Polls
Favourites

99. Worms Franchise
What do you get when you combine a simple projectile simulator with super-cute cartoon worms? You get one of the best reasons to sit with three of your friends in front of a single PC. Buy Worms: Armageddon Now.

98. Lemmings
All they want to do is die, and all you have to do is protect them. Sound simple? It isn't. But while it might not be easy, protecting those suicidal little freaks is as addictive as crack cocaine. Buy Lemmings Revolution Now.

97. Syndicate Series
Forget about Syndicate Wars; the original and its mission packs are still an amazing gameplay experience. Finally, we got to be the bad guys and you know what? It felt good.

96. Galaga
This the pinnacle of the vert-scrolling shooter genre. After much dodging, zigging, zagging, and of course shooting, we've recaptured our hostage ship from the bad aliens, and now we have two ships side-by-side. Oh, yes.

95. Battlezone Franchise
The first Battlezone game was played by millions and gave us an early glimpse at 3D gaming. The second Battlezone was largely ignored but was an amazing blend of realtime strategy and vehicular combat. Buy Battlezone 2 Now.

94. Gold Box AD&D
With Pool of Radiance and its many successors from SSI, AD&D made it to our computer screens with an addictive, simple interface and epic storylines. Nostalgia for these games spurred the entire RPG renaissance of the late '90s.

93. Fear Effect
For years, adventure games made their home almost exclusively on the PC. However, Fear Effect is hard proof that action and adventure can be mixed together into a great console game. Buy Fear Effect Now.

92. Gauntlet
Gauntlet is easily one of the greediest quarter munchers in the history of arcades. Not only is it an enjoyable four-player experience, but when the computer calls out "Elf Needs Food... Badly," it creates an almost Pavlovian response in players to reach into their pockets and pull out another 25 cents. Buy Gauntlet Legends (DC) Now.

91. Bard's Tale Series
It's truly unfortunate that this series didn't keep going like the Ultima series, because in its day few series captured the hearts of RPG gamers like this one. "Give me blood, men!"

90. F-Zero Series
The original F-Zero is still an amazing piece of technology. Even now the game's sense of speed, design (which didn't slow players down when they hit the edge) and use of the SNES FX chip to fake smooth 3D graphics is truly impressive.

89. Wipeout Series
It's impossible not to feel cool while playing this game. In fact, this title helped create the PlayStation's hip image. Even if it doesn't look great, the gameplay is still fast and furious. Preorder Wipeout Fusion for PlayStation 2 Now.

88. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
This title has not been fully appreciated for all that it offers because many gamers have been reluctant to give it a try. However, the stealthy gameplay is so unique and so enjoyable that it's almost a crime to pass it up. Preorder Tenchu 2: Birth of the Assassins Now.

87. Populous Series
This is where god games got their start, and after you experience the thrill of building up a civilization and then destroying it at your whim, you may develop your own god complex. Buy Populous the Beginning Now.

86. Virtua Cop Series
Like all shooting games, the replayability in this series is minimal, but it did bring light gun games out of the FMV dark ages and it's still a good time for first timers.

85. Need For Speed Series
This series truly got better with age. After a few false starts, EA has built a racing franchise that delivers time and time again. Buy Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed (PSX)Now.

84. Master of Orion 1&2 / Master of Magic
These titles are considered classics of strategy gaming. There are many titles on shelves today that would have never been made if not for these brilliant games.

83. Pitfall
Activision managed to create the feeling of jungle exploration by repeating several set screens over and over again. It worked then and, strangely, it works now.

82. Secret of Mana / Secret of Evermore
Zelda-like gameplay, Square storytelling and multiplayer gameplay that lets you live the adventure with two of your friends.

81. Wave Race 64
To this day, no one has matched the technological shock of Wave Race 64's undulating ocean waves on the Nintendo 64. And don't forget, this was a launch title. Buy Wave Race 64 - Used Now.

80. Rogue / Hack / Nethack
When the consumer games market was still tiny, a number of ASCII-based dungeon crawl games were born. Starting with Rogue, then Hack, and now on the PC, Nethack, these free games are still the best shareware titles ever.

