When gamers debate the best game of all time, there is rarely a simple answer. One player may choose The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time because it helped define 3D adventure games, while another may prefer Minecraft because of its extraordinary creative freedom. Someone else might argue for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Red Dead Redemption 2, Tetris, Dark Souls or The Last of Us. The disagreement is part of what makes the question interesting.
There is, however, a useful way to approach it. Rather than judging games purely by sales or personal nostalgia, the strongest candidates can be evaluated through gameplay quality, innovation, influence, storytelling, technical achievement, cultural impact, longevity and critical reputation. Current expert rankings demonstrate how much these factors matter. In July 2026, British GQ published a ranking based on votes from 300 people working across the games industry, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild taking the top position.
What Makes a Game the Best of All Time?
The greatest games are usually more than commercially successful releases. Sales can demonstrate popularity, but they do not automatically prove that a game is artistically or mechanically superior. For example, Minecraft has become the best selling video game by reported unit sales, with HP’s 2026 ranking listing approximately 350 million copies sold, while Grand Theft Auto V is listed at 225 million. Those numbers demonstrate enormous reach, but a GOAT discussion also needs to consider how a game changed its genre and how well it remains playable years after launch.
A strong all time ranking therefore looks at several dimensions. Innovation asks whether a game introduced ideas that others copied. Gameplay considers whether its mechanics remain enjoyable. Influence examines its effect on developers and future genres. Storytelling matters for narrative driven games, while world design, music, art direction and technical achievement can also contribute. Finally, longevity is important: a truly exceptional game should still offer something meaningful to players years after its original release.
The Best Game of All Time
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
If one game has the strongest current claim to the title best game of all time, it is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo’s 2017 open world adventure fundamentally changed how many players approached exploration. Instead of constantly directing players toward a prescribed sequence of objectives, it created a world where experimentation was central to the experience.
Its greatest strength is systemic freedom. Players can climb mountains, glide across the landscape, experiment with physics, combine environmental objects, solve puzzles in multiple ways and approach major challenges according to their own plans. British GQ’s 2026 expert ranking placed Breath of the Wild at number one, describing its open world, systemic design and freedom of exploration as major reasons for its position.
That does not mean everyone will personally consider it number one. Some players prefer traditional dungeon design, deeper character development or more linear storytelling. But when innovation, accessibility, exploration and long term influence are considered together, Breath of the Wild has an exceptionally strong case.
Greatest Games That Come Close
Tetris
Few games demonstrate the power of elegant design better than Tetris. Created by Alexey Pajitnov in 1985, its basic concept is almost immediately understandable: arrange falling blocks to complete lines. Yet the simplicity produces remarkable depth because players constantly make decisions about space, speed and risk.
Its influence is difficult to overstate. British GQ ranked Tetris third in its 2026 all time list and noted that the game has been officially ported to more than 65 platforms. It remains a perfect example of how sophisticated entertainment does not require complicated controls or huge worlds.
The Last of Us
Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us represents a different definition of greatness. Released in 2013 for PlayStation 3, it combined survival action mechanics with character focused storytelling. Joel and Ellie’s relationship became the emotional centre of an experience that demonstrated how interactive games could create sustained dramatic tension.
Its influence also extends beyond gaming. The franchise’s reported sales and later television adaptation helped demonstrate the commercial and cultural potential of premium video game storytelling. British GQ ranked the original The Last of Us second in its 2026 expert list.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
For players who value enormous worlds, side quests and narrative depth, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains one of the strongest answers to the question of the greatest game ever made. Released in 2015, CD Projekt Red’s RPG created a world where optional stories frequently felt as carefully written as the main campaign.
Its greatest achievement is the quality of its side content. Rather than filling a map with meaningless activities, the game repeatedly gives players memorable characters, moral choices and consequences. British GQ placed The Witcher 3 fifth in its expert ranking, highlighting its characters, storytelling and quests.
Portal 2
Portal 2 proves that a game does not need hundreds of hours of content to become an all time classic. Its portal based puzzles turn a simple mechanic into increasingly sophisticated challenges, while its writing, characters and humour give the campaign an identity of its own.
The game’s design is especially impressive because new mechanics are introduced gradually. Players learn through experimentation rather than lengthy tutorials, making progression feel natural. British GQ ranked Portal 2 eighth in its expert list.
Dark Souls
Dark Souls changed expectations around difficulty, exploration and player discovery. Its interconnected world, demanding combat and limited explanation encouraged players to learn through failure and experimentation.
Its influence can be seen throughout modern action RPGs. The term Soulslike has become an established genre description, and games continue to borrow its approach to stamina based combat, checkpoints, environmental storytelling and challenging boss encounters. British GQ ranked Dark Souls ninth among its 100 greatest games.
Half-Life 2
Released in 2004, Half Life 2 was a landmark in first person game design. Its physics system was not simply a visual novelty; it became part of puzzles, combat and environmental interaction. The game also demonstrated how scripted sequences and immersive environments could be integrated into a first person campaign.
