I calmed down a bit and actually made some goals…instead of collecting every game out there…I’m collecting all NES/SNES/N64 games…both CIB and loose with a manual. It’s still a pretty crazy goal but…it’s easier then buying every game for every system.

But to dig into it…it’s a mix of nostalgia and obsession. I need something to focus and obsess on. If I don’t have something…I tend to get unfocused and just…end up in a not good place. I’m struggling with depression…so to have something to keep my mind off of my dark thoughts is useful. Gives me a goal to keep getting out of bed, keep struggling through the days, just so I can complete my collection and finally be satisfied. Of course I also play games…gaming helps my depression A LOT. It sucks me into another world…so much better then my own. I can forget my troubles for a few hours a day. Or I can make my own character and live my life how I always wanted. Older games can put me back to my childhood as well…when I was happier…

That’s the focus of my game room…making into something that resembles my childhood. So I can step into my game room, shut the door behind me and just get sucked back in time. I’ve done a lot of thinking into this. I’m filling it with toys and stuff from my childhood (not just video game related stuff), the furniture in that room is going to be from the era, the TV is going to be a CRT, the carpet is going to be arcade carpeting (which glows in black light), going to have glow in the dark stars up on the ceiling…heck I’m even going so far as to only play 80s music in there via cassettes and an old boom box (since I can’t rely on any local station to just play 80s music).

It’s fun. There’s a thrill when you get a really good deal, or find a really rare game in a $2 bin at a flea market or a thrift store. Your collection is more than just a bunch of games; it’s a collection of bundles that you bought with stories behind them. I think a lot of collectors are really collecting memories- like games they loved or really wanted. That’s definitely a big part of it.

There are a lot of collectors that go nuts cleaning their games but I like the character. I love finding old receipts or a handwritten note in a game with cheat codes, combos, etc or something, or to see a sticker from some towns local video rental store that’s been out of business for a decade. I like to leave those old Kmart stickers or sharpied names on there. I don’t know, maybe I’m weird with this one.

Also, most people have an arrangement to some console. When you collect and you have games for every console, it puts a smile on pretty much anyone’s face. People want to play those games, which makes picking up something like Mario Party or Fuzion Frenzy that much more fun.

Lastly, there’s nothing like a big, physical, expensive collection. Personally, I only buy games if I’m getting a deal. Every dollar I put in is at least doubled and grows over time. It feels good looking at a bookshelf filled with money. And it looks cool, too

There is something about the NES that first got me into video games, I like the look of the system, I like the music, I like the memories, I like the games, I like how they look displayed. There was a certain magic to it, and nostalgia plays a huge part. I do have Nostalgia for other systems, but nothing like the NES…not when it comes down to it. I played NES from like 7-12, which was basically the core of my childhood, in many ways, it’s the thing i did MOST in my childhood from like 1987-1992 or so. Playing NES helps me revisit many of these times, but I do enjoy it also. Many of these good times are with people who are no longer living, and it helps me remember them, b/c NES Was such a huge part of my childhood there.

I think collections are better when they are rarer, higher quality, more organized, and have some type of goal or theme in mind, they look better as a set or idea as a whole. I’d rather have a more well rounded NES collection than a bunch of other stuff, having less space space and a limited budget helps to force this aspect.

This is just my thinking though. I look at massive collections of tons of consoles and it doesn’t do anything for me. Do I enjoy them? Sure. But I don’t want to collect for them. I also know my tendencies, and they can get out of control if not kept in check with rules, i.e. too much stuff, too much money spent, etc.

I also collect vintage cameras, vinyl, and books, these collections started in my youth or from stuff from my family

I first grew up with videogames with a 486 PC with 2 MB of RAM. I started with howell casino card games, Simcity 2000, Simtown, King’s Quest VIII. The same year my cousin was playing Super Mario Bros., Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Super Pitfall, Star Tropic for NES. He also played Castlevania Bloodlines, and Sonic 1,2,3 and Sonic and Knuckles, It was exciting. My cousin David would lay his Super Nintendo cartridges in his closet and we would sort it when his moe sm told him to clean his room. We could only play Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo a little according to Rick Hartmon, his father, and would need to bike around outside to the train tracks. In 1995, he brought his Nintendo entertainment system to my house. I played Mega Man 2, Super Mario Bros. trilogy, Super Pitfall, Contra, Spy Hunter and Castlevania.

