Some games you finish and remember fondly. Others stay installed because there’s always an excuse to come back: testing a build, starting a new world, or playing “just one more” with friends.
Myke here, and today I’m sharing my top 10 best games of all time. This list has a lot to do with the hours I’ve spent playing and what hooks me most about games: freedom, challenges, incredible worlds, and having a laugh with friends.
In some games, I feel like a legendary hero. In others, I’m a self-confessed noob. It happens. Let’s start at number ten and work our way up to the game I’ve poured more hours into than any other!
10. Chrono Trigger — A Turn-Based RPG Worth Revisiting
Chrono Trigger is the only turn-based RPG on my list, and it’s here for a great reason: it’s a well-rounded, emotional adventure with a story that knows how to keep you hooked until the end.
Time travel makes every discovery matter. Visiting different eras changes how you see places and characters, and uncovering connections between the past and the future makes the journey more compelling as you go.
For me, it’s one of those classics where everything helps tell the story: memorable characters, battles with combo techniques, and a soundtrack that makes the big moments feel even more epic.
If you’ve played it, it’s absolutely worth revisiting. If you haven’t, give it a shot. This is a legendary RPG that deserves to be on your radar.
9. Super Mario — Nostalgia That Still Delivers
I’m talking about the Super Mario franchise here, especially the classics. What impresses me is how much those games delivered despite the hardware limitations of their time.
Creative levels, secrets, challenges, and controls that felt so good you wanted to try again. Finding a hidden path or finally beating a tough section was incredibly satisfying.
Sure, nostalgia plays a part. But for me, Mario still holds up because the fun is in the details: a perfectly timed jump, discovering a passage, and wondering what’s coming next.
It’s amazing how much those games packed into what the hardware could handle. Go back today and you’ll find that the classics are still a blast.
8. Dark Souls — Thirty Deaths Later, an Epic Victory
Anyone who’s faced a boss in a Souls game knows how good it feels when that boss finally goes down.
You die once, twice, ten times… By attempt thirty, you know the arena entrance better than your own front door. Still, you keep going, adjust your strategy, and try to exploit that opening you kept missing.
Then the win finally happens. You want to scream and throw your mouse across the room—this time out of joy. Probably best to hold on to it, though. There are plenty more bosses ahead.
For me, that feeling is a huge part of why Souls became the phenomenon it is. The game makes you feel the weight of the challenge, then rewards you for learning how to overcome it. The celebration hits just as hard.
7. The Legend of Zelda — An Adventure That Just Feels Good to Play
I’m including the whole Legend of Zelda franchise because it deserves that recognition. And my take is pretty simple: Zelda is just a joy to play.
Exploring, uncovering a secret, solving a puzzle, and figuring out how to use a new piece of gear all make the adventure satisfying. There’s always something that sparks your curiosity.
Ocarina of Time is a legendary example of that magic, but what earns Zelda its spot is the franchise’s identity: worlds that invite discovery and journeys where every step forward makes you want to keep going.
In my opinion, every gamer should experience that feeling at least once. Pick an adventure from the series and give it a chance. It’s worth finding out why Zelda means so much to so many people.
6. Counter-Strike — Plenty of Hours, Not Many Shots on Target
CS is my second most-played competitive game. And if you think that means my aim is legendary, let me set expectations: I’m an even bigger noob here.
I whiff more shots than the guy in Pulp Fiction who bursts out of the bathroom, fires at Jules and Vincent, and somehow misses every single shot. Some rounds, my contribution seems to be checking how bulletproof the wall is.
Even so, CS is here because it knows how to make every round tense. Positioning, callouts, and teamwork can matter just as much as landing your shots.
For me, that’s the franchise’s biggest strength. Even when you’re playing badly, there’s still a chance to help your team—and when you finally pull off a good play, you want to queue up again. The aim is still a work in progress.
5. Ragnarok Online — Classes, Cards, and Ridiculous Builds
For me, Ragnarok is one of the best RPGs of all time. What really wins me over is the class system and, above all, the card system.
