What games are just objective master pieces?
Submitted 3 weeks ago by weirdbeardgame@lemmy.world to games@lemmy.world
Comments
setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
tal@lemmy.today 3 weeks ago
Just out of curiosity, listing the games mentioned here as of this writing and their date of release:
Release Date Game 1980 Pac-Man 1985 The Oregon Trail (assuming widely-played 1985 game) 1986 Kid Icarus 1988 Mega Man 2 1988 Super Mario Brothers 3 1988 Tetris 1988 The Guardian Legend 1989 Abadox: The Deadly Inner War 1989 Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II 1989 Monster Party 1989 Populous 1989 Sweet Home 1990 Dr. Mario 1990 Final Fantasy III 1991 Battletoads (assuming original game) 1991 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 1992 Ecco the Dolphin 1992 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1992 Super Mario Kart 1993 Dinopark Tycoon 1993 Doom 1993 Gauntlet IV 1993 Lufia & the Fortress of Doom (assuming first game) 1993 Mega Man X 1994 Donkey Kong Country 1994 Earthworm Jim 1994 Sonic & Knuckles 1994 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 1994 Super Metroid 1994 The Lion King 1995 Chrono Trigger 1997 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997 Diablo 1997 Final Fantasy VII 1997 Final Fantasy VII 1997 Mega Man X4 1997 Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee 1997 Snowboard Kids 1998 Banjo-Kazooie 1998 Metal Gear Solid 1998 Sonic Adventure 1998 South Park 1998 StarCraft: Brood War 1999 Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 1999 Heroes of Might and Magic III 1999 Planescape:Torment 1999 Quake III Arena 1999 RollerCoaster Tycoon 1999 Silent Hill 1999 Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike 1999 Sven Co-op 1999 Unreal Tournament 1999 Worms Armageddon 2000 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 2000 Diablo II 2000 Resident Evil CODE: Veronica 2000 SimCity 3000 Unlimited 2000 Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 2001 Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies 2001 Final Fantasy X 2001 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty 2001 Shenmue II 2002 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind 2003 Beyond Good & Evil 2003 Need for Speed: Underground 2003 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2004 Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War 2004 Champions of Norrath 2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 2004 Gran Turismo 4 2004 Half Life 2 2004 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 2004 The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap 2005 Champions: Return to Arms 2005 Psychonauts 2005 Shadow of the Colossus 2006 Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War 2006 Ōkami 2007 BioShock 2007 *Dark Souls 2007 Mass Effect 2007 Portal 2008 Clonk Rage 2008 Left 4 Dead 2008 Mirror’s Edge 2008 Super Smash Bros. Brawl 2009 Dragon Age: Origins 2009 Forza Motorsport 3 2009 Killing Floor 2009 Left 4 Dead 2 2009 Plants vs. Zombies 2009 Steins;Gate 2010 Battlefield: Bad Company 2 2010 Limbo 2010 Nier 2010 Planet Minigolf 2011 Bastion 2011 Portal 2 2011 Terraria 2011 The Binding of Isaac 2012 Hotline Miami 2012 The House in Fata Morgana 2012 Tokyo Jungle 2014 Forza Horizon 2 2014 LISA: The Painful 2015 Bloodborne 2015 Ori and the Blind Forest 2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 2015 Undertale 2016 Doom (2016) 2016 Kirby: Planet Robobot 2016 Stardew VAlley 2016 The Witness 2016 Titanfall 2 2016 Tyranny 2017 Little Nightmares 2017 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (for Deluxe version) 2017 Nier: Automata 2017 Night in the Woods 2017 Super Mario Odyssey 2017 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2018 Celeste 2018 Donut County 2018 Return of the Obra Dinn 2018 Rimworld 2018 Subnautica 2019 A Short Hike 2019 Disco Elysium 2019 Outer Wilds 2019 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice 2019 Slay the Spire 2020 Cyberpunk 2077 2020 Factorio 2020 Hades 2021 Everhood: An Ineffable Tale of the Inexpressible Divine Moments of Truth 2021 Psychonauts 2 2022 Elden Ring 2022 Lil Gator Game 2023 Baldur’s Gate 3 2023 Dave the Diver 2024 Balatro Skunk@jlai.lu 3 weeks ago
2025: Clair Obscur Expedition 33.