Then when my birthday present was a Nintendo 64 with Star Fox 64 and Shadows of the Empire. I enjoyed Shadows of the Empire. I would need help from David to beat it. Then I tried beating Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 in 1997. We played Goldeneye a lot in 1997 and 1998. Thgotn in 1999, I played Sonic 3D Blast, Virtual Fighter, Nights into Dreams on Saturn with my cousin david.

In late 1999, I bought a Sega Dreamcast with Sonic Adventure and Soul Calibur. I needed david to help me beat sonic adventure.

In 2000, I bought a Playstation with Chrono Cross. I would play Gran Turismo 2, Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 8 and Legend of Dragoon. I was also trying to beat Grandia 2 and Skies of Arcadia for Sega Dreamcast. I was playing Speed Devils on Sega Dreamcast a lot. I would play Diablo 2 and play heavy metal mp3s all night long.

In 2001, I bought a PS2 and Xbox. I played Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Xenosaga Episode 1, and Final Fantasy 10. I also bought a Gamecube with Wave Race Blue Storm for my birthday. David and I played Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Wave Race Blue Storm, Smash Bros. Melee, and Gran Turismo 3. I also tried beating Sonic Adventure 2. I had Unreal Tournament 99 and Quake 3 Arena lan parties. I played Mario Kart Super Circuit and Castlevania Circle of the Moon. I was playing Half-life and diablo 2 lord of destruction over 56k and made the latter with a level 99 sorceress.

In 2002, David and I played Super Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime and Mario Kart Double Dash. We beat the entire games together. I continue playing diablo 2 and I started warcraft 3 and neverwinter nights over 56k.

In 2003, we played Halo on Xbox and Project Gotham Racing, Unreal Championship. I was also beating F-zero GX, Legend of Zelda wind Waker, Star Fox Adventures. I also started a NES, Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo collection with the Mario trlogy, Mario World, Super Mario Kart and Sonic trilogy first. Then Metroid, Super Mario RPG, Gunstar Heroes, Phantasy Star II, III, and IV, Shining Force, I was playing never winter nights over 56k and Diablo 2 lord of destruction over 56k.

In 2004, I played and beat Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, Doom 3, and replayed Super Mario 64 DS on my new Nintendo DS.

In 2005, I bought a PSP and Xbox 360 at Best Buy. I played Project Gothing Racing 3, Lumines. Wipeout pure. I would play Guild Wars over 56k.

In 2006, I bought a Playstation 3 and Ridge Racer V as my first game at Shop Ko. It would go on to be a 120 games series. I remember Ratchet and Clank, Grand Theft Auto IV, Gran Turismo 6.

In 2007, I bought a wii. I bought new Super Mario Bros. Wii. I would play some Legend of Zelda Twilight princess. I would play a lot of halo 3

in 2011, I bought a Playstation Vita with Wipeout I wanted some JRPGS for it like Persona 4 Golden. Also bought a 3DS with Mario Kart 7.

In 2012, I bought a Wii U with New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Mario Kart 8 at the new richmond Walmart at midnight.

In 2013, I bought a Playstation 4 at Shop Ko. I bought Killzone. I played a lot of Gran turismo Sport.

In 2014, I bought a Xbox one, but did little with it. I only bought like 8 games for it. I did play Forza horizon and Halo 5.

In 2017, I bought a Switch at Best Buy. I enjoyed staying in line after frist going to Shop Ko in new Richmond, I bought Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. I still play this one a lot.

In 2019, I bought a 256 gb ODROID UX4 with 114,000 games running Ubuntu.

In 2020, I bought a Raspberry pi 256 gb with lot of old videogames on it.

In 2021, I bought a Playstation 5 online and bought a platformer. I barely play it. Then I would have 256 GB Super console X Cube with 100,000 games on it.

In 2023 I bought a 4 terabyte hard drive full of game isos and game roms. I also bought a mini pc, a gamesir controller and a 2 terabyte hard drive.

I remember sacrificing a lot for the game collection. For example, I don’t have a ATV, a wife, children, and everybody who loves me are much older (parents) and I couldn’t go to Graduate School

I have played and completed Super Mario 3D World and Mario Kart 8. Super Mario Bros. on Smart phone will help Wii U and 3DS, since it makes Nintendo richer. It would help fund Mario Kart 9, Super Mario 3D World 2, and Super Smash Bros. 5 on Wii U. The New 3DS was released this year so Nintendo hardware stays relevant. Sony publish a Xperia running Android, but it failed. Playstation Portable and Playstation Vita were lagging far behind DS and 3DS sales. A “Phoneboy” with 4G LTE would work as long as it runs Android. A Phoneboy running quad core CPUs and 4 GB of RAM.

