BEST VIDEO GAME
TOP TEN VIDEO GAMES
DOMINIC CLAUSON, REPORTER
FEBRUARY 3, 2023
This will be a top ten of the best video games I have played. I will first rate them, give a summary, and then recap the ratings with more info. I can only rate games that I’ve either played or seen extensively. Also, I’m not doing more than one franchise of a game. For example, I would put “Final Fantasy XIII” on the list, but since I already have “Final Fantasy XV” It won’t be on the list. All of these games are marvelous, so if you are itching for a new game, check out these distraction makers first.
Final Fantasy XV
Graphics: 10/10
Gameplay/Fun: 10/10
Controls: 9.5/10
Story: 10/10
Combat: 10/10
Grind: Not much needed for main story
Quest: 8/10
Sound: 10/10
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Is it worth it?: Yes
Audience: Teens/Adults
Bugs: Very rare
In “Final Fantasy XV”, a prince goes on a journey with his best friends to marry The Oracle. However, things take drastic turns and plans start to change. During this time, the prince can become a bounty hunter and fight gigantic monsters, or find powerful weapons and special abilities. The prince goes through many hardships, but is able to persevere. Join him, and witness the story of a new king
“Final Fantasy XV” is one of the best games I have ever played. It is smooth, and has slick controls. It’s an open world JRPG game, and has a fantastic storyline. The side quests are fun too. That’s not even talking about the graphics, which are some of the best I've seen (on PC). If you're just playing for story sake, there’s not much of a grind. Even beginners can beat this game. The music is amazing and has variety. During my playthrough, I don’t remember a single glitch. The different types of enemies you encounter are diverse, so there are also many different battle strategies along with it. The characters are likable and grow along with the story. The DLC’s are incredible too. This game was made for teens to adults, and can be violent at times. However, it is totally worth playing if you're willing to put the time in. It is a decently long game, but you’ll never be bored.
Skyrim
Graphics: 8/10
Gameplay/Fun: 10/10
Controls: 8/10
Story: 7/10
Combat: 10/10
Grind: Average Grind
Quest: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Difficulty: Medium
Is it worth it?: Yes
Audience: Adults/Teens
Bugs: Very common
In the beginning of “Skyrim”, you wake up in a wagon with some criminals. You quickly realize that you and the others are going to be executed for your crimes against the kingdom, until a dragon attacks. Once this happens, you escape and go on a spectacular journey of your own. Later, you figure out you are the Dragonborn. There are different equipment and weapons, and many different paths to take your story. You can save the world, or if you so desire, destroy it.
“Skyrim” is an open-world game with tons of content. The base story is great, but the main highlights are side quests. I enjoyed the other quests even more than I did the main storyline, and the DLC’s are superb. “Skyrim” gameplay is incredible due to the different paths you can take. Its three base options are mage, thief, and warrior. The controls are fun, and don’t have many issues. The sound in this game is phenomenal, and keeps you entertained throughout your playthrough. While this game can be difficult, it isn’t hard. “Skyrim” is definitely worth the buy, and that’s just the base game. With the DLC’s and mods you can add, it might be one of the best games you’ll ever play. Bugs are incredibly common in this game; to the point where it’s actually just as good with the bugs than without. However there are some mods that will minimize the glitches if you don’t like them.
Beyond Two Souls
Graphics: 6/10
Gameplay/Fun: 9/10
Controls: 5/10
Story:10/10
Combat: 7/10
Grind: None
Quest: None
Sound: 10/10
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Is it worth it: Absolutely
Audience: Adults
Bugs: Very rare
Since birth, Jodie Holmes has been intertwined with a spirit. Through him, she can see what is happening where the ghost is looking. They are inseparable, and Jodie has been ridiculed because of this fact. Living her life has been tough and perilous, and she often thought of the anomaly as a curse. Although, during her travels, she starts to change her tune.
