Current top 10 cumulative game rankings

by Blake Snow { Aug 1st 2006 at 7:55PM }

Here are the current top 10 highest rated games based on cumulative reviews posted on Game Rankings. If Wikipedia and the masses have taught us anything, it's power in numbers. Despite the subjective nature of game reviews in general, the list is as follows:

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, Nintendo, 97.8 avg. review)
Soul Calibur (DC, Namco, 96.4 avg. review)
Metroid Prime (GC, Nintendo, 96.3 avg. review)
Tekken 3 (PSX, Namco, 96.3 avg. review)
GoldenEye 007 (N64, Nintendo, 96.0 avg. review)
Resident Evil 4 (GC, Capcom, 95.9 avg. review)
Super Mario 64 (N64, Nintendo, 95.8 avg. review)
Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox, Microsoft Game Studios, 95.7 avg. review)
Resident Evil 4 (PS2, Capcom, 95.7 avg. review)
Half-Life 2 (PC, VU Games, 95.6 avg. review)

So what can we conclude from the current list, if anything? Before we set you loose in the comments, here are some interesting trends to consider: No portable game breaks the list; only four games show up from last generation; the top game is eight years old; the list is heavily dominated by home consoles (9/10); and Nintendo platforms hold 5 spots on the list despite a much smaller install base than the PlayStation brand which dominates sales with only two included titles in the top 10. Granted, the entire 100/200 list paints a fuller picture, but pick this one apart for us.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

mnugghuhx @ Aug 1st 2006 8:00PM

WOW. Thats impressive for nintendo. Wii is going to be awesome and the VC is going to make so much money for nintendo. fantastic.

Zeldathebest @ Aug 1st 2006 8:01PM

Of course zelda is the best.But what really is amazing too me is that I consider the n64 a failure yet it has 3 of the top 10.So what ive learned today is that quality is better than quantity.

Tim Sonderman @ Aug 1st 2006 8:02PM

I think one thing we can learn is that Zelda not only rocks my world, but that of everyone else!

32_footsteps @ Aug 1st 2006 8:03PM

Wait, two Gamecube games, a PS2 game, an Xbox game, and a Dreamcast game are up there. And you say that only four games from the current generation are up there? Is this because you don't consider the DC a current-gen system (despite the fact that it was the first of the current generation launched), or because you only count RE4 once despite being on the list twice?

Felix Andrews @ Aug 1st 2006 8:04PM

I'm surprised to see Metroid Prime, Tekken 3 and Soul Calibur so high... and surely Resi 4 should have one place for both GC and PS2 versions... they're basically identical, after all.

Where's Battletoads!?

araca @ Aug 1st 2006 8:05PM

Rofl Tekken. Agreeable list, otherwise.

caller @ Aug 1st 2006 8:06PM

Perhaps some feel they need to dump money into PR (get write-ups and or reviews) in order to sell.

It's worth thinking about since not all games get reviewed and it is plausible that money talks.

Grim @ Aug 1st 2006 8:06PM

Nice to see RE4 gets two spots on the list. It deserves it.

SJ @ Aug 1st 2006 8:07PM

Except for Halo the list is fine. There are millions of games better than Halo. I'm surprised Halo 2 isn't ranked higher than Halo (you know it's better!)

Grimm @ Aug 1st 2006 8:08PM

Yeah this is also the opinion of some crappy site I've never even heard of...don't think that holds up to well in the truth department. Number one Ocarina of Time wasn't that great of a game not good enought to get an almost perfect rating. Also Tekken 3?! OMFG tekken is the worst thing to ever happen to fighting games and it sickens me that they continue making more. Now Goldeneye deserves it that's a great game but I think there missing some stellar games on there that makes it seem kind of biased (Chaos Theory/Riddick anyone?).

Brock @ Aug 1st 2006 8:08PM

Soul calibur is the second highest rated game of ALL TIME!? Um... i dunno if it deserves that although it was good. What I DO know is that Half Life 2 should definately be higher than Halo... it's not even a question.

ejflex @ Aug 1st 2006 8:11PM

#5

"I'm surprised to see Metroid Prime, Tekken 3 and Soul Calibur so high... and surely Resi 4 should have one place for both GC and PS2 versions... they're basically identical, after all."