The last few years of the previous console generation were generally pretty bleak. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 had been on the market for the better part of a decade, hardware and software sales were plummeting, and some felt innovation was falling by the wayside as developers eagerly looked for fresh platforms to spark creativity. Indeed, Ubisoft chief executive Yves Guillemot was one among a number of key voices at publishers who felt that the console cycle had dragged on past its welcome.

"We need new consoles and at the end of the cycle generally the market goes down because there are less new IPs, new properties, so that damaged the industry a little bit," he said at the end of 2012.

Fast forward to this holiday season, and it would seem that the calls for new consoles to revive the business were largely accurate. Looking back at 2014, it's clear that excitement for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One drove the AAA market. In every NPD Group report we covered, hardware sales skyrocketed as consumers simply couldn't get enough of the new consoles. Microsoft has shipped 10 million Xbox One units as of November, while Sony's PS4 installed base is close to 14 million now. By comparison, during their respective first years, the Xbox 360 sold fewer than 8 million units and PS3 had shipped around 10.5 million.

The difference between the seventh and eighth generations of course is that Nintendo's console platform suffered a precipitous drop. While the original Wii caught lightning in a bottle and soared to 20 million units in its first year alone, the Wii U - now completing its second year on the market - has yet to even reach half that figure (sitting at 7.29 million as of the end of September). That said, even Nintendo is now feeling some momentum and analysts are expecting it'll have its best holiday in years, driven by Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 8 and new revenue sources like Amiibo.

"The landscape is changing, and the platform is becoming the retailer itself, much to the chagrin of companies like GameStop"

On the software side - at least in terms of the AAA market - Guillemot's hope that new consoles would drive more successful new IPs has proven partially accurate. While we've seen commercial successes like Watch Dogs, Bungie's Destiny, EA's Titanfall and a solid showing from Insomniac with Sunset Overdrive, there were others that performed average at best - Knack, Ryse, etc. - and the rest of the market has been saturated with the same AAA franchises we've grown accustomed to (Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Forza, Dragon Age, Far Cry and more). The good news is that anticipated new IP like Evolve, No Man's Sky, The Order 1886, Bloodborne, The Division, and Quantum Break, to name a few, is still coming.

The bad news is that console software no longer "just works." In the old days, you'd choose console over PC because you knew that when you put in that cartridge or disc, it would boot up and you'd be playing shortly (longer load times notwithstanding) without significant errors. Now, with eighth generation consoles more connected than ever before, you're often confronted with day one patches, mandatory updates to make anything playable online, and even then you may run into problems, as evidenced by the troubles encountered by Drive Club, Assassin's Creed Unity, Master Chief Collection and more. This is really the subject of a separate editorial, but if publishers continue to ship broken products, they should at least treat them like unfinished games and charge far less, effectively beta testing with users similar to Steam's Early Access.

The more exciting element of the new consoles essentially being always-on is that digital gaming is reaching new heights. On the AAA side you can buy any major release digitally on day one, and indeed digital sales are becoming a larger and larger portion of a title's total. Some of the year's top games took in 20 percent or more in digital receipts - and that's great news for publishers who receive higher margins on digital sales. The landscape is changing, and the platform is becoming the retailer itself, much to the chagrin of companies like GameStop.

On top of the AAA business, Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have all made great strides in bolstering their digital storefronts, offering numerous titles on a smaller scale, often from indies. Sony, most of all, has capitalized beautifully on this, luring in indies and grabbing the attention of gamers with free games as part of PlayStation Plus. The focus on indies has not only helped to diversify consoles' offerings in the early part of this console generation, but it's also served to offset some of the gaps left by the still-in-development or delayed AAA IP.

So where do consoles go from here? Needless to say, judging Xbox One and PS4 on just one year of sales isn't going to tell us where they'll be in five or six years. But barring a major surge in 2015 and beyond, it doesn't look like the eighth generation will significantly outperform the prior generation. In fact, Wedbush Securities' Michael Pachter expects around 240-260 million consoles to be sold when it's all said and done. The Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii combined for 260 million, so the eighth generation ultimately could see flat sales. "So it's not a growth industry. For everyone in this room not chasing that market, you're going to be fine. The market is going to get a lot bigger, just not on console," he said at the recent Game Monetization conference in San Francisco.

