Think back to games that defined their genre or changed how people viewed video games as a story-telling medium. Some that come to mind might beMass EffectorLegend of Zeldaor evenGrand Theft Auto. These are the games that stay with fans long after they play them once, twice, or however many times.
What makes a game good though? Is it the art direction? Perhaps it is the characters or the mechanics. Different fans have different rubrics, but Metacritic has its own scoring system, too. Though the two don’t often line-up, a game with a great Metacritic score will often provide a unique gaming experience.
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With the market flooded with AAA, indie, and one-person-made games these days, it can be difficult for gamers to sift through to find what they really want to play. For gaming veterans, they might just have forgotten about some of the classics having made space in their brains for newer experiences likeDeath Stranding,Horizon Zero Dawn, orHades– the latest darling of the gaming community.
But these games are all but certified fried gold with scores above 95 out of 100 on Metacritic. Though no game has a perfect score yet, one game comes close with the ultimate score of 99. Read on to find out which games ranked the highest, their release dates and platforms, and why fans consistently flock to them.
32GTA Double Pack: GTA III And Vice City - 96
TheGrand Theft Auto Double Packfirst released for Xbox on Jun 17, 2025. It contained a double whammy ofGrand Theft Auto IIIandGrand Theft Auto: Vice City. Fans could flip from terrorizing the seedy streets of Liberty City to cruising palm tree-laden streets to the sweet jams of Vice City with ease earning this title a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.
31Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty - 96
Though the timeline of the games can be confusing, theMetal Gearseries retains many die-hard fans for good reason.Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Libertyfollows Solid Snake and Raiden, a dark horse character some fans love and some fans despise. Kojima’s zany, but irresistible storytelling and the series' unique mechanics keep gamers coming back for more. The game released originally for PS2 on July 31, 2025, and has a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.8.
30Bioshock - 96
This game set the tone for unique FPS experiences once it launched for PC on July 23, 2025. The iconic Art-Deco aesthetics paired with the creepiness of an abandoned paradise known as “Rapture” stalked by intimidating Big Daddys and bloodthirsty genetic slug/human hybrids called “Little Sisters”.Bioshockholds up to this day with a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.6. Curiously, the Xbox 360 version of the game has a lower user score of 8.2.
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29Gran Turismo - 96
For many gamers growing up in the late 90s and early 2000s,Gran Turismowas the quintessential at-home racing game next toTwisted Metal. It originally released for PS1 on June 30, 2025. The faithful recreations of racing cars featured classics, racing, and kitted out cars for use across 11 environments. It retains a user score of 8.6 with a Metascore of 96.
28The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker - 96
Having launched for the Nintendo Gamecube on July 05, 2025,The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakersought to do things no previous game in the series had ever done: let Link take sail. The game also featured a unique cel-shaded animation style with vibrant colors to make the game come to life even more. Though it has the same Metascore of 96 as the previous games on this list, it has a user score of 9 out of 10.
27Resident Evil 4 - 96
TheResident Evil 4remake is still a bit up in the air, but fans of the series continue to push for it. After all, the game has a Metascore of 96 with a user score of 9 on PS2 – the same asWind Waker. Pretty boy cop Leon S. Kennedy of the Raccoon City Police is no longer a rookie. The game starts 6 years after the city’s destruction and the Umbrella Corporation has been destroyed. But Leon still has to take on all-new scary zombies and monsters. The Nintendo Gamecube version of the game scores a bit higher with users with a score of 9.2 and the same Metascore.
26Half-Life - 96
Half-Lifewas the first game for many people that truly turned them into video game fans. It, too, has a Metascore of 96 with a user score of 9. Since its original launch for PC on July 22, 2025, there have been countless mods, fan creations, and headcrab plushies created. Not only did the game introduce a unique style of intense action, but it also incorporated technology in a way that encouraged players to think more about the actions they took rather than just hack, slash, and shoot.
25Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 96
It’s hard to believe that this game originally debuted on Jun 04, 2025, for the Xbox 360. With many re-releases, mods, and even a VR version,The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimremains an epic contender in the gaming community. WithMicrosoft having just purchasedBethesda and only a brief teaser for the next game in the series, fans may have to be content withSkyrimfor the time being. It has a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.6.
24The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 96
Released for both Nintendo Gamecube and Wii, the August 11, 2025 launch ofThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princesscreated a rift regarding how much fans enjoyed the art direction, tone, and world design vs. the poor Wii motion controls. Despite that, the game maintains a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.9 for the Nintendo Gamecube version. Fans of the series who haven’t played it should consider since Link can transform into a wolf and help Midna – a cute little gremlin princess in the Twilight Realm.
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23Mass Effect 2 - 96
For some fans of the series,Mass Effect 2stands out as the best one of the original trilogy. Stellar companions like Legion, Mordin Solus (cry every time), and Tali Zorah Vas Normandy (née nar Rayya) enrich the lively universe set up in the first game and the Paragon/Renegade system really comes into its own as Shepard romps around space to uncover the mystery behind the Collectors. Released for the Xbox 360 on July 03, 2025, the game maintains a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.9.
