10 Greatest Video Game Masterpieces of the Last 50 Years

Published Jul 21, 2026, 7:03 AM EDT Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts. The history of video games spans back nearly a hundred years, but most people only consider it to be around 50 to 60 years old, when classic titles like Pong and Tetris shocked the world. Since then, there have been countless modern masterpieces that have further pushed the bounds of innovation in the medium, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and God of War. However, the true classics are still the most influential and important games in history, which begs the question: what are the greatest modern classics? This list will rank ten of the greatest video game masterpieces of the past 50 years, meaning games that came out after 1986, based on aspects such as influence, importance, legacy, design, gameplay, narrative, visuals, popularity, critical acclaim, and overall quality. Image via Bethesda The Elder Scrolls franchise is home to some of the best fantasy video games ever, and while there are more influential titles, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the greatest Bethesda has to offer. Waking up in a carriage and soon to be executed, players get a second chance at life and a new purpose: kill the World Eater, Alduin, before it fulfills the prophecy and destroys the planet. Open-world fantasy games are all the rage nowadays, and that is because of Skyrim, which paved the way for the genre with its unrelenting agency, side quests, and vast area to explore. The added mechanics and RPG elements made it an even more immersive game, which, paired with its lore and worldbuilding, makes Skyrim a phenomenal game over the past half century. 9 'Street Fighter II' (1991) Image via Capcom Fighting games and arcades go perfectly together, and the one game that defines both of these is Street Fighter II. When the ruthless M. Bison decides to host a worldwide fighting tournament, some of the strongest fighters on the planet come out of the woodwork and convene at its location in order to give each other a good beatdown and win the massive event. Street Fighter II is an essential fighting and arcade game, and it is no stretch to say it is the greatest and most influential of all time. The franchise has further perfected the formula, but this game defined most of the popular mechanics in the genre, including the combo system. Street Fighter II is an important video game that deserves to be a masterpiece simply for its legacy. 8 'Disco Elysium' (2019) Image Via ZA/UM This list only features one indie game, but the genre is becoming increasingly popular since they are more affordable and creative. Disco Elysium is a storytelling masterpiece that puts players in the shoes of an amnesiac, drunk detective trying to solve a new murder case that has some heavy political implications behind it. Most RPGs follow the typical system of looting and battling, but in Disco Elysium, discussion is combat. This innovative and unique gameplay has players using the main character's multiple personalities to look at the case through a different perspective, with each one having a singularly useful approach. With sharp writing and witty dialogue, Disco Elysium is also a narrative masterclass. 7 'Shadow of the Colossus' (2005) Image via Sony Computer Entertainment Fumito Ueda is a legendary game designer, and his magnum opus, Shadow of the Colossus, also has one of the most tragic endings in the medium. After their lover dies, the protagonist makes a deal with a supernatural entity where he must kill 16 Colossi beasts in order to bring her back to life. The player must travel around the world and defeat these towering creatures in the name of love. Shadow of the Colossus perfectly subverts the hero's journey by making every "victory" a tragic moment, highlighting the depressing tone that ultimately leads to one of the bleakest endings in video game history. The game earns its masterpiece status because of its melancholic tone, perfect ending, and innovative gameplay that cannot be replicated. Shadow of the Colossus is a unique effort that is among the best of the past 50 years. 6 'Silent Hill 2' (2001) Image via Konami The first game was incredible, but Silent Hill 2 improved on everything, earning itself masterpiece status and a spot on this list. Following James Sunderland, who travels to the titular town because of a letter his deceased wife sent him, players experience his desperate search for answers, which takes him through the decaying town as he avoids the monstrous inhabitants, including Pyramid Head. Silent Hill 2 is arguably the best horror game of all time, achieving success through its brilliant narrative, which has the enemies be representations of Sunderland's mental illnesses. The environment and monsters are a manifestation of the protagonist's subconscious and all his problems, proving the narrative is just as compelling as the gameplay. Silent Hill 2 is a masterpiece known for exploring psychological terror and human trauma through punishing gameplay, emotional worldbuilding, and a heavy atmosphere. 5 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' (2004) Image via Rockstar Games The Grand Theft Auto franchise continues to push the needle with each subsequent release, but Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the most ambitious, with three cities to explore. After CJ returns to his city after his mother passes away, he is framed for her murder. In order to clear his name, he must travel across the state, save his family, and take back the streets. With GTA VI soon approaching, the gaming industry will change forever, but can it compare to the best GTA game in the franchise, San Andreas? This game is an ambitious masterpiece that was a marvel for its age, proving it was ahead of its time with its massive scale. Besides pushing the bounds of creativity, San Andreas is a well-crafted game that remains the peak of the series, for now at least. 4 'Doom' (1993) Image via id Software The first-person shooter genre is one of the most popular, and while it didn't create it, Doom popularized it into what it is today. Players take on the role of Doom Guy, a relentless soldier whose only desire is to kill demons. Starting on the moons of Mars and descending into the many layers of hell, players strap in for a blood-fueled ride of gore and action. The modern Doom games are hardcore, fun, and have a modern touch, but they can't beat the sheer influence of the original, which kickstarted the FPS genre and pioneered 3D graphics, also pushing the needle and setting a new industry standard. Not to mention, it embraced mods and introduced networked multiplayer, combining to be the quintessential classic shooter. With all of these aspects, it is no surprise that Doom is a classic of this half-century. 3 'Super Mario World' (1990) Image via Nintendo Mario is the most iconic video game character and franchise, and while the moustachioed plumber has many incredible games, including Super Mario 64, the best is arguably Super Mario World. Mario and Luigi plan a vacation to Dinosaur Land, but it is quickly cut short when Bowser kidnaps Princess Toadstool and traps the Yoshi population in eggs. Mario has a stranglehold on the platforming genre, and Super Mario World is the pinnacle of the platforming experience. The game emphasizes momentum-based platforming and vertical exploration through its innovative items and fluid movement. The mechanical depth, hidden worlds, and branching paths further prove that Super Mario World is the greatest 2D platformer of all time. 2 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (1998) This list can only select one game per franchise, and for the ever-iconic The Legend of Zelda series, there is only one masterpiece fitting the bill: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The evil Gerudo king, Ganondorf, kidnaps Princess Zelda in order to take the Triforce for himself, but luckily a young forest boy named Link is there to stop him. He must travel between the present and future to wake the sages and stop the evil villain. Ocarina of Time redefined how 3D adventure games were handled, making them a spectacle of wonder and exploration, a feeling that wasn't possible before this game. It encourages adventure with side quests, collectables, and technical innovation. This game is also famous for inventing Z-targeting, a mechanic still used in 3D adventure games. Serving as the blueprint for future titles, this video game is a historic landmark of not just the past 50 years, but all time. An Ocarina of Time remake has been announced, meaning it could be one of the best video games of the past and present. 1 'Elden Ring' (2022) Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment FromSoftware is a prolific game studio that is home to some of the best games of the past fifty years, including Elden Ring. When the titular object shatters, the children of Queen Marika claim the pieces. Playing as the Tarnished, gamers travel the Lands Between in order to defeat the demigod children and claim the shards for themselves in order to restore the ring and become the Elden Lord. Elden Ring is the gold standard of open-world fantasy games, using its challenging yet rewarding combat and masterful lore and worldbuilding to create an experience like no other. The game encourages exploration both intrinsically and extrinsically, making it a perfect experience for any player. Not to mention, Elden Ring has some of the best combat in gaming history, proving why it is one of the best video games of all time.