Polygon's 500 best games of all time

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Any list of 500 games like this is awesome, guys. Out Run! Arkanoid! I expect Sierra to be present heavily between 90 and 60.

If NetHack isn't in the top 10 there'll be trouble though.

Le Bateau Ivre, Monday, 27 November 2017 19:51 (six years ago) link

Street Fighter II (take your pick of edition) is the canonical fighting game imo

Kind of amazed how many of my favorites are already in there, with the hints on the games that are in a series as to which will be ranked much higher

Which LucasArts game will rank the highest? Grim Fandango?

mh, Monday, 27 November 2017 19:51 (six years ago) link

we should redo ours on ilx

Mordy, Monday, 27 November 2017 19:53 (six years ago) link

mh, Grim Fandango is already on the list at #415; KOTOR 2 is at #403.

the Hannah Montana of the Korean War (DJP), Monday, 27 November 2017 19:56 (six years ago) link

whoops, missed it in my first browse

mh, Monday, 27 November 2017 20:01 (six years ago) link

get ready for the 100s of games that are better than that lacklustre POS

Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 27 November 2017 20:03 (six years ago) link

I honestly never played Grim Fandango but have fond memories of Sam n' Max and that Indiana Jones atlantis game

mh, Monday, 27 November 2017 20:08 (six years ago) link

Slightly depressing how few of these I haven't played.

thomasintrouble, Monday, 27 November 2017 20:45 (six years ago) link

Which LucasArts game will rank the highest? Grim Fandango?

i think either monkey island or DOTT

Mordy, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:21 (six years ago) link

probably DOTT is my guess actually

Mordy, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:21 (six years ago) link

I do really love DOTT

mh, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:28 (six years ago) link

ctl-f "Marble Madness"

TOO LOW

478??? wtf, marble madness is 478 times better than most games on this list already

Karl Malone, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:31 (six years ago) link

xp fate of atlantis is already on there. i actually really liked the last crusade game, that was excellent. DOTT thirded of course.

Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:32 (six years ago) link

this is an outrage. to hell with this list and to hell with the polygon aesthetic. their entire website is this:

https://i.imgur.com/u6uI2ro.jpg

Karl Malone, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:34 (six years ago) link

let's be real, marble madness is ok, but how can you reasonably expect it to compete vs iconic titles like electroplankton and snatcher?

Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:36 (six years ago) link

i miss the stream tho

Roberto Spiralli, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:36 (six years ago) link

some really terrible games on that list so far (seriously two dragon's ages?)

Mordy, Monday, 27 November 2017 21:36 (six years ago) link

lol list of 500 games. reminds me of those budget CDs full of DOOM wads and stuff. except not cool new levels but blog stuff about games everyone already talk about. anyways, 500 games, yeah, there is going to be a LOT of crap in this list.

lol i just took a glance at the list this is worthless. Ninja Gaiden NES is lower than the Chronicles of Riddick Xbox game. eff this.

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 01:03 (six years ago) link

Ninja Gaiden NES is also rated lower than both Plants vs. Zombies and Angry Birds

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 02:52 (six years ago) link

435. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis

(1992, PC, others)

A point and click adventure putting players in the shoes of the titular archeologist, Indiana Jones And The Fate Of Atlantis helped, in part, popularize the point-and-click adventure game genre, paving the way for later games like Day of the Tentacle.

434. Kim Kardashian: Hollywood

(2014, iOS, Android, others)

Don't laugh. Despite a mixed reaction, Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is a force to be reckoned with. With 22.8 million players making the game $43.4 million within its first quarter of release, Hollywood reached — and continues to reach — more players than most critically acclaimed games.

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 02:53 (six years ago) link

this whole thing is so grim and pointless and out of order, may as well be dumpster diving

AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 02:55 (six years ago) link


We asked everyone to vote based on innovation, polish and durability, rather than simply personal taste.

kind of a forgone conclusion that a few of the games that really pushed the in-game currency model as an innovation were bound to make it higher up the list

mh, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 14:55 (six years ago) link

I don't share this thread's outrage over positioning but the blurbs are really uninspired, is the problem.

Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 15:05 (six years ago) link

i don't care about like marble madness being in the 400-500 range bc i'm sure i can think of 500 amazing games and while i love mm its placement is not outlandish to me. i'm more annoyed (for annoyed read more like i don't really care at all about this list but if i were nitpicking which why not what else are you supposed to do with a list) about stuff being included that is legit hot garbage that only a fool could love.