Putting together a gear set with incredibly rare MVP cards and ridiculously overpowered effects is exactly the kind of goal that gets me excited. You start imagining the combinations and what your build could do if you could just get the right pieces.
That chase makes gear feel special. A card might be the missing piece for the character you’re trying to build, and hunting it down becomes part of the adventure.
I miss that kind of system in modern games. Ragnarok’s cards and Diablo II’s runewords both make me want to experiment with combinations and chase items that really change a build. I’d love to see more games tap into that potential.
4. League of Legends — Platinum, Friends, and Tilted Opponents
LoL is the competitive game I’ve put the most hours into. Now, before you start expecting Challenger tips: I’m a noob, and I’ve never made it past Platinum. That’s my entire competitive résumé, lol.
Playing with friends is what makes it so much fun. The banter, the attempts to coordinate a play, and that teamfight that finally goes right make the whole match more entertaining.
And I’ll admit it: watching the enemy team tilt after a good play has its perks. Especially when our team can capitalize on the advantage and close out the game.
For me, LoL’s strength is combining competition, strategy, and a good time with friends. Not every match ends in a win, but there’s always a reason to say, “One more?” That’s how the hours keep adding up.
3. World of Warcraft — Rare Mounts and Horde Pride
WoW could make a serious run for the top spot. What’s always hooked me is the multiplayer experience combined with an open world that begs to be explored.
I enjoy traveling across Azeroth, discovering places, and chasing hard-to-get mounts. Having something rare to work toward gives the journey extra purpose—especially when you finally get the reward.
And after all that effort, of course you have to show off your mount in Orgrimmar. You earned that rarity. It would be a shame if nobody noticed, right?
Unlike what keeps me coming back to Skyrim and Minecraft, multiplayer has always been a huge part of WoW’s appeal for me. Exploring a shared world, earning something difficult to get, and showing it off to other players is part of the magic.
And just so there’s no doubt: For the Horde!
2. Minecraft — Hardcore Hits Harder Than a Horror Game
Minecraft nearly took first place, including in the race for my most-played game ever. I’m especially hooked on Hardcore worlds and the sense of danger the mode brings.
Knowing that one death can end your run changes the weight of every decision. Caves demand more caution, exploration takes preparation, and even an unexpected sound can put you on edge.
Sometimes Minecraft delivers scares that horror games can’t match. All it takes is a sneaky Creeper showing up at the wrong moment to send your heart racing—especially when you have a lot to lose.
And few things are more frustrating than losing a well-established Hardcore world. All that progress makes the stakes feel real. But that tension, combined with the freedom to build and explore, is exactly what makes the mode so compelling to me.
Minecraft is incredible because it can turn blocks into massive projects, epic adventures, and moments of sheer panic. All in the same world.
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — A Game That Feels Endless
Skyrim takes the top spot because it’s, by far, the game I’ve played the most in my life. There’s always a new build to try or a mod I want to install. Before I know it, I’m starting another journey.
That ability to keep feeling fresh is what makes Skyrim seem endless to me. A different build changes how you tackle challenges, and a new mod can give you another reason to explore that world.
You go in with a character idea, start playing, and find something else you want to try. Then comes another plan, another combination, another adventure. Finding an excuse to return is way too easy.
For me, first place comes down to that freedom and the urge to keep discovering new possibilities. Skyrim has taken up more hours of my life than any other game, and it still gets me excited about starting a fresh playthrough.
As long as there’s a build to try or a mod that gets me excited, it feels like Skyrim still has another adventure waiting.
Now It’s Your Turn!
Skyrim took the crown in my ranking, but I want to know which legendary games you’d put on this list—and which ones deserve a post of their own here on the blog.
Drop a comment with the number and the game’s name:
1 + game name: to suggest a game that didn’t make the top 10. Example: 1 — Elden Ring.
2 + game name: to request a post about a game you’d like to see covered. Example: 2 — Diablo II.
Feel free to leave suggestions in both categories. Let’s pick the next posts together!
— Myke