Even if the year is not finished, this game is such a perfect work of art on so many levels that it became the new favorite to me, and to plenty other players.
QueenMidna@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Going to have to disagree, especially when it comes to storytelling
TheFriar@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Has seriously no one mentioned The Last of Us? That’s crazy.
I think the second should be included.
As well as red dead redemption 2.
The storytelling is just top tier. Better than literally almost all media made today.
AsslessChaps@lemmynsfw.com 3 weeks ago
Rdr2 was the only game that I was actually emotionally tied to the characters. It was truly a masterpiece.
XM34@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Last of Us 1 was really good. But the second one was so bad, it kind of ruined the first one for me as well. And I wouldn’t call it masterpiece. Because for me a masterpiece shines in gameplay, narrative and atmosphere. The Last of Us’ gameplay serves its purpose, but there’s really nothing special here compared to e.g. Elden Ring, were story, atmosphere and gameplay are all pretty much perfect.
noxypaws@pawb.social 3 weeks ago
Tokyo Jungle, YES!
A game so sadly lost to time. My partner’s PS3 still has it installed, but no idea if the hard drive is still functional…
biofaust@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Missing Half-life (the first one). That game was the first one to feature scripted scenes during player interaction and it was mind-blowing. Plus, it had the most sophisticated story ever seen in an FPS before.
mohab@piefed.social 2 weeks ago
The only game I kinda like on this list is Okami.
TechAnon@lemm.ee 2 weeks ago
1996: Duke Nukem 3D
salmoura@lemmy.eco.br 3 weeks ago
Factorio.
frank@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
I think Outer Wilds is the most unique and fantastic way to tell a story I’ve ever experienced. Truly open in a way I’ve not seen before or since.
With the banger of a soundtrack too, I just can’t bring myself to rate other games higher than it; even if I enjoy them more, Outer Wilds is probably the best game I’ve ever played.
Slay the Spire probably makes the list as it’s inspired countless tweaks on its incredibly balanced deck building experience
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Holy shit somehow no one has mentioned:
Nier Automata.
It counts as a masterpiece because of how well it blends game design and story. I have played very few games as thoughtful, or that weaved the gameplay together into the story it was telling in such a meaningful way. I never thought once in my life that I would think philosophically about bullet hell but somehow Nier Automata has something profound to say and even manages to say it using bullet hell as a gameplay mechanic.
On top of all this, it also has a lot to say about classical philosophers, their works, and honestly deeply subverts things they had to say.
Further, Yoko Taro is doing something that a lot of game developers fail to manage to do: He is embracing gaming as a storytelling medium and eschewing the traditional three-act arc from film. Because gaming is not film. As Marshall McLuhan posited, “the medium is the message” and unlike other developers Taro’s writing is aimed at the medium he is working in instead of leaning on the ropes and tropes of other mediums. (Referring back to above, tying the gameplay into the story, focusing on the medium)
It’s basically impossible to not break down into tears at the ending.
Don’t write it off because of the scantily clad anime women. Stay for the depth of the human condition. It is truly a masterwork in multiple respects.
MarauderIIC@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
I appreciate that you justified your submission, unlike many answers here.
Bbbbbbbbbbb@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
It’s basically impossible to not break down into tears at the ending.
The god damn ending is a gameplay mechanic to tell a not yet finished story. Damn you Yoko Taro
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
spoiler
The wild part is that he’s so good at subverting anime tropes, too. The “killing god” trope is mentioned in the first lines of the game… and then going on to battling the end credits themselves?? Literally killing the gods who created the world this all exists in? Taking it to the absurd yet logical extreme, so brilliant.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Nier Automata
I loved Nier Replicant, but didn’t get into Automata, maybe I’ll give it another shot. I do love that style of storytelling though.
