top 25 GOAT

content/post/2023/10/top-25-best-games-of-all-time.md

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+---
+title: "Top 25 Best Games Of All Time (GOAT)"
+date: 2023-10-08T09:00:00+02:00
+categories:
+  - braindump
+tags:
+  - lists
+  - games
+---
+
+Edge Magazine [put out another ranking](https://www.resetera.com/threads/edge-magazine-ranks-the-100-greatest-videogames-of-the-past-30-years.771485/), this time the 100 greatest video games of the past 30 years, which yet again fueled my [obsession with lists](/tags/lists). The list is---of course---depressingly inaccurate, with giant holes in it such as _Diablo II_ or _Final Fantasy VI_. 
+
+And then someone at Mastodon shared his "top 25 GOAT" video game list, created with https://topsters.org/, convincing me to do the same difficult but fun exercise. I probably fall down that trap once a year, yet the result is consistent enough to share here. 
+
+In 2021, I participated in the [Favorite Game Meme](/post/2021/09/favorite-game-meme/), another list that partially overlaps. This time, however, the GOAT list is deceptively simple to put together: _what are your 25 best games of all time_? You don't need to rank them. For me, that would be a next to impossible task. Here's my take on the answer:
+
+![](../topsters-goat25.jpg "My Top 25 GOAT Games.")
+
+Again, bear in mind that it's _unsorted_---although the first mention is my number one.
+
+Row 1:
+
+1. **Baldur's Gate II**. There's nothing that will ever beat it, and while BG3 does an admirable effort, it doesn't look like it will either.
+2. **Wario Land 3**. I chose the wrong cover here (depicting _Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land 1_ instead), but Wario 3's metroid-y level design, invincibility, and transitions are amazing. It's still great to play today.
+3. **Wizardry 8**. The swan song of Sir-Tech that's imperfectly perfect---or the other way around? I love the atmosphere, number crunching and voice acting here. I wish there was room for _Jagged Alliance 2_ as well.
+4. **Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow**. The best GBA game and the best Metroidvania. Yes, it's better than _Symphony of the Night_. 
+5. **Goblins 3**. Partial nostalgia bias speaking here: _Broken Sword_ is the much better fit, but I can't part with a Goblins game that I grew up with.
+
+Row 2: 
+
+1. **Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge**. After creating this list, I've been thinking about swapping it out in favor of _Day of the Tentacle_. Any great Lucas adventure can slot in here.
+2. **Diablo II**. The game that made me join a clan, go figure. 
+3. **Commandos 2**. We played endless missions cooperatively. Finishing a big map together is very satisfying, as long as you don't jam quick save instead of quick load.
+4. **Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield**. This, together with _Commandos_, was me and my friend's go-to for years and years. _Threat neutralized_.
+5. **The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past**. Maybe _Link's Awakening_ should be here instead? Both games are the pinnacle of 2D Zelda---or any Zelda or exploration adventure, for that matter.
+
+Row 3:
+
+1. **Tactics Ogre: Reborn**. Recency bias speaking, but the original _Let us Cling Together_ is not as accessible, and I always preferred _Tactics Ogre_ to _Final Fantasy Tactics_, which is also a great choice. 
+2. **Paper Mario 2: Thousand Year Door**. The best GameCube game, and the funniest _Paper Mario_ and a grand adventure. 
+3. **Super Metroid**. This and _Metroid Fusion_ are pinnacles of the genre that I go back to every year. I've been thinking about swapping it out for _Hollow Knight_ but just can't. 
+4. **Animal Crossing: Wild World**. The de facto mobile feel-good game that had me picking a stranger's peaches at night. What's your friend code? I didn't like the latest installment's focus on design instead of neighbor socialism.
+5. **Pizza Tower**. The only modern PC game on the list that supersedes its lineage _Wario Land 4_ and completely blew me away. 
+
+Row 4:
+
+1. **Deus Ex**. A RPG masterpiece told in FPS perspective. The series never reached the same heights ever since. If I had played _Ultima Underworld_ as much, it would be occupying this spot.
+2. **Sonic 3**. Still the best Sonic game, and the only MegaDrive one on the list, even though I was a SEGA boy when I was little: ouch? 
+3. **The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker**. It came bundled with my GameCube and I played it together with my sister. If you have fond memories of _Ocarina of Time_ instead, swap both versions---as long as you keep out the more recent 3D ones. 
+4. **Fire Emblem: the Sacred Stones**. Perhaps _Awakening_ is better, but I love the pixel art style of the GBA installments. I'm a sucker for turn-based tactical roleplaying.
+5. **Super Mario World**. The best 2D platformer of all time? Some prefer _Yoshi's Island_ or _Mario 3_. Good for you! 
+
+Row 5:
+
+1. **Kirby's Dream Land 2**. I knew I wanted a _Kirby_ game in there but couldn't choose so I ended with my favorite GB one. In retrospect, _Super Star (Ultra)_ for the SNES/DS is probably better.
+2. **Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga**. Next to _Aria of Sorrow_ the best GBA game. I the humor, love collecting beans, and the tight collaboration between both brothers. Later _Mario & Luigi_ games are okay as well, but this one's simply the best.
+3. **Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings**. My favorite RTS game, although I wish there was room for _Warcraft III_, and I was thinking of swapping AoE for _Rise of Nations_. 
+4. **Duke Nukem 3D**. Duke voice: _I don't have time to play with myself_. My seminal 2.5D DOS shooter.
+5. **Zeus: Master of Olympus**. I felt the need to include at least one 4X/simulation/city builder and couldn't choose between _Zeus_, _Pharaoh_, _Sim City 3000/4_ or _Civilization_. I picked the one I played the most. 
+
+---
+
+After redoing the exercise a few times, the list became pretty stable. It surprised me that: many of my older (DOS) "great games" are superseded by newer ones, no Wii or 3DS games are on the list, only one DS game is on the list, and most newer games I played in the last few years aren't on it. If there was more space for one more row, I'd add _GTA: Vice City_, _Into the Breach_, _Hollow Knight_, _Tetris (DS?)_, and _Fallout_.
+
+What's on your top 25 GOAT? I'd love to hear from you! Here are a few questions that might help you make the choice:
+
+- Which game would you want to take with you to a deserted island?
+- Which game do you regularly replay? Which one have you played the most?
+- Which game ticks all boxes, including amazing soundtrack?
+- Which genre you love is still missing in the list? Which platform?
+- Which game stands the test of time and is still great in 2023?