79. Bushido Blade Series
This series actually made a one-hit-kills fighting game fun. It also gave players their first glimpse at hyperrealistic fighting games. Let's hope we see more. Buy Bushido Blade 2 - Used Now.

78. PaRappa the Rapper Series
Can you believe that Sony almost didn't bring this quirky rhythm game over to the US? If it hadn't we'd have been robbed of a bizarre but wonderful gaming experience and its equally enjoyable sequel, Um Jammer Lammy. Buy Um Jammer Lammy Now.

77. AKI/THQ N64 Wrestling
The first version of this engine kicked off WCW/NWO World Tour, returned for WCW/NWO Revenge and then jumped wrestling federations for WWF Wrestlemania 2000. All were great games, and the latest is the best wrestling game ever. Buy WWF WrestleMania 2000 Now.

76. Monkey Island Series
When so many games focus on action and intensity, it's great to take a break with a title that doesn't take itself too seriously. The Monkey Island series never took itself seriously -- and after playing it, gamers had a hard time taking anything seriously. Buy The Curse of Monkey Island 3 Now.

75. X-Com Series
We never imagined that turn-based alien hunting could be so good. That was before we played the original X-Com. This series was the perfect blend of strategic building and unit-based command. The two mixed together to create a wonderful, involving and quite often frightening gameplay experience. Buy X-Com: Collector's Edition Now.

74. Links
No golf series has ever stayed on top of the pack for nearly as long as the Links series, and the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. Buy Links LS 2000 Now.

73. World Series Baseball Series
While EA dominated most of the other videogame sports, Sega created the best baseball franchise in videogame history. The World Series Baseball franchise reached its peak on the Saturn, and that version has yet to be topped by any baseball game. Pre Order World Series Baseball 2K1 Now.

72. Pong
It's not quite the first videogame in history, but it certainly kickstarted the entire revolution. Could the industry be where it is today if Pong hadn't been so much fun? Probably not. Buy Pong (PSX) Now.

71. Wing Commander
Despite a few failed attempts at merging movies and games, this series has continually provided excellent storylines and great space combat. Buy Wing Commander: Prophecy Now.

70. Track and Field Series
Although this series is often dismissed as a button masher, few games in history have ever been so much fun at a party. Plus, no other series in history has motivated more gamers to create their own special contraptions to make button pressing faster. Preorder ESPN International Track and Field for PlayStation 2 Now.

69. Driver
While everyone else was trying to make realistic racers like Gran Turismo, the makers of Driver went the other direction and created a game packed with car chases that rival any quality '70s cop movie. They also included an instant replay editor, so you could watch the crashes again and again. Buy Driver (PSX) Now.

68. Punchout Series
Boxing seems like a perfect fit for videogames, but for some reason no one has been able to nail down the formula for success as well as the Punchout series. Even though this series dumped the Mike Tyson name (after his rape trial), it kept the gameplay that made it a fan favorite.

67. Duke Nukem 3D
This title proved that first-person shooters could actually be lighthearted and fun. Duke also brought to the table the idea that games weren't just for kids any more. (Although we'd be willing to bet the majority of gamers who played this title were between the ages of 12 and 16.) Preorder Duke Nukem Forever Now.

66. Age of Empires Series
Imagine mixing the empire building strategy of Civilization and the army control action of Command and Conquer, and you've got a pretty good feel for the Age of Empires series. If AOE III continues the upward improvement of this series, look for it to leap way up on the list in the future. Buy Age of Empires II: Age of Kings Now.

65. Kid Icarus
Although this enjoyable platformer never spawned a series, it is still greatly loved in the gaming community. It's got cool enemies, clever powerups and wonderful level design. Overall, it defines the phrase "hidden treasure."

64. Enchanter Series
Text-based adventures may seem boring by today's standards, but even now you'll be hard pressed to find any title that taps into your imagination as well as the Enchanter series. While the Zork franchise may be better known, it just isn't quite as good as this one.

63. Combat
Go back and try to play your old Atari 2600 games. Bet they aren't as fun as you remembered, are they? Well, try Combat, and you'll see that it's still fun. How many classic games can hold on for so long?

62. Mortal Kombat Series
You may hate it, but there is no denying that this series was much loved in its time. One reason for this is the many extras hidden in the game such as fatalities, animalities, babalities and friendships. Buy Mortal Kombat 2 SNES - Used Now.