Mordy, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 15:08 (six years ago) link

imo they should really fuck with us and put Pac-Man (Atari 2600 version) at #1

mh, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 15:09 (six years ago) link

I was honestly assuming Pac-Man would be #1 (although 2600 version would be an A+ troll).

Ripped Taylor (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 15:12 (six years ago) link

the 2600 version still makes me angry

mh, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 15:13 (six years ago) link

#1: Mario Bros. (wristwatch edition)

Ripped Taylor (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 15:19 (six years ago) link

Next 100 are up now.

392. Stephen's Sausage Roll

Seriously, wtf is this.

Ripped Taylor (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 17:48 (six years ago) link

344. Fruit Ninja

Ripped Taylor (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 17:50 (six years ago) link

Wonder where Minesweeper is going to wind up.

Ripped Taylor (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 17:50 (six years ago) link

yeah sausage roll is way too low

ciderpress, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 18:02 (six years ago) link

368. SUPER MARIO LAND 2: SIX GOLDEN COINS

I know there are better Mario games but love this eternally as it was the only one I played as a young kid.

devvvine, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 18:23 (six years ago) link

Missed that one. Yeah, it's all-time. I spent so much pre-adolescent time scrunched up on the couch playing that thing.

Ripped Taylor (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 18:29 (six years ago) link

this is such a weird list

Mordy, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 18:42 (six years ago) link

I am cracking up at "Stephen's Sausage Roll"

the Hannah Montana of the Korean War (DJP), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 18:44 (six years ago) link

Polygon's list of 500 games that exist

Ripped Taylor (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 18:44 (six years ago) link

stephen's sausage roll is a pretty damned good game. those puzzles are hard as fuck

reggae mike love (polyphonic), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 18:47 (six years ago) link

I dunno I kinda like how random this list is. It's like a coint and plick rollout lol

reggae mike love (polyphonic), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 19:10 (six years ago) link

#1 of all time: marvel puzzle quest

Karl Malone, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 19:14 (six years ago) link

harsh but fair

the Hannah Montana of the Korean War (DJP), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 19:15 (six years ago) link

Any list of 500 games from all systems released over the course of several decades is going to be a weird list.

Jeff, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 20:24 (six years ago) link

stephen's sausage roll is a pretty damned good game. those puzzles are hard as fuck

Stephen's Sausage Roll: Hard as Fuck

the Hannah Montana of the Korean War (DJP), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 20:25 (six years ago) link

it's not just weird bc it's from all systems released over the course of several decades. it's weird bc a lot of the games they chose are not what i'd think of as the top 500 games of all time? it seems v ad hoc like ppl have mentioned in this thread "here are 500 games we thought of" rather than any kind of guiding idea for what makes a game great, worthy of inclusion, etc. feel like 500 top games of all time is a cool idea but probably requires a better group to put something legitimately interesting together. also have i missed it or have there been zero infocom games? also obligatory deus ex + DOTT too low. i have no mouth is great -- kudos to them for including it def in personal my top 100.

Mordy, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 20:44 (six years ago) link

lol djp

Karl Malone, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 20:51 (six years ago) link

Understanding the criteria for scoring would have been nice. And put goddamn screen caps for each game.

Jeff, Tuesday, 28 November 2017 20:54 (six years ago) link

IMO the inclusion of any mobile game, however popular it may be, has to have more than 'boy, did a lot of people ever play this while taking a shit' going for it.

Ripped Taylor (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 28 November 2017 21:08 (six years ago) link

https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/11/29/16693094/polygon-500-best-games-of-all-time-300-201

Starting it off right with ... Microsoft Flight Simulator? Sheesh

reggae mike love (polyphonic), Wednesday, 29 November 2017 19:53 (six years ago) link

really an accomplishment how bad this is. i applaud the deliberate and determined effort it must've taken.

Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:28 (six years ago) link

lol so glad they found room for rock band AND rock band 2 (exactly 5 spots apart)

Mordy, Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:33 (six years ago) link

still no beatles rock band yet *crosses fingers*

reggae mike love (polyphonic), Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:34 (six years ago) link

And we left out sequels that we deemed too similar to the games that came before them.

i mean i dunno, can you play brass instruments on the second one?

another day another dolour (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:35 (six years ago) link

have any guitar heroes placed???

would be pretty funny if the top 20 was all different guitar band / rock band variants

Mordy, Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:35 (six years ago) link

what the hell Guitar Hero Aerosmith is #1?!

