They say that in life the best things come in threes. Maybe that applies to video game titles as well. Whether game developers mastered the art of catchy alliteration like World of Warcraft or painted a strange picture with the game’s banner like Devil May Cry, there’s little doubt that some of the most memorable titles in gaming contain a threefold denomination.
Nothing rolls off the tongue like a trinity of words – Age of Empires, Command and Conquer, God of War. Just like their unforgettable connotations, there are many games that excel at their job of leaving a lasting impact on players.
10/10 Gears Of War
Microsoft’s flagship first-party title, Gears of War, is riding high alongside the Halo franchise among Xbox and PC gamers. This third-person sci-fi shooter pits grunts as Marcus Fenix against a boring alien race known as the Locusts. Players use cover, shooting and melee tactics to win the day.
With five main features as well as spin-offs, Gears of War has solidified its popularity among fans for its robust combat mechanics and intense action. There is no slowing down this franchise.
9/10 Batman: Arkham City
Sure, there are four titles in the Batman Arkham series. But this list is about the best of the best, and Batman: Arkham City takes home the gold in that department. Arkham Asylum revolutionized superhero-centric games with its smooth combat and intuitive progression system. But Arkham City built on this solid foundation in the best of ways, offering players a dark, wondrous playground in a dilapidated part of Gotham City.
In terms of narrative, Arkham City uses many twists and turns along the way. This is easily one of the best Batman adventures fans of the Caped Crusader can experience.
8/10 World of Warcraft
Perhaps one of the longest running MMORPGs in gaming history, alongside games like Everquest and EVE Online, is none other than World of Warcraft. The game was launched in 2004 and has been a blessing for Blizzard Entertainment in the years since. With a steady cavalcade of expansions, World of Warcraft has no end in sight.
As a game with a massive player base, World of Warcraft is a cultural icon. After all, the viral Leeroy Jenkins character wouldn’t be famous without it now, would he?
7/10 devil may cry
Devil May Cry burst onto the scene in 2001 to revolutionize hack-and-slash action games as we knew them. Too cool for school, Dante enters the fray, slashing and blasting the demonic powers of Mundus back to the hell pit they came from. With a penchant for jokes and one-liners, Dante became a video game icon.
It’s easy to see how many hack-and-slash games that followed used the slick and fluid style made famous by Devil May Cry. After all, killing bad guys shouldn’t just be something you do. It is something that should be done in style.
6/10 Donkey Kong Country
No one can forget the challenge of surviving Donkey Kong Country’s tough railroad car levels. This side-scrolling adventure on the Super Nintendo became an instant classic upon release with its lovable characters, intense platforming and rewarding gameplay.
While Donkey Kong was already made famous by his first fight with Mario, Donkey Kong Country re-established his image as a good guy ready to protect his home from the crotchety crocodile legions of King K. Rool. The music is catchy, and the visual stylings are unforgettable. Donkey Kong Country is a title that will continue to endure through the ages.
5/10 Super Mario Galaxy
Sure, we could have gone with the original Super Mario Bros. for this segment. But Super Mario Galaxy is far more relevant to modern gamers for the incredible 3D platformer that it is. Mario fans continue to look at Super Mario Galaxy with a fondness for its unique twists on the tried-and-true Mario gameplay loop we’re all familiar with.
Super Mario 64 had us stomping around Peach’s castle in three dimensions, and Super Mario Sunshine took us to the sunny vista of Isle Delfino to wash away paint and muck with a water-blasting jetpack. But only Super Mario Galaxy allowed you to bounce from planet to asteroid and run around the perimeter of worlds in seconds smashing bad guys and collecting star bits. It’s also the only 3D Mario platformer to get a true sequel, if its popularity among fans is any indication.
4/10 Red Dead Redemption
If you weren’t a fan of westerns and entertainment, you might have been after playing through John Marston’s intense journey in Red Dead Redemption. Once an outlaw, John is now forced by agents working for the Bureau of Investigations to hunt down the members of his old gang.
So fans of Rockstar games could see the development team’s spin on the wild west, or at least the end of that era. And what a living, breathing world it is. You, as the player, also get a certain degree of freedom of action in this adventure. Aside from the thrilling shootouts, racing across the western landscape on horseback and exploring the frontier, seen through Rockstar’s eyes, players can mold John into the man they want him to be along the way.
3/10 god of war
This 2018 soft reboot shares the same name as the 2005 Playstation 2 original. But the simplified name change is a reflection of the new path Sony Santa Monica has chosen to take with the franchise’s star player, Kratos. Having won countless accolades since its release in 2018, there’s sure to be no video game fan who hasn’t heard of God of War – even if they haven’t played it themselves.
This new perspective on the third-person action title throws Kratos into Norse mythology. As such, the development team crafted expert environments, enemies, and even weapons to accommodate this setting. Let’s be honest; There is no mechanic in games as satisfying as pressing the triangle button to hear, see and feel the Leviathan Ax whip back into your hand.
2/10 Halo: Combat Evolved
When Microsoft entered the console video game market, Microsoft had an ace in the hole – Halo: Combat Evolved. This game led Microsoft’s venture into the industry, eventually positioning them as a fierce competitor. Master Chief’s surreal sci-fi journey ignited the imagination, curiosity and sense of adventure in all of us.
And as a first-person shooter, the combat was actually developed. Tight controls and intuitive gameplay made Halo an addictive mainstay in the pantheon of Xbox and PC games.
Metal Gear Solid easily ranks among the best original PlayStation titles ever released. From the mind of Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid is a marked masterclass in storytelling and stealth.
Throughout the series, Solid Snake (and Big Boss) would take us into the heart of the story and development of a globally armed hot potato in the form of Metal Gear. Metal Gear Solid and its successors would never shy away from challenging philosophical notions and political ideologies. In fact, Solid Snake’s own story is one centered around the idea that DNA is not what shapes a person. We are all in control of our own paths. It’s reverberations like this that make Metal Gear Solid one of the most memorable gaming experiences to this day.