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Video games have been around for a long time, but the 1990s were when they truly took off with innovative classics like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. However, this interactive medium has hit an all-time high in the past 20 years, and encapsulates the era of tight designs with quick turnarounds and must-play classics alongside the modern switch to massive, hyperrealistic, open-world masterpieces.
Ever since 2006, video games have entered a new era with some of the best titles ever, which is why this list will rank the ten greatest video game masterpieces from the past 20 years. Based on elements such as gameplay, narrative, design, art, originality, influence, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these ten games are must-play experiences that have defined the last two decades.
10
‘Hollow Knight’ (2017)
After a long wait, fans were finally blessed with the highly anticipated sequel in 2025, but even though it was incredible, most fans agree that the first Hollow Knight was the best. The subterranean kingdom of Hallownest is overrun by a supernatural plague that corrupts those it infects, and a silent, nameless knight is the only one who can travel through the kingdom and stop the plague.
This list mostly features AAA blockbusters, but indie games have recently been getting better, and Hollow Knight is one of the greatest. This 2D game is the pinnacle of modern metroidvainia design, blending its platforming, combat, and exploration to deliver a tightly paced masterpiece. The combat is challenging, and the map is intricately designed, not to mention the hand-drawn art that creates a whimsical and wondrous style.
9
‘God of War’ (2018)
2018 had some of the best games of the 2010s, and one of them is God of War, a reboot of the iconic PlayStation franchise. Kratos has given up his rage-fueled life in Greece, but years after starting a family in a Norse region, his wife perishes, and now he must travel across the land to scatter her ashes. However, the gods have their sights set on his son, Atreus, making the journey even more difficult.
God of War is a remarkable adventure video game that takes fans through the depths of this magnificently designed world. Boasting an impressive narrative with lore, worldbuilding, and story woven into every mechanic, this game creates a coherent feeling of storytelling prestige. God of War also has cathartic combat to deliver engaging gameplay alongside its compelling narrative.
8
‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)
Set within the world of Dungeons & Dragons, Baldur’s Gate 3 takes that style of gameplay and brings it into video game format. After the player gets infected with a mind-flayer tadpole, they must travel the region in search of a cure before they turn into a mind-flayer. However, they must also navigate a brewing war between humans and gods.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the most recent game on this list, but it has already established itself as a fantastic RPG with incredible depth. No game offers as much agency as this game, where players can solve problems with any solution they can think of. Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of details and passion, with its freedom of choice and lore working together to create a fantasy masterpiece.
7
‘Grand Theft Auto V’ (2013)
Grand Theft Auto VI is arguably the most anticipated video game of all time, but before it comes out, Grand Theft Auto V will still have to tide fans over. Set within a fictional city based on Los Angeles, a former bank robber, a psychopath, and a street thug are short on cash, and to make a quick buck, they decide to plan a grand heist that will hopefully change their luck.
While GTA VI could be the best video game of the 2020s, GTA V is one of the best games of the 2010s and the past 20 years. With one of the most ambitious open worlds full of content, systemic gameplay stems from any decision the player makes. Whether fans play through the main story, race in some fan-made races, or mess around in free roam, there are plenty of gameplay opportunities in this expansive defining video game.
6
‘Disco Elysium’ (2019)
As mentioned earlier, indie games have improved over the years, and Disco Elysium is arguably the greatest indie game of all time. Players control an amnesiac detective who wakes up without any of his memories. With multiple personalities and emotions clashing, they try to figure out what happened and solve a murder in a politically charged environment.
RPGs are historically focused on monster fighting and loot collecting, but Disco Elysium revitalized the genre by focusing on its narrative and dialogue-based combat. With distinct personalities, fans use them for different perspectives and mechanics to solve problems and progress through the narrative. Disco Elysium has masterful writing and profound themes that result in one of the best video game narratives ever.
The Elder Scrolls is an iconic franchise with a new entry on the way, but before that comes out, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is still the best. After barely escaping execution, players set out on a grand journey to kill Alduin the World Eater, a dragon that is prophesied to destroy the planet, as is their destiny.
The fantasy genre is jam-packed with some of the greatest games, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim proves this. As one of the best fantasy video games of all time, it has a brilliant open world with immersive NPCs and plenty of side quests and gameplay moments that make the world feel more authentic. Skyrim is a defining sandbox that players still find new secrets decades later, or can endlessly enjoy with mods.
4
‘Super Mario Galaxy’ (2007)
Up until now, Nintendo didn’t have any games on this list, but as the most recognizable video game character, Mario was bound to appear at some point. Super Mario Galaxy follows the titular plumber on a galactic adventure as he tries to rescue Princess Peach, who was captured by Bowser. With the help of Rosalina, Mario travels across multiple planets to find the princess.
No other platformer franchise can compete with Mario, which possesses some of the most innovative mechanics that spice up every game, and Super Mario Galaxy is the most impressive. Its gravity system and plethora of platforming gimmicks combine to create endless puzzles and challenges. These engaging systems and satisfying controls make Super Mario Galaxy a masterpiece that many consider to be the best platformer of all time.
3
‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ (2017)
Right off the heels of one Nintendo franchise is another, this time being The Legend of Zelda and its modern masterpiece, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Zelda has kept Ganon sealed for the past hundred years, but he will soon break free. However, now that Link has finally woken up, he must travel through an overgrown Hyrule in order to defeat the beast before he regains his full power.
Just as Skyrim reinvented the way open-world games were designed, Breath of the Wild did the same thing, creating the open-air format where players can run, climb, or glide anywhere. This sense of freedom and adventure, paired with its physics system, enhances the exploration and experimentation. There aren’t many games better than Breath of the Wild, which redefined gaming of the modern era.
2
‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)
Rockstar already had one critically-acclaimed video game on this list with GTA V, but its greatest is arguably Red Dead Redemption 2. Arthur Morgan is the leader of a gang that is slowly shrinking by the day. Set in a time when the Wild West is going out of fashion, he struggles with purpose, going on one last adventure.
The shooting mechanics and overall gameplay are fun and engaging, but Red Dead Redemption 2 is renowned for its near-life simulator of the Wild West. Its immersive systems, which include shaving, fishing, and roaming the Western frontier, create a prestigious vibe and gaming experience that other games can’t match. Not to mention, Red Dead Redemption 2 features a masterful story with one of the most memorable endings in gaming history.
1
‘Elden Ring (2022)
FromSoftware is a prolific game studio known for its challenging combat, and its modern magnum opus is Elden Ring. After the titular object is destroyed, its shards are spread throughout the Lands Between, with the children of Queen Marika claiming them. The player controls the Tarnished, who must defeat these demigods, claim the shards, and reform the ring to become the Elden Lord.
With FromSoftware’s Soulslike gameplay and George R.R. Martin‘s worldbuilding and lore, Elden Ring is the ultimate dark fantasy video game experience. It rewards curiosity in the most brilliant of ways, encouraging exploration, which leads to new enemies and a sense of discovery, which further improves skills and adds to the experience. Elden Ring is one of the best games of all time, not just of the past 20 years.
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Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck
Almontather Rassoul
