Ever since the dawn of time, humankind has had an infatuation with putting numbers on things to quickly emphasise their quality and/or value. Video games are no different, with our experiences, whether they be less than an hour or greater than 100 hours, defined by a number, and there’s nothing better than playing a game that is so good you just can’t help but slap a big juicy 10 on it. I mean, there’s no higher praise for a video game than the perfect score, even if there’s no such thing as the perfect game (I mean we’ve all got our flaws).
But a 10 to us may not be a 10 to you. As such, here are all the games that WellPlayed has scored a tasty 10. Let us know in the comments if there’s any games you agree with, or better yet, disagree with.
Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged
Reviewer: Zach Jackson | Platform: PC | Published: 20/09/24
“Just as it was in 1996, Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is an adventure game masterpiece, with Reforged offering players a remarkable trip down memory lane and giving the classic a new lease on life for a new generation of adventurers.”
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Reviewer: Ash Wayling | Platform: PS5 | Published: 17/10/23
“Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a masterful example of passionate game creation, blending a white-knuckle comic book adventure with the beautiful pathos of being human. It is sensational. It is spectacular. It is Spider-Man. (Two).”
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Reviewer: Nathan Hennessy | Platform: PC | Published: 21/09/23
“CD Projekt Red completes its redemption arc with an essential, meaty, and ultra-fine-tuned DLC expansion that elevates every aspect of Cyberpunk 2077.”
Baldur’s Gate 3
Reviewer: Jordan Garcia | Platform: PC | Published: 21/08/23
“Larian’s mastery of RPGs is in full swing with Baldur’s Gate 3 and at no point does the game pull its punches. This game is nothing short of a masterpiece.”
Resident Evil 4 (2023)
Reviewer: James Wood | Platform: PS5 | Published: 17/01/23
“Serving as both a clever and adoring return to a classic, and an imaginative, mechanically-perfected look to the future, Resident Evil 4 is Capcom’s best work and a new crown jewel for the long-running franchise.”
Pentiment
Reviewer: Nathan Hennessy | Platform: Xbox Series X | Published: 14/11/22
“A gorgeous, towering watermark for choice-driven narratives, enlivening a heartfelt medieval saga to surpass the greats in prose and play.”
Immortality
Reviewer: James Wood | Platform: PC | Published: 30/08/22
“A true achievement in game design and interactive fiction, Immortality is a gorgeous and haunting magic trick that sets a new standard for the medium.”
Cult of the Lamb
Reviewer: Mark Isaacson | Platform: PC | Published: 10/08/22
“Cult of the Lamb stands as a true masterpiece of not one but two genres. I just couldn’t find any issues that got in the way of my enjoyment of its various mechanics, and the love I have for my clan will continue long past the final boss encounter.”
Elden Ring
Reviewer: Jordan Garcia | Platform: PC | Published: 24/02/22
“Backed by an incredible and rewarding open-world design, Elden Ring is a masterclass in every facet that it brings to the table. Without a doubt, this is FromSoftware’s magnum opus.”
Eastward
Reviewer: Eleanore Bleareau | Platform: Switch | Published: 24/09/21
“Eastward is a beautiful adventure, full of complexity and memorable characters that makes a world full of pixels seem larger than life.”
Life is Strange: True Colors
Reviewer: Kieron Verbrugge | Platform: PS5 | Published: 09/09/21
“The best Life is Strange game yet. Through the concept of empathy, True Colors manages to drive video game storytelling to new heights. An expanded scope, hugely impressive production values and new, bingeable format make this a must-play for fans of narrative adventures.”
Psychonauts 2
Reviewer: Kieron Verbrugge | Platform: Xbox Series X | Published: 23/08/21
“Psychonauts 2 is exactly what I was hoping for in a follow-up. Double Fine has smartly refined its unique brand of platforming adventure while greatly expanding its narrative qualities. Plus, it’s an absolute treat for the eyes and ears. This is how you do a sequel.”
The Forgotten City
Reviewer: Harrison Tabulo | Platform: PC | Published: 28/07/21
“The Forgotten City is a beauty to behold no matter the eye, a deeply contemplative story matched with wonderful puzzles based in classical antiquity.”
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
Reviewer: Eleanore Blereau | Platform: Switch | Published: 10/11/20
“Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a heavenly combination of realistic farming, combat and exploration served with a hearty side of great characters and writing.”
Tell Me Why
Reviewer: Kieron Verbrugge | Platform: Xbox One X / PC | Published: 28/08/20
“Backed by stellar writing, a gorgeous presentation and the culmination of years of innovation in the genre, DONTNOD’s latest episodic narrative game is their best yet”
Streets of Rage 4
Reviewer: Zach Jackson | Platform: PS4 | Published: 30/04/20
“From start to finish, Streets of Rage 4 is a modern celebration of one of the best beat ’em up series of all time.”
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Reviewer: Eleanore Blereau | Platform: Switch | Published: 04/04/20
“Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an addictive mix of creativity, collectables and customisation in an endless beautiful island escape.”
Dreams
Reviewer: Kieron Verbrugge | Platform: PS4 | Published: 16/02/20
“Dreams is the impossible made possible, and most importantly, accessible. There’s never been a creative platform like this, and Media Molecule has proven that they were the only ones capable of building it all along.”
Resident Evil 2
Reviewer: Zach Jackson | Platform: PS4 | Published: 23/01/19
“Capcom’s revamped Resident Evil 2 not only sets a new standard for the survival horror genre, it redefines and remasters it.”
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Reviewer: Kieron Verbrugge | Platform: PS4 | Published: 26/06/18
“This standalone entry into Dontnod’s excellent Life is Strange series packs a serious emotional punch, looks fantastic and more than justifies its price tag of absolutely nothing.”
God of War
Reviewer: Kieran Stockton | Platform: PS4 | Published: 30/04/18
“A triumph of brilliant design and exceptional production values that rightfully has the world fumbling for superlatives.”
Super Mario Odyssey
Reviewer: Kieron Verbrugge | Platform: Switch | Published: 27/10/17
“Mario is back in his first full 3D adventure in fifteen years, and Super Mario Odyssey is unequivocal proof that the (former) plumber still has more than a few tricks under his hat.”
What Remains of Edith Finch
Reviewer: Kieran Stockton | Platform: PS4 | Published: 27/04/17
“An evocative journey through fantasy, memory, tragedy, and everything in-between.”
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
Reviewer: Ash Wayling | Platform: Switch | Published: 29/04/17
“In the world of digital kart racing, Mario is king.”
Persona 5
Reviewer: Jordan Garcia | Platform: PS4 | Published: 02/05/17
“Persona 5 is the definition of style and is a masterclass in how to make a good RPG. There’s nothing about it that doesn’t make it stand out. The soundtrack is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time, the combat is simple yet surprisingly deep which allows for not only the game to be quite accessible, but it is also easy to pick back up.”
So, there we have it, our legacy of games with perfect scores. Now it’s time to discuss and debate, so tell us in the comments or on our social media what we got right, what we got wrong and which games should absolutely be on this list.