Indeed, the overall gaming pie will be getting much, much bigger, thanks to the booming mobile/tablet sector. A new IDC Research report points out that the smartphone and tablet gaming installed base has topped 1 billion in 2014. So consoles obviously are becoming more of a "niche" market, but that's not really a fair word either. 260 million units is hardly small potatoes, and ultimately, if you make a unique and innovative console game you can still be incredibly successful without chasing the mobile scene.

In 2014, consoles put their foot down, shouting "I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere!" It remains to be seen how they'll fare over the long haul, but memory constraints on devices and bandwidth troubles online will make it difficult for them to be replaced by any phone, tablet or streaming service any time soon. Moreover, if virtual reality does begin to take off, consoles could have another exciting avenue to pursue as we've seen with Project Morpheus (no expensive gaming PC rig required). And perhaps then motion controls like Kinect and Move, which - let's face it - were essentially swept under the rug in 2014 will be given new life as VR accessories.

Pressure from other platforms and technologies isn't the only challenge consoles will face, however. It's ultimately the business model that will have to evolve in order for the industry to really move forward. Mobile has been dominated by freemium, which isn't always ideal, while console often asks too much of its audience with $60 purchases and a flow of DLC add-ons. Customers deserve more options. As Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley told us a year ago, "What we need is the next generation of business infrastructure to make [innovation] possible. And iOS isn't doing a great job at that. There needs to be new excitement injected into the console world to provide more infrastructure for that to happen."

I look up Panasonic Q on Ebay and see its $500 and its J-NTSC.

Who pays this much. Why not pay for a Neo Geo X system and some games?

A Neo Geo X would make a lot more sense then a Panasonic Q. You could play Metal Slug and King of Fighters '94. A Playstation 4 would make a billion times more sense at that price. I went from King of Fighters '99 straight to KoF XIII!

25: Suikoden II:

Kicking off the list is a title that most RPG fanatics will probably recognize, even though it doesn’t have the immediate name recognition that some of the other titles enjoy. Developed by Konami and masterminded by Yoshitaka Murayama, the Suikoden series sets itself apart from its PlayStation era contemporaries with its deep RPG systems, strategic combat, and sprawling fiction. Each entry features the “108 Stars of Destiny”, which in most entries means 108 distinct party members. That’s pretty impressive by any standards. While the franchise is chock full of great games, Suikoden 2 probably shines the brightest. Unfortunately, it’ll take some good luck getting a copy these days.

24. Jade Empire:

It’s no secret that the phrase “Role-Playing Game” is synonymous with a fantasy setting featuring Wizards, spells, enchanted items, and dungeons to crawl.

However, this was not the case with Jade Empire, a game that manages to forgo all cliches in favor of embracing an entirely new and unique setting in a kung-fu adventure feeling like something ripped straight from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

It didn’t necessarily have the most in-depth skill-building system, but what it lacked in depth it more than made up for in storytelling and unique counter-based combat. Jade Empire was an engrossing and engaging experience more than deserving of a spot on the list of the top 25 RPGs of all time.

23. Kingdom Hearts II:

Talk about taking a unique conception and improving on in it just about every aspect. The original Kingdom Hearts was such a weird but satisfying game. Seeing Disney favorites on the same screen as Squall, Cloud, and Sephiroth was a sight to behold. With the sequel, Square-Enix managed to take all expectations the first one had (and any the sequel conjured up) and shattered them all. The gameplay was much smoother, the graphics were better (no more barbie lips on Sora), the Drive system kept combat fresh, and the story took a turn for the interesting.

Kingdom Hearts 2 really made the series stand out and become a favorite among RPG fans. It was because of this sequel that the series is still successful and has so many more games out there. Even for fans who don’t play the non-numbered games, they’ll still be extremely excited for Kingdom Hearts 3 because of this game.

22. Dragon Age: Origins:

Stepping out of Dungeons & Dragons’ shadow, BioWare created one hell of a world and lore with Dragon Age. This modernization of the Baldur’s Gate gameplay brought together strategic gameplay, intense story, engaging characters, plenty of customization, and lore you could sink your teeth into for days at a time.