Katana314@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Man, I wish I understood a single bit of this evaluation of the game after finishing every chapter (sorry - “Ending”). The whole thing felt mostly like a waste of time.
That said, I’m a fan of Spec Ops: The Line, a game that has much the same level of division among its players. Interesting how philosophical games get that reaction.
msage@programming.dev 3 weeks ago
I tried to play that game, expecting perhaps a DMC-like gameplay.
Instead I got a 2D plane scroller?
Then 2D sort of platformer?
Then some weird 3D action that I did not understand at all?
What the fuck is that game.
If I enjoyed combat more, I could give it another go. But it was just not for me.
mintiefresh@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
One of my favorite games of all time.
TomSelleck@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
I didn’t know Chris Plante is on Lemmy.
shrodes@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Quick, go through their post history and see if they’ve mentioned any Neil Breen films
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
For a moment I thought you were talking about the Newsmax host and I was very offended and confused, but it looks like there is another, lesser known Chris Plante in gaming journalism.
Jordan117@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Katamari Damacy. It has a reputation for being silly Japanese nonsense, but the gameplay is brilliant, the graphics are timeless, the soundtrack is incredible, and it has some surprising thematic depth.
weirdbeardgame@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Na naaaaa na na na na na, na na, na naaaa Katamari Damacyyyyyyy
UnfairUtan@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Outer wilds
iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
None. There’s no such thing as an objective master piece. Games are art which is, by definition, subjective.
sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
“Masterpiece” comes from the art world, and there are absolutely works everyone seems to agree qualify, such as:
- The Mona Lisa
- David statue
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
It’s usually the best work by an artist, or at least the one that got them their recognition, and it stands out among other works in the field.
ampersandrew@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
If it’s the one that got them their recognition, it’s little more than arbitrary; luck, place and time; things that don’t have to do with how good the work is. Some “masterpieces” weren’t considered such until they were exposed to people over and over again, like The Mona Lisa at the Louvre or It’s a Wonderful Life on TBS. I’d have a hard time calling a number of games masterpieces that I didn’t care for, because this isn’t objective.
LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
[deleted]seathru@lemmy.sdf.org 3 weeks ago
I think the word you are looking for is pedant.
Better vocabulary will help get your point across better. Without also sounding like an edgy atheist teen.
Krudler@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
It’s low-grade trolling, chill bro. They’re not serious.
Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 weeks ago
A masterpiece could just refer to a piece of art from a master. It could refer to the quality of an engineering project, or the skill involved in the work’s creation. Are these not objective qualities?
I don’t really think the Mona Lisa is a great image, personally (it’s a boring portrait), but it was masterfully done.
Katana314@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
This gets trickier with games, because an experienced game designer can, for instance, look at the UI design and graphics programming of a Ubisoft open world slopfest, and say those parts were masterfully done (even if the overall game isn’t so fun). And, even the best of video games have bits of them that weren’t as good.
ms_lane@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Games are not Art, they are Games.
Videogames can also be art, but they are also games and ‘games’ (note: not ‘videogames’) are not art.
Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 weeks ago
We’ll see how much is recency bias and how well it will stand the test of time, but I really think Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be on this list going forward. It’s definitely one of the best games I’ve ever played, and I’ve played a lot of games. It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough in all the parts that actually matter.
Otherwise there’s your usual suspects:
Disco Elysium Portal Half-Life 2 Bioshock 1 Final Fantasy VI Chrono Trigger Zelda: Ocarina of Time The Last of Us Baldur’s Gate 2
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Props for DE being at the top of your list.
puia@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
I still have to play it, but Clair Obscus seems like this year Baldur’s Gate 3, which is rare. A game that came out of no where and is ready to win goty
Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 weeks ago
I know this is a hot take, but: BG3 is a good game. Clair Obscur is a work of art.
Metostopholes@midwest.social 3 weeks ago
Shadow of the Colossus
ytsedude@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
We actually got two masterpieces out of this one title. The remake was an absolute perfect remake.
