Art may largely be a matter of taste, but one conclusion is close to inarguable: 1998 was the best year ever for video games, producing an unparalleled lineup of revolutionary releases that left indelible legacies and spawned series and subcultures that persist today. Throughout the year, The Ringer’s gaming enthusiasts will be paying tribute to the legendary titles turning 20 in 2018 by replaying them for the umpteenth time or playing them for the first time, talking to the people who made them, and analyzing both what made them great and how they made later games greater.
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December 27, 2018
The Rest of the Best Video Games From 1998
After exploring the legends of games like ‘Ocarina of Time’ and ‘Metal Gear Solid,’ the Ringer staff puts a bow on our retrospective package with a roundup of the best games we haven’t yet featured
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December 21, 2018
How ‘Baldur’s Gate’ Saved the Computer RPG
The genre-stretching game broke new narrative, technical, and gameplay ground and established the identity of one of the past two decades’ most storied video game studios
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December 5, 2018
Before There Was ‘Fortnite,’ There Was ‘Starsiege: Tribes’
The jet-packing, pioneering game looked like the future of first-person shooters when it debuted 20 years ago, and its influence can still be seen in some of today’s most popular games
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November 29, 2018
‘Half-Life’ Turns 20: The Enduring Legacy of Valve’s Revolutionary First-Person Shooter
A video game that pioneered advancements in immersive storytelling evolved even further when its makers outsourced development of online modes to its fans
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November 15, 2018
Are We Human, or Are We Dancer? The Legacy of ‘Dance Dance Revolution,’ 20 Years Later.
Shame, joy, and dance, all in one special package
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October 23, 2018
Why ‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ Will Always Be the “Best Game Ever”
Thanks to the power of aggregators like Metacritic to calculate consensus, the revolutionary 3D adventure is remembered as a benchmark achievement that will likely never be replicated
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October 10, 2018
‘Grim Fandango’ at 20: The Year the Grim Reaper Came for Adventure Games
Once upon a time, the adventure genre was a hallmark of video game culture. Slowly but surely, it began to fade. But not before the gloriously macabre ‘Grim Fandango’ came along.
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September 3, 2018
The Mad, Unlikely Genius of ‘Metal Gear Solid’
Twenty years since the release of the Japanese espionage classic, the original game’s legacy has been obscured by its sequels. Time to bring ‘Metal Gear’ Solid back into the light.
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August 27, 2018
The ‘Pokémon’ Invasion, 20 Years Later
Over the last two decades, ‘Pokémon’ has stood as a gaming and collectible sensation, capable of multi-platform reinvention. It is also the object of intense nostalgia for ’90s kids. And we have one man in particular to thank: Junichi Masuda.
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July 30, 2018
Welcome Back to the Stage of History: ‘SoulCalibur,’ 20 Years Later
Namco’s weapons-based 3D fighter forever changed the game. Two decades after its original release, it’s still a master class in how to appeal to both technical enthusiasts and impatient button-mashers.
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July 11, 2018
How ‘Gran Turismo’ Became a Gateway to Real-Life Racing
Twenty years after its initial release, the franchise billed as "the real driving simulator" is helping gamers move to the driver’s seat
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June 19, 2018
How ‘Banjo-Kazooie’ Became a Bridge Between Marios
Rare’s 1998 classic started life in Mario’s shadow, but as ‘Banjo’ turns 20, the franchise’s influence has flipped and helped inspire a genre resurgence
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March 30, 2018
Good Game Well Played: The Story of the Staying Power of ‘StarCraft’
Twenty years after Blizzard’s baby redefined a genre and spawned the esports movement, it remains a timeless proof of concept for what online competition can be
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January 29, 2018
The Ruinous Road of Gaming’s Missing Masterpiece
‘Panzer Dragoon Saga’ remains one of the greatest video games of all time. Twenty years after its creation, it also remains nearly impossible to play, a cult classic whose elusiveness mirrors the misery that suffused its development, setting, and story.