Dragon Age successfully took a mastered formula that once only belonged in the Forgotten Realms and brought it to the rest of the gaming world. No longer was this kind of gameplay put aside for its ties to D&D or being labeled as too hardcore to play. For that, and how epic the game actually was, Dragon Age: Origins needs to be commended.

21. Phantasy Star IV:

It’s hard to argue the inclusion of this classic gem on this list. Phantasy Star was one hell of an RPG series before evolving into the online hit on the Dreamcast. Even though it was a big hit with the RPG games back during the Genesis era, the series really hit the spotlight with the fourth entry to the series.

Phantasy Star IV featured engaging characters, a frantic and intense storyline, and an unforgettable experience. It was one of the earliest examples of an RPG being amazing across the board in gamplay, story, design, characters, and soundtrack.

20. Wild ARMs:

Another excellent PlayStation era RPG, Wild ARMs is basically Firefly before Firefly was a thing. Blending modern technology, monsters and magic with a Western motif made for a compelling universe, and Wild ARMs brought the gameplay chops to back it up. Each of the three characters have individual tools and skills that assist in solving the excellent puzzles and defeating the often jaw-dropping enemies you encounter throughout. Whether it be Rudy’s titular ARMs, Cecilia’s magic creation system or Jack’s sword techniques, each character brings a unique skill set to the group, and the game ends with one of the more dramatic twists in gaming. Wild ARMs spawned a number of quality sequels, but never really earned the success it deserved.

19. Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness:

If you asked me what RPG contained the most content, I would answer with Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness. This is a game with a serious amount of depth that manages to not take itself seriously at all. The story, setting, and character make for some of the quirkiest in games, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a game series that gives you this much to do, find, and conquer.

Afternoon of Darkness is the definitive version of the first Disgaea and it was this game that really took the strategy and RPG combination to its limits. Your characters have levels, your items have levels, there are story dungeons, side dungeons, and your items even have dungeons. You can’t turn around without finding something to do in this game.

It isn’t just the content that really gives Diagaea the credit for being on this list, though. Disgaea features some of the best things Final Fantasy Tactics had and improvements to help this combo of genres become a very popular one. Tactics may have come first, but Disgaea opened the flood gates for potential.

18. Persona 4 Golden:

It takes a lot to have a game that will encompass all of your time and thoughts while completely engrossing you in the experience. While Persona 4 Golden isn’t the only game like that on this list, it is the most recent.

Even though the original came out in 2008, Golden adds a lot to the game even for previous players to come back and play through again.

What makes P4G so amazing is how much you care for the cast of characters and what they are going through. You do something in this game that you don’t do in any other. You have to help the characters face their true selves and come to terms with their feelings. You have to help them all see the truth and harness that into power. It is through this truth that the main character and his friends are able to combat those who would hide the truth forever.

P4G takes you inside the minds of a game’s characters and even makes you wonder about yourself and the truths you ignore. That’s a powerful thing for a game to do, making it one of the most impressive games seen in years.

17. Dark Cloud:

An early of example of the brilliance developer Level 5 would come to be known for, Dark Cloud showed that the RPG genre still had plenty of room for innovation. While the story wasn’t exactly a masterpiece and the randomized dungeons could become a little repetitive, Dark Cloud earns mad points for its intricate player and weapon leveling systems, unique combat and, most importantly, its blending of sim elements into the game. Throughout the adventure, the player collects a resource named Atla which is used to rebuild the world in a manner of the players choosing, reminiscent of the SNES cult classic ActRaiser. It wasn’t perfect, but Dark Cloud scratched an itch most of us didn’t even know we had.

16. Dragon Quest VIII:

There’s so much you could pull from Dragon Quest for this list but ultimately VIII felt like the jump the series needed to once again hit the spotlight. Before this game it almost felt like the series was growing dull. But when you have an entry being talked about more than Final Fantasy X and many other RPGs that graced the PS2 at this time, you know you have a winner on your hands.

Featuring the classic art from Akira Toriyama, Dragon Quest VIII shattered fan’s expectations and churned out one of the best experiences on the PS2, which is quite a feat considering how many there were on the console.

15. Baldur’s Gate II:

You can’t include anything from Dragon Age or Knights of the Old Republic without giving a nod to the big guy that came before. Baldur’s Gate, and really everything from Forgotten Realms at this time, was instant gold to fans. Whether it was this series, Icewind Dale, Temple of Elemental Evil, or Neverwinter Nights, Baldur’s Gate managed to always come up in conversation and it is one of those rare titles that is automatically re-installed whenever you mention it.

