5 games every gamer should play before they die

Since the birth of gaming, thousands upon thousands of games have been released. Out of all of those games however, there are some that are a cut above the rest. These 5 games are titles that everyone should play before they die, simply because of how much they impacted on the gaming industry and how loved they are by fans all over the world. These games will stand the test of time and will be remembered as some of the greatest games in history.

5. Halo 2

Xbox (2004)

This is not only one of the most beloved game series of all time, but it also had a huge impact on the gaming industry when Halo 2 was released. If you haven’t had a chance to yet, I would definitely recommend watching this documentary about Halo 2’s influence and what it was like to remake the game for the Master Chief Collection.

Halo 2 was one of the first games to have a great multiplayer experience and featured one of the first big online matchmaking experiences. Fans of Halo went nuts when Halo 2 was released, and they lined up all around the world on release day to be one of the first to buy the game.

The story of Halo 2 is rich, and the characters and environments are so interesting. The story has so many twists and turns that the players were left sitting on the edge of theirs seats at the end of each level, wondering what was going to happen next. This is one of the must-have games for any Xbox owners and a must-play for all gamers.

4. Fallout 3

 Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC (2008)

Fallout 3 has to be best game I have ever played (so far). Fallout 3 doesn’t really offer gamers anything ground-breaking. The game took what other RPG games had done before and did it a hundred times better. The world of Fallout 3, the ruins of Washington DC, was one of the most interesting and amazing settings in gaming. It's so fun to walk around the world and see famous monuments and places that can be visited in real life.

The story is great and gives players a reason to finish the game. Players have to journey into the Wasteland and find their father. He left your vault without telling you, and it’s your job to find out why he did. Aside from the main story, however, there are tons of other side missions that can keep players entertained for hundreds of hours. Fallout 3 is loved by millions, and it’s because of how great Fallout 3 was that Fallout 4 is one of the most anticipated games of 2015.

3. Banjo-Kazooie

Nintendo 64 (1998) and Xbox One via Rare Replay (2015)

What can I say about Banjo-Kazooie that hasn’t already been said? The game has such a simple concept, but it's so much fun. This game is over 15 years old and it still stands the test of time. The graphics are still pretty good, and it is easy to spend hours playing, running around collecting everything you can.

The story is pretty basic. Your sister gets stolen by an evil witch, and it’s up to Banjo and Kazooie to get her back and stop the evil Gruntilda. You run around each world and collect music notes and jigsaw pieces to unlock the next world. Players get to travel to nine different worlds where they will experience pure gaming bliss. In a world where every other game that comes out is ultra-violent, it’s nice to play an older game, have fun, and just relax.

2. Shadow of The Colossus

PlayStation 2 (2005)

This game is simply amazing. The concept is so simple, and it shines above all other games on the PS2. Shadow of the Colossus has a very simple idea: you play Wander, a boy who has come across a mysterious land. You and your horse, armed with only a bow and arrow and a sword, must defeat 16 bosses - aka Colossi. Wander and his horse Argo must defeat each Colossus in hopes of resurrecting Mono, a girl who was sacrificed.

 It’s an action-adventure game that is unlike any other in the genre. There are no towns, no AI characters to talk to, and no enemies other than the 16 bosses. The game is unique in the fact that each colossus has a different fighting style and a different weakness. This will force players to think on their feet and figure out different ways to come at each colossus. Each boss can also be beaten using different strategies, and it's fun to come up with new ideas every time you play. 

1. Final Fantasy VII

PlayStation 2 (1997) Coming to PlayStation 4 (Next year)

Not much can be said about this game that hasn't already been said. Final Fantasy VII is considered by many gamers to be the best game ever made, and is easily the best in the Final Fantasy series. So many great characters are in FF7: Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, Barret Wallace, Sephiroth and Yuffie Kisaragi are all characters gamers. Most of the characters in the game are well-known and beloved by gamers all over the world. This game has really stood the test of time, and it will be played for many years to come.

The story is so detailed that its somewhat hard to explain, but the main idea is that Cloud is a mercenary who agrees to help “AVALANCHE” - a rebel force trying to save the planet. Along the way, Cloud's friend Aerith is taken by the Turks. Cloud and the members of AVALANCHE must work together to get her back. When they find her, the main villain Sephiroth tells the team about his plan to be reborn a god. Aerith goes after him alone. When the team finally finds her again, let’s just say things happen. The team then tracks him down and one final battle takes place between AVALANCHE and Sephiroth.

The story is deep and emotional, the characters are memorable and the gameplay is satisfying. That's why its so beloved even today, and why you should check it out if you've never played. If you don’t have a PS1, you’re in luck. FF7 is currently being remade and is set to release later next year for PlayStation 4.

Clementine will remember this list, and so should you next time you're bored and looking for a new game to play. All of these games are amazing and bring something different to the table. These are the kinds of games people will be talking about 20 years from now, and it's because of how much of an impact they had on the gaming industry. 

If you're looking to pick these games up, most of them can be found on Amazon or at your local GameStop. The only game on this list that may be hard to find is Banjo-Kazooie on N64, but if you have an Xbox One you can buy it via the Rare Replay. 

Enjoy these games, fellow players, and game on.