61. Panzer Dragoon Series
Starting out as a simple rail shooter, the Panzer Dragoon series morphed into an incredible RPG. Too bad no one was still playing the Saturn when it happened.

60. Rayman Series
Although this series rarely broke new ground, Rayman brought us some of the prettiest platform gameplay ever to hit a console. Buy Rayman 2 Now.

59. Strider
How can you not love a platform game that lets you hang on the bottom of the platform? Oh, lest we forget, this is also an awesome arcade port. Preorder Strider 2 Now.

58. Out of This World / Flashback / Fade to Black
Delphi pushed the very limits of the systems for which it created these three incredible games. Gorgeous gameplay, jaw-dropping cutscenes and technological brilliance were hallmarks of this series.

57. FIFA Series
No one has done soccer as well for so long as the FIFA team. And somehow, the series gets better and better each year. Buy FIFA 2000 Now.

56. Donkey Kong Series
Although this series traditionally followed the Mario series, Rare pushed the SNES about as far as it could go and later created a brilliant N64 entry into the franchise.

55. Robotron
Paranoia at its best. The only problem is that you can't win, you can only survive as long as possible.

54. King's Quest Series
Roberta Williams practically defined the adventure game genre with the King's Quest series of graphic adventures. Set in cartoonish fairy-tale worlds, these games lacked the dark, grim feel of today's games, but they were wonderful places to visit. Buy King's Quest Collection 2 Now.

53. Railroad Tycoon Series
Another series for control freaks, the Tycoon series took the Sim City concept and gave players even more control. Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon showed players that building a monopoly can be fun (as long as the Justice Department stays off your back), and Railroad Tycoon II took the series into the Windows era. Buy Roller Coaster Tycoon Now.

52. Virtua Fighter Series
This series never caught on in the US as well as it did in Japan, but that certainly takes nothing from its merit. Considered by many to be the most realistic fighting series of all time, Virtua Fighter brought real fighting styles, real moves and unbelievably deep gameplay to the table. You have to be pretty obsessive to really enjoy all this series has to offer. Buy Virtua Fighter 3TB - Used Now.

51. Toe Jam and Earl Series
Absolutely original gameplay, infinite replayability (because of randomized levels) and the coolest characters in the galaxy made this series one of the greatest guilty pleasures in the history of videogames. Where else are you going to find a game that gives you mad dentists, a ghost ice cream truck, hula dancers and the boogieman?

50. Ridge Racer Series
In this series' short life on the PlayStation, it has quickly become one of the most loved racing franchises in history. The series merges high-quality graphics, plenty of replayability, unique control and tons of hidden secrets. Even though the first PS2 incarnation of this franchise was a little lackluster, don't bet against this series coming back with yet another winner in the near future. Buy R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 - Used Now.

49. Earthworm Jim Series
Flying Cows, Professor MonkeyForAHead and gratuitous use of snot were just a few of the goodies hidden in this imaginative series. Dave Perry may be the most overexposed developer in the history of videogames, but when you look at this series, you'll understand how all the hype got started. Buy Earthworm Jim 3D Now.

48. Jedi Knight Series
Yeah, the original Dark Forces was a simple Doom clone, but the sequel, Jedi Knight, was a brilliant twist on the genre. Adding Force Powers and the use of a light saber, LucasArts created a truly compelling first-person gaming experience that stands up to the best of today's games. Buy Star Wars: Jedi Knight with Mysteries of the Sith Now.

47. Oddworld Series
If you haven't played this series you might dismiss it as a pretty, but derivative 2D platformer. However, if you've played this game, you know that it's unlike anything you've played before. Blending innovative artistic design and unique gameplay, this series quickly became a best seller and a beloved franchise for gamers. Buy Oddworld: Abes Exoddus Now.

46. Grim Fandango
LucasArts finally created the perfect mix of atmosphere, storyline and adventure gameplay when it introduced Grim Fandango to an unsuspecting world. However, two things keep this title from climbing farther up the list. The game was simply too difficult for most, and the adventure genre had all but died by the time it hit shelves. Buy Grim Fandango Now.

