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Every gamer has a bucket list, and we're here to help fill it up! Join us as we count down the video games that every player should experience at least once in their lifetime. From legendary classics to modern masterpieces, these are the titles that define what gaming is all about. Which ones have you already checked off your list?
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00:00Together we will devour the very common.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the video games everyone should try at some point.
00:16Number 30, Elden Ring.
00:18Soulsborne games are infamous for their difficulty, and yet Elden Ring is somehow both the franchise's most ambitious title, as
00:23well as its most approachable.
00:24I command thee, I am the lord of all that is golden.
00:34An open world take on FromSoftware's tried and true formula, Elden Ring delivers one beautiful yet terrifying location after another.
00:41While you may have to hone your skills eventually, there's so much to explore that the learning curve can feel
00:45less daunting for new players.
00:47Elden Ring rewards discovery in many unexpected ways, with the story telegraphing the gameplay in ways you may not figure
00:52out until your second or third playthrough.
00:54All that plus a highly customizable combat system, and it's no wonder why Elden Ring is one of gaming's most
00:59cherished epics.
01:08Number 29, Celeste.
01:10There are many challenging indie platformers out there, but few of them hit quite like Celeste.
01:14While the gameplay mainly consists of jumping, dashing, and climbing, each new chapter introduces a new spin on established mechanics,
01:20creating a ton of variety.
01:29Additionally, the story about a young girl climbing the eponymous Celeste mountain while overcoming her mental illness speaks to something
01:34universal about persistence in the face of personal challenges.
01:37You will fail a lot in both Celeste and in life, but if you keep going, you'll find something rewarding.
01:42In the case of this game, it's the endearing story, incredibly catchy soundtrack, and strawberries.
01:46So many strawberries.
01:53Number 28, Baldur's Gate 3.
01:56Dungeons & Dragons has influenced countless RPG games.
01:59Baldur's Gate 3 is perhaps the most complete video game version of the tabletop RPG yet.
02:03I thought that damn thing was going to be my coffin. Thank you.
02:08Your mind lurches into her thoughts. Her gratitude is mixed with wariness, because you have a gif with you.
02:16Baldur's Gate 3 takes all the exploration, combat, relationship building, and branching storylines based on your choices you'd experience with
02:23a dungeon master in real life and distills them into an easy-to-play package that even D&D newbies
02:27are sure to enjoy.
02:28Whether you played solo with companion NPCs or managed to get a friend group together, Baldur's Gate 3 is one
02:33of the new gold standards in role-playing games, a video game or otherwise.
02:38True.
02:40But too much freedom can be frightening.
02:44Lonely.
02:45If you want to experience more of the gold standards of gaming, check out Mojo Play's 24-7 livestream.
02:50Scan the QR code on screen to join us live for non-stop video game fun.
02:53I think I must have wanted to leave my mark somewhere. Just to prove I existed. Even to myself.
03:01Number 27. Metroid Prime.
03:03Look, we love all the 2D Metroid games, but when the series made the jump to 3D, it blew us
03:07away and still has us in awe.
03:09Metroid Prime takes the sprawling, interconnected maps, upgrade progression, challenging enemies, puzzles, and amazing atmosphere the franchise was already known
03:16for, and added a whole new dimension.
03:25The environments are incredibly immersive, the lore and creatures are rewarding to collect all the info on, and some of
03:30the story beats are sure to get your pulse pounding.
03:32Metroid Prime is easily among the paramount games in the Metroidvania genre, and gaming in general. After all, Prime is
03:38right there in the name.
03:45Number 26. Resident Evil 4.
03:48The Resident Evil series looms large in the gaming industry, and Resident Evil 4 is undoubtedly its pinnacle.
04:00Its over-the-shoulder camera view became the standard viewpoint for every third-person action game that follows.
04:06It helped popularize QTEs as well as the blending of the action and horror genres.
04:10While the story can be campy at times, it's still a genuinely fun ride, with one fantastic set piece after
04:15another.
04:15Although we definitely argue that the original holds up, and is worth playing to see the origin of so many
04:20of gaming's modern hallmarks,
04:21there's always the remake for the doubters out there.
04:24Now, uh, say, uh, you got a smoke?
04:27I know those things will kill you.
04:28Oh.
04:29Well, maybe just untie me then, huh?
04:31Number 25. Final Fantasy VII.
04:33In the annals of RPG franchises, Final Fantasy is often the first or final name that comes to mind.
04:38And the seventh main entry is far and away the most popular.