British GQ ranked Half Life 2 tenth in its 2026 list and argued that many later games benefited from ideas it helped popularise.
Minecraft
If the question is about impact, longevity and player freedom, Minecraft deserves to be near the top of almost any list. Its block based world gives players tools rather than a single prescribed experience. Players can survive, build, explore, automate systems, play with friends or simply create enormous virtual structures.
Its commercial success is equally remarkable. HP’s 2026 best selling games ranking lists Minecraft at approximately 350 million copies, making it the number one game by reported sales in that ranking.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is arguably one of the most detailed open worlds ever created. Rockstar Games built an enormous version of the American frontier filled with environmental details, wildlife, characters and dynamic encounters.
Its strength is not just scale. The game’s deliberate pacing allows Arthur Morgan’s story to develop gradually, creating an unusually strong sense of place and character. HP’s 2026 sales ranking places it among the world’s best selling games, with approximately 82 million copies reported.
Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 demonstrated what a successful transition from 2D to 3D could look like. Released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996, it established conventions for 3D movement, camera control and platforming that influenced countless games.
Its legacy is especially impressive because 3D game design was still developing when it arrived. British GQ ranked Super Mario 64 eighteenth and described it as transformative for 3D games.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
For many years, Ocarina of Time was the default answer whenever someone asked about the greatest game ever made. Released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, it brought Zelda’s exploration, puzzles and combat into a fully 3D world.
Its reputation remains remarkably strong. Metacritic’s all time games page currently lists Ocarina of Time at the top of its displayed ranking with a 99 Metascore. British GQ’s 2026 ranking placed it thirteenth, noting that its legendary status has been challenged by newer Zelda games rather than erased.
Bloodborne
Bloodborne is a favourite among players who value atmosphere, combat and mystery. FromSoftware’s 2015 PlayStation 4 exclusive combined aggressive combat with Gothic architecture and Lovecraftian horror.
Its deliberately cryptic storytelling rewards players who pay attention to environments, item descriptions and character dialogue. British GQ ranked Bloodborne fourth in its 2026 expert ranking, an unusually high position for a game that remains exclusive to PlayStation 4.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 demonstrated how player choices could become meaningful components of a blockbuster RPG. Released in 2010, it focused heavily on building relationships with the game’s squad before a climactic final mission where earlier decisions could have serious consequences.
That structure gave the game a rare sense of personal investment. British GQ placed Mass Effect 2 sixth in its expert ranking and specifically highlighted its final mission as one of gaming’s great climaxes.
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid helped establish stealth as a major console genre while pushing cinematic storytelling forward. Hideo Kojima’s 1998 PlayStation game combined infiltration, boss encounters, codec conversations and unconventional gameplay ideas into an experience that felt very different from conventional action games.
British GQ ranked it seventh in its 2026 list, recognising its foundational role in stealth gaming and Kojima’s development as one of the medium’s best known auteurs.
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 transformed action horror design when it launched in 2005. Its over he shoulder perspective, encounter structure and carefully controlled pacing influenced countless later games.
Its impact remains obvious because many modern third person action games use design principles that became widely popular after Resident Evil 4. British GQ ranked it eleventh and highlighted its pacing, tension and campaign variety.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring took FromSoftware’s demanding combat philosophy and placed it inside a massive open world. Released in 2022, it gave players unprecedented freedom to explore, change builds and approach difficult encounters from different directions.
Its success demonstrated that challenging games could achieve enormous mainstream popularity. British GQ ranked Elden Ring twentieth in its 2026 expert list.
Super Mario World
Super Mario World remains one of the strongest examples of traditional platforming design. Released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, it combined precise controls with creative level design, secrets and the introduction of Yoshi.
Its enduring appeal comes from how immediately playable it remains. British GQ ranked it fourteenth in its 2026 expert ranking.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V deserves consideration because of its scale, open world design and extraordinary longevity. Released in 2013, the game introduced three protagonists and created a world that supported both a substantial single player campaign and the continually evolving GTA Online experience.
Its commercial performance is extraordinary. HP’s 2026 ranking lists more than 225 million copies sold, placing it second behind Minecraft. Sales alone do not make it the best game ever, but its cultural reach and ability to remain commercially relevant for more than a decade make its legacy difficult to ignore.
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft changed online gaming by bringing a massive audience into a persistent fantasy world. Released in 2004, Blizzard’s MMORPG made social interaction, quests, progression and virtual economies part of everyday gaming for millions of players.
British GQ ranked it twenty second in its 2026 expert ranking and described it as the most played MMO ever. Its importance extends beyond its own player base because modern live service and massively multiplayer games continue to operate within a landscape it helped define.
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue proved that portable gaming could create a global social phenomenon. Released internationally in the late 1990s, the games encouraged players to collect, train and trade Pokémon, with the link cable turning individual progress into a shared experience.
The formula was simple enough for younger players but deep enough to encourage experimentation and competition. British GQ ranked the games twenty fifth in its 2026 expert list, while HP’s sales data places the Red/Blue/Yellow family among the biggest selling games ever.
