."

21."Stardew Valley! It's so simple yet so, so complex. And it was developed by just one guy!"

22."Psychonauts! Almost every time I mention it to people, they’ve never heard of it, and I pressure them to buy it because it’s always super cheap. Pretty much invariably, about two weeks later, they tell me they loved it and are so mad they didn’t know about it sooner. It’s a super unique concept: You play a kid who runs away to a summer camp for psychics, and a big feature is jumping into different characters’ minds to gain new skills or access to different areas. Every character’s mind has its own unique theme, aesthetic, and mechanics. It’s truly creative, funny, and well-written. Plus, its colorful and unique visual design was a breath of fresh air in comparison to the extremely gray-and-brown aesthetic of most games of the time period. I think everyone should try it out at least once!"

23."Saints Row: The Third. I cannot stop playing it, and I probably go back and play the game's story mode at least once a year because it’s just so crazy, fun, and just a good game to play. It’s an open-world shooting game, and every character is different and has their own backstory. The character and vehicle customizations are brilliant. It’s great to play with another friend, and the rude quirks are very funny, too."

24."Civilization. Particularly Civilization 6, but any entry is incredibly addictive. Each game you play is unique, and it's always a blast creating your own world history. If I had to only play one game for the rest of my life, Civilization would be it."

25."I love to play Assassin's Creed. For me, it's a way of virtual time travel, but also because I read a lot about the real Order of the Assassins (even though the game is a fictional version of that)."

26."Detroit: Become Human! There's, like, a trillion different outcomes, and the characters are so layered and interesting in their own ways. I've only played it once, but I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys 'choices matter' games."

27."The Witcher 3. I think I’ve played it through three or four times now over the years, and I still never get sick of it. The storyline, the graphics, the open world, the characters — everything is so well thought out. Also, the expansion Blood and Wine is, in my mind, the best video game expansion of all time. It’s like a whole new game in itself. I’ve read the books and watched the TV show (I enjoyed both), but for me, the third game is the best part of The Witcher franchise."

28."Fortnite. I began playing a few months after the game came out (Chapter 1, Season 2). It has consistently been the game I've played over the last five and a half years. While the objective of the game is always the same, the game stays fresh with consistent map changes and gameplay updates. Every round is its own new adventure as you decide to land in different spots and forage the map."

29."The OG Lara Croft: Tomb Raiders (one through five). The very first one came out in 1996, and I have been hooked ever since! I was amazed that there was actually a female head character as it seemed like there were none! I do enjoy the newer Tomb Raiders, but I just can't resist the first ones! Go, Lara, my bestie!"

30."Ace Attorney. The absolute CHOKEHOLD this series has had on me for the past four years is almost embarrassing. You play as a defense attorney, and you basically have to solve murders in order to get your (mostly) innocent defendants acquitted. It’s a bit ridiculous at times (you literally cross-examine a parrot), but the beauty is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Nearly all of the characters are immensely lovable (I even have favorite villains), and their dynamics have so much heart and thought behind them. The cases are long and well-written, and the gameplay could easily last you weeks to months. I literally don’t think I’ve been the same person since signing my life away to these games, and I have absolutely zero complaints about that."

31."Red Dead Redemption 2. Set in 1899, where outlaws are starting to become a thing of the past, you play as one, a man called Arthur Morgan — who happens to be one of the best video game characters of all time might I add — and you're part of the Van der Linde gang. Basically, the whole group is filled with outlaws, trying to escape the law after a robbery gone wrong. I don't even know where to start. The story will make you laugh and definitely cry. You play during the events of the rise and fall of the group. Trying to escape the past, and trying to find a better future. Not to mention, it's an open world, so if you are not feeling a story mission, you can hunt, fish, explore, hunt for bounties, and discover so many things. There is no end to this game; well, there is one, but we don't talk about it. ... I have never cried about a video game until this. Best. Game. Ever."

32."My all-time favorite is probably Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader. I grew up playing it a lot, and the game just did a really good job capturing the different space battles and has a lot to offer."

33."Horizon Forbidden West. It expanded (and improved) the lore and gameplay from Horizon Zero Dawn. The voice acting is great. The game is absolutely gorgeous and has a fantastic photo mode to take some astonishing pictures. Also, as Aloy, you get the best way to travel in any game ever: a flying robotic dinosaur!"

34."World of Warcraft: Retail (not Classic). I love how immersive the world is. Even when there’s nothing to do story-line and gear-wise, there’s still so many achievements and collections to keep me coming back in between patch and expansion drops."

What do you think of the favorite games picked out by the BuzzFeed Community? Was there a favorite game of yours you were hoping to see but didn't?! Tell us what it is in the comments below:

Disclaimer: Some of the responses were cut for length and/or clarity.