My Top Ten Games of 1998

1998 is often picked out as "the greatest year in gaming", and not without reason. It did see the release of iconic games that changed the standards of games forever. It also had some of my all time favourite games. I was still primarily playing on the N64 at the time, though it was the year I got the PS1 and was introduced to Sony for the first time, a significant development for my own gaming tastes.

3D games were really starting to meet their potential this year, and the sheer variety of new series and improved sequels came to set a standard of quality that is hard to match in future years. Many of the games on this list would be outright game of the year winners in their own right in another year, demonstrating the sheer stacked quality of this one.

Here are my top games of 1998.

List items

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  1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

  A true Nintendo classic and one that is often held up as a candidate for "greatest game of all time". Ocarina of Time is a magical game that immersed me in its setting with lovely music, colourful world and a level design that made it feel huge. With surprisingly dark elements as well as ones of pure joy, Ocarina of Time takes players on an emotionally captivating journey without any voice work or dialogue. Bursting with content, unforgettable style and a sense that you are experiencing something special when you play it. This one felt like an event, and it truly proved that it was in the years since. It is hard to think of a more significant or special game than this.

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  2. Pokémon Red/Blue

  Perhaps the ultimate game of my childhood, Pokemon Red was a groundbreaking experience. I began my adventure with Bulbasaur and progressed through a simple but captivating world. I got so much back from raising my team of monsters, battling and trading with friends at school, on the bus and neighborhood. By the time I had beaten the Elite 4 I had put over 200 hours into this game, and that says it all. It was improved upon by later Pokemon games, but this one will always be a masterpiece.

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  3. Metal Gear Solid

  An instant classic on the PS1, Metal Gear Solid came out of nowhere for me. It had a visual style that even at the time was not at the top of what was available, but so much of the presentation was just phenomenal. From its haunting music, incredible boss encounters and grim but unforgettable storytelling, Metal Gear Solid introduced me to a series that would become one of my favourites. It also had some of the tightest gameplay approaches and stealth in games to date, and a fully voiced game was very impressive at the time.

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  4. Tekken 3

  While Mortal Kombat has my heart for fighting games of this era, I know that Tekken 3 is the true king. From its responsive fast combat and range of characters with actual divergence in styles and control schemes, Tekken 3 was a game worth buying a console for and had 8 year old me considering starting taekwondo classes. With a mix of both serious and comedic character endings, plenty of game modes, the sheer scale of improvement over its predecessors, and a combat system that was accessible but massively rewarded skill, it is the greatest fighting game of the era.

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  5. StarCraft

  What a game to set the standard for my early RTS experiences. It's absolutely packed singleplayer campaign, including three playable races, has a fantastic story that is worth following in itself, but the sheer speed of the gameplay and the level of control it gives the player is addictive. The gameplay between the different factions actually has meaningful differences, and even by the standards of modern RTS games this remains a stellar game. Masterclass in its genre that few games can match almost 20 years later.

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  6. Banjo-Kazooie

  Taking the Super Mario 64 formula and perfecting it, this is among Rare's finest works. The ultimate collectathon, absolutely filled with charm and colour, Banjo-Kazooie is the most fun and vibrant of platformers in this style. It rewards players for exploring with its fantastic level design and structure, and is just plain fun to play. Even today it stands up so well with its art direction and simple gameplay mechanics. The soundtrack is fantastic as well.

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  7. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil

  I was so excited for this before its release, and it did not disappoint. Improving on many aspects of its predecessor, including enemy variety, the arsenal of weapons and adding a lot more gore, Turok 2 remains one of my favourite shooter games of all time. From fighting Flesh Eaters to storming the Death Marshes, Seeds of Evil had incredible ambition and managed to pull it off. Also, the Cerebral Bore has to be acknowledged as perhaps the greatest weapon in video games. Ever.

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  8. Resident Evil 2

  This was a very exciting release, and superior to the first Resident Evil game in every way. Resident Evil 2 has a more exciting setting, faster, more responsive gameplay, greater enemy variety and all while significantly adding to the lore of the series. Better action didn't take away from the horror, and it is one of the great survival horror games of its era with a truly punishing and rewarding campaign.

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  9. Crash Bandicoot: Warped

  While not quite matching the sheer focus and quality of its predecessor, Crash Bandicoot 3 had better bosses, more varied gameplay and levels, along with all the charm that is to be expected with this series. A fantastic platform game of its time and runs so smoothly that it remains so playable to this day.

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  10. Spyro the Dragon

  Clearly taking lessons from the Crash Bandicoot series, the first Spyro was a platformer with a lot of colour and charm but with a lot more freedom compared with the Playstation's other mascot. It was a world that felt huge, complete with plenty of exploration and an easier difficulty curve. The boss battles are poor but what a wonderful debut for a new series and a joy to experience.