The iconic gameplay, party management, character creation, and experience would be replicated over and over again and evolved many times over the years. From Neverwinter Nights to Knights of the Old Republic to Dragon Age, Baldur’s Gate’s legacy lives on as a genre definer and an example of masterful RPG combat and storytelling.

14. EarthBound:

Known as Mother in Japan, EarthBound achieved a devoted following before it ever released in North America. Despite a successful port of the second game in the series, most U.S. gamers know protagonist Ness more from his Smash Bros. appearances than the series he spawned from. However, those who have played the game got to experience one of the most unique RPGs ever created. A far cry from the sword, magic and monsters motif of most RPGs of the time, EarthBound featured clever and original characters, interesting physic components and writing that is far deeper than the standard RPG fare. Numerous theories have been set forth about the unusual ending, but like any good story, EarthBound makes you think without giving away all the answers. Simpy put, EathBound is one of the best narratives in gaming.

13. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions:

While strategy RPGs are common, it’s hard to find one nearly as refined and as well developed as that of Final Fantasy Tactics. With a complex leveling system and the ability to assign new jobs to party members, Tactics takes customization to a new level, allowing players to build their party in nearly any way they see fit to do so. On top of that, the battle system is engaging and requires a fair amount of skill and strategy in order to be successful, and it manages to maintain the same depth of narrative seen in the many other games in the Final Fantasy franchise. It’s a definite beacon in the Strategy RPG genre, and one that simply shouldn’t be overlooked.

12. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars:

A game that tends to get oberlooked both in Nintendo and Squares catalog, this seemingly strange mashup won gamers over with its interesting combat, well-written dialogue and surprisigly well-fleshed out world. I’m going to go ahead and say it: Super Mario RPG features the best iteration of the Mushroom Kingdom ever. Period. The active battle system, which tasks players with entering timed button presses to boost their attack, magic and defense, makes the combat some of the best of its time, while the Mario license help bring in a number of people who might never have played an RPG before. Add in a well-done soundtrack and a quirky, off-beat sense of humor that totally hit the mark, and Super Mario RPG is a cult favorite that helped bring RPGs into the mainstream.

11. Final Fantasy VII:

What can be said about Final Fantasy VII that hasn’t been said already? One of the best known RPG ever, Final Fantasy VII cemented Final Fantasy as the leading name in RPGs, and proved that the PlayStation was for real. What exactly makes FFVII so loved? It’s hard to pinpoint.

Maybe it’s the excellent cast of characters. Cloud remains of the most popular protagonists ever, and the people that gather around him move the story forward in myriad interesting ways.

Or, it could be the refined role-playing mechanics. Materia is still one of the best magic systems in the genre, and the vast world, many secrets, and refined combat hit on all the high spots a good RPG needs to have. Or perhaps it’s all because Sephiroth is hands down one of the best antagonists ever. Whatever the reason, Final Fantasy VII is one of the most loved games ever, and this list simply wouldn’t be complete without it.

10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim:

While many games throughout history have promised total player freedom, few have embraced it in the way Bethesda did with Skyrim. From the lonliest of towns to the grandest of mountains, nothing is out of reach in Skyrim, and few games have ever been able to capture a fraction of the breadth that game features. Skyrim is one of those rare games that never play the same way for any two people, and swapping stories of your experiences in Skyrim like war tales has become something many fans are wont to do. Add to that its ability to become a cultural phenomenon and inspire many various memes and inside jokes, and you’ve got a pretty compelling case to say that Skyrim is a modern fantasy masterpiece.

9. Fallout 3:

War. War never changes, and neither does Bethesda’s legacy of making fantastic and immersive RPGs.

Making the jump from an isometric view to a fully-realized first-person perspective isn’t something many games manage to do gracefully. Not so, however, with Fallout 3. The game took to the new approach well, embracing the feel of an FPS and complementing it with a unique environment and battle system that made up for somewhat wonky combat.

But it’s not the mechanics or the perspective that make Fallout 3 so great. Rather, it’s the atmosphere the game had and the story it told. In a market littered with post-apocalyptic games, Fallout 3 manages to still feel completely different and unique in the tone it sets and the world it creates. There’s depth to the game’s lore, fascinating characters to meet, and an amazing sense of the world that no other game has been able to re-create on the same level. It’s been a genre-defining game of the past generation, and for that, it’s more than deserving of a spot in a list of the greatest RPGs of all time.

