Play Or Pass On These Video Games And We'll Reveal Your New Gamertag
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in The Geek Corner
Within the last decade, video games have risen to become one of the most popular forms of entertainment available. And they show no sign of slowing down.
Not only have graphics come along way since the original Nintendo days, but games are certainly a lot more immersive and challenging than they used to be. And for many players, games are no longer a hobby to pick up in their free time — they’re becoming a way of life.
Anyone who spends a reasonable time in front of their console or computer has certainly read through their fair share of gamertags. This is how people choose to identify themselves in the gaming world. And if someone’s hobby as a gamer turns into a career — whether it be through competitive gameplay or as a YouTuber — this while often end up what they're referred to. Therefore, it’s definitely something worth putting some thought into.
Inevitably, most obvious gamertags will already be taken — which helps explain why people have to get very creative with the spelling and grammar. And when all else fails, one can always throw some number onto the end.
So let’s take a look at some of the best games from today and decades passed and see if we can pin down the perfect gamertag!
Shadow of the Colossus
Although Shadow of the Colossus was originally released back in 2005 for the PS2, a hi-def remake hit shelves just earlier this year for the PS4, and — much like the original — it’s already being called one of the greatest games of the year. So would you pick up a copy?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda games have always left players in awe of the scope of their worlds. But they really seemed to outdo themselves with last year’s Breath of the Wild. The game has already sold over 10 million copies worldwide, with many calling it the greatest installment of the franchise to date.
Call of Duty: WWII
After spending a decade with their sites set on modern and futuristic warfare, Call of Duty returned to their World War II roots with last year’s installment. Like all the games in the franchise, Call of Duty: WWII managed to sell a massive amount of copies while receiving positive reviews from critics.
Super Mario World
There are enough Mario games to fill a quiz of their own. And despite plenty of games coming out since this 1991 classic, many still regard Super Mario World as the best Mario games there ever was. The game was originally released for the Super NES, but its popularity has since made it available on numerous other platforms.
The Last of Us
The wait is almost over for the second installment of The Last of Us series — with Part II set to hit shelves on December of this year. But many have argued that because the first game had such a perfect ending that they shouldn’t have made a sequel at all.
Overwatch
One of the most popular video games of the last few years, Overwatch is on online team-based FPS that allows the player to select from a large roster of character — with each character offering up their own strength and weaknesses. The game has since become a staple in the competitive gaming circuit.
NBA 2K19
Because NBA 2K19 just hit shelves on September 11th of this year, many fans of the series may not have even gotten a chance to pick up a copy yet. This game marks the 20th installment of the franchise, which has so far received mostly positive reviews from gaming outlets.
Half-Life 2
Often cited as one of the greatest games ever made, Half-Life 2 is a sci-fi FPS that was originally released back in 2004. Fans have long been waiting for a third installment. But game developer and publisher Valve Corporation is known for stopping their most popular franchises at only two installments.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
When it was first released in 2011, Skyrim introduced a ton of new players to the Elder Scrolls series. The game has since been ported over to the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Meanwhile, fans have been eagerly awaiting the sixth installment, which still seems a ways off from release.
God of War
Released earlier this year, God of War took this popular franchise to new heights by giving players a far more in-depth story about Kratos to get wrapped up in. The series also saw a massive boost in the quality of its graphics, with many calling God of War the best-looking game of all time.
Horizon Zero Dawn
A perfect blend of the sci-fi and fantasy genres, Horizon Zero Dawn is an RPG that lets the player inhabit Aloy, a hunter living in a world overrun by monstrous machines. To help restore peace to the world, Aloy must set out to take down as many of these creatures she can, using her bow and arrow in the process.
Fallout 3
Before Fallout 76 is made available in November of this year, players can still revisit this 2008 post-apocalyptic RPG. Fallout 3 was set in the Capital Wasteland in the year 2277, where the player must venture out into a world ravaged by nuclear war to try and track down his missing father.
Super Mario Odyssey
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild wasn’t the only hit that Nintendo had on their hands in 2017. Super Mario Odyssey was also released to critical acclaim, with many calling it the best Super Mario installment in decades. To date, it is the best-selling game on the Switch.
Diablo 3
A favorite amongst fantasy nerds, Diablo 3 is an RPG that allows the player to choose from a class of character before they set out to take down the eponymous Lord of Terror. The film was originally released in 2012 for Mac and Windows before being ported over to various other consoles.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
With over 10 million copies sold to date, 2015’s Wild Hunt introduced a ton of new players to The Witcher franchise — a fantasy RPG based on the novel series of the same name. In fact, Netflix is currently developing a show based on the books and game, which will find Henry Cavill playing Geralt of Rivia.
