In this article, we will be looking at the top 55 video games of all time: 2024 ranking. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the Top 10 Video Games Of All Time: 2024 Ranking.
An Overview of the Video Game Industry
The global video game industry is growing rapidly. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global video game market was valued at $242.39 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% from 2023 to 2030 and reach a valuation of $583.69 billion by 2030. A variety of factors including increasing population and improved access to smartphones and steady internet would contribute to the growth of the industry during the forecasted period. In 2023, there were almost 3.22 billion gamers globally. The number is expected to swell to 3.32 billion by 2024.
One of the most notable trends in the video game market is the rising popularity of esports. Esports enable skilled video gamers to compete against each other. Esports tournaments attract large online and offline audiences. It is a popular form of entertainment with millions of fans worldwide. Esports has expanded its scope beyond traditional sports-related games including NBA2K and FIFA to have top video games including Counter-Strike, League of Legends, and Dota. Esports genres mainly include multiplayer online battle arenas, real-time strategy, and first-person shooter games. The rising hype around esports is expected to fuel the growth of the global video game industry during the forecasted period.
The Asia Pacific region held a revenue share of over 48% of the global video game market in 2022. The popularity of video games in countries including China and Japan significantly contributed to the revenue share of the region in the global market. The region is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of around 14.0% from 2023 to 2030. Furthermore, in 2022, North America contributed 24% to the total revenue of the global video game market. It has been estimated that 65% of Americans play video games with 212.6 million players per week.
Notable Companies In The Video Game Industry
Some of the prominent names in the video game industry include Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), Roblox Corp (NYSE:RBLX), and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA). You can also check out the 12 Best Video Game Stocks to Buy Now.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) is a video game company based in New York City. The company develops games under various labels including Zynga Inc, Rockstar Games, and 2K. On January 24, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) announced the partnership of Zynga Inc. with luxury sports cars maker Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. The collaboration involves making CSR Racing (CSR), a popular mobile racing franchise under Zynga's NaturalMotion subsidiary, an official partner of Lamborghini's new LMDH prototype entry in global racing championships.
Roblox Corp (NYSE:RBLX) is an American video game developer based in San Mateo, California. It was founded in 2004 by David Baszucki and the late Erik Cassel. Roblox Corp (NYSE:RBLX) is the developer of Roblox, a popular online platform and game creation system that allows users to design games and play games created by other users. On February 5, the company announced the launch of AI-powered automatic chat translations, enabling users worldwide to communicate seamlessly regardless of language barriers. The new feature translates real-time text chat messages among users in the platform's 16 supported languages. The new feature will add to the experience of the 70 million daily users across 180 countries by making the platform more inclusive.
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) is a leading global developer and publisher of video games. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) is known for iconic franchises including FIFA, Madden NFL, and The Sims. On January 30, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) reported earnings for the fiscal third quarter of 2024. The company reported an EPS of $2.78. The company's revenue for the quarter grew by 1.02% and amounted to $2.37 billion. As of February 15, the company has surged nearly 19.37% over the past six months. Here are some comments from the company's earnings call:
"It was a strong Q3, as we continue to entertain hundreds of millions of players and fans around the world. Our exceptional teams created high-quality games and experiences across our broad portfolio that, drove deep engagement and record live services. This quarter, two of the world’s most celebrated interactive entertainment experiences EA SPORTS FC and EA SPORTS Madden NFL delivered phenomenal strength, as sizable drivers of long-term growth. We are launching amazing games and experiences that entertain massive online communities, create blockbuster interactive storytelling, and harness the power of community in and around our games. EA’s Q3 results are a great example of our execution across our strategy."
The video game industry is highly competitive with companies developing and publishing new games all the time. There are a hundred and thousands of video games to choose your favorite from. We have made a list of the top 55 video games of all time, as of 2024. You can also read the 25 Most Addictive Video Games in the World.
Top 55 Video Games Of All Time: 2024 Rankings
Top 55 Video Games Of All Time: 2024 Rankings
Our Methodology
To make our list of the top 55 video games of all time, we used a consensus methodology. We initially consulted 4 list compilations on IMDb and used filters to sort games with at least an IMDb rating of 8 out of 10 and at least 10,000 votes. For the video games appearing across lists, we aggregated the number of votes and took the average of ratings. The list has been arranged in the ascending order of ratings, primarily, and tie-breaking has been done based on the number of votes.
By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.
Top 55 Video Games Of All Time: 2024 Rankings
55. Halo 3
IMDb Rating: 8.8
Number of Votes:25,528
Halo 3 is a first-person shooter video game. The game was developed by Bungie for the Xbox 360 console.
54. Heavy Rain (2010)
IMDb Rating: 8.8
Number of Votes:29,420
Heavy Rain is an interactive drama and action-adventure video game. The top-rated video game was developed by Quantic Dream and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
53. Far Cry 3
IMDb Rating: 8.8
Number of Votes: 42,712
Far Cry 3 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal. It is one of the top video games of all time.
52. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
IMDb Rating: 8.8
Number of Votes: 51,678
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a first-person shooter video game. The game was developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision.
51. The Last of Us: Left Behind
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Number of Votes: 24,366
The Last of Us: Left Behind is a standalone expansion pack for the 2013 game "The Last of Us". The game was developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
50. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Number of Votes: 25,970
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a single-player role-playing video game. The game was developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.
49. Life Is Strange (2015)
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Number of Votes: 27,150
Life Is Strange is an episodic adventure game created by Dontnod Entertainment. It is one of the best video games of all time and was published by Square Enix.