No they definately aren't. Play them one after the other and you will see the Cube version is clearly better. Clearly. I'm I'm not saying that because I am Nintendo biased. PS2 has plenty of beautiful games.. but lets face it it was the weakest of the 3... and speaking in terms of RE4 you can definately tella noticable difference.

DarkX @ Aug 1st 2006 8:16PM

Game Rankings is a site that is devoted to gatering up all ratings of video games from various sites and magazines, compiling them into one average, and sticking them in the order of which it should be in the console or overall top whatever. This isn't the "opinion of some crappy site". It's the opinion of multiple one.

Raikage @ Aug 1st 2006 8:17PM

Come on Halo 2 p0wn3s Halo 1...I actually dislike Halo 1. Halo 2 is a good game though, I don't know about Tekken or Sol Cal either...I mean they are good and all, but not that good. The rest are great games.
P.S. Where are the Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell games at?!?!
P.P.S. AHHH I hate Halo 1

The Raikage

molecule @ Aug 1st 2006 8:22PM

Where are all the NES, Genesis, SNES etc. "old school" games? I would've at least thought that the original Super Mario Bro.s would've been up there...

Ninegauger @ Aug 1st 2006 8:22PM

I assume these are Reviews from the actual game release and most anyone who played Ocarina of Time when it came out was amazed, even with all the hype I felt it surpassed it all. Super Mario 64 is the game that gave us the Analog Thumbstick, a game where playing was believing (I played it and decided that I wanted the N64), Goldeneye brought objective to the FPS genre beyond finding keys and it was the first that I remember having locational damage and enemies reacting to it. These games were godly in their time and hold up better than most games of their time.

I wasn't expecting Tekken 3, but I didn't own a Playstation until after the Dreamcast came out. I'd argue about Halo but I played it after everyone said it was the best game ever and I was underwhelmed. Resident Evil 4 was great.

Naturally different that my top 10 (Resident Evil 4 might not even be on it, let alone twice) but not bad.

bill @ Aug 1st 2006 8:23PM

This list is bonkers. Zelda SNES was better than Zelda 64. Sould Caliber wasn't that good. And we see the usual politically correct internet lie/bias against PC and Western games and toward Nintendo amd Japanese games.

Metroid Prime wasn't even in the same galaxy as Halo either (it was horrible by comparison). There's that bias again.

Zelda Master @ Aug 1st 2006 8:23PM

My favorite game of all time is still number one after 8 years.:) That says a lot.

obo @ Aug 1st 2006 8:26PM

No Civilization?

What?

Freddy @ Aug 1st 2006 8:26PM

Umm... Where's Pokemon?

Neil @ Aug 1st 2006 8:27PM

This list is wrong, for starters it's different than my preferences!

bill @ Aug 1st 2006 8:27PM

The real list would involve a bunch of NES and PC games, and Halo, and Unreal Tournament. The Nintendo games mostly dont belong, they're just the bias showing.

Also no Mario? Please! Tekken 3 over several Mario games? That's just Sony bias. Give me a break. Resident Evil 4 is a joke. No Gamecube games should be on the top 100 list, let alone top ten. What lies. My brother has a Gamecube, it's been in his closet almost ever since.

Nintendo is pretty garbage overall. They'll be out of business soon.

Neil @ Aug 1st 2006 8:30PM

"Nintendo is pretty garbage overall. They'll be out of business soon."

Oh sweet mercy, this needs to be a shirt.

Will @ Aug 1st 2006 8:31PM

@ #10 Grimm

"Yeah this is also the opinion of some crappy site I've never even heard of...don't think that holds up to well in the truth department."

Gamerankings takes all the big reviews and averages them out for a network score, if you read the title its pretty obvious that the ranking is not one person's opinion (aka the word Cumulative). Example: here is the Zelda OOT page for you to look at and understand. http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/197771.asp?q=Zelda

Dux @ Aug 1st 2006 8:31PM

"No Gamecube games should be on the top 100 list, let alone top ten. What lies."

These are not lies. These are factual numbers compiled from dozens if not hundreds of reviews.

