So lets dive into the greatest masterpieces of this great medium. Starting with the very best.

1. Metro 2033

If the purpose of a game is to transport you to another world, than Metro deserves the crown. The dark tunnels absorb you like nothing else. Every step is one into the unknown. I always tell people very confidently “Avatar the Last Airbender and Metro 2033 are the two best things made by humans, ever.” The story, the symbolism, the message, the setting, the genre, the game mechanics: everything is top tier. You are Artyom, a young man that found himself on an epic journey in the Moscow metro after a nuclear apocalypse. He has to “save” the world, only this time you can ask yourself: Did you really? The game is based on a Russian best selling novel by the name name, and is made by Ukrainians. The word at the core of this depressing world is ‘hope’. How fitting then, that this is a cooperation between nations that are currently at war with each other. But the main message behind this work is an anti-racist one. It is quite carefully hidden. It isn’t in your face, but it brought over subtly, you will contemplate if “the other”, the Dark Ones, are really a danger. Perfection. Furthermore it is linear FPS that uses bullets as a currency system, which is brilliance cause you really have to be frugal. Which is not so easy when neo-nazi’s, communists, bandits and mutants are all at your throat… The metro is home to many factions, stations are now micro-states. But it is the atmosphere that makes the game truly superb. Which reminds me, politics aside, play it with Russian voices. Beautiful and authentic.

I could easily fill this list with every installment from this magnificent franchise. Or talk about the Redux version, who gives you two remastered games and all DLC’s for only 20 euro or so (what a ‘goated’ company! The exact opposite of modern CoD!). But diversity is more fun! On to the second place.

2. Rayman 3

Rayman has been an influential franchise early on. The original trilogy are all good games. But the 3rd installment, which was not even made by the original creator by the way, really was something special. The diversity in gameplay is utterly unmatched. One moment you are controlling a lift by frantically punching buttons at the right moment with you floating fists, the other you are a miniature version of yourself driving one of you shoes in some sort of dodgem car’s game. Did I mention the disco levels where you are surfing floating bars? Yes, Rayman 3 can feel super stoned and doesn’t take itself seriously, but in that manner it gave us so many original game mechanics that many have never been used again since. The game is also a true king in terms of soundtrack. There are compilations on the internet showcasing the insanely numerous theme’s that exist in this game. It is a sight to behold and they are so catchy that you still remember it after playing it as a kid 20 years ago. But what really stuck with me is the world and atmosphere of the many different realms. What creativity. What a magical world they created. Especially the enchanted forest, which feels designed to make people care about nature (no wonder, since the original creator now operates a zoo). What better message is there?

3. King Kong - The Official Game of the Movie

Game adaptations of movies aren’t always a slam dunk. But there is one exception. Peter Jackson’s King Kong is in my view one of the cinematic wonders of the world. It is great, then, that every companion piece matched that quality. Even the game boy one, I remember, which had his very own charm. But the Game Cube version especially, was stellar. What stunning dark atmosphere, and location designs. I recall wanting to be able to just walk through the forest of Skull Island without having to defend myself to the beasts of this lost world every second (which is impossible, I mean, its Skull Island!). It was just so beautifully made! How wonderful to be in such a larger than life natural world. But this world is harsh. Every player must remember our companions screaming “JAAAAACKK!!!!!!!” and you, Jack, rushing towards them to save them in the nick of time. Trauma flashbacks! A real Skull Island experience. There is much more that could be said. One thing I certainly must not forget to mention is that it has interesting mechanics, like having to find ways to burn bushes, even merely for getting to a piece of wood that can be used to open a gate to a new area. Oh and the sections where you play as King Kong are equally great, they feel like a different game almost, a nice alteration between missions. I must remind myself to revisit the island every once in a while.