48. Fallout: New Vegas
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Number of Votes: 27,338
Fallout: New Vegas is a popular action role-playing video game set in a post-apocalyptic world. The video game was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks.
47. Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Number of Votes: 36,578
Horizon Zero Dawn is an open-world action role-playing video game developed by Guerrilla Games. The video game was published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
46. Grand Theft Auto IV
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Number of Votes: 75,338
Grand Theft Auto IV is an action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. The video game was released in 2008.
45. The Last of Us: Part II
IMDb Rating: 8.9
Number of Votes: 82,722
The Last of Us: Part II is a continuation of the story introduced in the 2013 game "The Last of Us". It is one of the best video games of all time.
44. Batman: Arkham Knight
IMDb Rating: 9
Number of Votes: 23,524
Batman: Arkham Knight is an action-adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios.
43. Assassin's Creed II
IMDb Rating: 9
Number of Votes: 25,573
Assassin's Creed II is an action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft. The game was released in 2009.
42. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
IMDb Rating: 9
Number of Votes: 48,736
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision.
41. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
IMDb Rating: 9
Number of Votes: 49,020
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is one of the best video games of all time. The action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog.
40. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 11,512
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is a third-person shooter video game. The video game was developed by Remedy Entertainment.
39. God of War III
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 12,698
God of War II is an action-adventure video game released in 2007. It is one of the best video games of all time.
38. Fallout 3
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 20,121
Fallout 3 is an action role-playing game. The video game was developed by Bethesda Game Studios and released on October 28, 2008.
37. Portal (2007)
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 28,482
Portal is a puzzle-platform video game. The video game was developed by Valve and released in 2007.
36. Mass Effect 3
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 33,508
Mass Effect 3 is an action role-playing video game developed by BioWare. The popular video game was published by Electronic Arts.
35. Mass Effect (2007)
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 39,304
Mass Effect is an action role-playing video game developed by Bioware. The video game was released in 2007.
34. BioShock (2007)
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 43,544
BioShock was released in 2007. The top-rated game is a first-person shooter video game.
33. BioShock Infinite
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 43,882
BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter video game developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K Games.
32. Batman: Arkham Asylum
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 62,224
Batman: Arkham Asylum is a 2009 action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios. The video game was published by Eidos Interactive in conjunction with Warner Bros.
31. Attack on Titan
IMDb Rating: 9.1
Number of Votes: 498,748
Attack on Titan is one of the best video games of all time. The video game was developed by Omega Force and published by Koei Tecmo.
30. God of War II
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 21,298
God of War II is an action-adventure video game and the sequel to God of War. The game was released in 2007. The game follows the journey of Kratos through different levels.
29. Half-Life (1998)
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 22,297
Half-Life is a first-person shooter video game. The video game was developed by Valve Corporation.
28. Ghost of Tsushima (2020)
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 28,933
Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game. It is one of the top video games of all time. The game was developed by Sucker Punch Productions.
27. The Walking Dead: A Telltale Game Series
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 29,757
The Walking Dead: A Telltale Game Series is an episodic graphic adventure game. The game was developed by Telltale Games.
26. Resident Evil 4
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 30,199
Resident Evil 4 is a survival horror game developed by Capcom Production Studio 4. It is one of the top-rated video games of all time.
25. Max Payne (2001)
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 32,270
Max Payne is a third-person shooter video game series. The video game was developed by Remedy Entertainment.
24. Detroit: Become Human
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 44,640
Detroit: Become Human is one of the top video games of all time. Detroit: Become Human is an adventure game developed by Quantic Dream.
23. Spider-Man (2018)
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 57,561
Spider-Man is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Insomniac Games. The video game follows the story of the renowned superhero Spiderman.
22. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
IMDb Rating: 9.2
Number of Votes: 58,423
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is one of the top video games of all time. The popular video game is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North.
21. God of War: Ragnarök
IMDb Rating: 9.3
Number of Votes: 28,531
God of War: Ragnarök is an action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio. It is the sequel to the 2018 game God of War.
20. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
IMDb Rating: 9.3
Number of Votes: 55,933
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is an action-adventure game. The video game was developed by Naughty Dog and released in 2009.
19. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
IMDb Rating: 9.3
Number of Votes: 66,546
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios. It is one of the top video games of all time.
18. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
IMDb Rating: 9.4
Number of Votes: 22,183
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a stealth action video game developed by Kojima Productions. The video game has been re-released in various forms.
17. Half-Life 2
IMDb Rating: 9.4
Number of Votes: 34,790
Half-Life 2 is a first-person shooter video game. The video game was developed and published by Valve Corporation.
16. Portal 2
IMDb Rating: 9.4
Number of Votes: 34,969
Portal 2 is a first-person perspective puzzle platform game developed by Valve. It is one of the top video games of all time.
15. Red Dead Redemption (2010)
IMDb Rating: 9.4
Number of Votes: 60,154
Red Dead Redemption is an action-adventure game. The video game is set in a fictionalized version of the US.
14. Batman: Arkham City
IMDb Rating: 9.4
Number of Votes: 68,967
Batman: Arkham City is one of the top video games of all time. The video game is an action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios.
13. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
IMDb Rating: 9.4
Number of Votes: 70,855
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is an action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog.
12. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
IMDb Rating: 9.4
Number of Votes: 88,138
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North.
11. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
IMDb Rating: 9.5
Number of Votes: 22,449
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is an action-adventure stealth video game. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan.
