10 greatest – From Elden Ring’s shattered-ring quest in 2022 to 2025’s turn-based-and-real-time standout Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and 2026’s moon-base thriller Pragmata, this ranking spotlights ten modern masterpieces shaping gaming’s last five years. Baldur’s Gate 3 tak
Something big has been happening in gaming these past five years: familiar greatness is being challenged, refined, and reintroduced in new forms. From blockbuster sequels to stealthily brilliant indies, the period from 2022 to 2026 has delivered games that don’t just impress—they stick.
This ranking narrows it down to ten modern masterpieces. judged on gameplay. narrative. art. originality. influence. innovation. design. fan opinion. popularity. critical acclaim. and overall quality. Here are the games that, for better or worse, defined what players reached for—then kept coming back to.
10 Donkey Kong Bananza (2025)
Nintendo’s momentum with the Nintendo Switch 2 has been steady. and while it may not have a single “must-buy” flagship title in the spotlight here. Donkey Kong Bananza still ends up as the best game on the console. After the Void Company and its boss drill into the world in search of bananas. DK and Pauline are the only two who can stop the villain and his plan.
It doesn’t play like a typical 3D platformer. The game is “barely a platformer at all. ” leaning instead on a powerful punching mechanic where every bit of land is destructible. The focus on cathartic. satisfying combat is paired with unique levels. gimmicks. bosses. and collectibles designed to keep the action moving from start to finish.
9 Pragmata (2026)
Pragmata has already carved out a place among the best of the 2020s. Set abandoned in a rundown facility on the moon. the story centers on the protagonist and a little android girl as they trek across the base to find a way to escape back to Earth—without getting shot down by the hostile AI running the place.
The game may have taken longer to establish itself on this list simply because it’s newer. but it’s still being treated as a sensation for its unusual blend of hacking and puzzles into shooting. Its sci-fi setup comes with an imaginative system, tight pacing, and linear exploration that prevents the experience from feeling bloated.
8 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025)
In 2025. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 walked away with Game of the Year. and it’s easy to see why this world and its rules stand out. In a fading world exists the paintress, an entity that can erase an age from the planet every year. To stop the planet from becoming ageless. a brave group of adventurers sets out on the 33rd expedition to defeat her.
The game’s appeal leans on an innovative blend of turn-based combat and real-time events. building tense fights that still feel immersive. It also carries an award-winning reputation beyond gameplay: its narrative. painterly world. and worldbuilding aim for some of the most unique setups around. with voice acting described as spectacular.
7 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (2025)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is framed as a must-play hidden gem from a strong 2025 lineup. Players take on the role of a soldier traveling to a king to make sure their loyalty is still intact. That mission collapses when they lose their identity and end up with no way to prove who they are—while a brewing war between nations escalates around them.
The sequel is said to improve “pretty much everything. ” expanding the world with more things to do. more avenues for gameplay opportunities. and more roles to play. Presented as one of the greatest RPG titles ever made. it leans into immersive. authentic medieval storytelling through a broad set of systems and choices.
6 God of War: Ragnarök (2022)
God of War: Ragnarök landed in a 2022 Game of the Year race that was described as a two-horse contest. It didn’t take the top prize, but it still earns a spot here as a worthy sequel.
With Midgard freezing and the prophesied end of the world approaching. Kratos and his son Atreus go searching across the realm for allies to help fight the Gods—and. crucially. to try to save the world. The earlier 2018 reboot is credited for rebranding and improving the franchise. and Ragnarök is described as not better than that predecessor but still remarkable.
One detail stands out immediately: its single-take camera style is described as a cinematic masterpiece. Under the hood, its true strength is mechanical depth—systemic combat and variety built to deliver an action masterclass.
5 Astro Bot (2024)
The 3D platformer genre might have been dominated by Nintendo for years. but 2024 brought a shake-up in the form of Astro Bot. Sony’s unexpected delight follows the titular character as he travels across a plethora of levels with a clear mission: rescue his crew. repair the PS5 mothership. and escape the planet.
The game’s design is presented as joy-first. Astro Bot is built to revive that sense of fun through level design and platforming gimmicks, described as being at the peak of its genre. It uses haptic feedback for immersion, and its fluid character movement is aimed at making jumping feel satisfying.
4 Hades 2 (2025)
Hades 2 is technically placed among the indie set, but the write-up makes it clear it carries the series’ distinct identity. It’s the much-anticipated sequel to the 2020 original, and it starts with Chronos newly resurrected—taking over the underworld and imprisoning his family.
Melinoe escapes, and now she must travel through Tartarus and Olympus to kill Chronos and free her family. This entry is described as pushing the hook from the first game forward while reinvigorating combat and adding more weapons.
The roguelike loop is framed as refined, with a grander scale that weaves narrative into repetition so the gameplay never feels purely repetitive. The result: Hades 2 is treated as one of the most creative games of the past five years.
3 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)
This list leans heavily into sequels. and none are more celebrated here than The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. When Zelda and Link discover Ganondorf beneath the palace, he is resurrected again. That event sends Zelda to the past and Link without his Master Sword.
Breath of the Wild is called the better and more influential game. but Tears of the Kingdom is presented as a leap in virtually every direction: narrative. bosses. dungeons. exploration. side quests. and overall content. It’s described as an expansive open-world masterpiece that doesn’t run out of things to do.
Tears of the Kingdom’s traversal is highlighted for rewarding curiosity, encouraging exploration in “marvelous and whimsical” ways. It’s positioned as one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch.
2 Elden Ring (2022)
FromSoftware is described as prolific. and Elden Ring is treated as the studio’s magnum opus within the last five years. After the titular object shatters, pieces are collected by the demigod children of Queen Marika. The players control the Tarnished. journeying through the Lands Between to defeat the children. collect the shards. restore the ring. and become the Elden Lord.
The pitch here is a blend of worldbuilding and combat: George R.R. Martin’s worldbuilding meets FromSoftware’s soulslike gameplay to create an RPG experience described as a “game-changing” fantasy adventure. Elden Ring’s difficulty is acknowledged—its relentless challenge and difficulty—but the write-up says that’s what makes the combat rewarding. while exploration is treated as among the best open-world experiences of all time.
1 Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)
At the top is Baldur’s Gate 3. described as the best and most innovative game of the past five years. Set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. players are infected by a mind-flayer tadpole and must adventure across the world to find a cure. The ticking clock exists alongside a brewing war between mortals and gods.
The game’s standout is player agency and choice. The write-up points to companies “actually caring” about their games. and it credits that care in turning Baldur’s Gate 3 into a passion-fueled masterpiece. Developed by Larian Studios. it released on August 3. 2023. carries an ESRB rating of M. and is built as a detailed interactive translation of Dungeons & Dragons experience.
Everything here—from the basic premise of finding a cure under pressure to the constant sense of consequence in decision-making—is framed as what keeps Baldur’s Gate 3 ahead. It’s not just a story you watch; it’s a world you shape.
The last five years of gaming, at their best, have done more than entertain. They’ve built worlds that players carry with them—through mechanics that feel personal. narratives that don’t let go. and design that keeps evolving as the industry moves forward. And if this era has one clear centerpiece, it’s that Baldur’s Gate 3 doesn’t just arrive fully formed. It invites you to stay.
Baldur's Gate 3 Elden Ring The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom God of War Ragnarok Hades 2 Astro Bot Pragmata Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Kingdom Come Deliverance II Donkey Kong Bananza video games 2022 2026 gaming masterpieces Larian Studios
Baldur’s Gate 3 is GOAT, idk why people argue.
Wait they said 2022–2026 but the article feels like a 2 sentence summary and then a bunch of names?? Donkey Kong Bananza sounds fake though lol. Also what does “fan opinion” have to do with gameplay and narrative?
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Pragmata moon-base thriller??? I thought Pragmata was that Capcom thing that got delayed like forever. If they’re ranking it already then maybe I missed a release date or something. Also “influence” is kinda subjective. Doesn’t Elden Ring already beat all that shattered ring quest stuff anyway?
I only clicked because it said Baldur’s Gate 3 tops it, but why is Donkey Kong Bananza even on the list?? If it doesn’t have a flagship title then how is it the best game on Switch 2?? This whole ranking reads like they just threw in whatever was trending. I’m just gonna stick to older games, honestly.