This guy has compiled other organizations lists, listed them, and compiled them for your viewing pleasure (the lists look alot better on his website):

http://www.filibustercartoons.com/games.htm

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The Best Video Games in the History of Humanity

I'm not the only guy who likes making lists. Over the years, many gaming magazines and websites have made lengthy lists of their own in an attempt to compile comprehensive guides chronicling the best video games of all time. Here is a summary of some of the leading Top 10s, as excerpted from various Top 100 lists.

I have tried to be as diverse and inclusive as possible in my selection of lists. Some will inevitably appear more credible than others, but my intent was quantity more than quality. By assembling a collection of lists that was as vast as possible, I was hoping to see if there appears to be any consensus as to what games truly are history's best. My findings come at the end.

PLATFORMS
PC Arcade NES
Super Nintendo Playstation Nintendo 64
Sega Saturn Dreamcast Sega Saturn
Game Cube Playstation 2 X Box
Multiple



IGN.com (2005)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Super Mario Bros. Nintendo 1985
2 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 1998
3 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
4 Civilization II Microprose 1996
5 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
6 Pirates! Microprose
1987
7 StarCraft Blizzard 1998
8 Street Fighter II Capcom 1991
9 Star Wars: TIE Fighter LucasArts 1995
10 Super Metroid Nintendo 1994

The Age newspaper / LiveWire (2005)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 The Sims 2 Maxis 2005
2 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 1998
3 Half-Life 2 Valve 2004
4 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
5 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Rockstar Games 2004
6 Halo 2 Bungie Studios 2004
7 Gran Turismo 4 Polyphony Digital 2005
8 Goldeneye 007 Rare 1997
9 Ico Sony 2001
10 Metal Gear: Solid Konami 1998

Edge magazine (2004)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 1998
2 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
3 Goldeneye 007 Rare 1997
4 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
5 Gran Turismo Polyphony Digital 1998
6 Quake II id
1997
7 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo 1992
8 Street Fighter II (Turbo) Capcom 1991
9 Half-Life Valve / Sierra 1998
10 Super Mario World Nintendo 1991

Retrogamer magazine (2004)*
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Elite Acornsoft 1984
2 Super Mario World Nintendo 1991
3 Manic Miner Bug-Byte 1983
4 Final Fantasy VII Squaresoft 1997
5 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 1998
6 Space Invaders Taito 1978
7 Jet Set Willy Software 1984
8 Sensible Soccer Sensible 1992
9 DOOM id / GT Interactive 1993
10 Pac Man Namco 1980

* Retro Gamer Issue 1 also featured a "Top 100" list, though this one was actually 10 distinct "Top 10" lists segregated by platform.

IGN.com (2003)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Super Mario Bros. Nintendo 1985
2 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 1998
3 Super Metroid Nintendo 1994
4 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
5 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
6 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo 1992
7 StarCraft Blizzard 1998
8 X-COM: UFO Defense Mythos Games 1994
9 Final Fantasy II (IV) Squaresoft 1991
10 Street Fighter II Capcom 1991

Entertainment Weekly / GF (2003)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo 1992
2 DOOM id / GT Interactive 1993
3 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
4 Grand Theft Auto 3 Rockstar Games 2001
5 Madden 2003 Electronic Arts 2002
6 Half-Life Valve / Sierra 1998
7 The Sims Maxis 2000
8 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
9 StarCraft Blizzard 1998
10 Street Fighter II Capcom 1991

Note: Number 9 on this list was actually "Warcraft / Starcraft" which is kind of cheating since they are two different games.

Dorkclub.com (2003)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Super Metroid Nintendo 1994
2 Chrono Trigger Squaresoft 1995
3 Metal Gear: Solid Konami 1998
4 Final Fantasy III (VI) Squaresoft 1994
5 Final Fantasy VII Squaresoft 1997
6 Half-Life Valve / Sierra 1998
7 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
8 Super Smash Brothers: Melee Nintendo 2001
9 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
10 Earthbound Nintendo 1995

Electronic Gaming Monthly (2002)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Super Metroid Nintendo 1994
2 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
3 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo 1992
4 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Konami 1997
5 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
6 Soul Caliber Namco 1998
7 Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Nintendo 2000
8 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 1998
9 Final Fantasy III (VI) Squaresoft 1994
10 Super Mario World Nintendo 1991

Note: This is EGM's second list. They also made a list in 1997 (included below).

GameSpy.com (2001)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 DOOM id / GT Interactive 1993
2 Half-Life Valve / Sierra 1998
3 Warcraft 2 Blizzard 1995
4 Civilization Microprose 1991
5 Quake id / GT Interactive 1996
6 Diablo Blizzard 1996
7 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar Origin 1985
8 Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss Origin / Blue Sky 1992
9 StarCraft Blizzard 1998
10 Legend of Zelda Nintendo 1986

Game Informer magazine (2001)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Legend of Zelda Nintendo 1986
2 Super Mario Bros. Nintendo 1985
3 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
4 Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 Activision 2000
5 DOOM id / GT Interactive 1993
6 Metroid Nintendo 1986
7 Final Fantasy III (VI) Squaresoft 1994
8 Super Mario Bros. 3 Nintendo 1990
9 Ms. Pac-Man Namco 1981
10 Final Fantasy VII Squaresoft 1997

GameSpot.com (2001)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Final Fantasy VII Squaresoft 1997
2 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
3 Resident Evil Capcom 1996
4 Virtua Racing Sega 1992
5 Street Fighter II Capcom 1991
6 Dragon Warrior Enix 1986
7 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
8 Legend of Zelda Nintendo 1986
9 Double Dragon Taito 1987
10 Commando Capcom 1985

Note: List was formally "most influencial" games of all time.

