What Makes A Game a "Must-Play" Title?

Photo by Joanne Baranga

Labelling games as “must-plays” has become increasingly common in recent years, but despite its presence, it does not have a clear definition. When we hear this phrase, many of us think this refers to the best games, but this itself is an unreliable label. With the rise of social media and the many conflicting opinions people have about what kind of games are for them, it becomes harder to define what makes a game a must-play title. For example, how can Hollow Knight: Silk Song be a must-play game for gamers who aren’t fans of Metroidvanias? 

A more reliable way to define which games are “must-plays” could be to look at The Game Awards and what their prestigious ‘Game of the Year’ nomination deems the best. Game of the Year winners such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Last of Us Part 2, and Elden Ring are all titles included in the conversation about must-play games, so why should this not be a good metric for seeing what games you have to play? The simple answer is capitalism: every single Game Award winner has been a AAA or major publisher release. Despite all these games being incredible, to say that all must-play games need to have a huge budget and massive teams, spits in the face of treasured and beloved indie games such as Hollow Knight, Portal, Sifu, and Outerwilds. 

However, focusing on only Game Award winners and indie games also dismisses many foundational video games. The Game Awards being released in 2014 meant they only chronicle games from then onwards, whilst indie games only began gaining mass traction in the late 2000s to early 2010s, with releases like Minecraft, The Binding of Isaac, and Team Fortress 2. Many would argue that games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Metroid, and the original Super Mario Bros. are must-play games, simply based on their importance to the existence of all future games. 

Perhaps the key to a must-play title is for the game to be innovative. Many games that have influenced and changed the medium of gaming itself can be seen as "must-plays" due to their significance to the industry as a whole. Undertale has undoubtedly created a new vision for many games as one of the most unique RPGS in existence; games like Omori and Celeste take many aesthetic and thematic notes from Undertale. It is important to note however, that games with mostly formulaic and consistent genres or styles, such as fighting games, shooters, or other online multiplayer games, are not usually considered the same way. Due to these games constantly growing and becoming more polished with each new update or installment, it is much more difficult to liken them to the timeless and personal experiences of story-driven single-player titles. Games like the original Halo, Street Fighter 2, and Pokémon Red & Blue are highly respected and iconic games, but the majority of the modern fanbase does not need to and likely has not played these early entries due to the franchises evolving far past them in quality. This is unlike single-player games such as Chrono Trigger, which, despite celebrating its 30-year-old anniversary this year, is still being recommended as a “must-play”.

However, this also leads to another aspect common in many must-play games: nostalgia. Whether consciously or not, people respond much better to games that remind them of a safer time in their lives. This can include long-running franchises that are inherently close to many gamers’ hearts. Super Mario Odyssey is not only a fantastic 3D platformer that masters movement, but it is also the culmination of decades of beloved Mario games that are close to fans, young and old. This can apply to spiritual successors as well. These are games created specifically to recapture the nostalgia and magic of classic titles, despite being separate IPs developed by different developers. For example, Bioshock, which borrows many aspects from its predecessor Systemshock, or Yooka-Laylee, unsubtly alluding to the classic Banjo-Kazooie. So does this mean that the title of “must-play” is just a projection of a gamer’s desire to relive their glory days that modern gaming companies have used to ship out unoriginal products unnoticed? 

The idea of a “must-play” game that everyone needs to experience is ultimately impossible. For a game that can be universally adored or appreciated to exist, it would need to appeal to all and simply be perfect, which is, of course, impossible. But that does not mean a more personal version of them does not exist. Simply put, any game that you personally see as a must-play title is still a must-play for you – no matter how hated or despised or obscure it is. This may seem like a very unsatisfactory answer, but at least you get to call whatever weird, bizarre games you fell in love with “must-play masterpieces”, and you will have written permission for that, thanks to this article.

---

Edited by Joanne Baranga