25 Must Play Games

As anyone who enjoys the gaming medium and a wide variety of what it offers knows; there’s always going to be a seemingly endless backlog of games that you never can catch up with. With 2025 being around the corner and the industry becoming larger than ever, there’s just way too much content for us to reasonably keep up with. Just like everyone else, I haven’t played every game out there that I’ve wanted to. Games like Witcher 3 or Breath of the Wild probably would make this list, but I just haven’t set aside the time to invest into it yet. I’ll probably end up making another fresh one of these lists in the future with games such as those included. I’m going to keep descriptions vague so as to avoid any story spoilers as well as keeping them short. I could easily talk extensively about each game but I’ll keep it brief here. That being said, here’s 25 notable video games in no particular order that I’ve played throughout my life that I would recommend all gamers give a shot.

1. Dark Souls 3 – You’ll die. You’ll die. You’ll die again. But, you won’t become hallowed. Through playing the souls series, the memo is that through perseverance you will prevail. You’ll get a little bit better each try, you’ll learn to (get good) as they say. As much as I love the connected labyrinth level design layout of the first Dark Souls, I have to recommend Dark Souls 3 as the most easily approachable for newcomers of the Soulsborne FromSoftware catalog. Dark Souls 1 is a VERY flawed masterpiece. The level design and order in which you approach the epic boss battles are more straightforward and linear your first time around in Dark Souls 3. I honestly recommend using Chat GPT for this game if you find yourself lost or confused- it’s a very nifty tool that assists me on my runs. There’s about a zillion and a half Dark Souls video essays on youtube that can provide you much insight into the lore and brilliant mechanics. Some of the coolest boss fights of the series are found in this neo gothic dark fantasy. My personal favorite is the Dancer of the Boreal Valley. Don’t forget to check out the two DLC areas as well.
2. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time – Before Ubisoft had the Assassin’s Creed series there was its predecessor. I originally played this game on the PS2 and it solidified my love for the Action-Platformer. I loved how forgiving this game was to me with the rewind feature that you gain very early on. It has a gripping narrative that blends well with the fluid combat and puzzles as well as a very Arabian Nights atmosphere. If you want to know where a lot of these Action Parkour Platformers got their footing, look no further.
3. God of War 3 – Picking up exactly where God of War 2 left us off on a literal cliffhanger. Kratos is back for his brutal revenge. This game wastes no time and throws you right into your first battle with Posiden very quickly. This game is essentially a big hit list of Greek Gods that you’ll be checking off one at a time. The set pieces and boss battles are so over-the-top and the grandiose orchestral soundtrack added to that make this game one of the most bombastic gaming experiences you will ever have. Every single area and encounter feels monumental. This game has probably one of the coolest final bosses to a game I’ve ever seen as well, no spoilers.
4. Jak 3 – Realistically, anyone first playing the Jak and Daxter series is probably going to start with the first one, which I do recommend playing in order if you’re going to. However, I can’t in good faith recommend Jak 2 to just anyone. Jak 2 is so unnecessarily frustrating due to the unforgiving checkpoint system that it makes it very difficult for me to recommend. As much as I love the world, characters and story of the whole series, I think after finishing Jak 2, Jak 3 felt like such a breeze. I do love the whole trilogy that Naughty Dog made, even Jak X Combat Racing I had a good time with, but Jak 3 I’d say overall was the most enjoyable in terms of refining the combat and gunplay from 2 while also being much more generous with the checkpoints. I think this is a perfect conclusion to the trilogy if it really is never revisited. Although I would love to see Jak 4 one day. Considering other Playstation mascots like Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet and Clank as well as Spyro the Dragon are still in the gaming zeitgeist, I don’t see why not.
