30. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1989)

Can you believe that Super Mario Bros 3 is only the fourth best Mario game on my list? What an impressive series. This game was a return to form after the weird departure of Super Mario Bros. 2, but did include several new features. You could pick up and throw blocks, and climb vines! Raccoon or Tanooki Mario could also float around the level, which added an interesting layer of timing strategy. Trade-off multiplayer was also a fun addition.

29. Hades (2021)

I’m not a rogue-like or rogue-lite person (and I don’t even really know the difference between the two), so take it with a grain of salt when I say that Hades is the best “one of those” that I’ve ever played. The combat is engaging and every run truly requires adapting to the RNG of your power and weapon upgrades — in a super fun way. But what sets Hades apart is the narrative that builds even if (and especially when) you have a failed run. You’re always getting a drip feed of story or character development to keep you invested.

28. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016)

Uncharted 3 felt like a fitting end for everyone’s favorite video game adventurer, but I’m glad Naughty Dog came back to make A Thief’s End. The game is a bit overly long and verbose at times, but that shouldn’t be surprising coming from the creative leads of The Last of Us. I was crying during the epilogue and I’m not ashamed to admit it. The driving sections were a fun diversion but I do wish there had been more reason to explore the open areas. The Lost Legacy was an improvement in that respect.

27. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

There isn’t a ton of Call of Duty love on this list (and Modern Warfare 2’s is at least partially sarcastic), but the original Modern Warfare more than earns its spot high on this list. CoD 4 completely redefined the competitive multiplayer shooter, and nothing would ever be the same. It’s a testament to its legacy that you can still find a match on PC, though it might be (ok definitely will be) overrun by hackers.

26. Gone Home (2013)

Wow, talk about an unexpected delight. Gone Home seems like a simple walking simulator at first glance, but it subverts your expectations at every turn. I thought for sure this would turn out to be some kind of horror game, and the developers find more than a few places to have fun with that assumption. My wife watched me place through this game and then wanted to play it herself, which speaks to the simplicity of the mechanics and impact of the story.

25. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)

Guess what? The Uncharted games are really good. I’m giving the slight nod to Uncharted 2 as the best in the series because it’s just the most fun overall. It doesn’t get bogged down in too much drama like Uncharted 3 and 4 occasionally do, and it has much better mechanics than the first game. Plus it introduced the world to the lovely Chloe Frazer. Actually, maybe this game should be top 10.

24. Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time (2009)

My personal pick for best Ratchet and Clank game, A Crack in Time was also my first platinum trophy on PS3. It deserves special mention just for that, but the game also has a surprisingly affecting story considering its roots as just a silly franchise. A Crack in Time contains my favorite Clank puzzles, as well. Making Clank clones that have to match up to timed puzzles is a pretty neat idea that honestly could have been its own game.

23. Half-Life 2 (2004)

Half-Life 2 is often in the conversation for best game ever made, and I definitely see why. What the game does graphically and with its physics systems was absolutely revolutionary at the time. It also has a great villain and surprisingly memorable hero, despite the fact that he doesn’t speak. The gravity gun is a blast to use, and man those head crabs still terrify me to this day.

22. Dead Space (2008)

I’m not a horror game person, as you’ve probably already learned while reading through this list. But there’s something special about Dead Space. While the second game veers more into action territory and I still don’t know what the hell the third game is trying to do, the first one is straightforward — in a good way. It has spooky atmosphere to spare (pun intended) and some pretty inventive weapons.

21. Spiritfarer (2020)

Just thinking about the characters in Spiritfarer is enough to get my emotions flowing. Azul goes down as one of my all-time favorite video game characters. This game is so sad and yet so full of hope. It’s such a tough line to walk, but Thunder Lotus handles it deftly. Building out your ship is satisfying and fun, and I never got sick of the mini games and conversations (and certainly not the music).

It’s getting real! Head to the next page for my Top 20.