EGM's 200 Greatest Games of Their Time

[Reno]

As with any Top X Games/Singers/Guitarists/Porn Stars/Whatever list, there's bound to be some stupid choices and a great many arguable ones. That said, what Electronic Gaming Monthly did right for this list, compiled for their 200th issue back in February, was to rank the games themselves, rather than leave it up to their readership like Rolling Stone did with their supposed 100 Greatest Guitarists list. Doesn't mean they weren't wrong with a lot of these, but at least they have some sort of established criteria, rather than picking their favorite games.

The criteria are as follows: which games were the most engrossing and dominant for their time? Here's their list:

200. The Quest for the Rings (Odyssey 2, 1981)
199. Super Castlevania IV (SNES, 1991)
198. Utopia (Intellivision, 1981)
197. NFL 2K1 (Dreamcast, 2000)
196. Guitar Hero (PS2, 2005)
195. The Chronicles of Riddick (Xbox, 2004)
194. Nam-1975 (Neo-Geo, 1990)
193. SSX (PS2, 2000)
192. Shadow of the Colossus (PS2, 2005)
191. Devil's Crush (Turbografx-16, 1990)
190. Bushido Blade (PlayStation, 1997)
189. Metal Gear (NES, 1988)
188. Chu-Chu Rocket! (Dreamcast, 2000)
187. Mario Party (N64, 1999)
186. 1080° Snowboarding (N64, 1998)
185. Dragon's Lair (Arcade, 1983)
184. Blaster Master (NES, 1988)
183. Gorf (Arcade, 1991)
182. Psychonauts (Xbox, 2005)
181. River City Ransom (NES, 1990)
180. Super Off Road (Arcade, 1989)
179. Magician Lord (Neo-Geo, 1990)
178. Dance Dance Revolution (Arcade, 1998)
177. BurgerTime (Arcade, 1982)
176. Flashback (Genesis, 1993)
175. Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (PlayStation, 1997)
174. Snatcher (Sega CD, 1994)
173. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy, 1994)
172. Katamari Damacy (PS2, 2004)
171. Beyond Good & Evil (Multiplatform, 2003)
170. Perfect Dark (N64, 2000)
169. Crazy Taxi (Arcade, 1999)
168. Sega Rally Championship (Arcade, 1995)
167. Medal of Honor (PlayStation, 1999)
166. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Multiplatform, 2003)
165. Double Dribble (NES, 1987)
164. Bionic Commando (NES, 1988)
163. Military Madness (TurboGrafx-16, 1989)
162. Burnout 3: Takedown (Multiplatform, 2004)
161. Devil May Cry (PS2, 2001)
160. NiGHTS into Dreams (Saturn, 1996)
159. Ecco the Dolphin (Genesis, 1992)
158. Herzog Zwei (Genesis, 1989)
157. The Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker (GameCube, 2003)
156. Legendary Axe (TurboGrafx-16, 1989)
155. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64, 2000)
154. Moon Patrol (Arcade, 1982)
153. Ys Book I & II (TurboGrafx-16 CD, 1990)
152. Cybernator (SNES, 1993)
151. Front Line (Arcade, 1982)
150. Kirby's Adventure (NES, 1993)
149. Ghosts 'N Goblins (Arcade, 1985)
148. PaRappa the Rapper (PlayStation, 1997)
147. Spider-Man (Atari 2600, 1982)
146. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (Xbox, 2002)
145. Road Rash (3D0, 1994)
144. International Superstar Soccer (SNES, 1995)
143. Kaboom! (Atari 2600, 1981)
142. Tekken 3 (PlayStation, 1997)
141. Paper Mario (N64, 2001)
140. Panzer Dragoon (Saturn, 1995)
139. RBI Baseball (NES, 1988)
138. Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ (GBA, 2003)
137. Dig Dug (Arcade, 1982)
136. Phantasy Star IV (Genesis, 1994)
135. Ice Hockey (NES, 1988)
134. Yar's Revenge (Atari 2600, 1982)
133. Final Fantasy X (PS2, 2001)
132. Virtua Tennis (Dreamcast, 2000)
131. Sinistar (Arcade, 1982)
130. Twisted Metal (PlayStation, 1995)
129. Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis, 1989)
128. Samurai Shodown II (Neo-Geo, 1994)
127. Zaxxon (Arcade, 1982)
126. Animal Crossing (GameCube, 2002)
125. Metal Gear Solid (Game Boy Color, 2000)
124. Pole Position (Arcade, 1982)
123. Battlezone (Arcade, 1980)
122. Virtua Fighter 4 (PS2, 2002)
121. Ico (PS2, 2001)
120. OutRun (Arcade, 1986)
119. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES, 1990)
118. Pro Wrestling (NES, 1987)
117. Indy 500 (Atari 2600, 1978)
116. Shenmue (Dreamcast, 2000)
115. Star Fox (SNES, 1993)
114. Card Fighters' Clash (Neo-Geo Pocket Color, 1999)
113. Lunar: the Silver Star (Sega CD, 1993)
112. God of War (PS2, 2005)
111. Dragon Force (Saturn, 1996)
110. Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Arcade, 1996)
109. Gradius (Arcade, 1985)
108. Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES, 1988)
107. Ms. Pac-Man (Arcade, 1981)
106. Donkey Kong (Game Boy, 1994)
105. Karate Champ (Arcade, 1984)
104. Wipeout (PlayStation, 1995)
103. Super Mario RPG (SNES, 1996)
102. Landstalker (Genesis, 1993)
101. Ninja Gaiden (Xbox, 2004)
100. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox, 2003)
99. Final Fight (Arcade, 1989)
98. Strider (Arcade, 1989)
97. Phantasy Star II (Genesis, 1989)
96. Marble Madness (Arcade, 1984)
95. NFL Blitz (Arcade, 1997)
94. Centipede (Arcade, 1980)
93. Track & Field (Arcade, 1983)
92. Super Smash Bros. Melee (GameCube, 2001)
91. After Burner (Arcade, 1987)
90. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (Intellivision, 1982)
89. Golden Axe (Arcade, 1989)
88. Super Mario World (SNES, 1991)
87. Missile Command (Arcade, 1980)
86. Ridge Racer (PlayStation, 1995)
85. Advance Wars (GBA, 2001)
84. Gunstar Heroes (Genesis, 1993)
83. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES, 1995)
82. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2, 2001)
81. Ikari Warriors (Arcade, 1986)
80. Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn, 1998)
79. Contra (Arcade, 1987)
78. Daytona USA (Arcade, 1994)
77. Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow (Xbox, 2004)
76. Halo 2 (Xbox, 2004)
75. SOCOM: US Navy SEALs (PS2, 2001)
74. Chrono Trigger (SNES, 1995)
73. Gauntlet (Arcade, 1985)
72. Spy Hunter (Arcade, 1983)
71. Tempest (Arcade, 1980)
70. Mortal Kombat II (Arcade, 1993)
69. F-Zero (SNES, 1991)
68. NFL Football (Intellivision, 1980)
67. Resident Evil 2 (PlayStation, 1998)
66. RC Pro-Am (NES, 1987)
65. Resident Evil (PlayStation, 1996)
64. Excitebike (NES, 1985)
63. Breakout (Arcade, 1976)
62. Frogger (Arcade, 1981)
61. Pokémon Red/Blue (Game Boy, 1998)
60. Final Fantasy Tactics (PlayStation, 1998)
59. Super Bomberman (SNES, 1993)
58. Baseball Stars (NES, 1989)
57. Virtua Racing (Arcade, 1992)
56. Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis, 1991)
55. NBA Jam (Arcade, 1993)
54. Defender (Arcade, 1980)
53. Mega Man II (NES, 1989)
52. Metroid Prime (GameCube, 2002)
51. Castlevania (NES, 1987)
50. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, 1992)
49. NHLPA Hockey '93 (Genesis, 1992)
48. Warlords (Arcade, 1980)
47. Joust (Arcade, 1982)
46. Resident Evil 4 (GameCube, 2005)
45. John Madden Football (Genesis, 1990)
44. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (NES, 1987)
43. Tron (Arcade, 1982)
42. R-Type (Arcade, 1987)
41. Double Dragon (Arcade, 1987)
40. Zelda II: the Adventure of Link (NES, 1988)
39. Combat (Atari 2600, 1977)
38. Asteroids (Arcade, 1979)
37. Virtua Fighter 2 (Arcade, 1995)
36. Final Fantasy III (SNES, 1994)
35. Tomb Raider (Multiplatform, 1996)
34. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (PlayStation, 1999)
33. Tecmo Bowl (NES, 1989)
32. Robotron: 2084 (Arcade, 1982)
31. Star Wars (Arcade, 1983)
30. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PlayStation, 1997)
29. Final Fantasy II (SNES, 1991)
28. Galaga (Arcade, 1981)
27. Final Fantasy VII (PlayStation, 1997)
26. Phantasy Star (Sega Master System, 1988)
25. Gran Turismo (PlayStation, 1998)
24. Tetris Attack (SNES, 1996)
23. Super Metroid (SNES, 1994)
22. Soul Calibur (Dreamcast, 1999)
21. Phantasy Star Online (Dreamcast, 2001)
20. Virtua Fighter (Arcade, 1993)
19. Super Mario Kart (SNES, 1992)
18. Pitfall! (Atari 2600, 1982)
17. Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox, 2001)
16. GoldenEye 007 (N64, 1997)
15. Donkey Kong (Arcade, 1981)
14. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES, 1990)
13. Adventure (Atari 2600, 1978)
12. Metal Gear Solid (PlayStation, 1998)
11. Metroid (NES, 1987)
10. Pong (Arcade, 1972)
9. Grand Theft Auto III (PS2, 2001)
8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 1998)
7. Space Invaders (Arcade, 1978)
6. Super Mario 64 (N64, 1996)
5. The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1987)
4. Tetris (Multiplatform, 1988)
3. Street Fighter II (Arcade, 1991)
2. Pac-Man (Arcade, 1980)
1. Super Mario Bros. (NES, 1985)

