The Top 50 Console Games Of All Time

[Andy Chalk]

The Top 50 Console Games Of All Time

The good folks at Guinness World Records [http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/] have compiled the Top 50 Console Games of All Time, a universally definitive list that will surely not be subject to any kind of debate or second-guessing whatsoever.

Contributors to the Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition [http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com] reviewed hundreds of videogames across various console formats to assemble the list based on both "their initial impact and lasting legacy." "We knew this would be a complex task so we invited a crack team of industry experts to form a judging panel," said Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief at Guinness World Records. "The result is a 'Top 50' list of games ranked both on their importance and on how fun they are to play."

Number three on the list is Grand Theft Auto (presumably Tetris [http://www.rockstargames.com/iv], "the world's most ported videogame" which is now available on at least 59 different platforms and earns high marks for its "simplicity and devilish addictiveness."

At the top of the mountain is Super Mario Kart [http://www.mariokart.com], a record-setting Nintendo title featuring the world's most famous videogame character. "As the best-selling racing game on the N64 (more than 9 million units sold), Super Mario Kart is also the best-selling racer on the SNES (8 million units), the Gamecube (nearly 7 million units) and the DS (10 million units)," the Guinness folks said.

The balance of the list is as follows:

4. Super Mario World
5. Zelda Ocarina of Time
6. Halo
7. Resident Evil IV
8. Final Fantasy XII
9. Street Fighter II
10. GoldenEye
11. Super Mario 64
12. Tomb Raider
13. Metal Gear Solid
14. Call of Duty 4
15. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
16. GTA San Andreas
17. Super Mario Bros
18. Zelda: A Link to the Past
19. Gran Turismo
20. Final Fantasy VII
21. Pro Evolution Soccer 4
22. The Orange Box
23. Lego Star Wars Complete Saga
24. Tekken 2
25. Wii Sports
26. Pokemon Red/Blue
27. Guitar Hero
28. Project Gotham Racing 4
29. Super Mario Galaxy
30. Resident Evil
31. Ico
32. Chrono Trigger
33. Gunstar Heroes
34. Soul Calibur
35. Advance Wars
36. Ridge Racer
37. Super Metroid
38. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
39. GTA Vice City
40. BioShock
41. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
42. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
43. God of War
44. Sega Rally Championship
45. Starfox 64
46. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
47. WarioWare Inc
48. Saturn Bomberman
49. Crash Bandicoot
50. Outrun 2


The Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition was released on February 4 and quickly shot to the top of the non-fiction book charts in the U.K. The book covers a diverse range of topics including "World's Largest Virtual Army," "Most Controls on a Videogame," "Longest Rock Band Drum Marathon" and more.

And now that this list has been immutably etched into the granite of historical and cultural fact, let the arguments begin!


Permalink

 

[Soigieoto]

Is it going off of sales?

I think putting Wii sports on the list seems weird.

Unless its going by sales, but then where is Wii play??

 

[Abedeus]

Sorry, you have been beaten already.

The list was released yesterday on the Escapist.

 

[Vlane]

I see Ico on the list but no Shadow of the Colossus. Sad but also great.

I never knew that Super Mario Kart is so good.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Actually it's not that bad a list. If you ignore the rankings most of the games on there are certified classics

 

[midpipps]

Actually it's not that bad a list. If you ignore the rankings most of the games on there are certified classics

I think you nailed it if it wasn't ranked then it is not bad. With rankings though I think it has some problems like final fantasy xII in position 8 and final fantasy VII in 20 granted they are both great but I think the order is a little backwards.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

As much as I like Final Fantasy XII, on what basis do they put it above both FFVII, Metal Gear Solid, Street Fighter II, Knights of the Old Republic etc.,

I mean, I'm glad it's on the list but... why so high?

 

[Cubilone]

What a crap list...

Is there ever going to be such a thing as a good list?

 

[Nightfalke]

What a crap list...

Is there ever going to be such a thing as a good list?

We need to make a list of crappy lists.

 

[calelogan]

As Scott McCloud once said:

"I seek to stimulate debate, not settle it"

 

[Chimaera]

The book itself is interesting, if prone to be outdated quickly in many categories. I still make room on my shelf for it despite that.

Is it going off of sales?

I think putting Wii sports on the list seems weird.

Unless its going by sales, but then where is Wii play??

Wii Fit is mentioned in a few places, but in amusing small type on pg 163 tends to reveal what the editors think of this game:

Basically gym for those who don't feel comfortable in a real gym, Wii Fit is also as boring as the real thing. Enormous sales would suggest otherwise, but for me the lack of fun is a real turn-off and really doesn't get the heart pumping like other games.

- Editor in Chief Craig Glenday, Healthy Gaming feature, pg 163, GWR: Gamer's Edition 2009

I'm thinking he had some influence on the list.

 

[Cousin_IT]

Agree with ignoring the rankings making the list look pretty decent. Other than maybe replacing one of the GTA's with GTA III I cant fault it as a list of games for the last 15years or so at least

 

[lukey94]

WHY IS LEGO BATMAN NOT THERE!!!!!!!!! AND PMD (pokemon Mystery Dungeon)

I loved both of them so much

on a serious note I would love to see the worlds largest virtual army, I could probably kill it with the air fleet I had on C&C3 once: The ships that launch out little fighters about 40 of them,25 hordes of buzzers and then just a huge mass of mammoth tanks (I captured some buildings) all with rail gun upgrades and I put them all in the corner and waited for my computer opponent to build a large defence and just rolled in. But thats probably nothing compared to the record

 

[The_Killing_Name]

This. Is. Insane.
Final Fantasy XII is shit. It just is shit. There is nothing not shit about it. It's. Shit. For it to be put above Final Fantasy VII is actually insulting.

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Is it going off of sales?

I think putting Wii sports on the list seems weird.

Unless its going by sales, but then where is Wii play??

It's definitely not based on sales. Ico is there.

Anyway, I think Wii Sport deserves a certain amount of respect. Yes, it is a crap game for us gamers, but it's also about the only game ever that will get your Gran to play.

On topic, like a lot of people have said, it's certainly not bad list, but the order should be pretty much ignored. I personally wish Sands of Time was there, but I seem to be alone in that regard.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

What a crap list...

Is there ever going to be such a thing as a good list?

We need to make a list of crappy lists.

I'm sure it would be crap

 

[KarmicToast]

I like how Grand Theft Auto and Mario Kart get put in the list as universal stand-alones, but then other series such as other Mario platformers, Zelda, Final Fantasy and Resident Evil each get like 10 entries into this garbled collection.

 

[Volucer]

This. Is. Insane.
Final Fantasy XII is shit. It just is shit. There is nothing not shit about it. It's. Shit. For it to be put above Final Fantasy VII is actually insulting.

And when I saw that so high on the list I stopped reading.

 

[The_Killing_Name]

This. Is. Insane.
Final Fantasy XII is shit. It just is shit. There is nothing not shit about it. It's. Shit. For it to be put above Final Fantasy VII is actually insulting.

And when I saw that so high on the list I stopped reading.

That is because you, my friend, are a true gamer =]

 

[Lord_Of_Plum]

Ok, I have an OoT fanboy in me, but please.
Super Mario Bros. is infinitely better. I'm sorry.