8. Diablo 2:

There are some games that stick with you for some time and then there’s Diablo 2. I’ve been playing this game since 2000 when I secretly installed it on every computer in my grade school. No matter what class I was in, if we had computer time, I was slaying demons and not caring at all where I put my skill points. Later on I got really into builds and coming up with some great characters. It was all about reaching Hell difficulty and just being able to survive the Den of Evil. My Hammerdin and I really laid the smackdown from the Highlands to Arreat Summit for a long time.

Diablo 2 is another one of those games that someone reinstalls whenever they hear about it. It’s an experience that sticks with you and defines an entire genre. Hell, most of the games that released after Diablo 2 that resembled it were called “Diablo clones”. That says something. Blizzard hit all of the right points with Diablo 2 and the fact that it is still played worldwide today shows how great its legacy is.

7. World of Warcraft:

MMOs aren’t for everyone, but they can give you some of the most dynamic experiences in gaming. World of Warcraft is not only the biggest RPG on this list, it is also played monthly by over 10 million people worldwide. After four expansions and untold amounts of patches and updates, WoW has transformed massively from what it used to be back in 2004-2006 before Burning Crusade released.

Back during Vanilla WoW, I still remember running the Primordia guild on Arygos and raiding Molten Core, Onyxia’s Lair, and Blackwing Lair every week with 39 other players. That game gave me some of the most epic moments in my gaming career. Watching my guildmates and I take down Ragnaros for the first time was not only a sight to see but it was an accomplishment I’ll never forget. Even later on down the line in Wrath of the Lich King, just going through the whole Icecrown Citadel and fighting against The Lich King is something I’ll always look back on.

World of Warcraft gives players the opportunity to see and do things you never thought possible. Because of that, it is hard not to think of this game as one of the best RPGs of all time. It offers the most content of any RPG, and the experiences you can have in it are unparalleled.

6. Pokemon Crystal:

At a time when Pokemon was really hitting its stride in the popularity train, Pokemon Crystal became the definitive version of its generation and continues to be one of the best Pokemon games ever made.

It took all of the amazing elements of Red, Yellow, and Blue and completely re-imagined them in all the right ways. On top of that, it also introduced a plethora of new Pokemon, Dark and Steel-types, boasted 16 gym badges, 2 Champions, Suicune, and featured moving sprites that set the bar for the other Pokemon games going forward. It not only raised the bar for Pokemon games back in its early days on the Game Boy Color, it also paved the way for their continued existence today. Being that the Pokemon games are some of the most popular on handheld devices, we felt this had to be included in the top ten games of this list.

5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic:

Before this game there was very little Expanded Universe content in Star Wars games that didn’t involve a Skywalker or Solo. When Knights of the Old Republic was released, fans were able to depart the Rebellion Era (and part of the New Jedi Order Era) and go back in time to when Luke and Vader would be considered weaklings next to the force wielders in the Old Republic Era.

Aside from the lore aspect, Knights of the Old Republic was basically an evolution of the Baldur’s Gate-like gameplay that was very popular in the 90′s and early 2000′s. But this time, we controlled a main character we built from scratch to figure out his past and why he was so important to the survival of the Jedi Order and the Republic.

Knights of the Old Republic offers players one of, if not the most, highly regarded plot twists ever. Its story is nigh impossible to beat in terms of the emotion that rushes through you when you reach the climax of the game.

4. Final Fantasy VI:

Newer gamers may not understand why we speak of Final Fantasy with such reverence, but FFVI is a perfect example of why it was,at one time at least, the premiere name in RPGs. It does so mnay things right that it’s almost hard to find fault with it. Each character in the huge roster brings something unique to the team, and they elevate the story far above what most games offer. The Esper system is an incredibly addictive way to level your players and magic, and the insane number of sidequests and secrets ensure that even the most dedicated of gamers will never run out of content, and the game is literally packed with moments that would be the high point in most other games: the opera scene, the creepy Ghost Train and the destruction of the entire world are just a few of the incredible watercooler moments the game offers, not to mention Kefka, one of the most delightfully mad antagonists seen in gaming. Final Fantasy VI isn’t just one of the best RPGs you can buy, it’s one of the best games ever made.

