Japan Picks the Best Games Ever

Some surprises as Famitsu readers bicker among themselves to pick the games you should have played already. RPGs not surprisingly lead the way. Full Top 100 games inside.

Everybody does it from time to time. You're sitting with your friends somewhere and somebody asks what everyone's favourite games are. And then the fighting begins. Japanese magazine Famitsu asked its readers the same question and the results are interesting, both for what they include and what they leave out.

Final Fantasy X: The best game ever, apparently

For instance, don't expect to see first-person shooters doing well in the rankings. Ditto for Western games, in general - the highest placing non-native game is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City at No. 76. Japanese gamers, according to this list, like Japanese games, and they really like role-playing games - nearly half of the Top 100 are RPGs.

Call it a sneak peak into the psyche of the Japanese gamer or a misaligned poll with too many extenuating variables to be given much credence. Here are the 100 best games ever according to Famitsu readers, as translated by Next Generation:

1. Final Fantasy X (2001)
2. Final Fantasy VII (1997)
3. Dragon Quest III (1988)
4. Dragon Quest VIII (2004)
5. Machi (1998)
6. Final Fantasy IV (1991)
7. Tactics Ogre (1995)
8. Final Fantasy III (1990)
9. Dragon Quest VII (2000)
10. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
11. Dragon Quest V (1992)
12. Far East of Eden 2 (1992)
13. Sakura Taisen (1996)
14. Dragon Quest IV (1990)
15. Final Fantasy V (1992)
16. Xenogears (1998)
17. Dragon Quest II (1987)
18. Sakura Taisen III (2002)
19. Kingdom Hearts (2002)
20. Streetfighter II (1992)
21. Super Mario Bros (1985)
22. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
23. Toki Meki Memorial (1995)
24. Final Fantasy IX (2000)
25. Final Fantasy VI (1994)
26. Metal Gear Solid 3 (2004)
27. Valkyrie Profile (1999)
28. Chrono Trigger (1995)
29. Kingdom Hearts II (2005)
30. Dragon Quest (1986)
31. Legend of Zelda 3 (1991)
32. Final Fantasy X-2 (2003)
33. Resident Evil (1996)
34. Dragon Quest VI (1995)
35. F-Zero (1990)
36. Sakura Taisen II (1998)
37. Mother 2 (1994)
38. Mother (1989)
39. Virtua Fighter (1994)
40. Dragon Quest 5 (PlayStation 2 remake, 2004)
41. Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (2002)
42. Metal Gear Solid 2 (2001)
43. Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005)
44. Tales of the Abyss (2005)
45. Ogre Battle (1993)
46. Legend of Zelda (1986)
47. Virtua Fighter 2 (1995)
48. Mysterious Dungeon 2 (1995)
49. Sonic The Hedgehog (1991)
50. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
51. Pokémon Red and Green (1996)
52. Ys 1 & 2 (1989)
53. Romancing Saga (1992)
54. Toki Meki Memorial (PC Engine version, 1994)
55. Super Robot Taisen Alpha (2000)
56. Resident Evil 2 (1998)
57. Tales of Eternia (2000)
58. Digital Devil Story Megami Tensei II (1990)
59. Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
60. Final Fantasy II (1988)
61. Super Mario World (1990)
62. To Heart II (2004)
63. Final Fantasy (1987)
64. Puyo Puyo (1992)
65. Family Stadium Pro Baseball (1986)
66. Wizardry (1987)
67. Hokkaido Murder Mystery (1987)
68. Fire Emblem (1994)
69. Super Mario Kart (1992)
70. Dynasty Warriors 4 (2003)
71. Monster Hunter (2004)
72. Best Play Pro Baseball (1988)
73. Grandia (1997)
74. Resident Evil 4 (GameCube version, 2005)
75. Gran Turismo 4 (2004)
76. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2004)
77. Super Monaco GP (1990)
78. Torneko Mysterious Dungeon (1993)
79. Tales of Destiny (1997)
80. Streetfighter 2 Turbo (1993)
81. Dynasty Warriors III (2001)
82. Final Fight (1990)
83. Monster Hunter Portable (2005)
84. Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)
85. Monster Hunter G (2005)
86. Mysterious Dungeon 2 (2000)
87. Kung Fu (1985)
88. Toki Meki Memorial (Saturn version, 1996)
89. Tales of Destiny II (2002)
90. Kamaitachi No Yoru (1994)
91. Sakura Taisen IV (2002)
92. Tales of Rebirth (2004)
93. Sim City (1991)
94. Saga 2 (1990)
95. Pro Baseball Family Stadium (1987)
96. Tetris (Game Boy version, 1989)
97. Secret of Mana (1993)
98. Gradius (1986)
99. Super Mario Bros III (1988)
100. Resident Evil IV (PlayStation version, 2005)

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games