Dark Souls
A favorite amongst hardcore gamers, Dark Souls is a spiritual successor of Demon’s Souls and the first installment of the Dark Souls series. It is infamously hard, no doubt resulting in a multitude of broken controls everywhere. But even those who have spent days trying to defeat a single boss have to admit that the game is rarely unfair.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
The 2013 installment of the Assassin’s Creed series, Black Flag finds players setting sail on the open seas in what would go on to become one of the best-reviewed games in the franchise. Here, players embody Edward Kenway, a pirate who ends up brushing shoulder with some real-life buccaneers, including Edward Thatch — better known as Blackbeard.
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft may still be considered a game for only uber-nerds. But it’s massive popularity no doubt paved the way for more contemporary fantasy RPGs that are considered a little "cooler". After all, World of Warcraft is still the most played MMORPG — with over 100 million accounts total created to date.
Portal 2
Much like Half-Life 2, fans anticipating a third installment of the Portal series may find themselves waiting forever — as Valve Corporation is known for quitting when their ahead. But that still doesn’t mean that Portal 2 isn’t worth another playthrough, as the 2011 game received nearly-perfect reviews across the board.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
The third installment of the main Dragon Age storyline, Inquisition found the player suiting up as the Inquisitor, who must set out to close the Breach — a mysterious tear that seams to be ripping apart the sky. The game was released in 2014 across multiple platforms. But does it sound like your type of entertainment?
Destiny 2
Released in 2017, Destiny 2 is an online-only game that allows the player to face off against enemy players or try to outsmart the harsh environment. It went on to be one of the best-reviewed first-person shooters of last year, though some claimed it was too similar to its predecessor.
Madden NFL 19
Released on August 10th of this year, Madden NFL 19 is the 30th installment of its respective franchise, which has been going strong since 1993. The game is just what one would expect for an NFL game, though many pointed out that the mechanics are a lot more fluid than previous installments.
Injustice 2
Riffing off the Mortal Kombat series, Injustice 2 allows the player to go head to head with either their friends or the computer in a fight involving their favorite DC characters. A number of Mortal Kombat staples also go along for the ride, including Raiden and Sub-Zero. So are fighting games your style?
Resident Evil 4
Often considered the best game in the Resident Evil series, this 2005 game involved the player inhabiting series regular Leon S. Kennedy, who is sent to rescue the daughter of the Commander and Chief in a rural town in Spain that’s overrun by monstrous humans and creatures. Even today, it continues to be re-released for new platforms.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Picking up two years after its predecessor, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves follows Nathan Drake as he sets out to solve a centuries’ old mystery involving Marco Polo. The game received unanimous praise, with many equating the quality and pacing of the storytelling to be tantamount to a great movie or TV series.
Journey
A favorite amongst video game fanatics, Journey is an indie adventure game that was originally released back in 2012. The game is a standout in its minimalism, which involves nothing more than the player heading toward a mountain on the horizon. The characters in the game don’t even have any dialogue, allowing a lot of room for player interpretation.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
The latest Super Smash Bros. game is bound to be a hit this holiday season. But until then, there’s no reason you can’t continue to practice with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. (which was also made available on the 3DS). This SSB installment received mostly positive reviews and was notable for introducing eight-player combat.
Fortnite
Released in 2017, Fortnite has since become one of the most talked about games of the last few years. The online-only game combines elements of popular third-person shooters and city-building games to offer up a truly unique gaming experience. To date, well over 100 million players have sat in for a round of Fortnite.
Temple Run
Of course, plenty of the most played games today only require a mobile phone. While games like Temple Run may not include a ton of skill and are mostly just used to waste some time, one cannot the deny the popularity of this franchise — which has been downloaded over a billion times since 2011.
Grand Theft Auto V
Despite being released back in 2013, Grand Theft Auto V still maintains a large online presence thanks to its abundant modding community. The main gameplay allows the player to inhabit three protagonists — Michael, Brad, and Trevor — as they explore the fictional world of San Andreas, where they often do more harm than good.
Spider-Man
Although superheroes have been reigning supreme on the big screen for the last decade, superhero video games have historically not been all that great. But such is not the case with Spider-Man, which was recently released on September 7th of this year to very positive reviews. However, the game is only available on the PS4.
Bioshock
Released in 2007, this sci-fi first-person shooter finds the player venturing to the underwater city of Rapture. While Rapture was designed to be a utopia, things have clearly gone very wrong — causing the player to take up arms against the Big Daddies, along with any number of other enemies inhabiting Rapture.