ZeroHora@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
- Chrono Trigger
- Disco Elysium
- Sekiro
- Zelda Ocarina of Time
- Bioshock
- Portal
- Half Life
- Nier Automata
- Tetris
Flawed Masterpieces
- Minecraft (surprising)
- Dragon age Origins
- Team Fortress 2
- Fallout New Vegas
- Dark Souls
- Every Baldur’s Gate
Masterpiece in my heart: Terraria
Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 weeks ago
Good list. I desperately wanted to put Dark Souls on my list, as the first blind playthrough of it was a magical experience. But I don’t think it’s correct, no matter how much I love it. Flawed masterpiece is about right.
darthelmet@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Yeah the souls games are something I like in spite of all of the things wrong with them. There is just so much jank and bizarre design decisions.
I kinda hate that all of the games that have tried to copy them have done so to a point of not critically evaluating everything in them. And then they have all the same flaws, but none of the unique charm that makes me look past them for FROM’s games.
jacksilver@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I’m always curious why people add things like Ocarina of Time to lists like these. While the game was revolutionary at the time, I don’t think it holds up particularly well nor succeeds where later zeldas fail.
To call it an objective masterpiece I feel like it has to be a game that someone picking up today would still enjoy and appreciate. Tetris and Portal for example hold up well even by today’s standards.
ZeroHora@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
The thing that not holds well in Ocarina of Time is the N64 controls and like what they supposed to do to overcome that?
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Assuming that “masterpiece” refers to how the games worked in their time (not how well they aged) some of my picks would be:
- Baldur’s Gate 2 + ToB
- Morrowind
- Read Dead Redemption 2
- The Witcher 3
- The Last of Us 1+2
- God of War
- The Legend of Zelda: BOTW
- Mass Effect 1+2
- Half Life 2
- BioShock 1
- Diablo 2
Dremor@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
You could probably add E33 to that, even if it is still too early to know how much impact it will have.
Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 weeks ago
Hard to argue with most of those. I’d put Ocarina of Time over BotW, but that’s splitting hairs. Diablo 2 needs LoD included in my opinion.
God of War is an embarrassing blind spot in my gaming history. Is it actually that good?
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
God of War has two big strengths that make it a great game in my opinion. The first is the story with its great characters, presentation, and voice acting. The second is the overall “feel” of the game, which can be a bit “game-y” at times but is really tight overall with only a handful of core mechanics that are exceptionally well implemented.
Paradachshund@lemmy.today 3 weeks ago
For me it’s Journey. That game gave me an emotional experience I’ve never had in any other.
Stovetop@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Absolute embodiment of less is more. Controls are simple but intuitive, you can beat it in one session, there’s no major payoff in the end. It’s just a game about the journey and the friends made along the way.
I still remember having my mind blown that the other figure I met after the tutorial level was not just an NPC, when I noticed their movements were too deliberate and they were solving some puzzles for me.
I made it all the way to the end of the game with that person. Never knew who they even were until their name showed up at the very end. What a cathartic experience. I’ve also never been able to achieve anything similar since then.
Suck_on_my_Presence@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
This game will forever live in my heart as an absolute masterpiece. I cry every time I play it because something about it just completely sucks me in.
Flickerby@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
I added the buddy I ran through the game with and he’s still on my friend list decade or so later, amazing experience
chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
There is no “objective” when talking about subjective terms.
My personal, SUBJECTIVE favorites are Mass Effect, Titanfall 2, Subnautica, Stardew Valley, Ori and the Blind Forest, Dave the Diver, Balatro, and Portal 1 and 2
TheHotze@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Since I haven’t seen it on here: FTL.
BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 3 weeks ago
Journey
There is not a single word in the game, barely any control but the game take you through an emotional story.
It’s multiplayer in a sense that you might meet another player, they can help you, you can help them or just continue on your path and despite not having any words it just fell like a genuine, pure connection with someone.
And the music is amazing.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Journey is indeed absolutely fantastic. It finally got a PC port a while ago after languishing on the PS3 for quite some years, and its hardware requirements are probably low enough in the modern era that practically anybody should be able to experience it.