5. Max Payne 3 – For anyone that hasn’t played a Max Payne game before, it’s known for its slow-mo shooting and diving mechanics and dark-poetic narrative. The Brazilian setting is a unique turn for the series that usually stuck to a more nighttime dark city atmosphere and lots of interior corridors. Max Payne as a character is a drunken, pill popping mess in this game and it’s hilarious how quick he goes from slamming back a bottle of whiskey to being a bodyguard for hire while swan diving out of helicopters and getting 5 headshots-in-a-row. The only drawback is if you decide to replay the game, the cutscenes are unskippable. I only played through one time so this wasn’t an issue. I found the story very engaging.
6. Devil May Cry 3 – I played the DMC games in order of release and while the first game was enjoyable enough, the 2nd one is stir fried shit. It wasn’t until I started the 3rd one that it really clicked with me why this series was so loved. Definitely one of the cheesiest games I’ve ever played, but the quality and style is solid and engaging throughout the very first combat arena all the way through til the final boss battle. Dante has a much more care free attitude this time around and the story isn’t very complex. Add that with an awesome guitar riffing soundtrack and it’s a very exciting game to get into. You can easily start with Devil May Cry 3 as well as it serves as a prequel to the original game.
7. Metal Gear Solid – I think this game laid the groundwork for not only the modern series, but the stealth genre in gaming as a whole. It has a great balance of story, gameplay and innovation. The game was one of my first Hollywood style action blockbuster titles. Newcomers to the series could also start with 3 as it serves as its chronologically the first in the series but this game has a special place for me.
8. Assassins Creed 2 – If I had to recommend playing any games in this now titanic series I say start with AC2 and then play Brotherhood and Revelations (in that order). This game serves as the introduction to Italian Ezio Auditore de Firenze. Ezio is the most iconic assassin and basically has become the mascot of the franchise due to this game’s contribution and establishing what has now become overly formulaic. It’s still worth going back and enjoying this trilogy of games though for they were very innovative at the time. I’m biased towards the Italian Renaissance setting but it really is the golden age of the Assassins Creed franchise.
9. Resident Evil 4 Remake – How do you already build upon perfection? Remaking one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time was no easy task, but Capcom did so with gusto. Giving the game a much needed fresh coat of paint, the remake provides improved graphics and gameplay as well as narrative adjustments to make it a fresh experience for even seasoned players of the original. Due to the fact that it’s loosely connected to the prior entries, it’s not an obligation to play the original trilogy prior to this for an understanding of the story. This game is easily approachable to newcomers and takes the refined combat of the original and makes it even better. While it stays true to its B-Horror movie campiness, it has a slightly more serious tone as well.
10. Mortal Kombat (2011) aka: MK9 – Mortal Kombat 9 is not only universally considered the best entry in the series, it’s my personal favorite fighting game of all time. The PS2 era Mortal Kombat games tried to reignite the popular series of the 90s, however, it quickly burned itself out. Going back to square one, Mortal Kombat made a fresh comeback on the Playstation 3 after wiping the slate clean. I think this has the best roster of characters and most replayability. The story, while nonsensical and absurd, is entertaining as hell. The challenge towers give you hours of fun with the unique combos you can string together for each character’s unique move set. The game is easy to learn and hard to master. I remember thinking I was decent and quickly being humbled the instant I joined an online match.
11. Super Mario Sunshine – I don’t think this is generally anyones favorite game out of the amazing lineup of 3D Mario games, and there’s plenty to nitpick about it, but its still my personal favorite. I love the unique dolphin island setting, I love the Flood character and mechanic used throughout. It’s just such a strangely differently flawed masterpiece. There’s a handful of areas in this game that are just flat-out bad, but I think the good aspects make up for it. The snappiness of Mario’s movement heavily contributes to why this is my favorite out of any of the games and I love each level’s music, layout and fast paced momentum. My favorite summer themed game.
12. Journey – If you’ve got about 90 minutes to spare that’s all you’ll need to do a quick runthrough of exactly what the title states. It’s an absolute gem and an experience all gamers should have. I was surprised upon revisiting how many active players you can still randomly encounter throughout. You only communicate via sounds that he game arbitrarily assigns to you. If you’re lucky enough like I was, you’ll bump into an anonymous friend early on and experience the whole journey together. You start off with one goal from the very first shot, to make it to that mysterious mountain off in the distance. It’s short, it’s beautiful, and it’s unforgettable.