45. Excitebike Series
Sure the racing action in the original NES Excitebike, was highly enjoyable, but the game really got started when you created and tested your own tracks. Today, level editors are commonplace in PC games, and that's partly due to this game. Oh, by the way, did we mention that the N64 followup was fantastic? Buy Excitebike 64 Now.

44. Phantasy Star Series
Phantasy Star was the first great epic console RPG when it debuted on the Sega Master System. The Genesis followup topped the original with a brilliantly blended science fiction and fantasy storyline that kept players in a continual quest to save the world from chaos.

43. NHL Series
In its heyday on the Sega Genesis, the NHL series was at the pinnacle of sports gaming. It was fast, fun and, before they took out the blood, a little shocking. Even though the series never really got back up to speed on consoles after the death of the Genesis, NHL found new life with unbelievable graphics on the PC. Buy NHL Hockey 2000 Now.

42. Tekken Franchise
Fighting purists may deride this series as a button-mashing franchise, but if you look a little deeper into this game, you'll discover (as many have in the past) dozens of characters, seemingly infinite combos, unprecedented replayability and end movies that make you want to beat the game. Add to that the coolest game additions ever (Tekken volleyball, bowling, and even a side-scrolling adventure), and you've got a heck of a franchise. Buy Tekken 3 Now.

41. Ghosts and Goblins Series
This series helped establish 2D platform gameplay as we know it today. Even though this franchise was tremendously difficult at times, it was one series that would let you show off your skills as a world-class player.

40. Sam and Max Hit the Road
Sam and Max is, without a doubt, the funniest adventure game ever made. Even though parts of this game make no sense whatsoever, you'll be laughing your butt off from start to finish. Perhaps someday the comedy game will return, but until then there's nothing funnier than Sam and Max Hit the Road.

39. NFL2K / NBA2K
If we've been taught anything over the last 10 years of videogames, it's that quality sports franchises take years to develop. That's why we were so surprised when Sega introduced NFL2K for the Dreamcast. Right off the bat, this title was one the best football games we've ever played. The basketball followup was almost as amazing. Buy NFL 2k - Used Now.

38. Diablo Series
Once again, Blizzard delivered two finely polished, truly playable games. The first redefined a genre, the second is currently ruining our lives. Since Diablo shipped, we've seen a lot of clones, but not one has matched the original -- until its sequel. Buy Diablo 2 Now.

37. Super Mario Kart Series
Nintendo removed all the pretension from videogame racing and reduced it to a brilliant, enjoyable gameplay experience. The more people that played, the better this series got. In fact, when the Nintendo 64 shipped with four controller ports, Mario Kart 64 immediately became a must-own title. Buy Mario Kart 64 Now.

36. Everquest Franchise
If you haven't played this game, trust us, you won't get it. The concept of a persistent world RPG is something that has to be experienced to be fully understood. Everquest, unlike any other attempt at this genre, gets nearly everything right. It's no wonder that so many people have invested hundreds of hours playing, thousands of dollars buying items on eBay and millions of excuses to wives and loved ones explaining night after night of sleep lost to the game. Buy Everquest: The Ruins of Kunark Now.

31. Castlevania Series
Simon Belmont and clan take on the forces of darkness time and time again. Who would have ever thought that you could convey real horror and suspense in a 2D platform series? Don't miss the PlayStation classic, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to see this series taken to its ultimate extension. Buy Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Now.

32. Command & Conquer Series
Deep in the heart of every gamer lives a tiny little general begging to be free. Unlike the many war sims before it, C&C was accessible to even casual fans. Because of that, millions of little generals finally had their day. Although Tiberian Sun was a disappointment to most gamers, Red Alert still stands as one of the greatest RTS games ever made. Buy Command & Conquer: Worldwide Warfare Now.

33. Crash Bandicoot Series
It's not 3D, and it probably never will be, but you cannot deny that Crash Bandicoot is an incredibly fun, varied game franchise. Sure, Crash never quite made it as a spokesmascot in the same league as Mario or Sonic, but maybe he was just too busy starring in great games. Buy Crash Bandicoot Warped Now.

32. Ultima III-VI
Do you love a good story? How about epic, monumental RPGs? Well, if you do, the Ultima series is right up your alley. For the most part, every early Ultima game was a rousing good tale. Later on, however, the series faltered. Stick with III through VI and you'll get the very best of this classic series. Buy Ultima Collection Now.