Simon @ Sep 15th 2006 6:18PM

Thank you Joystiq, for continuing to post entries like this. The comments never fail to bring me sheer delight.

bill @ Aug 1st 2006 8:33PM

Yeah sure buddy.

Bbbut, the DS sells so good in Japan!!!111

Like we're told every SECOND by the biased media like Joystiq, otherwise nobody would give a shit because, I dont live in Japan.

I mean who gives a FUCK about Japan sales? Only so Nintendo fanboys have one pitiful thing to hold onto.

Dont worry, it's a matter of time there too. Nintendo is already gone.

Dux @ Aug 1st 2006 8:34PM

Hopefully Twighlight Princess will be on the top of that chart in a few years.

bill @ Aug 1st 2006 8:35PM

>>These are not lies. These are factual numbers compiled from dozens if not hundreds of reviews.>>

Dances with Wolves won an Oscar based on hundreds of reviews, too.

LOL, reviews. Sure, buddy. Like maybe, by sites like Joystiq? YEAH I TRUST THEM TO GIVE A FAIR SHAKE TO A MICROSOFT GAME. NOT.

obo @ Aug 1st 2006 8:37PM

Found Civ... Civ 1 is not ranked, Civ 2 is #98, Civ 3 is #262, Civ 4 is #36.

Games ranked higher than Civ 4: Gran Turismo 1 (PS 1), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 and 3, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, Unreal Tournament, Burnout 3.

Bonus: Obivion for 360 is #27; Oblivion for PC is #38. KOTOR for Xbox is #23; KOTOR for PC is #39. Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 is #48; Super Mario World for SNES is unlisted.

Also, yeah, Soul Calibur is the fifth game from this generation, and 2004's Half-Life 2 is the sixth.

bill @ Aug 1st 2006 8:38PM

>>Thank you Joystiq, for continuing to post entries like this. The comments never fail to bring me sheer delight.>>

I know. Such as a bunch of Nintendo fanboys pretending those are good games. You are so unintentionally ironic, sir.

>>This list is wrong, for starters it's different than my preferences!>>

And besides that, it sucks.

Neil @ Aug 1st 2006 8:39PM

"LOL, reviews. Sure, buddy. Like maybe, by sites like Joystiq? YEAH I TRUST THEM TO GIVE A FAIR SHAKE TO A MICROSOFT GAME. NOT."

Ohhhhh I get it, the NOT at the end of your sentence means you're being sarcastic, right? Ahhhhhhh I see.

Lavos222 @ Aug 1st 2006 8:40PM

Although there's only 4 (or 5) games from the last generation of consoles, all 10 are from the last two generations. In fact, looking at the GameRankings listing, all games in the top 100 are from the last two generations, which seemed weird.

After fiddling with the search parameters for a while, I figured that the default settings required that at least 20 reviews be tabulated for the list, which seems a bit prejudicial to me, since game reviews before 10 years ago were mainly found offline, and were much more sparse, not to meinton harder to track.

So, adjusting the settings to allow games with more than 5 reviews, we get a slightly different top 10, and a radically different top 100...

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, Nintendo, 97.8 avg. review)
2. Metal Gear Solid (GBC, Konami, 97.0 avg. review)
3. Super Mario World (SNES, Nintendo, 96.7 avg. review)
4. Soul Calibur (DC, Namco, 96.4 avg. review)
5. Metroid Prime (GC, Nintendo, 96.3 avg. review)
6. Tekken 3 (PSX, Namco, 96.3 avg. review)
7. GoldenEye 007 (N64, Nintendo, 96.0 avg. review)
8. Resident Evil 4 (GC, Capcom, 95.9 avg. review)
9. Super Mario 64 (N64, Nintendo, 95.8 avg. review)
10. Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox, Microsoft Game Studios, 95.7 avg. review)

Whether this is more or less fair is up to the individual, I suppose, but the adjustment allows such games as Donkey Kong Country 2, Super Metroid, Warcraft II, A Link to the Past and Quake into the top 100.

32_footsteps @ Aug 1st 2006 8:41PM

The Pokemon games? Well, averaging them (because quite a few have different ratings for the other version)...

