5 Games We’ll Remember In 20 Years

The games that we’ll make our kids play while they’re taking a break from virtual reality porn.

Let’s be clear, these games are those special experiences that brought something so unique, polished or wonderful that they become timeless. They are far from perfect but like any man in love will tell you, the imperfections just makes her that much more special.

To make things more interesting we’re also trying to stick to newer games. Bioshock, Call of Duty 4 and Half Life 2 are already classics in their own right so we’re not going to suck them off again.

Without further mumbling here are the top five games that, like it or not, changed the course of gaming for the better. Graphics will improve and consoles will change but these five games should be played by every generation until the sun burns out or Half Life 3 is released, whichever comes sooner.

[Cajun Chicken]

I doubt the last two very much.

[AfricanWoolf]

Why? Have you played them?

[CarlitoBrigante]

ICO
Shadow of the Colossus
Uncharted 2

[ljh217]

There are very few modern games I would pick that will be remembered in 20 years (which is a REALLY long time). There is only two I would pick from last years releases (which is where the majority of these picks are from) and those two are Skyrim and Portal 2.

[iChii]

The games I'll probably remember are:

Silent Hill 2
Metal Gear Solid: 3 Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid: 2 Son's of Liberty
Resident Evil 3
Jak 3
Killer Instinct (SNES)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Final Fantasy 8
Zelda: A Link to the Past
Devil May Cry
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Annnd Megaman X5 (Watching Zero die is unforgettable)

[Emilio_Estevez]

I would have to agree, I would say that there are lot of people right now who don't even know what they are. If I asked 5 of my video gaming friends about them, I'm fairly certain only 1 or 2 would even know they existed. They are good games, but most people don't remember them now, let alone in 20 years.

[AfricanWoolf]

I suppose that was kinda the point - the last two are games that, for anyone whose played them, will be remembered.

I also think you underestimate how popular they were.

Maybe the article should have focused more on the fact that the games are examples of experiences that stick with you for a long time.

I still remember playing through them because there was something profound about the experience.

Didn't mean to make a proclamation about which games are the best, just trying to spread my love of these particular 5. :)

[reznik_zerosum]

5 Games smart people will Remember In 20 years,how it should be

[gamingsquid]

Seriously I don't remember a single one lame list

[Psychotica]

You actually play video games right?

[Fishy Fingers]

All good games, but all will probably be lost in time rather quickly. People are fickle, on to the next best thing, nothing these days has the initial impact of something like PacMan or Mario.

Realistically, titles like Angry Birds/Farmville will have as good a chance, if not better, than any of the games on that list of being remembered.

[AfricanWoolf]

You're probably right but I won't admit it.

I choose to believe the games I picked, being excellent works of art, will be remembered.

The world ends in December so who knows, maybe religions will start surrounding my favourites :D

I am the first priest of the Church of Bastion.

[CarlitoBrigante]

Dafuq are u saying? People equally remember non popular games too, just becoz it didnt sell 100 million units doesnt mean we wont remember the little gems.

It all comes to in what genre you're interested. RPG people will remember the greatest of the genre like Secret of Mana, Xenogears, Chrono Trigger/Cross, Skies of Arcadia

Everybody remembers Shenmue eventough it didnt sell well.

[Abdou23]

I still remember MGS 1 perfectly fine, till this day i still know how to beat every boss ( Psycho Mantis..anyone?! ) and how to get out of every situation. and it's been 15 years. i doubt any current gen game would last with me all that long, i don't even remember the good games i played 2-3 years ago.

[Picnic]

I'm going to nitpick about Uncharted 2 though - a poor beginning in my beginning throwing in a dull stealth section with some below par graphics I thought there too. And no maneouvrable vehicles in the game- this might have been a design decision but I loved the jetskis in the first game. Apart from that, the time that the game gave to just exploring was welcome although it remains difficult for any game with snow scenes to impress me with its effects as Metroid Prime did that so well with Phenandra Drifts 10 years ago.

[NeoTribe]

Below par graphics? Really?

[Picnic]

I'm purely talking about near the beginning where you're in these Arabian style buildings. It's a weak part I thought like being in some bad Prince of Persia game- and thankfully short.

[r21]

bastion and uncharted will always have a place in my heart :'D the rest i havent played or just not interested.

[acemonkey]

FF12, any MKs,GTA's,God of wars,Halo,Super Mario,Left 4 dead and dead space

[Venjense]

I'd put Metal Gear Solid instead of Bastion.

[AfricanWoolf]

Last Metal Gear Was 2008 - seems to far away for my list.

[Entmoot]

This list is extremely weak. I just can't believe that these are the games that you think will be the absolute pinnacle of gaming achievement from the last 10 to 15 years of gaming.

[-MD-]

Pretty good list. Reading some of the comments on here really shows how uninformed a lot of people are about great games.

"Derp whats bastion lolz??1". How about play it and find out how much of a gem it is. That'd make too much sense though for the Modern Warfare generation.

[AfricanWoolf]

I think I love you.

[hellzsupernova]

Halo 1 and/or 3
GTA Vice City
Portal 2 (best ending ever)
Mass Effect 2 maybe three depending on how it pans out
Heavy Rain
I cant think of any other games that have really stuck out for me

[Canary]

I doubt anyone will remember any of those games in 5 years, let alone 25. None of 'em are nearly so memorable as the games we remember NOW from 10, 15, even 20 years ago.

A good part of that is because modern games simply don't take as many risks as they used to--they can't afford to--and that more conservative design philosophy lends itself toward less remarkable titles. In the end, we don't remember games for their visual aesthetic, or challenge, or even for how fun they were--we remember them for the characters and the stories they wove. Games have become increasingly homogenous in every respect--visual aesthetic, gameplay structure, character archetypes, plot design, etc., etc.--barring some future revolution, odds are that will continue to hold true into the future.

How many games in the past 5 years have told truly memorable tales? Nier, Valkyria Chronicles, Infinite Space, Radiant Historia, Skyward Sword come to mind. But even those... I doubt they have too terribly much staying power.

[Picnic]

I love how I got 11 disagrees for a comment about a game that I will still probably far more fondly remember than the people who disagreed with me will in years to come. I must be passionate about a game to decide what 1% of it doesn't sit as well with me.