reggae mike love (polyphonic), Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:37 (six years ago) link

maybe this list is a criticism of lists. the real list is a layer deeper

Karl Malone, Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:37 (six years ago) link

https://youtu.be/jeBKRk_gaf8?t=59s

another day another dolour (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:38 (six years ago) link

iirc original rock band came with an acoustic guitar and upright bass

Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:39 (six years ago) link

no washboard no credibility

another day another dolour (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:41 (six years ago) link

So all three Diablo games will be in with the order 2 > 1 > 3? Seems about right

mh, Thursday, 30 November 2017 20:57 (six years ago) link

Ahhhh Papers, Please and Device 6 placing higher than Link's Awakening? nice challops love it

Glad to see Undertale up there

Mario Kart 64 sucks and doesn't belong here

flamboyant goon tie included, Thursday, 30 November 2017 23:09 (six years ago) link

Mario Kart 64 should be way way higher

crüt, Thursday, 30 November 2017 23:11 (six years ago) link

xpost

crüt, Thursday, 30 November 2017 23:12 (six years ago) link

160. CRUSADER KINGS 2

heresy

devvvine, Thursday, 30 November 2017 23:42 (six years ago) link

Bump. Guess no one is reading about games today.

Jeff, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:42 (six years ago) link

92. ROBOTRON: 2084

okay respect where respect is due

Embalming is a flirty business (DJP), Friday, 1 December 2017 18:45 (six years ago) link

whoa did not expect KOTOR in the 80s; I liked that game but that seems high

Embalming is a flirty business (DJP), Friday, 1 December 2017 18:47 (six years ago) link

okay I can't argue with a good chunk of the top 100 actually and #1 feels right

Embalming is a flirty business (DJP), Friday, 1 December 2017 18:49 (six years ago) link

Starcraft should be top 10.

Jeff, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:52 (six years ago) link

66. Madden NFL 2005
65. ESPN NFL 2K5

Mordy, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:52 (six years ago) link

hahaha they really did list 2 (at least - still working down the list) guitar heroes in the top 100

Mordy, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:53 (six years ago) link

fkn animals can't share a gddamn link

Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:55 (six years ago) link

70. FF7
69. Harvest Moon

nice, i have to admit that despite being a weirdass list with write-ups that were submitted while literally running down 3 flights of stairs and yelling into Voice Memo, this list has some good qualities

Karl Malone, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:56 (six years ago) link

ok so did i miss it or did they really not place binding of isaac at all?

Mordy, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:58 (six years ago) link

actually i apologize, i didn't need to see that at all

Roberto Spiralli, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:59 (six years ago) link

no balder's gate either. i'll just say again this is a v strange list.

Mordy, Friday, 1 December 2017 18:59 (six years ago) link

gone home at 31 and journey at 27 are both O_o, but otherwise it's kind of hard to argue with a lot of the stuff at the top. a lot of them are pinnacles of completely different kinds of genres and styles.

Karl Malone, Friday, 1 December 2017 19:02 (six years ago) link

No Baldur's Gate and BOTH KOTOR games is a very odd choice.

Embalming is a flirty business (DJP), Friday, 1 December 2017 19:14 (six years ago) link

it really doesn't seem like it was a choice. it kinda seems like they just sat down, brainstormed a bunch of games, listed them as they thought them up (that's why so many sequels and related games are a couple spots a part), and then figured out a top 50 that included in mostly no particular order the ones they thought were the classics.

Mordy, Friday, 1 December 2017 19:16 (six years ago) link

is gameboy pokemon really #5 all time

reggae mike love (polyphonic), Friday, 1 December 2017 20:31 (six years ago) link

This list is perfect

flamboyant goon tie included, Friday, 1 December 2017 23:17 (six years ago) link

Except they forgot Star Control 2 but for some reason ranked Star Control 1

Love the rogue-likes in the top 100 (would've placed ADOM up there myself), love that their ranking of every game considers its innovation and impact at the time (ranking Zelda 1 and SMB3 highest in their respective series).

flamboyant goon tie included, Friday, 1 December 2017 23:21 (six years ago) link

I, also, wish that it was 2002, when I was at my physical peak and a website could write whole-page essays on 500 games wtf is wrong with you.

Andrew Farrell, Saturday, 2 December 2017 10:15 (six years ago) link

241. Shenmue

no

rove mcmanus island (Autumn Almanac), Saturday, 2 December 2017 10:44 (six years ago) link

A clone of the game Rogue, the roguelike NetHack

well... yes

rove mcmanus island (Autumn Almanac), Saturday, 2 December 2017 11:05 (six years ago) link


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