Why We Love the Top Video Games

Written by: Sitara Nair

Our world loves video games. As our world advances both technically and intellectually, video games improve, and more people join in to play! The top games of all time is highly debated across communities, but three games often take the cake for the title; let’s look at the top three games and determine why they are so successful and what they are about. 

*It is important to note that the top three come from HP.com, and the top couple of games can shift positions depending on the source. Here, we are mainly discussing what they are and why they are so successful!

Minecraft

Released in 2009, Minecraft has taken the world by storm. The game is completely made of blocks, with no curves at all, yet it has climbed the charts from Notch’s original creation to what Mojang is developing today. The game was officially released in 2011, introduced Survival Mode, and was acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion in 2014. The game is regarded as a sandbox game, meaning it values creativity over linear playability. Players have infinite possibilities for what they want to do with their world, but there is still a massive boss battle fight at the end of the game, allowing for a “goal”. The game’s success stems from regular updates, accessibility across platforms, a community-oriented multiplayer experience, and lots of YouTube marketing. The Minecraft YouTube community is huge, and tons of player outreach is through there, with YouTubers dedicating their channels to Minecraft speedrunning (beating the game), building, redstone, or even modified gameplay!

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V launched in September 2013 and is not a simple block game like Minecraft. It features three main playable protagonists in Los Santos called Michael, Franklin, and Trevor. In GTA, players can freely explore a large, open-world map, drive vehicles, use weapons, and complete missions like committing heists, and it was originally released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. GTA V is regarded as so popular because of GTA Online, which, according to Rockstar Games, its video game publisher and developer, is a “dynamic and ever-evolving online universe for up to 30 players, including all existing gameplay upgrades and content released since launch ready to enjoy solo or with friends.” It’s also extremely popular on YouTube, and GTA stands out as one of the most successful, critically praised, and longest-lasting video game franchises, with over 465 million units sold since 1997. that longevity is simply why its so successful.

Tetris

Released in 1984, Tetris is one of the oldest and most famous video games ever made. It was created by Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov and quickly became popular around the world. The game is simple: different shaped blocks fall from the top of the screen, and players must rotate and place them to form complete lines. When a line is filled, it disappears, and the player earns points. The game gets faster over time, making it more challenging the longer you play. Tetris became a huge success when it was released on the Game Boy in 1989, helping both the game and the console grow in popularity. Its success comes from its easy rules, fast gameplay, and ability to appeal to players of all ages. Even after many years, Tetris remains one of the best-selling and most recognized video games in history because it is simple to learn but difficult to master.