13. Hotline Miami – The epitome of trial and error. This game solidified my appreciation for synth music and what the kids call vaporwave. This retro style, top down shooter is one of a kind. Its high-octane homicidal addictive gameplay loop scored with a catchy 80s synthwave soundtrack will have you glued to the screen. Trying over and over until you clear every room in the game. One of my favorite aspects is once you clear a mission and the music goes more quiet; having to walk back through all the bloodshed and mayhem you caused on the trip back to your car.
14. Luigi’s Mansion – I guess you can say this was my introduction to horror. Here’s hoping this eventually gets ported over to modern consoles like the later sequels have. As much as I do enjoy those games as well, there’s something distinctive about the original that I can’t ever quite put my finger on. Perhaps it’s the eerie, haunting atmosphere while still retaining Nintendo charm? The sinister undertone of it all? It felt like you were constantly being introduced to a new ghost character in every room. The Mansion itself was a giant heavily varied mystery that you unfold throughout the game and it just worked so well. It retained a much more creepy atmosphere than the later entries which were more saturated and leaned into the cartoon aspect more. There’s no other game quite like the original Luigi’s Mansion and it’ll always be a personal favorite.
15. Bloodborne – The ‘borne’ in the now established ‘Soulsborne’ genre. I’d say if you’ve already played a couple of the souls games already and you want to dive into a dark, even more emo take on the already forbidding and challenging style of game, then definitely go for FromSoftware’s Bloodborne. This game is badass. Pure and simple. This game is totally and utterly chaotic gothic action. Even if you’re not into the souls genre as a whole, I would say be patient and give this game a try for the world alone. It’s so unsettling and grim but you feel a major sense of vigor overcoming these many Lovecraftian monstrosities. Many people even rank this as FromSoft’s magnum opus, which is subjective of course. This is easily one of the coolest games I’ve ever played. The world is unmatched.
16. What Remains of Edith Finch – Just like Journey, if you have roughly two-hours or so to kill, you can easily get through this on your first sitting. It might not seem like much at first, but this game (which many dismiss as a walking simulator) is a very emotional story. It deals with themes of death and dying with grace. For some reason this indie title hit all the right buttons for me and even upon a replay years later, it still resonated tremendously. I think this game special and will surprise many with how quickly invested you get into this Finch family as you discover through flashbacks one-by-one what happens to each one of them; as well as also answering the big question of the title itself.
17. Overwatch 2 – Honestly, for the sake of argument it really is just Overwatch 1. They need to just drop the 2. It’s tacky at this point. I won’t go into the controversies surrounding the Overwatch 2 backlash with Blizzard/Activision because at the end of the day, this is still one of my favorite multiplayer games to jump into and kill some time playing a few rounds. It’s probably the only game I’ll ever actually wish that they’d bring back loot boxes for. I enjoyed Overwatch when it came out and I still enjoy and play it today. The biggest thing it has going for its large cast of heroes which has practically doubled since its launch back in 2016. Being a world traveler I love all the appreciation for the different cultures and countries portrayed through the ensemble of characters and maps. Tank, Damage, Support; I do it all. There’s plenty of heroes to choose from and enjoy. I can sometimes get pretty competitive in this game and also enjoy playing with friends. It’s one of the best free-to-plays out there.
18. Conker’s Bad Fur Day – This one is a trip. It’s loved for its irreverent humor and bold departure from typical platformer tropes. I love how Rareware decided to go batshit with this game after criticism that it looked just like another run-of-the-mill platformer of the era. Conker the squirrel initially comes off as cutesy and adorable but the game suberts that with Conker being an alcoholic degenerate. Every sequence has memorable characters, funny moments and iconic boss fights. The game has earned cult classic status over the years and is one of my personal favorites.
