Best Games from the last 30 Years | Tag Roundup #97

Welcome to TAG Roundup!

It’s no secret that games have been a large part of my life for as long as I can remember. Each year brings new technologies and game mechanics, as well as innovative storylines. Kotaku just put out a list of some of their favorites since the 80s and there are some gems on there! 

If you want even more gaming news, check out our entire TAG Roundup series! The last post covered the latest partnership between Discord and Sony!

Top video games of all time

Top Games by Year – Kotaku

Think of the hundreds of games you’ve played in your lifetime. Could you name your favorite game from every year of your life? Probably not…but Kotaku peeps can!

In one of their recent articles, three of their writers published their respective lists for an impressive blast from the past. Here are some notable picks, surprise choices, and years where I would have to swap out a game.

I was born in ‘88 so I’ll start there. Immediately, I was surprised by the writer’s choice, with Double Dragon II winning out over Super Mario Bros 3. Super Mario Bros 3!!! I like Double Dragon, but come on…

Alex redeems himself by listing Cannon Fodder as his 1993 choice. It’s a fantastic, simple shooter that’s even more fun with friends. The game mechanics, animations, and commentary were a great simulation of soldiers in combat.

There are plenty of expected picks on here:

  • 1992 – Wolfenstein 3D
  • 1996 – Super Mario 64 
  • 1998 – Starcraft
  • 2009 – Uncharted 2
  • 2015 – The Witcher III

Their lists also had plenty of gaping holes. Can you imagine leaving The Last of Us off three separate lists for the 2013 pick? Well, that’s what happened.

It’s surprising that Fortnite didn’t make the cut, but you either love or hate that game. Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, and Final Fantasy 7 both were excluded though, which don’t make no sense.

To each their own.

Kotaku’s panel included some nice surprises for gamers to broaden their horizons. Spore is an underrated journey where you take your small cell and gradually evolve into a god. Overcooked may be one of the greatest party games of all time, with cooking madness for up to four people. Lastly, shout out to Kingdom Hearts for being an unexpectedly great adventure RPG series that masterfully blends multiple worlds.

These list will always be up for debate, but it’s always fun to see how other gamers stack rank titles against each other!

What do you think of the Kotaku lists? Are there any years you would change the best game selection? Let me know your picks in the comments section, below!

Honorable Mentions in Last Week’s Gaming World

  • Nintendo Life – Zelda-inspired 2D adventure coming to switch, with support from Kickstarter
  • Video Cardz – The most advanced portable gaming device ever?
  • Nintendo Life – Blow up everything in this multi-hero adventure platformer
  • Kotaku – Xbox 360 emulation may become a reality soon enough! 
  • The Sixth Axis – Mass Effect Legendary Edition on PS4 is hilariously large
  • Polygon – Ubisoft is bringing us a F2P game in The Division universe
  • PC Gamer – MechWarrior 5 finally arriving on Steam, with cross-play


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