04:45Its cyberpunk fantasy setting, unforgettable characters, and story we're still trying to wrap our heads around decades later
04:51have become inescapable parts of pop culture.
04:53While parts of it are certainly dated, like the graphics, the numerous spin-offs and remakes have helped FF7 remain
04:59relevant for years.
05:00Plus, the original is absolutely worth playing, if only to find out what all the fuss is about.
05:10Number 24. Shadow of the Colossus.
05:13When people make the argument that video games are art, Shadow of the Colossus is one of the names that
05:17inevitably comes up.
05:18If that alone doesn't make you want to check it out, then perhaps the desolate yet beautiful world will draw
05:22you in.
05:23Or maybe the minimalistic yet gripping story.
05:25Or perhaps you'll be intrigued by the titular colossi, each of whom are a puzzle to be solved as much
05:29as a foe to be vanquished.
05:38And can we talk about how epic the soundtrack is?
05:41The influence of Shadow of the Colossus can be felt through-in from its climbing mechanics to its storyline.
05:45It's a colossal challenge that must be played to be believed.
05:55Number 23. Stardew Valley.
05:56There are many farming sim games out there, and if you must play just one, it should probably be Stardew
06:01Valley.
06:01Made by a single developer, the game features timeless retro graphics and an endless yet satisfying game loop.
06:12Stardew Valley took a genre that had fallen off and reinvigorated it through its simple, cozy presentation, easy-to-use
06:18interface, and wide variety of things to do.
06:20You can farm, fish, mine, dungeon crawl, and romance townspeople.
06:23There's even multiplayer, meaning you can enjoy whatever you love best about it with friends.
06:27It might have Valley in its name, but Stardew Valley is the farming sim genre's peak.
06:37Number 22. God of War.
06:39It may be the fourth main entry in this franchise, but you can start with this game and still enjoy
06:42yourself.
06:50God of War has exciting, complex combat as well as a vast Norse mythology-inspired world to explore.
06:55However, the real draw here is the story, characters, and presentation.
06:58Amid its expansive lore of gods, realms, and fantastic creatures lies an intimate story of a father and son coming
07:04to understand themselves and each other while grieving the loss of a wife and mother.
07:08Few stories in any medium can balance an epic scale and personal stakes quite this well, and God of War
07:13is an absolute must-play.
07:20Number 21. Uncharted 2 Among Thieves.
07:23We'd recommend you play all the Uncharted games if you can.
07:25A lot of games feel cinematic, yet few have managed to match this series in feeling like immersive movies that
07:30you can play.
07:31But if we have to choose just one and we do, we're going with Uncharted 2.
07:45Each and every set piece is iconic. Characters are entertaining and memorable.
07:49The combat has a perfect difficulty curve.
07:51Uncharted 2 Among Thieves set the bar high not only for action-adventure games, but for action-adventure stories in
07:57any medium.
07:57But that's not how it will end. This! This is how it will end!
08:02No. Not this time.
08:07Come on.
08:10What are you saying?
08:11Number 20. Journey.
08:19The video games as an art form.
08:21Conversation really took off in the early 2010s.
08:24And in the indie scene, no game better argued that than 2012's Journey.
08:27As a lone wanderer, players navigate a vast desert in an attempt to reach a distant mountaintop.
08:32Along the way, you solve puzzles and collaborate with similar figures who turned out to be other players, without anyone
08:38uttering a single word.
08:39Through stunning visuals and a Grammy-nominated score from Austin Wintery that adapted to gameplay, Journey delivered an emotional experience
08:47that got everyone talking.
08:48It's one of the most renowned indie games of all time, and it firmly proved video games were a worthy
08:53medium for storytelling.
09:03Number 19. Tetris.
09:12It almost seems silly to include Tetris on this list, because surely you've played it before, right?
09:17Well, even if you haven't, you're more than aware of its reputation.
09:20The groundbreaking puzzler is brilliant in its simplicity, which has led to its immense staying power.
09:25On release, players everywhere were enraptured by the joy of fitting different blocks together.
09:29And that's still true more than three decades later.
09:31It's hard to top the satisfaction you feel from narrowly escaping a loss as the wall climbs higher and higher.
09:36No matter if you're playing the OG version or one of its many refreshes, Tetris will have you glued to
09:42the screen.
09:49Number 18. Combat Evolved.
09:51Slow down. You're losing me.
09:53Honestly, if you didn't experience this groundbreaking shooter when it was released, it's hard to describe how breathtaking of a
09:59moment it was.