Red/Blue: 89.5%
Yellow: 85.9%
Silver/Gold: 90.4% (worth noting that Silver is ranked a full 2% higher)
Crystal: 79.8%
Ruby/Sapphire: 83.5% (the only pair where both games got the same score)
Emerald: 77.4%
FireRed/LeafGreen: 81.2%

I get the sense that reviewers, for the most part, are just tired of the concept despite how popular the series continues to be. Interesting considering that Ruby/Sapphire are the best at balancing the different species and moves usable, FireRed/LeafGreen is easily the most user-friendly, and Emerald is the choice amongst competition players for its breadth of customization (want your whole team to have Rock Slide? Sure!). While it's not nearly as much of a niche as other games can be (like DDR or Second Life), a Pokemon subculture has definitely grown.

Will @ Aug 1st 2006 8:42PM

What the hell is up with all these anti joystiq comments, Joystiq did not make this list gamerankings did, actually GR compiled it from the average reviews of the thousands of games out there, so if you are pissed at this list complain about people like IGN, Gamespot and so on. Don't shoot the messenger.

Simon @ Aug 1st 2006 8:44PM

You just proved my point, Bill.

Leshrac @ Aug 1st 2006 8:45PM

Wow, talk about overrated... Tekken 3 really doesn't deserve to be on this list at all. Soul Calibur is at least kind of debateable.

Crosswayboy @ Aug 1st 2006 8:46PM

I think it's important to remember the context when each of these games was released.

If you remember when Zelda:TOOT (heh, still cracks me up) first came out, people were flipping out over how amazing it was for its time. It was one of the very first 3D action RPGs and it set the bar for which all other games of its kind would be judged from then on. People still compare other games to it because it had such a classic feel to it, which is what made it so great.

It doesn't suprise me to see Nintendo holding 5 of those 10 slots because they spend so much time and effort making their games that when they're finally released they tend to wow their fans and create new ones in the process.

Fanboyism doesn't even enter into the picture here as these games are listed as such because of their value based on the context at their time of release. Just look at the 4 FPSs that make the list. In the order of their release it goes: Goldeneye, then Halo, then Metroid Prime, and then Half-Life 2. Other than Metroid each game was given a slightly lower overall score because at the time of their release the bar was raised only in slight increments in the eyes of the critics. In the case of Metroid, it could be argued that the game's unproven developer blew the critics away so much so that they scored it higher on average because of the context of its release. Tekken 3 also set the bar for 3D fighters until Soul Calibur came along and proved the Dreamcast's potential, scoring it higher in the process.

When I look at this list I see what these games meant to the industry at the time of their release, not which one is better.

Grey Area @ Aug 1st 2006 8:52PM

This is terribly difficult but I am going to attempt to amass my top 10 games.

1.Ocarina of Time (N64)
2.Super Mario Bros. (NES)
3.Metal Gear Solid (PS)
4.Resident Evil 2 (PS)
5.GTA: Vice City (PS2)
6.God of War (PS2)
7.Guitar Hero (PS2)
8.Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (PS2)
9.Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2 (PS)
10.New Super Mario Bros. (DS)

Okay so it might be a little biased, but most of the games listed for PS2 are also available for other consoles. I am sure there are quite a few good games I am forgetting, but I put that together in 2 mins, so gimme a break!

Henk Boom @ Aug 1st 2006 8:56PM

35: "What the hell is up with all these anti joystiq comments (. . .)".

It's there aren't that many actually, when you take into account it's mostly one guy posting them all (five of them are from the same user).

Deric @ Aug 1st 2006 9:00PM

What? No ICO? That game is in my top 3.

Jay @ Aug 1st 2006 9:00PM

ok, so Nintendo own 5/10 games in the top 10 of all time? Nintendo have sold more games machines (not just consoles) than anyone else? and people honestly think Nintendo are failing.

I agree. That list is the top 10 games. not the top 10 "sims" which seems to be what Sony people want (GT etc). this is actual gaming. fantasy worlds and fantasy scenarios. magic.

AssemblyLineHuman @ Aug 1st 2006 9:00PM

bill, #27:
"Yeah sure buddy.

Bbbut, the DS sells so good in Japan!!!111

Like we're told every SECOND by the biased media like Joystiq, otherwise nobody would give a shit because, I dont live in Japan.