Batman: Arkham City
Of course, before this year’s Spider-Man was being hailed as the greatest superhero game ever made, there was the Batman: Arkham series, which first debuted back in 2009. Arkham City is the 2011 installment of the game, where Batman must face off against both the Joker along with Hugo Strange.
Bloodborne
Though it may not be a part of the Dark Souls series proper, Bloodborne borrows a lot of elements from those RPGs — which were also developed by From Software. The game was released in 2015 to universal acclaim, with praise directed at its gothic setting and faster-paced gameplay, which encourages the plater to be a lot more offensive.
Mario Kart 8
Often regarded as the best game in the racing series, Mario Kart 8 was released in 2014 for the Wii U — though it has since been made available for the Nintendo Switch as well. A number of new features included the ability for the plater to drive on the ceilings or walls of certain courses.
Minecraft
Originally released in 2011, Minecraft quickly climbed the charts to become one of the best-selling video games of all time — being beat out only by the all-time classic game Tetris. This sandbox game allows the player to shape their own world with 3D blocks, which they can use to help them defeat enemy forces or the harsh environment.
Mass Effect 2
Originally released for computer-play only, Mass Effect 2 is an RPG set in the not so distant future, where Commander Shepard must defend humanity against the alien Collectors. The game received universal acclaim upon its release thanks to its immersive story which largely let the player dictate the journey of the characters.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Before Breath of the Wild hit shelves last year, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was largely considered the best game in the franchise. Despite its dated graphics, this 1998 game has held up impressively well over time, largely thanks to its massive world and emotional story which can’t help but suck the player in.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
As many anxiously await the release of Black Ops 4 — which will be out in October of this year — it might be worth revisiting the last installment of the franchise, which came out in 2015. This entry took place in the year 2065, where humanity seems to be approaching the brink of destruction.
Final Fantasy VII
Despite being released back in 1994 for the Super Nintendo, many still consider Final Fantasy VII to be the best installment of its respective series. The game follows Cloud Strife as he sets off to destroy the Shinra Electric Power Company, which is draining the planet of its energy source, knows as the Lifestream.
GoldenEye 007
Though it may be hard to look at by today’s standards, GoldenEye 007 played a major role in the development and popularity of first-person shooters. The game also allowed the player to pilot a self-guided missile — which certainly came in handy with the new ability to square off amongst friends in combat mode.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Fans of stealth gameplay should be more than familiar with the Metal Gear Solid franchise, which has been going strong since the 1980s. The Phantom Thread was released in 2015, and it follows the eponymous anti-hero as he blazes a trail of revenge against those responsible for almost ending his life.
Donkey Kong Country
Before Donkey Kong Country, Donkey Kong was largely seen as an antagonist — who previously worked as a villain to destroy Mario in the popular arcade games. But just like Mario, this Super Nintendo installment made DK one of the most beloved heroes on the system, which went on to spawn a number of spin-offs and sequels.
LittleBigPlanet
The LittleBigPlanet series is perfect for those who enjoy creating games and content of their own, as they’re known for the large array of customizable content. The first installment of the series was released for the PlayStation 3 in 2008 to critical acclaim. But does it sound like the kind of game you’d enjoy?
Halo 3
Once again assuming the role as Master Chief, Halo 3 was a 2007 release for the Xbox 360 which picked up where things left off in Halo 2. The game was a monster success, grossing over a quarter billion dollars in its first week of sales alone. A sixth installment is expected to hit shelves in 2019.
Wii Sports
To help buyers get used to the controls of the Nintendo Wii, most consoles came with a copy of Wii Sports — which contained a variety of games including boxing, tennis, and golf. While the graphics really left something to be desired, the game was (and is) a blast to play with friends and family.
Gears of War
The first game in the Gears of War series was released for the Xbox 360 back in 2006. It follows series regular Marcus Fenix, who is on a mission to eradicate the Locust Horde from planet Earth. But while he may have survived the first installment, fans of the series know that the Horde has continued to be a nuisance.
Metroid Prime
Released a full eight years after its predecessor, Meteoroid Prime is often considered one of the best installments in its respective franchise. The game follows series protagonist Samus Aran as she takes up arms against the Space Pirates. It was originally released for the GameCube before being ported over to the Wii.
Max Payne
Originally available just for Microsoft Windows, Max Payne received positive reviews upon its release thanks to its gritty story — which follows cop who’s on a trail of revenge after the loss of his family. The 2001 game went on to spawn a number of sequels, as well as a poorly received feature film.
Silent Hill 2
A truly creepy game, Silent Hill 2 follows James Sunderland, who travels to the title town in search for his deceased wife — whom he believes may actually be alive. The series has spawned a number of sequels and even a film franchise — though most of them have been nearly as well reviewed as this 2001 game.