My only gripe is that online randos seem not to understand the meditation achievement, and get antsy when you try to entice them to sit there with you until the achievement pops. And since you can’t type at them you can’t communicate to them what’s going on.
I got the trophy on PS3 back in the day but I haven’t successfully wrangled anybody into helping me get the Steam achievement for that yet…
Ashiette@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
There are a lot of answers, mine will be drowned but… there it is. In no particular order :
- Final Fantasy X
- Clair Obscur : Expedition 33
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2 (but you had to be there when it came out)
- Metal Gear Solid 3
- Shadow Hearts : Covenant
- Kya : Dark Lineage (the bugs were a feature)
- Horizon : Zero Dawn
- Megaman (any megaman will do)
- Crash Bandicoot Trilogy
- Spyro Trilogy
- Pokemon Yellow/Crystal/Emerald
- Pokemon Jade (yes that bootleg version)
- The Last of Us (pt. I & II)
- Astroneer
- GTA : Vice City
- Unreal Tournament 2004
- CS 1.6 played in the most dirty lan at your disposal
- Control
- Tetris
angstylittlecatboy@reddthat.com 3 weeks ago
I’m going to take this as “games that I never see anyone question their quality.” (I don’t even like all these games myself)
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Sonic 3 & Knuckles
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Kirby Planet Robobot
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Doom 2016
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Street Fighter III: Third Strike
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Pac-Man
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Balatro
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Steins;Gate
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The House in Fata Morgana
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Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
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Gran Turismo 4
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Mega Man X
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Mega Man X4
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Super Mario Bros. 3
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llamapocalypse@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Bastion, Hades, Disco Elysium, Planescape: Torment, and Tyranny (even if the last act is rushed in the last two) come to mind for me
ThraawnSolo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
Zelda: A Link to the Past
BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Disco Elysium Alpha Centauri Super Marios Bros 3 Bloodborne Ori 1 & 2 Fallout 1 & 2 Planescape: Torment
theblips@lemm.ee 2 weeks ago
Celeste. Emotional narrative that seamlessly blends with the gameplay, which implementa never before seen accessibility configuration, enhanced by one of the best soundtracks ever. All while being cheap, indie, and one of the best speedrun games ever made
essell@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
My Picks…
Deus Ex (So many games try to be this and fail) Cyberpunk (This one eventually measured up) Alpha Centauri (Innovation mixed with familiarity and setting) Fallout 2 (they’re all good. Fallout 2 is special) Kotor (Star Wars story telling in a beautiful way) Baldur’s Gate 2 and 3 (I’m stunned that 3 was a worthy successor) Homeworld (One of the World’s truly beautiful games)
Flickerby@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Clair Obscur has been the best game I’ve played in a long while, absolute masterpiece
Redacted@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
Slay the Spire
Sixtyforce@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Age of Empires 2 /w The Conquers expansion pack.
Roller Coaster Tycoon 1. (2 was weaker without OpenRCT2, the real masterpiece, but idk if unfinished projects should count or not)
Quake 3 Arena, Unreal Tournament 1999 GOTY, Worms Armageddon, SimCity 3000 Unlimited, Forza Horizon 2 / Motorsport 3, Need for Speed Underground 1, Clonk! Rage, Metal Gear Solid 1/2/3, Ace Combat 4, Okami, Tokyo Jungle, Zelda BOTW, Mario Odyssey, Sven Co-Op, Killing Floor 1, Final Fantasy 7, LISA: The Painful, Everhood 1, Deus Ex 1, Left 4 Dead 1/2, Portal 2, Battlefield Bad Company 2…
I could go on and on.
Semjaza@lemmynsfw.com 3 weeks ago
Doom
Tetris
Chrono Trigger
B0NK3RS@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Thomas Was Alone
I’ve never felt so much for quadrilateral shapes.
capuccino@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Portal 2.
SaltSong@startrek.website 3 weeks ago
Portal 1 was flawless. Portal 2 had a crucial flaw.
Specifically, it was not Portal 1. Everything else was perfect.
capuccino@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Are you saying that Portal 2 is not perfect due is a sequel?
bamboo@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago