Screenshot: Sega
Earlier today, The Times published a much-anticipated prestigious list, an evergreen piece setting in stone what the paper called the “20 Greatest Video Games of All Time.”
Compiling the list was a “jury of experts,” and I only use quotation marks there because they are their exact words, not because I patronize them. It’s a good cross section of voices! There’s Charlie Brooker, better known today as the creator of Black Mirror, but who has also been a very long time game critic. There’s Lucy Prebble, author of Succession and co-creator of I Hate Suzie. Rounding out the team are YouTuber DanTDM and journalist Helen Lewis (whom we, uh, wrote about before).
Their collective output isn’t what you’d expect from these types of lists, so it’s torn apart online. There is so much vitriol that I won’t even bother to include a few highlights. Just imagine some nerds who get very angry at someone else’s subjective opinion, many call it “the worst” example of this work they’ve ever seen, and you’ll be 99% of the way there. Much of the criticism revolves around the fact that the list doesn’t include a single Zelda game, while others poke fun at the fact that games like Far Cry 4 and Sonic Adventure 2 made the cut.
How did Far Cry 4 make it onto the list, shall we say, Link to the Past? As the list says, “Any game that lets you slide over a waterfall is fine with me”. And you know what? You’re right! That decided! And if that makes it one of your favorite games of all time, then it deserves a spot on your list.
This decided!Screenshot: Far Cry 4
I can’t believe I have to say this in 2023, I thought we’d put that behind us collectively, but since we’re clearly not letting me spell it out clearly: This is their list. You can bet whatever you want! I’m a longtime professional games critic, and my list would include shit like FIFA 98 and, if I was feeling particularly boisterous that day, The Gregory Horror Show.
And I would be right because it was my list! I think the more personal the ranking the better, it shows you put real heart and thought into things rather than just noting down the same tired old classics either because you’re too scared of negative feedback or have never played have more interesting video game than Metroid Prime.
You can read the full (paid) leaderboard here if you want to see why Skyrim is #17, how Civ V beat Halo, and why Super Mario Odyssey made it over Mario Kart. And if you disagree, feel free to post your own ranking.
