The 10 Most Original Video Games of All Time
Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
In today's day and age, it is increasingly hard to find original content, mainly because fans want simple entertainment that is consistent, leading to many repeated genres without much innovation. This is especially true for video games, with even some of the greatest games ever, like Elden Ring and Fortnite, following trends that result in an impressive, albeit unoriginal experience.
While this isn't inherently a bad thing, too much of it can lead to oversaturation, creating plenty of boring and repetitive games. That is why this list will feature ten of the most original video games of all time based on aspects such as creativity, design, originality, gameplay, narrative, fan opinion, and overall quality. If fans are looking to spice things up with something they have never experienced before, these are the games for them.
'Death Stranding' (2019)
Hideo Kojima is one of the greatest game designers of all time, and while he is best known for Metal Gear Solid, his newest works are also regarded highly, like Death Stranding. Set in a post-apocalyptic version of America, all communication is separated, and it is the player's job to travel around the country, restoring networks in order to connect with the world again.
This list has a mix of popular and lesser-known projects, and Death Stranding is definitely one of the former, mainly because of the names behind it. However, it also earned critical acclaim because of its unique premise, which created a new genre known as the strand genre, turning mundane and everyday tasks into complex and engaging game mechanics.
'Superhot' (2016)
Believe it or not, some of the most original video games of all time are underrated classics, such as Superhot. Gamers are hackers who get ahold of the titular new VR game, but as they continue to play this shooter longer, they realize that the lines between reality and gameplay begin to fade.
First-person shooters aren't anything special, but the genre can be handled in fun ways, and that is exactly what Superhot does. The main gimmick is that time only passes when the player moves, which allows them to dodge bullets Matrix-style and plan their attack meticulously. It becomes a fantastic martial arts video game with guns and epic moments, not to mention a distinct, minimalist visual approach.
'Shadow of the Colossus' (2005)
The most original video games are so good that they create their own genres, and that was the case with Shadow of the Colossus. After their loved one passes away, the protagonist strikes a deal with an entity to revive them if they can defeat the sixteen massive beasts known as Colossi around the world.
With no towns, minor enemies, NPCs, or leveling system, Shadow of the Colossus is an untraditional masterpiece that puts the entire focus on the sixteen boss battles. These massive challenges weren't just large in scale and difficult to overcome, but they were also grand in emotional weight and epicness, with the enemy also treated as a platforming stage. The overall approach created an unmatched style of gameplay that has yet to be surpassed.
'Portal' (2007)
Valve is one of the largest video game studios of all time, and while they don't release games too often, they used to deliver titles like Portal. When Chell wakes up in a scientific facility, they are forced to compete in experiments with a portal gun. But after a failed extermination, Chell now works their way through the facility to escape and destroy her robot torturer, GLaDOS.
Puzzle games are more original than most genres because they need to continue to innovate or otherwise risk being stale, and one of the most innovative was Portal. The portal gimmick was creative enough, but hardly groundbreaking. Yet, this wormhole-like aspect made for so many inventive challenges that demanded genuine commitment from players. This tough approach made Portal one of the best puzzle video games of all time.
'Minecraft' (2011)
The survival genre is one of the hardest to make unique, but Minecraft spiced things up and became a classic by doing so. Dropped into a barren world, the player can do anything they please, whether that be mining, crafting, building, or exploring. The world is their oyster as they deconstruct their surroundings and reshape it to their liking.
Minecraft may be the most popular video game right now with plenty of rip-offs, but that is only because it used to be such a novel concept that inspired others to follow. The block-filled style was something never done before, and its strange, yet charming approach made it such an appealing title, especially the fact that the whole world could be molded to the player's liking. It even became a movie in 2025, with a sequel coming out next year.
'Inscryption' (2021)
There are games from plenty of different decades on this list, including one in the 2020s, making Inscryption the newest entry featured. Waking up in a dark cabin, players are forced to play a card game against a demonic entity. However, as the match goes on, they begin to learn more about how they got there and the true purpose of the whole ordeal.
Despite being the newest original video game, Inscryption has already established itself as an imaginative new title. There are plenty of roguelikes and even more deck builders, but this game combines them and turns the system against the player, subverting expectations with its constant genre and tone shifts, making it one of the best games that more people need to play.
'Papers, Please' (2013)
Indie games are more original than most AAA titles since they are passion projects, and this is seen in games like Papers, Please. Gamers take the role of an immigration officer at a border checkpoint in a dystopian world. In this bureaucratic role, they need to review documents, passports, and any other information to properly gauge who to let in and who to restrict access.
The most original video games can turn something normal or boring into a fascinating experience, and Papers, Please does exactly that. The intelligently designed system forces players to weigh their ethics in game format, confronting them with uncomfortable truths and philosophical debates that reveal information about themselves. It is a political critique while simultaneously being a tense experience.
'Tetris' (1984)
It is easy for older games to be original since there wasn't much else to be based on, meaning games like Tetris were the first of their type. As multiple shaped blocks fall from the ceiling of the game level, players need to move them before they land in an organized format in order to keep the level clean, and they lose if they touch the top of the screen.
Tetris is a very simple game, but that is just because it's among the earliest and most foundational entries into the medium. However, its age hasn't held back its entertainment value, becoming an ageless experience that is great to play at any time. As one of the best Game Boy video games, it instantly became a smash hit with its fun concept, and since then, no other title has been as unique.
'Baba Is You' (2019)
The indie genre is home to original masterpieces that are barely touched, including Baba Is You, an underrated gem from 2019. Stripping away any traditional narrative, this game is purely puzzle-based, with the player controlling the titular small creature to make their way through a series of puzzle rooms and obstacles by altering words to reach the win state.
By pushing words around the level, players can create new sentences that change the game's rules and dynamics, essentially rewriting the code in order to win. This imaginative indie game is one of the most creative experiences gamers will ever play, using its bold, thought-provoking, and engaging mechanics that allow the player to tinker with the game logic.
'Katamari Damacy' (2004)
While there are plenty of original games, one of the most bizarre and unique is Katamari Damacy, featuring the iconic little fellow. When the King of the Cosmos accidentally destroys the stars, he tasks his son and prince to roll around the planet with his adhesive ball to collect all the broken pieces and restore the constellations.
Katamari Damacy defies basically all game logic to create an original experience where the level itself is what is being collected. Rolling around and collecting junk is surprisingly fun, and this gameplay loop turns the world into a resource. Katamari Damacy is a video game that deserves more credit because of how inventive it is, proving to be an experience unlike any other.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.