Any video game blog or media outlet is defined by their lists. It is an old staple of any site that writes about video games, you can’t have one without the other. We as a culture, love assigning a number to determine how good or bad any one thing may be. This is especially prevalent in gaming more than any other form of entertainment. These lists and conversations see a major hike when we are nearing the end of a year, and also the end of a console generation. We are roughly one year away from the new and improved versions of the Xbox (see the Xbox Series X) and PlayStation consoles. This generation has brought us some of the best games that any previous one has offered, games that make you take the entire media more seriously. It goes without saying that this list is entirely based on opinion, and for those that feel differently about the list, you have every right to believe in your own version of it. That is what makes video games such a fascinating form of art, it is subjective in the truest sense of the word. So with all that being said, here is a couple of people’s opinions on the best 15 games of this generation. We will release the list 5 games at a time, starting with 15-11, let the discussion begin.
15. Super Mario Odyssey
I feel like you have to put a Mario game on any top game list. Even if this was a top PlayStation games list, Mario would find his way on there like the sneaky little plumber he is. I don’t usually play platformers but this game hits the spot. Even the worst Mario game is better than the top of most series. I mean, look at Resident Evil. The simplicity of Mario Odyssey is where it really shines. Just get to the end of the level is the basic premise, but getting there you see all sorts of unique enemies, a shit ton of cleverly hidden power moons and some of the most impressive art design in any generation ever. Last but not least, it’s a 3D Mario game, what more can you ask for?
14. Doom
If you’re ever somehow in the position to reboot a 30 year old franchise, take notes from id Software. Not only did they reboot Doom, but they did a killer job with Wolfenstein as well. This game stays very true to its roots, modernizing it just enough to make it feel contemporary, but not adding too much to make it feel like a whole new game. Because all Doom is at its core it’s a gory, bloody mess of demon carnage. (Let’s not talk about the multiplayer) The campaign was exceptional, and really encouraged exploring more than we have seen from past Doom games. It is a really good value if you are just looking for a campaign, even at full retail price. This generation’s Doom is a gem that shines as brightly as the original games had done before.
13. Rainbow Six Siege
I’m not sure I’ve ever played a better shooter than R6 Siege. Yes, I do mean ever. You won’t find any shooter with more depth and ways to play as far as I can tell. It has a very strong learning curve but once you realize Tachanka is only useful ironically, Ash is for try hards and Glaz is literally only useful on Plane (sometimes), then you should do just fine. No round is ever the same, and I truly mean that. Some of the funniest gaming moments I’ve ever seen have come from this game; like when you go to rappel into a window without realizing there is an enemy outside, only to wind up kicking them into oblivion. Or when you sneak up behind someone with Sledge and drop the hammer down on them, literally! It’s been out for four years and with constant support and quarterly updates that involve major and minor quality of life fixes, new maps and operators as well as seasonal events to look forward to. It’s this constant support that can make Rainbow Six Siege feel refreshing for years to come.
12. Inside
Walk to the right! Something you do in pretty much every platformer ever made. Come to think of it, I feel like calling Inside a platformer can slightly diminishes it. It does so much by doing so little. I even beat it in one sitting and I don’t think I’ll play it again for 10 years, just so I can pick it up again with a fresh look on things. There’s no dialogue, it’s very grey and gloomy and the protagonist (a small boy) gets eaten by dogs among other horrendous things. Now I get it, that doesn’t sound fun, and I don’t know if it is. Does a game have to be fun? I don’t think the Last of Us is fun necessarily. Just like certain movies aren’t fun to watch. Inside uses the atmosphere, and a whole lot of spooky imagery to tell you what is truly happening. Not to mention the last 15 minutes of the game is one of the weirdest moments I’ve ever played in a video game. It is an experience that will stick with me for as long as I talk about video games.
11. Horizon Zero Dawn
If you played Horizon without knowing anything about it and not watching any trailers, you would bet a whole bunch of money that it is a Ubisoft game. I wouldn’t blame you in the slightest, it takes everything that an open world Ubisoft game does right, and does it in the truest form. I know some people think the story is simple and boring, but for me, I don’t need a super deep story with all sorts of different paths and alternate endings. Sometimes, simplicity is the way to go. This makes the open world not feel overwhelming like some big RPG titles do. What’s not simple though, is the combat. There are tons of robot dinosaurs as well as a few human enemies to fight. The way the dinosaur slowly falls apart the more you damage it gives it a more realistic feel. It really does seem like you are chipping away slowly at a beast of an enemy. Something I feel goes under the radar is the sound design. It has some of the most immersive sounds on this list. The way Guerrilla Games created these sounds is unknown to me, but they created sounds for these fictitious robots that would make you think they have encountered these guys on the way to work. When it’s all said and done, Horizon Zero Dawn took a formula that had been working for a while and finely tuned it up to 110%, making us all excited for its inevitable sequel. God what an awfully titled game though.
This is one article of a three-part article series for the Top 15 Games of this Generation see the other parts below.