10:00Still, it's a vital piece of video game history that every player should seek out.
10:04As the now iconic Master Chief, we are all sucked into a dense sci-fi world with intriguing lore, treacherous
10:10villains, and some of the most satisfying gunplay to ever grace a console.
10:14Multiplayer was a gem too, and we're sure there are tons of players with fond memories of LAN parties.
10:18While sequels would go on to improve everything the first Halo offered, we'd still recommend taking a look at the
10:24franchise's excellent foundation,
10:26whether through an original copy or through its remaster.
10:29A lot more crew made it off the autumn than I had predicted. The captain really gave them hell.
10:35Number 17. Undertale.
10:42Although it was inspired by old-school RPGs like Earthbound, there's really nothing else like Undertale.
10:47The simple premise about a child who falls into an underground world of monsters goes in wildly unique directions thanks
10:53to the game's ability to adapt to how you play.
10:55It teaches that you can play as kindly or viciously as you like.
10:59Every fight comes with the option to spare a monster, often through humorous or even empathetic methods.
11:03Or you can slay everything in your path in the infamous genocide route, increasing the difficulty and the monster's hatred
11:08of you.
11:09Either way, combat is wholly original, but Undertale really shines in its characterization and incredible soundtrack.
11:20Number 16. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
11:28Firstly, if you haven't played a single Mario Kart, what are you even doing?
11:32Secondly, if that's the case, there's no better entry you could pick than the 8.
11:36First released on the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 got a new lease in life with the Switch's Deluxe version.
11:40There's a reason Nintendo hasn't released a new installment in a decade, instead updating and supporting this one.
11:46Visuals are pristine, the soundtrack is full of catching earworm tracks, and the courses are a joy to blast through.
11:52Most importantly though, smooth as silk controls and the franchise's signature chaotic items combine for an utterly addictive gameplay hook.
11:59It's a near perfect package and one of the best racing games of all time.
12:06Number 15. Batman Arkham Asylum.
12:09Welcome to the madhouse, Batman! I set a trap and you sprang gloriously!
12:15With Arkham Asylum, superhero video games entered a new era.
12:19Trapped inside the infamous mental institution, Batman contended with some of Gotham's most dangerous criminals, allowed to roam free and
12:26cause chaos by the Joker.
12:27The story, characters and atmosphere were all spot on for what players wanted from a comic book game.
12:32Combat was sleek and satisfying, as we pummeled goons and Batman's wonderful rogues gallery alike.
12:37And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, who reprised their respective roles as Batman
12:42and the Joker, and did so incredibly well.
12:45Many consider its sequel to be the best in the series, but Arkham Asylum still paved the way for superhero
12:49narratives and video games.
12:51Not so tight, boy. She'll crease the suit.
12:55Number 14. Chrono Trigger.
13:00Not only is Chrono Trigger one of the best RPGs of all time, it's one of the best games, period.
13:05Everything about it is completely timeless, which is why fans still champion and recommend it all these years later.
13:11Traveling through different time periods to stop the end of the world is an enduring and enrapturing adventure.
13:15But as remarkable as the game is, it's also innovative.
13:18There was a greater emphasis placed on building characterization through side quests.
13:22There are a ton of different endings to reach, and there are just enough changes to standard turn-based combat
13:27to make it fresh and exciting.
13:28That's not to mention its impressive visuals and Nyatsunori Mitsuda's enchanting score.
13:37Number 13. Half-Life 2.
13:40Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman.
13:43You don't need to play the first Half-Life to understand why everyone was and still is obsessed with its
13:47sequel.
13:48Despite an extremely strong foundation, everything from its visuals to its gameplay to its story was such an improvement,
13:54we feel confident placing it here over the original.
13:56Twenty years after the alien invasion of the first game, Dr. Gordon Freeman awakens from Stasis to join the Resistance.
14:03With a new game engine and exceptional physics-based gameplay,
14:06Valve set out to redefine the first-person shooter and every moment of Half-Life 2 is exciting.
14:11So if you've ever wondered why fans won't stop asking where Half-Life 3 is,
14:15there's no better way to learn than by trying it out for yourself.
14:18Don't struggle, it's no use.
14:21Until you're where he wants you, there's nothing you can do.
14:24Number 12. The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim.
14:26Your perseverance will only lead to disappointments.
14:31In 2011, Skyrim was as freeing as an open-world experience could get,
14:35and every single person who played it fell in love with it.