I mean who gives a FUCK about Japan sales? Only so Nintendo fanboys have one pitiful thing to hold onto.

Dont worry, it's a matter of time there too. Nintendo is already gone."
LOL Are you actually being serious? Joystiq reports the Japanese sales figures weekly because they're released weekly. Joystiq reports American sales figures monthly because they're released monthly. Unless you want Joystiq to make up sales figures for the US, the Japanese ones are going to come more often because Media Create is better at reporting video game sales than NPD.

As for the sales of the DS not mattering in Japan, you're right. The sales of the DS in Japan shouldn't matter to you. So next time you go out to make a sale, remember to print out the American sales charts and take them with you so you can be sure to buy whatever is selling the best. That's much easier than looking into each product and seeing which one suits your needs the best anyway, right? ;)

N-ZERO @ Aug 1st 2006 9:04PM

Bill and other dumbasses like grimm. You guys are truly the most retarded people in the world. I mean you can't except the fact that nintendo makes very good and one of the best games uin the industry and that all these games were picked top ten because they got the best reviews from multiiple websites. Also Bill I am sorry to tell you but the DS is not only selling better in japan then the psp but also in america, and europe so you know what just shut the hell up. I mean you are the most retarded person in the world. Here is some facts to prove it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_wars#Handheld_war
(click section 9.2 handheld wars)(Also it says SOLD for the DS units and SHIPPED in PSP units take note cause there is a difference)

Now if you see the figures it says number of DS units SOLD and number of PSP's SHIPPED(notice SHIPPED)
If you add up the number of orginal DS sold and the number of DS lites sold you come to 6,580,000 SOLD in America and for Japan its 12,780,000 SOLD and for Europe its 6,890,000 SOLD. For PSP its 5,200,000 units SHIPPED, 8,170,000 SHIPPED, 6,650,000 SHIPPED. According to NPD the PSP has SOLD around 5.5 million units in America, 4 million in Japan, and 5 million in Europe. So if you look at the facts the DS is kicking the PSP's ass in all regions.

Namezarc @ Aug 1st 2006 9:06PM

the reason why there arent any snes/nes games listed is because back then the site wasn't even made yet. seriously, it'd be a tough task to track down hundereds of old games magazines just to find the scores and compile them together

Night Elve @ Aug 1st 2006 9:07PM

WTF ¡¡¡

WHERE IS FINAL FANTASY VII ¡¡¡

Thats a crime.

Rare Hare @ Aug 1st 2006 9:12PM

I really don't know how you people are finding anything to argue about. This list was NOT compiled by Joystiq. This list is based on averages from hundreds of reviews. These are the top ten highest scored games, not Joystiq's opinion of the top ten games of all time. Sorry if your favorite game didn't recieve outstanding reviews. It doesn't mean you can't enjoy them, for christ's sake.

Oh, and Crosswayboy (#38):

"Zelda:TOOT (heh, still cracks me up)"

Let it crack you up no longer. That acronym is incorrect. The title of the game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, making the shortened version TLoZ: OoT, if anything. Sorry to burst your bubble of scatological humor.

NINTENDOWND @ Aug 1st 2006 9:13PM

HELL YEAH NINTENDO OWNS ALL YOU SONY MS FANBOY FAGGOTS

Sub @ Aug 1st 2006 9:18PM

Civilization 2 should be on that list. Enough said?

DojoRacoon @ Aug 1st 2006 9:21PM

For the most part these games were probably reviewed by people with college degrees. You know the kind who are pretty much trained to look at things objectively. (I realize this statement is a little broad but there are reasons you have to take core classes that have nothing to do with your major). A college degree is something I'm pretty sure most the Naysayers commenting on this list lack.

The reason games like Halo are on the list is the same reason the Jazz critics don't review the latest Fallout Boy album. No game sight is going to let someone like me who generally dislikes FPSs review a game like that.

Also the reason alot of these games are on the list is because they were very groundbreaking for their time. Most reviewers rightfully give bonus points for games that are more original.

As for the whole Nintendo going out of business thing. The morons who post that always make me laugh. You go out of business when you don't make money. Money is something nintendo has alot of.

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