[fenris]

An interesting list.

[Reno]

How bout some more comments and discussion, people? It took A LONG TIME to type that list out of the magazine!

[fenris]

Well, what can be said. I am happy to see good games high on the list such as Zelda, FF 4 and FF 6. Wish Zelda 2 and 3 were higher up they were better than Ocerana of time. Not saying Ocerana of Time was bad its just it had its fair share of problems and I think Zelda 3 looked better in the graphics department and had more fun dungeons. Plus until Ocerana of Time I never thought of Link as a kid.

[Reno]

I agree with the top ten almost completely, although I think I would move Street Fighter 2 down to #10.

[Reno]

I think EGM let a few of their biases into the list. For example, the Virtua Fighter series really isn't that good, and never was. They credit it with basically moving fighting games from 2-D to 3-D, completely shafting the Tekken series, which deserves equal credit in that department (and pulls it off much better, I might add). Virtua Fighter appears three times on the list (the original at #20, VF2 at #37, and VF4 at #122). Tekken only makes the list once (Tekken 3 at #142). This I feel is an injustice. Tekken 3 definitely was the one to make the list, if only one game from the series is going to be on it; that's the game in which most of the good characters were introduced. But still, VF having 3 games on the list? That's more even than Street Fighter, by my count, and that's the series that established the fighting game genre! (Incidentally, I think Street Fighter Alpha was a horrible game and doesn't deserve to be on the list either).