4. Far Cry Primal / Avatar Frontiers of Pandora

Yes, you saw it right, this is a shared spot. These games are eerily alike. They even share a “hunter’s eye” game mechanic that lets you scan the environment for clues and smells. Both have you explore a lush wilderness full of dangerous wildlife and hostile humans as a stone age type civilisation. The only thing is, the first one is set in Europe 10.000 BCE and the second one on a far away alien planet. Both are exceptionally well done open world games that flush out the setting as they should. Primal has that true ice age caveman feeling. There are some landscapes and moments that give me the same feeling the music of Heilung gives. It brings something ancient and natural in us to the front, something primal. And Avatar really brings this alien planet to life, with awesome speculative alien animal and plant designs. Like plants that do unexpected stuff, like bounce you into the air or electrocute you or give you a new skill. But the best about this game is running and jumping though the jungle like a monkey, over the mossy trunks and past bioluminescent plants. It is delicious. It is therapeutic and how humans should live. (Cough cough Solarpunk everybody!) Granted, I am a bit biased as I still currently playing Avatar and in hype-mode. But that’s why I make the comparison with Far Cry. I just couldn’t choose, and they are really similar in the best of ways.

5. Call of Duty Black Ops

This is the biggest gaming franchise in history at its best. Black Ops has been very influential. It had countless innovative new features. Like rappelling down to jump though a window and quickly shooting all the enemies inside. #Epic! But that’s not even what I love about it. The glitchy intro’s, the weirdest/coolest game menu of all time, the hidden puzzels, the freaky unexpected plot twist, the unexplored historic cold war setting, the epic battles, the behind enemy lines ‘black ops’ missions. Its the first Call of Duty where you are wondering what’s actually going on, and who the hell your character is, and maybe even if what you are doing is right. Its a wild ride. And also a brutal, even shocking one. The whole game you are being interrogated, the CIA must delve up the memories in your Soviet-brainwashed brain to prevent an attack on the west. The vibe is like nothing else. It is nuts that a movie with the same feeling or aesthetic hasn’t been made in all this time. Luckily more black ops games followed, but none as good as the first one. It is almost a genre on its one, of tense and semi-supernatural wartime mysteries that are classified. My only critique is the very propagandistic and nationalistic American ending. But at least it fitted the story. Let’s never forget this cryptic masterpiece, it definitely holds up.

That was it! What is the best game ever made in your own opinion? And will you give these a try?

Once I saw a Youtube video of a guy playing and then ranking all CoD’s. I agreed with him a lot but then came a few decisions that broke me… I know I’m being dramatic but as someone who’s played almost all of them I obviously feel strongly about them. They might be interactive US propaganda, but there are some gaming and storytelling masterpieces of art among them. Besides, its the biggest and most innovative franchise in history, one that was actually birthed by Steven Spielberg with great intentions. But that’s another story.

So I decided to make my own raking! One that is objectively TRUTH ; )

Admittedly I haven’t played Ghosts and MW3 reboot, but from what I’ve heard and seen I have formed an opinion. But I don’t know, take them with a grain of salt I guess.

The best are at the top, and the worst are at the bottom!

Here we go:

Black Ops

World at War

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Modern Warfare 2

Infinite Warfare

Call of Duty 2

WWII

Black Ops Cold War

Modern Warfare

Call of Duty 3

Black Ops III

Black Ops 6

Black Ops II

Advanced Warfare

Modern Warfare II

Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty

Ghosts

Modern Warfare III

Vanguard

That’s all folks! Yes, Infinite Warfare is good. Please don’t be blinded by the hate that was sparked by an rushed trailer and bad timing. It has the most emotional story of all CoDs and tons more to offer.

I might update this with opinions/reviews, but for now I keep it nice and clear.

Here comes my attempt at a top 10 favorite films. Which is hard, cause there are so many masterpieces that I worship, and the order can be especially hard. But let’s just begin. Here it is, imported from my Movie Meter profile:

• 1. Gojira, Mosura, Kingu Gidorâ: Daikaijû Sôkôgeki (2001)
  Alternative title: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack

Simply the coolest kaiju film. Godzilla Minus One might be the best, it obviously is, but this one is the most epic and has the best monster designs/suits and music. Every monster and the army has their own tune! The directing is almost Spielberg-esque sometimes and it feels very real. Long live practical effects. Its also one of few films where Godzilla is actually scary, and one of few where we realistically see the publics reaction to the monster… If I’m ever exiled to an island and can only bring one dvd, it will be GMK!