31. Thief Series
If there were an award for the most underrated franchise in the history of games, the Thief series would undoubtedly walk away with it. This decidedly different twist on the first-person shooter genre rewards sneakiness and challenges players' brains more than their twitch reflexes. Don't miss out on this sleeper. Buy Thief II: The Metal Age Now.

30. Rainbow Six Series
While everyone else was building a bigger BFG, Red Storm introduced the so-realistic-it-hurts Rainbow Six series. Frag-happy Quake fans took a little while to get used to the one-shot-and-you're-dead gameplay, but after they adjusted, many never turned back. This series pioneered teamplay on the PC. Buy Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear Now.

29. X-Wing / TIE Fighter Series
For most PC gamers, this was their first real introduction into the vast Star Wars universe, and thankfully it was a good one. Controlling an X-Wing in the heat of battle was absolutely fantastic, and taking the stick of a Tie Fighter was even better. Buy X-Wing vs Tie Fighter with Balance of Power Now.

28. Mega Man Series
The premise is unbelievably simple, but the execution is always spot-on. The Mega Man series is built around a simple gameplay concept. First you must beat a series of sub bosses and the unfriendly worlds they rule; then you take the weapons you've stolen from them and fight a final bad guy. Time after time we've seen this concept make the core of a brilliant game. Buy Mega Man 8 Now.

27. Bomberman Series
Forget the single-player mode of these games; Bomberman is one of the greatest multiplayer games we've ever played on a console. Though the gameplay has experienced ups and downs on many a different platform, the core Bomberman action is still fun after all these years. Buy Bomberman Max Blue Now.

26. Unreal Series
This series may have started in the first-person shooter biz much later than Quake, but it has already made a significant impact in the PC gaming world. Thanks to its colorful graphics, easy-to-use editor and (in the sequel) brilliant single-player action, the Unreal series is right now as good as or better than any Quake game on the market.

25. Metroid Series
Metroid is action/platform gaming at its very best. With more action than your typical Mario or Sonic game, this title showed us that platform games weren't just for kids. With tons of powerups, unlockable areas and one of the best secret endings in videogame history (Samus is a chick!), Metroid is a classic series in dire need of an update. Plus: Only the best of the best got to see Samus in her little digital panties.

24. Wasteland / Fallout Series
The world was once filled with fantasy RPGs, dragons and swords, and it was good. Then came Wasteland with its bleak post-apocalypse world and it was better. And now we have Fallout, with its retro-chic, incredibly diverse gameplay, and cooler-than-ice storyline and it is very, very good.

23. Tomb Raider
You'll notice that we didn't include the entire franchise. Even though the three sequels to the original Tomb Raider added nothing to the series but subpar new levels, the original is still the best exploration game ever made. Everything in this game, from the music to the level design to the gradual heightening of difficulty, was dead-solid perfect. Playing through this game was more exciting than watching even the best action movies.

22. Day of the Tentacle
For years, LucasArts created the most incredible graphic adventures gamers have ever seen. Titles such as Curse of Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, Sam and Max Hit the Road, Indiana Jones & The Fate of Atlantis, Full Throttle and other great games revolutionized the adventure genre. Day of the Tentacle is the best of this brilliant series.

21. Soul Calibur / Soul Blade Series
This series is more than Tekken with weapons: It's an amazing series on its own. Each of the characters in this game has hundreds of moves and many countermoves, making the fighting some of the deepest action we've ever seen. Plus, Namco added so many extras into these games that even the most skilled fan of the franchise will be satisfied for months to come. Buy Soul Calibur Now.

20. Chrono Trigger
While the Final Fantasy series may get more press, Chrono Trigger is considered by many to be the best console RPG of all time. The plot is thoroughly engaging, the time traveling adds variety, and the graphics are lush. If you've missed this one and you're an RPG fan, you better break out the old SNES again. Buy Chrono Cross with Bonus! Now.

19. Sonic Series
While this series is certainly nowhere near as deep as the platform originator Mario, go back and play it today and you'll find a solid, highly enjoyable platform game. Nintendo may have been the innovator, but Sega polished the concept to a new level with the Sonic series. Buy Sonic & Knuckles Now.

