If someone who had never played a video game asked you to recommend ten games that would help them understand what gaming is all about, where would you even begin? With thousands of games released over the years, narrowing that down to just ten is no easy task. Every genre offers something different, and some experiences are difficult to appreciate until you've played them yourself.
Still, there are games that everyone should experience at least once. Not necessarily because they are the highest-rated or most technically impressive, but because they showcase something special about the medium. Whether it is the freedom to create your own world or the thrill of exploring somewhere unfamiliar, these ten games show just how much gaming has to offer.
The Essential Gaming Bucket List
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas opening scene
New Vegas is peak Fallout. The Mojave Desert is one of the franchise's most interesting settings, not just because of its post-apocalyptic atmosphere, but because of the societies that have emerged from its ruins. The New California Republic, Caesar's Legion and Mr House all have their own ideas about the future, and none offers a straightforward answer.
Above all else, to me, New Vegas offers an incredibly believable portrayal of a post-apocalyptic society. The more you explore the Mojave, the more you see how its communities have adapted to this broken world. It feels like a glimpse into a grim future where the rich control everything from the shadows, and the population either follows an imperialist regime or a brutal and inhumane Legion.
With so little room for a peaceful alternative, New Vegas paints a bleak picture of what humanity could become if it ever crosses that line. Its message feels just as relevant today as when the game first released.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Most people agree that Red Dead Redemption 2 has two main characters: Arthur Morgan and John Marston. But what if we're missing the point? What if the developers built the entire Van der Linde gang story to give players a reason to experience their incredible world? Arthur's journey is memorable in its own right, but I feel it often serves as a hook to draw us into the world Rockstar has created.
Every NPC feels like an actual person with somewhere to be and something to do. You see it in railway workers hammering each nail into place before moving to the next, or bartenders actually filling their customers' cups instead of endlessly repeating the same drinking animations. Rockstar put an absurd amount of care into these seemingly insignificant interactions, making the world feel alive.
It's kind of funny, or perhaps depressing, that a game released in 2018 can sometimes feel more alive than the world outside, where so many people seem oblivious to their surroundings, staring at their phones instead.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
In Red Dead Redemption 2, the world goes on without you needing to get involved. In The Witcher 3, however, you're the main driving force. The characters you meet have their own motivations and stories, but Geralt's involvement makes those encounters so memorable.
Whether it's the fate of the Bloody Baron, the machinations of Gaunter O'Dimm or Dandelion's theatre shenanigans, these stories seem straightforward at first. Your involvement soon turns them into deeply personal narratives with genuinely difficult decisions along the way.
This isn't your traditional RPG with the classic illusion of choice. Your actions have real consequences that fundamentally change what happens to the people you meet. By the end, it feels less like you've simply experienced Geralt's story and more like you've helped shape it yourself.
Stardew Valley
One day, you're stuck in the city, going about your usual routine. The next, you've inherited your grandfather's old farm and traded the hustle and bustle for a quieter life in the countryside. You're your own boss, free to grow crops, explore the valley, raise animals or hang out with your neighbours. Who cares what you get done? There's no rush and zero pressure to follow a particular path.
For many people, Stardew Valley is probably the closest they'll get to trading their nine-to-five routine for country life. It's almost cathartic to escape the daily grind and have something tangible to show for your efforts, even if it's only a bunch of pixelated crops.
Minecraft
You cannot talk about gaming history without mentioning Minecraft. Love it or hate it, there's a good chance someone you know got their first taste of video games by punching trees and building a dirt house. It's the perfect sandbox: no elaborate systems, no narrative to follow, no hard mechanics. Just you, blocks and your imagination.
What's remarkable is how far that simple idea has travelled. Since its conception, Minecraft has brought people together across generations and become part of gaming culture in a way few other games have. Perhaps that's because it's more than a game. It's a canvas, an outlet for creativity, much like painting or singing. As long as people have the freedom to dream, Minecraft will never die.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
It's easy to tell someone to play Ocarina of Time because of its place in gaming history. But I don't think historical importance alone is a good enough reason to pick up a game. Only by experiencing it yourself can you understand what made it special and why so many games that followed owe it a debt. If you want to convince someone to play, don't start with a history lesson. Start with its fantastic story.
Yes, its age shows, and some mechanics might feel dated compared to modern games. But its charm has never gone away. From its memorable soundtrack to its wonderful dungeons and sense of adventure, there's still so much magic in Hyrule. Ocarina of Time will always be timeless, and that's something no remake can take away.
Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus feels like lightning in a bottle: a rare experience that's almost impossible to replicate. The story takes you to a mysterious, desolate land with a straightforward objective: kill 16 colossi scattered across the world to resurrect Mono. That's it. Your job is to find these towering creatures, figure out how to climb them and bring them down.
The game knows exactly what it wants to be, so it doesn't try to do a bit of everything. Instead, it takes one idea and perfects it, creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience still worth playing more than twenty years later.
Portal 2
You might go into Portal 2 expecting a clever puzzle game about shooting portals and finding your way through increasingly complicated test chambers. You'd be right, to a degree. While the puzzles are brilliant, the game has much more up its sleeve. The story brings you face to face with one of gaming's most entertaining casts, led by a certain murderous AI with rather strong opinions about you.
It's quite something that a game built around solving puzzles can make you laugh out loud while keeping you curious about what happens next. Much of that comes down to its fantastic writing and humour that never feels forced. If that wasn't enough, an entire co-op campaign awaits after the credits roll, with a new set of puzzles to tackle alongside a friend.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
There was a time when Call of Duty was more than just another annual shooter. It was the game you'd jump into after school, spend hours playing with friends and somehow convince yourself that one more match was a good idea.
Black Ops II captures that era particularly well, not just because of its fantastic multiplayer and Zombies mode, but because it comes from a time when online gaming felt much more social. The golden era of Xbox 360 and PS3 lobbies, when communities formed around these games and even a random match could turn into an evening of fun.
Then there's the campaign, with its multiple endings and decision-making, which was surprisingly ambitious for a Call of Duty game. There was always a reason to return to Black Ops II, whether you wanted another multiplayer match, one more round of Zombies or to see how the Mason family's story would unfold.
Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 never takes you out of Gordon Freeman's shoes. Even when characters are talking to you or something important is happening, you're always seeing the world through Gordon's eyes, making the experience feel much more personal.
The Source engine and Havok physics system also made Half-Life 2 revolutionary for its time. The environment felt more interactive than anything players were used to, and the Gravity Gun took that idea further, turning ordinary objects into tools and weapons. Combined with City 17's oppressive atmosphere and environmental storytelling, it made the world feel like somewhere you were actually part of.
It's hard to think of many games that have left players waiting quite like Half-Life 2. After Episode Two ended on a cliffhanger, fans spent years hoping for Episode Three, clinging to every little hint from Valve. Eventually, the wait for Half-Life 3 became almost as legendary as the games themselves.
No wrong way to play
Of course, narrowing the entire history of gaming down to just ten titles is never going to please everyone. There are countless other games that could have made this list, and you probably have a few personal favourites that you feel deserve a spot. But that's part of what makes gaming so special. There's no single experience that defines the medium, and what makes one game unforgettable to you might mean very little to someone else.
Ultimately, these ten games are just a starting point. Whether they inspire you to revisit an old favourite or discover something completely new, there's a whole world of experiences waiting to be explored.