• 2. King Kong (2005)

The peak of the early 2000s golden era of film, with stunning CGI effects that films of today should learn from (don’t listen to corridor crew, one scene in a 3 hour movie doesn’t define it. The rest of all the effects are utterly unmatched). Easily the best film in the lost world genre and criminally underrated still. Also, why isn’t the magnificent soundtrack more popular?

• 3. Jurassic Park (1993)

The king of dinosaur films (with the best practical effects in history i’m sure) but many people don’t realise how superb the philosophical conflicts are. And lighting, score, I could go on forever I think. The magic of bringing extinct creatures vividly to life is what film was made for.

• 4. Padeniye Berlina (1950)
  Alternative title: The Fall of Berlin

There’s a Youtube video essay out there that trashes this film. I will not grant it a view to see what’s that about. This film is absolutely epic. The propagandistic parts make it rather funny, it’s so over the top. But the battles are seriously awesome. The colors as well, which is unexpected for a 50s film! And the weirdest thing is, the German command scenes are extremely historically accurate. They really did their homework.

• 5. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

To me simply objectively the best film ever made. Just not my favorite on this list. But it is at the top of my best films in general list. A video that I might post later. Every scene is iconic. The style is beautiful. I will probably never watch that ‘Omaha beach, the art of the scene’ video. I could learn so much from it, even use it for my comics as many film techniques also work there, but the enchantment must never be ruined by analyzing it. Last Liberation Day when I saw it again I finally realize the meaning… WE are private Ryan. WE have been saved, at the expense of many men. The philosophical question is if the immense sacrifice was worth it. And WE must make sure that it is, especially in liberated countries. Brilliance. Maybe I’m stupid for realising it after so many watches, but I have always felt it.

• 6. A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Just my usual tradition of watching this one on Liberation Day! The perfect film for it, set in The Netherlands during the liberation. The scale of the film is enormous and a lot of it is real. No green screens luckily! Just a massive amount of vehicles and men on the actual locations of the battle. Its also filled with A list actors and the battle scenes are really great and realistic.

• 7. Joheunnom Nabbeunnom Isanghannom (2008)
  Alternative title: The Good, the Bad, the Weird

A super fun and very creative ride. With my favorite actor in the world, Song Kang Ho. There are few films with so many factions I bet, and it is heavenly how they all come together in the end, when total chaos follows.

• 8. Taegukgi Hwinalrimyeo (2004)
  Alternative title: Brotherhood

The best war film of the east. The Korean wave hit me for the first time with this film and I have been riding it ever since. It is a gripping and emotional film. With battle scenes on par with Saving Private Ryan. Such neat symbolism to have two brothers fight each other, their family is ripped apart just like their nation and people are. But the’ll always be brothers, just like North and South Korea. By the way, also check My Way, by the same director.

• 9. Cloverfield (2008)

Maybe the creepiest giant monster film. And the best found footage movie ever. The creepy multi-media marketing campaign is super interesting too, its a whole rabbit hole. Plus, not many people know that its sort of a trilogy. With the other amazing film 10 Cloverfield Lane and the flopped The Cloverfield Paradox. But the original really shocked me as a teen.

• 10. Hauru no Ugoku Shiro (2004)
  Alternatieve titel: Howl’s Moving Castle

My favorite Ghibli film. So intruiging. The gorgeous walking castle, the war ships, the music, the imaginative world and mysterious characters. Though I love world driven stories the most and I think this one can count as such. A beautiful dream and sometimes nightmare.

Bonus: The brilliant Ip Man trilogy is a most honorable mention…

These are films that get me absolutely stoked, glued to the screen and most of all: Inspired. I’ve made countless drawings inspired by them (or now that I think of it, perhaps more so by the videogames that were companion pieces of some of these films… I should also do a top 10 games!). Hopefully my own publications can inspire others in return.

(Illustration by me, from my top 30 films video, of my 1# favorite)