- Primary Subject: Must-Play Video Games (The All-Time Essential Collection)
- Key Update: Following the record-breaking launch of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in late 2025, critics have officially added it to the "Masterpiece Tier" alongside legends like Sekiro and Zelda.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 10, 2026
- Quick Answer: Games like Expedition 33, Undertale, and Subnautica are considered "must-plays" because they offer unique mechanical or emotional experiences that define their respective genres.
In the world of video games, every person has their own preference when it comes to genres. Some enjoy the simplicity of farming simulators, while others enjoy the grinding and storytelling of role-playing games, and the list goes on. Every person is entitled to like what they like, some so much that they don't even bother trying something different than what they're used to, and that's fine.
That being the case, there are some video games that, regardless of a person's preference, must absolutely be played. They are names that have reverberated across the video gaming industry and communities, and it would be a shame not to experience them at least once. As for what they are and why they should be played, here is a list that should convince even the pickiest of gamers to give them a try.
1. The Sims 3
While any of the Sims games could have been on here, Sims 3 is the one that tops them all. It is the ultimate life simulation game, as it essentially allows you to play God with whatever character whose life you decide to control in the most entertaining way possible.
The best part about this game is that there are so many things you can do. From creating homes or commercial lots with tons of options to exploring the vast open world and all its secrets, you're guaranteed hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of fun. Even if you play it once and never again, it's sure to leave a lasting impression, making you think all other life simulation games should strive to be like it.
2. Suikoden 2
Like the previous entry on this list, Suikoden 2 is arguably the best of its series that must be played. Even if you aren't a fan of JRPGs, this video game can suck you or anyone in because of how great it is. Expect a huge cast of characters, a fantastic story, a surprising amount of different types of gameplay, entertaining dialogue, and much more.
Given its genre, it's expected that it will take quite some time to finish, which may turn off some people. However, once you get a taste of everything this JPRG has to offer, you'll wish it were even longer, which is a testament to its amazingness.
3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Numerous turn-based RPGs could have taken this spot, but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is so special that it trumps them all. This is equally impressive given it's a more modern entry and how it's pitted against series such as Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest.
The reason the video game has to be experienced at least once over others of its kind is, for one, due to how its combat is difficult but fair, and is always fun even after experiencing it for the hundredth time. The other is due to how much you can get invested in the story and the characters, as well as the emotions that you're guaranteed to feel from the experience. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of those masterpieces that come once every few generations, and it would be a shame to miss out on it.
4. Subnautica
No video game has managed to capture a horror-like experience without actually being part of the horror genre quite like Subnautica. In it, you're meant to explore the vast waters of a planet you're stranded on in the hopes of finding a way to escape, and that means dealing with everything that dwells in it.
The exploration and survival aspect of this game is absolutely magnificent, and the incredible atmosphere really makes every environment feel both calming and terrifying at the same time. Even if Subnautica is somewhat scary, that shouldn't stop you from trying it once, as even the horrifying elements add so much value to it.
5. Undertale
You've likely heard of this video game, given how much people wouldn't stop talking and praising it back in 2015. To this day, many still do, to an absurd degree, and while that may turn off some from playing it, I'd say Undertale warrants all the recognition and adulation it has received.
It may look like a simple 2D RPG, but don't let its appearance fool you. The game's battle mechanics, story, characters, and music are all finely crafted and have a depth that should not be possible. And yet, it is, and given how one man, Toby Fox, was responsible for the majority of its creation, Undertale deserves to be played at least once.
6. Left 4 Dead 2
Even when compared to modern-day zombie shooters, this seventeen-year-old game still manages to outshine all of them. Valve truly made something special with Left 4 Dead 2, as many still enjoy playing it to this day. It took everything from its predecessor, which was already fantastic and could have been on this list, and improved it in every way possible.
Nothing has come close to the feeling this game gives you when it comes to moving from one place to another while mowing down or being mowed down by hordes of zombies. The best part is that it's great whether you're playing it alone or with friends, making it the pinnacle of zombie shooters that all others should strive to be, so consider trying it once.
7. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Resident Evil is known for being a franchise that helped define the horror genre, but of all its games, the seventh has to be the absolute scariest. You could argue that the more modern Resident Evil Requiem could take this spot, but I would say this entry does the job of terrifying and entertaining players much better.
From beginning to the end, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard defines what a horror game should do, and that's build an incredible atmosphere where you feel that nowhere is safe. It helps that this video game is played in first-person throughout, allowing you to soak up all the details and scares, making it a must-try experience, even if only once.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
You might wonder why this instead of Tears of the Kingdom, as it's basically a bigger and more improved version of its predecessor. While that might be true, Breath of the Wild helped define what open-world video games should be, and did certain things much better than its sequel.
The feeling you get when stepping out into the kingdom of Hyrule for the first time, taking in all the places you could visit and things you can do, is a feeling unlike any other that not even Tears of the Kingdom or others of the genre can replicate. And there really are a lot of things you can do in this game, and you're only limited by your imagination, making it something that should be tried, even if someone isn't a fan of Zelda or Nintendo.
9. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
FromSoftware is responsible for many masterpieces, from Elden Ring to the Dark Souls series, and yet, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the company's game that I urge you to try. Its combat is the most finely tuned, with a parrying system that has been touted as the best and most satisfying to date.
It can also be incredibly difficult, but nearly every fight is fair, and losing is a result of a lack of skill and being unable to adapt more than anything else. It can be as short or as long as you want it to be, making it one of, if not the best, Soulsborne video games that people deserve to enjoy once in their lives.
There are many other video games out there, most of which are masterpieces in their own right, but these are the ones I've deemed must be tried once. Hopefully, you're convinced enough, as you owe it to yourself to play anything that will provide you with an insane sense of satisfaction and lifelong memories.
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