14:38Although that type of experience has since been surpassed and the game is filled with more than a few bugs,
14:43no one can deny how enthralling it is to explore this world,
14:46which means there is still a lot of joy to be found if you have yet to play it.
14:50While the story about a world-ending dragon is fun, what really sucked us all in was the lore.
14:54The secrets and the treasure that can be gained from delving into every cave and keep.
14:58Building your character up along the way is also incredibly rewarding.
15:01The objective here is simple, you simple man.
15:04Use your Wabajah to defeat the enemy while they do the same.
15:09Number 11. Red Dead Redemption.
15:11This is where we part ways, friend.
15:14You have yourself a good time.
15:16Rockstar's seminal take on the death of the Wild West remains one of the strongest video game narratives we've had
15:21the pleasure of experiencing.
15:23Red Dead Redemption follows John Marston, a reformed outlaw forced to hunt down members of his former gang in order
15:29to save his family.
15:30The strong story was enhanced by the game's morality system, with the world and characters adapting to how you played.
15:35Gameplay was also exhilarating across its many tense shootouts, and the world itself was engrossing thanks to Rockstar's focus on
15:42realism, making us all never want to leave.
15:44There aren't many western games, but Red Dead Redemption, along with its 2018 prequel, is the pinnacle of the genre.
15:51Let's go!
15:51A short wee ride now, and we'll have this executive peacemaker delivered to Old West Dickens.
15:57Number 10. Bioshock.
16:05Christ, is somebody there?
16:08From the moment we descended into the watery depths and came across Rapture for the first time, we knew we
16:13had something special.
16:14With what we believed to be one of the finest FPS campaigns ever crafted, we were forced into the middle
16:20of a city at war.
16:21Around every corner were drug-crazed citizens, political machinations, and philosophical quandaries that kept us diving deeper.
16:28Rapture's lore and characters fascinated us, but the gameplay of Bioshock was also highly gratifying.
16:33At first, we felt like a lamb led to slaughter, but with upgradable weapons and a plethora of superpowering granting
16:39plasmids to unlock, we became a god among men.
16:42Utterly thrilling in every sense, Bioshock is a masterpiece in tension and world building.
16:52Number 9. Portal 2.
16:54And it's not out of the question that you might have a very minor case of serious brain damage.
17:00If you're looking for a game to flex your puzzle-solving muscles while experiencing a creative and often hilarious narrative,
17:06you should look no further than Portal 2.
17:09Both the single-player and multiplayer campaigns built on the incredible foundation of the first game, expanding in delightful ways.
17:16The new voice cast additions of J.K. Simmons and Stephen Merchant, as well as the return of Ellen MacLean
17:21and GLaDOS, made the story fly off the screen.
17:24While playing alone, you'll uncover more dark history of Aperture.
17:27While playing with a friend, you'll find some of the best camaraderie-building brain teasers ever seen in video games.
17:33Simply put, there's no going wrong with Portal 2.
17:42Number 8. Doom.
17:49The FPS genre owes an awful lot to Doom.
17:52While Wolfenstein 3D may have come first, it's the Slayer's first outing that's the more influential.
17:57Never before had we felt so powerful and vicious within a video game, and there are few games in existence
18:03that have managed to top that feeling since.
18:05Genius in its simplicity, we could spend hours running around blasting through demonic hordes with extreme prejudice.
18:11How id Software managed to pack so much awesome into its gameplay and soundtrack still confounds us.
18:16There's a reason Doom has been ported to every platform under the sun, as well as a ton of non
18:21-gaming devices by passionate fans, because it's something everyone should experience.
18:31Number 7. The Last of Us.
18:33There's something bad going on. We've got to get out of here. Do you understand me?
18:38Yeah.
18:39Part 2 may have divided the fanbase, but there's no denying how exceptional the first game is.
18:44Although the premise of a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a virus seems done to death, Naughty Dog proved it
18:49in an entirely new direction to take it in.
18:51The tale of Joel and Ellie, two deep characters forced into companionship, is one that will forever be celebrated in
18:58the annals of video game history.
18:59Thought-provoking and heartbreaking, The Last of Us expertly navigates complex themes and characterization.
19:04Though the wonderful performances of Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker in the lead roles deserve just as much praise as
19:09the writing.
19:10On top of being a masterclass in storytelling, it's also frequently terrifying.
19:14What if, Joel? I mean, we've come this far. Let's just finish it.
19:18Do I need to remind you what is out there?
19:21Number 6. Pokemon Gold and Silver.
19:32Arguably, gamers should play at least one entry in this long-running RPG series.