3. Secret of Mana:

An often criminally overlooked game in Square’s stellar catalog, Secret of Mana was doing things on the SNES that the genre wouldn’t fully embrace until years later. The real-time combat was light years ahead of the boring turn-based system that still hasn’t been completely phased out. Not only could your characters level up like in any good RPG, but your individual weapons and magic could level up as well, and took on new abilities by doing so. The art style was unique and beautiful, and is backed by one of the most stunning video game soundtracks of all time. If it only featured a better story, it would have a legitimate shot at number one, but as is it remains one of the best-aging RPGs on the list, and is a testament to the fantastic design prowess of its all-star cast.

2. Mass Effect 2:

Few games in history have ever been able to capture the magic of Mass Effect. From the story to the mechanics, the series is comprised of some of the greatest games ever made.

But it was Mass Effect 2 that realized the series’ potential to its fullest, building on the decisions made by the player and the expansive universe backing the franchise and creating a veritable masterpiece complete with impressive set pieces, fluid gameplay, great presentation, and well-paced storytelling. Mass Effect 2 is the best entry in a series that has helped define this generation and has capitalized on all the most important conventions of a great RPG. For that, it’s one of the best RPGs ever made.

1. Chrono Trigger:

What makes a great RPG? That’s the question at stake here. It’s why this list is here in the first place. It wasn’t easy establishing the exact criteria, but there are a few common factors that most people can agree on. Fun combat, solid levling systems, a good narrative and an artistic audio/visual experience seem to be givens, but we also took into account characters, innovation, the lasting legacy of the game and intangibles as well. On all these counts, Chrono Trigger knocks it out off the park. The unique dual and triple technique system rewards you with distinct attacks for every combination of characters, gives each party layout a distinct feel, and each has a slew of abilities waiting to be experimented with. The branching story and myriad alternate endings are as well-told as they are numerous, and trying to find them all is half the fun. Throw in a memorable art style and a top-notch orchestrated soundtrack and you have a complete game experience that is second to none. Chrono Trigger has everything you could want in an RPG, and is our choice for the greates role-playing game ever made.

I am officially owning Playstation 4. I was next generation with Wii U a year ago on November 18, 2012. I waited at Wal-Mart in Woodbury, Minnesota for 5 hours at a separate line near the restrooms. I preorder it. Playstation 4 sold out at every Wal-Mart in an at midnight. They had extras.  Battlefield 4 is the top game right now for PS4. Seven years ago I bought a PS3 at Shop Ko.

I got $300 for my birthday so I have enough money for Playstation 4! I can buy Super Mario 3D World and PS4 games in December. I just bought Legend of Zelda Wind Waker HD and it is pretty fun. My theory is this FreeBSD 9 running on Playstation 4 will make it last for years. FreeBSD is a UNIX. Xbox One runs on Windows 8. If you think Windows 8 can trump a UNIX, think again! Who cares about Kinnect in this recession/economy. I much rather buy a console that lasts for years. Sony teams up with Foxconn so I'm not worried about manufacturing errors. I love to buy used games as well, who wouldn't? I hate monthly fees and always on connections.

I got 30 mame roms and 20 Neo Geo AES roms on my computer. On Ebay, MAME cabinets sell for $2000. That is five playstation 4s! I've been using MAME32 on my computer since 2005 and playing classics like Marvel vs. Capcom, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Battle Balkraid, Gunbird 1, Gunbird 2, and Mars Matrix. I honestly do not believe I would make more friends having a MAME cabinet. Arcade cabinets are expensive and MAME would save money, but I cannot get friends out of buying one. Absolutely nobody online or in the real world has been hyping MAME in the 8 years I used the emulator. I know if I had this in the 1995, I would be cool, but this is 18 years later after arcades went out of business. I own two GP2x Caanoo, and JXD s5300 at home which emulates games resulting in a couple 100 hits of youtube. I doubt a MAME cabinet would make more views than my GP2x Cannoo preview.  At one time, I wanted to own a Daytona USA cabinet when I went to the cinema to play Daytona USA 1/2.  Daytona USA is my favorite arcade game!

I think I am saving that cash for Playstation 4.

Join my gaming channel at Youtube.  Some other Gamespot users have Youtube channels.  On my Youtube channel is my game collection and top 10, top 20 and top 50 lists.

www.youtube.com/user/renegadeviking

I could use more subscribers. It could well be that who you know on the internet is more important than what you know. Finding followers have been difficuilt.  I'd be happy with 200 subscribers.   Also, what videos should I re-upload?