Computer and Video Games magazine (2001)
(I've had to piece this list together through second-hand sources. Please help me fill in the blanks)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 1998
2 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
3 ?
4 ?
5 Goldeneye 007 Rare 1997
6 Super Mario Kart Nintendo 1992
7 Super Mario World Nintendo 1991
8 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo 1992
9 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
10 ?

GamesRadar.com (2000)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Super Mario Bros. Nintendo 1985
2 Metal Gear: Solid Konami 1998
3 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 1998
4 DOOM id / GT Interactive 1993
5 Civilization 2 Microprose 1996
6 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
7 StarCraft Blizzard 1998
8 Goldeneye 007 Rare 1997
9 Resident Evil: Code Veronica Capcom 2000
10 Street Fighter II (Turbo) Capcom 1991

Note: With the exception of SMB, GamesRadar recognized entire "franchises" in their list. The specific games mentioned are the ones the authors note as the "bests" of the series.

Nintendorks.com (2000)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo 1992
2 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
3 Goldeneye 007 Rare 1997
4 Final Fantasy III (VI) Squaresoft 1994
5 Super Mario Bros. 3 Nintendo 1990
6 Legend of Zelda Nintendo 1986
7 Super Mario Kart Nintendo 1992
8 Super Mario Bros. Nintendo 1985
9 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
10 Punch-Out! Nintendo 1987

Note: List was limited to games appearing on Nintendo platforms.

Electronic Gaming Monthly (1997)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
2 Super Mario Bros. 3 Nintendo 1990
3 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo 1992
4 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
5 Street Fighter II (Turbo) Capcom 1991
6 Super Metroid Nintendo 1994
7 Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Nintendo 1995
8 Contra III: The Alien Wars Konami 1992
9 Final Fantasy III (VI) Squaresoft 1994
10 Saturn Bomberman Hudson Soft 1997

Nintendo Power Magazine (1997)
Rank Title Publisher Year
1 Super Mario 64 Nintendo 1996
2 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo 1992
3 Tetris Alexey Pajitnov 1987
4 Mario Kart 64 Nintendo 1997
5 Super Mario Bros. 3 Nintendo 1990
6 Super Metroid Nintendo 1994
7 Goldeneye 007 Rare 1997
8 Final Fantasy II (IV) Squaresoft 1991
9 Final Fantasy III (VI) Squaresoft 1994
10 Street Fighter II (Turbo) Capcom 1991

Note: List was limited to games appearing on Nintendo platforms.

Overall

Assuming these lists represent voices of authority in the gaming community, we can easily make a cumulative list averaging out the most universally popular games. I'm not smart enough to do mathematical averages of rank, but based on sheer popularity (as defined by appearing on eight or more lists), the top four games of all time seem to be:
1 Tetris (appears on 13 out of the 16 lists)
2 Super Mario 64 (12 out of 16)
3 Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (9 out of 16)
4 (tie)
Street Fighter II (8 out of 16)
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (8 out of 16)

Other popular titles:
Final Fantasy III (7 out of 16)
Goldeneye 007 (6 out of 16)
Super Metroid (6 out of 16)
DOOM (5 out of 16)
Super Mario Bros. (5 out of 16)

Platform totals
1 PC (18 games)
2 (tie) Super Nintendo (10)
Multiple (10)
4 NES (6)
5 (tie) Nintendo 64 (4)
Arcade (4)
Playstation (4)
6 Playstation 2 (2)
8 (tie) Sega Saturn (1)
Sega Dreamcast (1)
X Box (1)
Nintendo GameCube (1)

Conclusions

These lists inevitably represent a whole host of different agendas, outlooks, and opinions on what constitutes a "great" video game. Some placed a great emphasis on recognizing games that were historically "relevant" or "innovative" while others simply celebrated games that were fun to play.

The fact that PC games have such a high total overall is largely an indication that there is not much consensus over which PC games are best. Despite their groundbreaking work in many genres, in the end it seems that PC games have been unable to really capture the public's imagination in the same way console games have.

If we are to name a "golden era" of gaming, it appears to be the mid-to-late 90's. The early arcade / PC era of the 80's has apparently been largely forgotten, and few post-1999 games appear to have left much of an impact. Nintendo Power's 1997 list, though now almost ten years old, thus stands up well today, as the classics it recognized still remain amongst the most popular today.

Other thoughts:

- Action games tend to be the most popular genre.

- Sonic the Hedgehog is not popular. In fact, Sega in general has not left much of a legacy, with no Genesis games making anyone's lists.

- Tetris is the only puzzle game anyone seems to care about.

- The most popular video game character of all time is clearly Link, closely followed by Mario.

- Despite being the famed "first video game ever" Pong has not aged well, and today no one seems to consider it relevant.

Know a list I missed? Please Email me- [email protected]

Lists that I know exist but I don't have:
- Next Generation magazine (1996, 1999)

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I think Pong is like the Model-T car. It was the forerunner that got everything started, but the Model-T isnt going to make many "best car" lists.

Also, the fact Mortal Kombat didn't make anyones list is surprising to me. MK was a HUGE success and was basically the start of the mature gaming era (in my opinion).