Gamers often ponder what is the best video game of all time or what makes the game timeless in a sense. And, the reality is that it’s difficult or almost impossible to answer this. Some would argue that story, innovative mechanics, and overall emotional impact are necessary for a game to be timeless. Sure, a game should have these things, but not every title that has them becomes “evergreen.”
We see this in the casino gaming sub-branch as well. Gambling sites have thousands of games in their lobby, and new ones are regularly added. Yet a few slots that were released back in 2010 are still relevant to this day. Just looking at casinos online Portugal operators and it becomes clear that certain older slots are pushed and promoted to this day. This is done through free spins deals, game of the week, or tournament/event play. But whenever you examine those slots and compare them to newer releases, you can’t pinpoint what exactly makes them stand out. So let’s discuss this phenomenon in detail.
What Makes a Game Timeless?
When we talk about timeless games, big franchises like Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, GTA, and Minecraft pop up in the conversation. Yet if you were to ask people who weren’t actively in the gaming sphere, what is the best video game of all time, the answer might be different.
You see, the majority of those who game a lot are not necessarily “versitile” gamers. They stick to one franchise like FIFA, NBA, COD, CS, or another title they picked up growing up, and don’t follow the industry news. That’s why it would be wrong to rely on what is the best selling video game of all time stats when answering this question. It would be wiser to consider when the game was published, what the current state of the industry was, why it managed to reach such a wide audience at the time, and how it stayed relevant.
Game Comparison Across Generations
Below, you can find a simple comparison of the most popular titles today.
The list should give you a good estimate of what is the best rated video game of all time, but again, it doesn’t answer why it is so. The truth is that multiple factors are at play. In some instances, the game was the best in its genre when it was released, or it pushed the formula to the next level. Additionally, if the franchise already has a strong community behind it, then it will perform well. Communities started to play a more significant role over the years, so features that foster their growth were introduced as game features.
Why Does Age Really Matter?
Older gamers can be very nostalgic. Since most of them grew up during the 1990’s, they prefer arcade-style gameplay. On the other hand, the younger audience prefers open worlds and online features such as multiplayer and split-screen. A 2023 survey found that around 70% of Gen Z gamers prefer multiplayer and sandbox titles such as CS2, Split Fiction, and Valorant.
Now, age is also relevant for a few other reasons:
- Game marketing and monetization (Studios are obligated to use maturity labels on their products)
- Themes, story, narrative, dialogue writing, and overall aesthetics are different depending on the target age group
- It can also determine the pricing (eg, young players need to convince their parents to buy it)
- To an extent, it can impact a game’s longevity (more complex in-game systems can be harder to understand, but can add more replay value)
Games That Changed the Industry
Even though we know what is the best selling video game of all time, it doesn’t seem fair to neglect other franchises that had a big impact. Some titles reshaped the way the whole gaming industry works:
- Doom (1993) – It set the basis for the modern FPS titles and inspired Quake and eventually the CS franchise.
- World of Warcraft (2004) – Defined the way MMORPGs work. During its peak popularity, WoW had over 12 million subscribers around the world.
- Demon Souls (2009) – Kickstarted the “souls-like” genre that was a new take on rogue-like games. Hard but fair.
Gaming Culture Today
Modern gaming is also influenced by the esports scene. Many Gen Z players watch streams on Twitch and YouTube, making it easy to find the title they like simply by watching its gameplay. Esports also influence how Gen Z sees gaming as a whole. Sometimes, what they considered a fun pastime can turn into a lifelong career. It’s not rare to find a player who once played League of Legends for fun, who is now a professional on a top League of Legends team, and is earning millions.
Competitive games build social connections by allowing users to join teams, follow the big leagues, and chat with others. Players get hooked for ages, simply because they feel like they have found the place where they belong. You can find Discord servers for WoW that have been run for a decade now and are still having hundreds of chatters.
Mini Summary: How we game today is mostly shaped by online features, with around half of the playerbase regularly engaging with multiplayer modes. Additionally, a large number of users prefer to find games through streams or community platforms, by reading other people’s experiences and reviews.