“Beyond Two Souls” is a wonderful game. The graphics may not be the best, but it’s still better than most games I've played. The combat is based on reaction time and how quick you can make decisions. The greatest thing about this game is the story. It is some of the finest writing I’ve seen in a game, and was enjoyable. There is no grinding necessary, and there aren't many sub quests. The music in this game is amazing, and really nice to listen to. The game might be difficult for a beginner, but overall not hard. It is absolutely worth it, however it is rated for adults. It is inappropriate at times. Glitches in this game are rare.
Mass Effect
Graphics: 8.5/10
Gameplay/Fun: 10/10
Controls: 7/10
Story: 9/10
Combat: 6/10
Grind: Above Average
Quest: 8/10
Sound: 6/10
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Is it Worth It?: Most certainly
Audience: Young adult
Bugs: Rare
In an advanced civilization, a human assistant commander is on a mission to complete his specter training. Suddenly this mission on another planet however goes array when a specter becomes rogue. Now the assistant commander's new mission is to track down this banished specter around the galaxy, and stop him from destroying the lives of the galaxy. Throughout the journey, they help those they encounter along the way. If they are feeling evil though, they can hinder them as well. All seems to be going well, but there are many complications in the equation that the commander couldn’t even dream of.
“Mass Effect” is another of your-choice-matters-game. Something cool about it is that the sequels reflect on the decisions you make in the prequels. In “Mass Effect”, the music isn’t great, but won’t keep you from enjoying the game. There are many different worlds you can travel to and explore. The hardest thing about this game is the combat due to the weird controls. Movement can be a pain too until you're used to it. There is a learning curve. The story is complicated and amazing. The side quests are fun too, and the game itself is very in-depth. This is most certainly worth the buy, and is made for adults. Bugs are rare in this game.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Graphics: 9/10
Gameplay/Fun: 8/10
Controls: 8/10
Story: 8/10
Combat: 8/10
Grind: Not really necessary, levels to player
Quest: 6/10
Sound: 8/10
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Is it Worth It?: Yeah
Audience: Young Adults
Bugs: Rare
Back in Greek times, a misthios goes on a journey. While traveling, a gigantic force stands in their way. Throughout their journeys, they fight many adversaries, and struggle to win. In some cases, they even have to fight ancient mythical monsters to complete their goal. The misthios finds out a lot through this journey, and makes decisions based on what they learned. Sometimes, these decisions can cause more chaos than good.
“Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” is an open-world game. It’s not much of an assassin game, and more of a sword-clashing game. So if you like the Assassin’s Creed franchise, expect something different. The graphics are exquisite and are full of detail. The couple of downsides of this game is that it’s long and repetitive. You don’t need to grind because the enemies level to you, unless you enter a higher level area. The quests have great stories, but can be draining. Some of the quests make you travel across the map to get an item, and then launder all the way back. It can get annoying at times, but still very fun. There aren't many bugs, but the game can get difficult the more you play. The music is expressive, and the game was made for young adults. It’s worth the buy, just be prepared for a big game.
A Hat in Time
Graphics: 7/10
Gameplay/Fun: 10/10
Controls: 10/10
Story: 7/10
Combat: 9/10
Grind: None
Quest: Quest/Main story
Sound: 8/10
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Is It Worth It?: Most definitely
Audience: Teens/Kids
Bugs: Rare
A spaceship owned by an alien girl suffers from an error and loses all its fuel. lt drifts to a solar system nearby. So, she decides to go find it. However, since the fuel has a special property, a “friend” finds a different use for it.
“A Hat In Time” follows a little alien girl with a cool hat. It’s a very fun platforming game, with some fun puzzles every once in a while. The graphics are sleek, and the controls are superb. There’s no grinding, and there are some side quests. It’s one of the more fun games I've played, and has little secrets along the way. The game difficulty varies on the player, and whether they are good at the platforming genre. The music is fun to listen to, and has many remixes. There are nearly no bugs and it is made for teenagers and kids. It’s most definitely worth a play if you ever have some free time. It’s a short game; not considering the DLC’s.