18. Gran Turismo Series
Gran Turismo forever reshaped the concept of videogame racers. The franchise is, for lack of a better term, an automotive RPG/simulation that gave gamers a chance to earn and drive many of their favorite real-life cars. Other racing games had tried it before, but none have done it nearly as well. Buy Gran Turismo 2 Now.

17. Sim Series
Do you consider yourself a control freak? If so, no series will make you happier than this one. Whether you want to control a full-blown city, a family, a farm, an entire ecosystem or even an anthill, the Sim series will fit the bill. Even though there have been some clunkers along the way (Streets of Sim City for example), this series is one of the best and has produced some of the best individual titles ever (The Sims, Sim City). Buy The Sims Now.

16. Final Fantasy Series
These aren't just games, they're epic stories. After spending 50 hours with 'em, you'll know why they're classics. Final Fantasy VII converted a whole slew of people to console RPGs. After years of building an amazing foundation, the series is now clearly the gold standard in RPG. Buy Final Fantasy VII Now.

15. Madden Series
No franchise in the history of sports games has received as much attention or fan support as the Madden series. In its early days on the Sega Genesis, the Madden franchise defined both football games and console sports titles in general. Even though the franchise has evolved slowly during the last generation of game consoles, it looks like it's about to make a massive leap onto the PS2. Buy Madden NFL 2000 Now.

14. Half-Life Franchise
While Half-Life by itself is considered by many to be the best single-player experience ever created for the PC, the multiplayer mode wasn't nearly as exciting. However, Valve quickly rectified that and added to this already brilliant game the TFC mod, which is one of the best multiplayer experiences on the PC. The combination of the two is the stuff of legend. Buy Half-Life Game of the Year Edition Now.

13. Baldur's Gate / Planescape Torment
The roots of PC gaming are planted deeply in the soil of RPGs. Some of the earliest, most rewarding PC experiences were fantasy RPGs, many of which are mentioned on this list. With Baldur's Gate, years of honing and perfecting the genre came to a head. A living world with hundreds of NPCs, locations to explore, cool subplots and side quests and a very satisfying combat system, Baldur's Gate stands as the crown jewel of CRPGs. Its successor, Planescape Torment took its excellent engine and created a deeply rewarding story-based game that will also stand the test of time. Buy Planescape: Torment Now.

12. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Tony Hawk was an unexpected treat when it burst onto the PlayStation in 1999, and it also turned out to be one of the deepest sports games we've ever played. Even after literally hundreds of hours of gameplay, we still pop Tony Hawk into our machines. We argue that it is simply a perfect videogame experience -- the music, the feedback, the action, the secret areas and the unlocked specials. It is clearly the product of game designers who have exhaustively studied what makes a great game. Buy Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Now.

11. Pac-Man Series
Even now, years after his debut, Pac-Man is one of the best known videogame icons of all time. With dozens of different iterations of this series dotting the landscape of the videogame industry, Pac-Man has had a significant impact on the place of videogames in popular culture. And Ms. Pacman is still a textbook-worthy example of game design. The only thing keeping the series out of the Top 10 is that nearly every effort to bring back Pac Man's glory days has been weak -- making the series feel hopelessly locked in the early 80s. Buy Pac Man (GBC) Now.

Top 10

10. Street Fighter Series
This series has been tweaked, mimicked and repackaged so many times that we can't even catalog it all, but through everything the core of this series is tight, intuitive gameplay.
High Point:
Street Fighter II Turbo for the SNES was as close as you can get to fighting game perfection.
Low Point:
Super Street Fighter II on the PlayStation lacked the speed and quick action that's a hallmark of this series.

9. Resident Evil Series
If you've ever played the Resident Evil series late at night in a dark room, you certainly don't need any of our reasons why this is a good game. Despite cheesy dialogue and barely-there plots, this game can make you jump over and over again. It's great, scary fun.
High Point:
Resident Evil: Code Veronica is perfect for gamers new to the series, but at the same time, it has a plot that reaches back to all the original games in the series.
Low Point:
Resident Evil. Sure we loved it when we first played it, but considering how this franchise has evolved, the first game looks a little silly.

8. Goldeneye / Perfect Dark
Goldeneye is arguably the most influential title of the last latter half of the 90s. Traditional "find the red key for the red door" first-person shooter gameplay was changed forever as soon as players discovered the objective-based gameplay in Goldeneye. Perfect Dark is not quite as brilliant, but it is one of the deepest games we've seen in a long time.
High Point:
Goldeneye was a major surprise for Nintendo, which watched the barely marketed game become a huge best seller on word of mouth alone.
Low Point:
Gamers can only access 35% of Perfect Dark without the N64 memory add-on. This should have been an all or nothing deal.

7. StarCraft / Warcraft Series
One simple word describes this franchise perfectly: Balance. Blizzard seems to be late delivering every single game in this series, but the extra time is clearly evident in the gameplay. In the single-player games and especially in the multiplayer matches, this series just feels perfect. No wonder it's imitated so often.
High Point:
StarCraft proved that a developer could create a perfectly balanced game with three separate, unique races.
Low Point: Warcraft kicked the whole thing off, but just isn't in the same league as the rest of this series.

6. Tetris
Tetris is essentially crack in videogame form. While it is one of the simplest games ever made, it's one of the few that can always be picked up and enjoyed. We've seen Tetris on many different platforms, but it's always felt best on its true home, the Game Boy.
High Point:
The only game in history that has been equally appealing to hardcore game fanatics and grandma, Tetris is the perfect puzzle game.
Low Point:
It's anti-climactic to know that even when we're 80, Tetris will still be one of the top 10 games ever made. It simply cannot be topped in the "puzzle" genre.

5. Civilization Series
Its turn-based strategy may send action gamers running, but anyone who gives this series a try will be absorbed by its complex yet addictive gameplay. In fact, just about every fan of this series has at least one story of getting caught in the "one more turn" cycle and staying up for the whole night in the process.
High Point:
Civilization 2 is pretty much the high point of strategy gaming in general, but Alpha Centauri is just as good.
Low Point:
All of the games suffer from a weak endgame. If you're good, you know you're going to win late in the game but have four more hours of playin' to do.

4. Quake/Doom Series
This series defined the first-person shooter genre again and again. Although many game franchises have taken the original premise of Doom in new directions, no one has gotten the core formula as right as this ever-evolving franchise.
High Point:
Doom is still one most frightening and enjoyable game experiences ever created for the PC. Play it again and you'll see what we mean.
Low Point: Final Doom showed us that repackaging a great game can take its edge off.  

3. Zelda Series
If you've ever wondered why people consider Shigeru Miyamoto to be a game deity, just play any of the games in the Legend of Zelda series. Mixing spot-on gameplay, engaging storytelling and perfectly balanced puzzles, Miyamoto has created a lineup of RPGs that may never be equaled.
High Point:
Zelda 64 managed to take the classic Zelda gameplay into 3D and exceed everyone's expectations.
Low Point:
Zelda 2 for the NES was the only bump in this high road. 

2. Metal Gear Franchise
While other action games are all about how fast you can shoot and how much commotion you can cause, the Metal Gear franchise looks at things a little differently. For instance, you are rewarded for sneaking around rather than blowing stuff up, cool gadgets are as important as weapons, and the story is always more than just a means to push the action forward.
High Point:
Metal Gear Solid is arguably the best game of all time. It's as close to playing a movie as you can get.
Low Point:
MGS is also too short for many hardcore gamers. Of course, it is an old axiom that you should always leave them hungry for more...

1. Super Mario Bros.
Since Nintendo first stepped into the videogame scene, Mario has been the company's flagship. No franchise has been more admired, more copied or more played than this series. It's as close to perfect as a franchise can get.
High Point:
Either Super Mario 64 or Super Mario 3, both the pinnacle of gameplay in their respective days.
Low Point:
Super Mario 2 is the only game that doesn't live up to the others.

UKKK says: They have done their best to incorporate many older series, but still missed some out an out classics, especially in the 2D shooters.  Where is Contra, Axelay, UN Squadron or even Starfox?  Many classics should be much higher too.  Waverace, X-Wing series, F-Zero, Metroid,  Castlevania, just to name a few.  Still pinnacles of their genre and better than many 3D equivalents.