How the Greatest Games Compare
| Game | Greatest strength | Why it remains important |
|---|---|---|
| Breath of the Wild | Exploration | Redefined open world freedom |
| Tetris | Simplicity | Nearly universal, timeless gameplay |
| The Last of Us | Storytelling | Elevated cinematic game narratives |
| The Witcher 3 | RPG storytelling | Set a high standard for side quests |
| Portal 2 | Puzzle design | Exceptional mechanics and writing |
| Dark Souls | Combat and discovery | Inspired an entire genre |
| Half-Life 2 | Immersion | Advanced physics and FPS design |
| Minecraft | Creativity | Gives players extraordinary freedom |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | World building | Exceptional detail and atmosphere |
| Ocarina of Time | 3D adventure | Established major 3D design conventions |
This comparison also shows why there cannot be a completely objective answer. The best game depends partly on what the player values. Someone interested in exploration may choose Breath of the Wild, while a strategy fan might prefer Civilization, a competitive player may choose Street Fighter II, and someone who prioritises storytelling could choose The Last of Us.
Why There Is No Completely Objective Winner
Different rankings use different methodologies. British GQ’s 2026 list was based on individual top 10 votes from 300 industry participants, giving ten points to a first place selection and one point to a tenth place selection. That methodology naturally measures expert consensus rather than sales or raw review scores.
Other lists produce different answers. Metacritic’s aggregate approach currently places The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time at the top of its displayed all time games ranking with a 99 Metascore. Meanwhile, a 2026 Galaxus ranking based on 47 Swiss gaming experts put World of Warcraft first, followed by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Minecraft.
That difference is important. There is no universal mathematical formula for artistic quality. A sales ranking answers what sold the most? A critic ranking answers what reviewed best? An expert poll answers what do knowledgeable people consider most significant? A personal ranking answers what game meant the most to me? All are valid questions, but they are not the same question.
How to Choose the Best Game for You
If you are searching for the best game of all time because you want something to play, the best choice should match your preferred experience rather than simply following a number one ranking. Choose Breath of the Wild or Elden Ring if exploration is your priority. Pick The Witcher 3 or Mass Effect 2 for character driven RPG storytelling. Portal 2 is an excellent choice for puzzles, while Minecraft is ideal for creativity and open ended play.
For classic gaming history, Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Super Mario World and Tetris remain essential. For atmospheric experiences, Bloodborne and The Last of Us are strong choices. And if you want to understand how modern blockbuster games evolved, Half-Life 2, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 4 and Grand Theft Auto V provide useful starting points.
Conclusion
So, what is the best game of all time? If the goal is to identify the strongest overall candidate based on innovation, influence, gameplay freedom, critical recognition and lasting impact, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has an unusually convincing case. Its first place position in British GQ’s 2026 expert ranking gives that argument significant contemporary support.
But the larger lesson is that gaming’s greatest achievement is not one particular title. Tetris proved that simplicity can be timeless, Super Mario 64 helped define 3D movement, Half-Life 2 pushed immersion forward, Dark Souls inspired a genre, Minecraft turned creativity into the core mechanic, and The Witcher 3 showed how enormous worlds could still contain memorable stories. The best game of all time may ultimately be the one that combines exceptional design with the kind of experience you still remember years after putting down the controller.
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FAQ
What is the best game of all time?
There is no universally accepted winner, but The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild currently has a particularly strong claim. British GQ’s 2026 expert ranking placed it first after collecting ranked votes from 300 industry participants.
What is the greatest video game ever made according to critics?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remains one of the strongest critical candidates. Metacritic currently lists it with a 99 Metascore and at the top of its displayed all time games ranking.
Is Minecraft the best game of all time?
Minecraft is one of the strongest candidates because of its creativity, accessibility, longevity and enormous commercial success. HP’s 2026 ranking reports approximately 350 million copies sold, making it the best selling game in that ranking.
What is the best story driven game of all time?
There is no universal answer, but The Last of Us, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Mass Effect 2 are among the strongest choices. Each combines narrative with gameplay rather than treating the story as a separate element.
What is the most influential game ever?
Several games have strong claims, including Tetris, Super Mario 64, Doom, Half-Life 2, Ocarina of Time and Grand Theft Auto III. Their influence can be seen in the mechanics and design conventions adopted by later games.
What is the best open-world game of all time?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Witcher 3, Minecraft and Elden Ring are among the leading candidates. Breath of the Wild has a particularly strong claim because of its emphasis on player freedom and experimentation.
What is the best game to play for beginners?
Tetris, Minecraft and Super Mario World are good starting points because their basic concepts are easy to understand while offering considerable depth. Portal 2 is another excellent option for players who enjoy puzzles and guided progression.
Why do people disagree about the best game ever?
People value different things. Some prioritise gameplay, others storytelling, technical innovation, multiplayer, nostalgia or cultural impact. That is why expert polls, critic aggregates, sales rankings and personal lists can produce very different winners.