Paper Mario Origami King
Graphics: 7/10
Gameplay/Fun: 9/10
Controls: 8/10
Story: 9/10
Combat: 9/10
Grind: Basically none
Quest: Not many
Sound: 9/10
Difficulty: Easy
Is It Worth It?: If you are ok with corny stuff sometimes, then yes.
Audience: Kids/Teens
Bugs: Rare
During a festival, Paper Mario decides to go visit Princess Peach. However, when he gets there, the princess suddenly has a new look, of origami. After that, the whole kingdom is captured by the villain who changed the princess. This villain has a big goal of turning the whole world into folded paper. Paper Mario goes on a journey with his friends to stop this evil doer.
“Paper Mario Origami King” is a fun and corny game. The graphics, for being paper, are pretty. The story is a lot of fun to follow, and the gameplay is pleasant. The combat is turn based, and fun once you get used to it. There are puzzles along your journey that are amusing to solve. There is no need to grind, and not many side quests. The music that follows you is enjoyable and bugs are rare. The game is made for kids and teenagers. It is definitely worth the buy if you have some extra money laying around.
Remnant from the Ashes
Graphics: 8/10
Gameplay/Fun: 9/10
Controls: 9/10
Story: 7/10
Combat: 9/10
Grind: Average
Quest: Basically None
Sound: 6/10
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Is It Worth It?: Of course it is.
Audience: Teens
Bugs: Rare
“Remnant From the Ashes” is a third-person shooter in an apocalyptic world that was overrun by monsters. As you are one of the few humans left, you go on a journey to stop all these monsters and their rampage while trying to save your island. You find friends along the way and fight plenty of tough bosses. With skills and weapons obtained along the way, you may have a chance to change things.
“Remnant From the Ashes” is basically dark souls with guns, but not nearly as hard. The gameplay is fun due to intriguing bosses and diverse loot. The graphics are satisfying, and the story is decent. The grind is average compared to most games, and there aren't many side quests. The music is ok, and the game is difficult. It’s made for teenagers and rarely has bugs. This game is totally worth it if you're looking for a new combat based game.
Pokemon Legends Arceus
Graphics: 6/10
Gameplay/Fun: 9/10
Controls: 8/10
Story: 6/10
Combat: 6/10
Grind: A bit
Quest: 9/10
Sound: 7/10
Difficulty: Medium/Easy
Is It Worth It?: Yup
Audience: Teens/Kids
Bugs: Rare
In the past, where Pokemon were still a new concept to many, a time traveler appeared. This time traveler has to dive into this new world, and use newly developed pokeballs to catch Pokemon. Through trial and error, he becomes a research assistant for a new friend, and traverses the pokemon region researching new species to find everything they can about these life forms.
“Pokemon Legends Arceus” is a different take from a regular Pokemon game. The graphics are OK, but the gameplay is fantastic. The controls are smooth with interesting combat. There are many quests that are fun to do, and not much of a chore. The game is not difficult, and is for teenagers and kids. The story is alright, with glitches every once and a while. It is worth the buy if you want a new change of pace on Pokemon.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Graphics: 7.5/10
Gameplay/Fun: 8/10
Controls: 9/10
Story: 6/10
Combat: 8/10
Grind: Average
Quest: 7/10
Sound: 6/10
Difficulty: Medium
Is It Worth It?: Defenialty
Audience: Teens
Bugs: Rare
Waking up from a 100 year coma, Link realizes that Ganon is taking over the land. While in his absence, Zelda has been holding him back, but her power is quickly depleting. During his quest, Link has to fight many beasts, machinery, and goblins. Through puzzles and enemies, he makes his way towards Ganon castle to stop him once and for all.
“Breath of the Wild” is an open-world-somewhat-survival game. The graphics are exceptional, with lively gameplay. There are lots of puzzles, and the controls are fluid. There is a mediocre amount of grinding. The side quest can be a lot of fun, and has a great story. The music is OK, and is made for teenagers. The game can be difficult, with glitches being rare. It is worth the buy if you’re ever itching for a Zelda game, although it is a little different from the average game they made.