19:36But for us, the peak of greatness came in Generation 2.
19:39Gold and Silver included the main drawing points of the original games, cute, powerful monsters to battle with.
19:44However, it made several small changes to enhance the experience.
19:47Adding a hundred new Pokemon and great ones at that felt incredibly exciting.
19:51New gameplay features could give you the edge in battle, like new attacks and types, and your party's ability to
19:56carry items.
19:57Others were just fun inclusions, like the ability to breed Pokemon.
20:00Gold and Silver are near perfect examples on how to build the sequel and expand your fanbase.
20:05You can't go wrong with the DS remakes either.
20:16Number 5. Minecraft.
20:23Minecraft is such a massively popular game that chances are you've already played it at least once anyway.
20:29But if you haven't, we'd be okay if you want to pause this video to rectify that.
20:33For more than a decade now, players have been getting sucked into the creative possibilities of these blocky worlds.
20:39Although its presentation is simple, that doesn't matter when you're building, crafting, exploring and vanquishing surprisingly tough foes when you
20:45explore too deep.
20:46Seeing what players have been able to build, whether they be impressive recreations or monuments to their own imagination, has
20:52astounded us.
20:54Thankfully, Minecraft still receives constant updates to keep the playerbase happy, and the inventiveness flowing.
21:03Number 4. The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt.
21:12There are a plethora of must-play open world fantasy RPGs, including the groundbreaking Skyrim.
21:18However, the open fantasy world we keep returning to time and time again is that of The Witcher 3 Wild
21:23Hunt.
21:23Although he'd starred in two previous games, it was here that we became enraptured with Geralt of Rivia through his
21:29profound relationships with Ciri, Vesemir and Yennefer.
21:32The political strife of the continent compelled us, instilling a desire to play a part no matter how dastardly the
21:38other characters were.
21:39The fantastical beasts were at times imposing, and in others downright disgusting, but we loved using Geralt's variety of spells
21:46to take them down regardless.
21:47Believe me, these folks need all of it.
21:50Number 3. Super Mario Bros. 3.
21:58To be completely honest, every player should play any Mario game at least once.
22:02But given our one-per-franchise rule, we have to go with this NES classic.
22:06With the rulers of various kingdoms transformed into animals, Mario and Luigi set out to make things right.
22:12Super Mario Bros. 3 is such a flawless platformer and a monumental step above what came before it in terms
22:17of game design.
22:18It began the trend of different themed worlds, scaling beautifully in difficulty, and included exciting new power-ups like the
22:25Tanooki Leaf and the Hammer Seat.
22:27Despite its age, it's just as fun to play today as it was on release, and every Nintendo fan owes
22:32it to themselves to seek it out.
22:34Number 2. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.
22:43Like Mario, multiple entries in Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series could appear here.
22:47But thanks to the engaging world, the amazing soundtrack, and the terrific characterization of its protagonist, San Andreas is a
22:54tough one to top.
22:55Upon returning home following his mother's murder, CJ is brought back into his old lifestyle and must contend with corrupt
23:01police officers and warring gangs.
23:03Rockstar took the real-life events of early 90s Los Angeles and melded them into its own narrative.
23:09It paid homage to the time period while giving us the tools to run rampant-causing mayhem, a staple of
23:14the franchise.
23:15Though it may not look it, San Andreas is still fun to play today.
23:18It's just a shame the remaster didn't do it justice.
23:22Before we continue, be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour livestream.
23:26All of your favorite videos in one place, 24-7.
23:29Always on, always live.
23:31Are you not entertained?
23:331. The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
23:43Ocarina of Time is one of the most important games ever released.
23:46So, of course, every gamer should experience it.
23:49Its influence on the action-adventure genre can still be seen today, yet itself still plays tremendously well.
23:55Everything from its music to its lore, from its characters to its puzzles, enchanted us then.
24:00And remarkably, they still do.
24:02Set up as a simple good versus evil story in a fantasy world, it subtly explores the loss of childhood
24:08and innocence, as well as the sacrifice that comes from answering a higher calling.
24:12Its levels and characters, whether big or small, remain some of the most iconic in the medium.
24:17If you've never played it, you're missing out on something truly extraordinary.
24:25Is there a game you think should be on everyone's bucket list that we forgot?
24:28Tell us your picks in the comments.
24:34If you're not, tell us your picks in the comments.
24:35I say a challenge, right?
24:35That mainly stands for anyone on May 60 Flans.
24:35Now we have a chameleon of time.
24:35distributions of evil?