19. Red Dead Redemption 2 – I could talk for days about this one. Red Dead 2 is, no joke, the best story I’ve ever played in a game. Back when this game came out I was in college and I remember spending every waking hour immersed in this world. It felt like a second life. This game felt like a once in a lifetime occurrence. This Rockstar title was a milestone and showed next-level what games are capable of. Another good note is that since it’s technically a prequel to Red Dead Redemption 1 you can start with either and still understand what’s going on. Getting immersed into this world as Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang is an event that I think every gamer should do themselves the favor of.
20. Shadow of the Colossus – You wake up. You are given very basic instructions that you need to follow the light shining off of your sword. You follow by way of horseback to the first of sixteen colossuses and you hunt them down one-by-one. It’s a very basic concept and it’s fantastic. The whole game is this open sandbox, you locate the next colossus and you figure out how to destroy it. You don’t know why you’re doing it. Perhaps, you even feel unsure or bad about why you’re doing it. But that’s for you to find out.
21. Bioshock – Probably one of the most unique and fascinating settings I’ve ever seen in a game. The story that takes you to Andrew Ryan’s underwater city of Rapture quickly turns into a total dystopian nightmare. This game and its many enemy types are iconic. The Big Daddys protecting the Little Sisters. The sound design. The art deco style. The combat mixing shooting with powers (plasmids) weaponry and the infamous Andew Ryan himself are now household names in gaming culture.
22. Halo: Master Chief Collection – I know it’s cheating but picking just one of Bungie’s Halos felt like sacrilege. The game’s multiplayer is still enjoyed by many through its endless hours of fun on matchmaking and custom games (Halo 3 is what really got me into online gaming). Omitting Halo 4; Reach and Halo 1, 2 and 3 are all essential shooters that I think everyone should experience. They’re great co-op campaigns as well that thanks to Bungie and music composer Marty O’Donell, have stood the test of time. Halo was a major series that I grew up on but I can only in good faith recommend the ones created by Bungie.
23. Uncharted 2 – I truly recommend just playing the entire series of games (1-4) but if I had to choose one that hits every single story and pacing beat right from start to finish it’d be Uncharted 2. When this game came out, I was in high school and I remember the opening scene alone blowing me away. It’s still one of the greatest openings to a game ever. When Naughty Dog released this game, they reached a new milestone in the industry for action/adventure video games. This game defined what made truly iconic and breathtaking action set pieces in a game. They set the new standard and games (and movies) even today take huge influence from Nathan Drake’s many adventures. A very approachable game series from the most avid to the most casual.
24. The Last of Us – Naughty Dog truly is the GOAT and a Must Play Game. If you haven’t already played this or know what it’s about considering there’s now a major HBO series about it, I recommend everyone give it a go. Try to go into it as blind as you can if it hasn’t been spoiled yet. This is another game where it feels that there’s endless video essays about. This game is a story about a man that has the world take everything from him. Joel finds himself crossing paths with Ellie and together they have an adventure across the post-apocalyptic United States. Ellie is one of the best and most grounded characters I’ve seen in gaming. Without getting into spoilers, just play it.
25. Banjo Kazooie – This is my favorite game of all time. It’s not perfect (no game really is), but it’s my favorite. Everyone has their childhood favorite game and this is mine. I only recommend that you play it on the Switch or the updated Xbox version due to the new updated save feature. Back when I played it on the N64, it didn’t save your collection progress so you’ll have to waste time recollecting musical notes and Jinjo’s if you didn’t fully complete it the first time around. Like I said, not perfect. But, thankfully that small adjustment is salvageable with the save feature on the Switch. This game oozes charm and charisma. Every level has clever design and unique mechanics. The game’s hub world, Gruntila’s lair is the absolute greatest. Grant Kirkhope’s score is timeless and catchy. Rareware’s magnum opus will always be my #1.

Chao,

Mikhail