The Ultimate Gruel Games List

I probably forgot something really important like Drake of the 99 Dragons but I will add it in if I forgot.

Ninja Gaiden Black
Ninja Gaiden Black
There's a lot bad you can say about Itagaki, but with games like NGB I respect his complete focus on a distinct action game vision. Best exemplified by how Sigma, a game he had no involvement with, is worse without his oversight. It's tight, brutally difficult, and mechanically dense, but satisfying in a way few games actually can be. My favorite game of all time.

1

Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VIII

2

Nightshade
Nightshade

3

Thief: The Dark Project
Thief: The Dark Project
This is the first one I played so I am a little biased putting it this high. But hey, what are you gonna do? I actually enjoy the monsters and tombs, little sicko I am. Either way, this and Thief II justify the existence of video games as an art form.

4

Half-Life
Half-Life
Still the GOAT. undefeated.

5

Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft
Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft

6

Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank

7

Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII
A new addition to the list. What can I say? The hype is absolutely real.

8

Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime

9

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly

10

Resident Evil
Resident Evil

11

Hedon Bloodrite
Hedon Bloodrite

12

Nioh 2
Nioh 2
What can I say, Team Ninja are the action game pros for a reason.

13

Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4

14

Thief II: The Metal Age
Thief II: The Metal Age
The Stealth Game Perfected. Huge, sprawling, intricate levels packed with world-building and detail, a set of stealth mechanics that make perfect sense and simply work, and fantastic voice acting and writing. Of my top 10 this one is a perfect 5/5 no notes.

15

Panzer Dragoon II Zwei
Panzer Dragoon II Zwei
Debated between this and Orta, but man, when your dragon takes off and flies for the first time? Goddamn.

16

Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry
Wonderful art direction, atmosphere, sound effects, and enemy design, DMC1 may not have the combat variety of its sequels but more than makes up for it in its opponents.

17

Killer7
Killer7
A completely unique experience in every way. While some surrealist games play it safe on the gameplay front, Killer7 throws conventions out the window to just start experimenting with games as a medium.

18

Ninja Gaiden II
Ninja Gaiden II
The game falls apart in the final half, but for a good part of its runtime it's the most visceral, intense, and uncompromising action game experience ever put to disc.

19

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

20

F.E.A.R.
F.E.A.R.

21

Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: Combat Evolved

22

Quake
Quake
Fast-paced, dark, spooky, brutal, and just a ton of fun to play. You can't really wax poetic about Quake, it just kicks total ass.

23

System Shock 2
System Shock 2

24

Far Cry 2
Far Cry 2

25

5 Comments


1 year ago

missed drake and the 99 dragons

1 year ago

i got it and drakengard mixed up

1 year ago

where is pussy punchers 3000

1 year ago

This shit rocks
kino list, some real bangers on here


Last updated: