The 10 Greatest Video Game Masterpieces of the Last 5 Years, Ranked
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.
Video games continue to evolve more and more with each passing year, growing from classic titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to modern sensations like Red Dead Redemption 2. While it is fascinating to see where gaming will go next, the past five years in particular have been home to some of the best games of all time.
It is strange to think that it has already been five years since 2021, because in that time some of the best games came out. That is why this list will celebrate ten video game masterpieces from the last five years based on aspects such as gameplay, design, narrative, visuals, originality, entertainment value, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality.
10 ‘God of War Ragnarök’ (2022)
This list has a surprising amount of sequels, including some that were up for Game of the Year, such as God of War Ragnarök. Set shortly after the first game, Fimbulwinter is here, meaning the titular apocalypse event is soon approaching. However, Kratos and Atreus launch a siege on the gods, hoping this will save the realm from destruction.
God of War Ragnarök isn’t better than its predecessor, but it is still a masterpiece from the past five years. The plot does a great job of depicting the spectacle of the event while also focusing on the grounded and emotional parts of the core narrative, specifically regarding the relationship between Kratos and Atreus. God of War Ragnarök is a heartfelt and epic gaming classic.
9 ‘Mina the Hollower’ (2026)
2026 isn’t over yet, but it is already full of remarkable titles, and one of the frontrunners for best game is Mina the Hollower. The titular character ventures to the land of Tenebrous to fix its generator. However, players uncover an even greater darkness and must fight the unrestricted progress of humanity and technology.
Mina the Hollower is already one of the best video games of 2026, and it does this as an indie title. The retro aesthetic and worldbuilding contribute to a visually stunning setting, but what’s more is its unique mechanics that make the gameplay fluid and kinetic. Mina the Hollower is an underrated gem and a magnificent indie effort that proves the genre is at its peak in the last five years.
8 ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ (2025)
While 2026 isn’t over yet, 2025 came and went with some incredible games in stock, including what is undoubtedly considered the best, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. An entity known as the paintress erases an age from the planet every year, and the world's efforts have so far been useless. But with the 33rd try, they hope to stop this villain and save the rest of the world.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was the unanimous Game of the Year winner in 2025, and it earned this honor because of its blend of compelling narrative, intense combat, and unique art style. Besides being visually gorgeous, this game is also innovative with its mix of turn-based combat and real-time events that create an immersive and engaging style of gameplay.
7 ‘Balatro’ (2024)
Mina the Hollower may have been the first indie game on here, but it won’t be the last, because following it is Balatro. This poker-themed roguelike has players building decks to defeat the hands of the enemy, and with each match the difficulty increases, as does the entertainment.
Balatro is quick to play and easy to understand, but its true genius lies in the ability to break the game since it allows players to create any sort of hand they want. This addictive video game is fast-paced but demanding, forcing the player's attention at all times and keeping them engaged with the gameplay and sensory feedback that is a visual explosion. All these elements prove why it's a video game that is a blast.
6 ‘Donkey Kong Bananza’ (2025)
Nintendo has had a magnificent five years, from all-time sales numbers to the Nintendo Switch 2. One game on the latter that wowed everyone was Donkey Kong Bananza. As Void Company tries to steal all the bananas in the world for their selfish wish, DK and Pauline travel through the core of the world to stop them, and maybe get their own wish as well.
Fans desperately want a new 3D Mario, but Donkey Kong Bananza is such a novel idea that it not only acted as a suitable alternative, but it also became one of Nintendo's most imaginative games. The smashing gameplay never gets old, and the new world keeps the gameplay fresh. Donkey Kong Bananza is a one-of-a-kind game that shows why Nintendo is known for its creativity.
5 ‘Alan Wake II’ (2023)
2023 was one of the best years for video games in a long time, and one of the three best games from this year is Alan Wake II. Gamers play as the titular novelist who is trying to escape an alternate dimension. But at the same time, a detective is investigating a murder that is suspiciously similar to one of Alan Wake’s murder mystery novels.
Alan Wake II is absolutely beautiful, but not in a traditional way; rather, it uses its inherent weirdness and mind-bending aspects alongside real cutscenes to deliver a surreal gaming experience. This unique and unforgettable title is mysterious and suspenseful, offering a compelling narrative enhanced by a distinct visual identity, which ended up making it one of the most beloved video games of the 2020s.
4 ‘It Takes Two’ (2021)
It is only natural for the best games of the past five years to win the Game of the Year award, and one of them is It Takes Two. This entry follows a couple on the verge of divorce when they are magically turned into toys inside an alternate version of their house. In order to turn back into normal, they must work together to solve puzzles and escape the house, hopefully learning something along the way.
2021 was at the height of the pandemic, meaning a lot of gamers tried new titles due to the limitations of lockdown, which greatly benefitted It Takes Two, turning it into one of the best and most popular offerings. It is a masterclass of multiplayer gameplay that forces players to work together in fascinating and cooperative ways. The puzzles are fun and engaging, and the game is full of charm and heart, making it a masterpiece of the current half-decade.
3 ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’ (2023)
As mentioned, Nintendo has had a great five years, and one of their biggest celebrations in this time was for The Legend of Zelda. 2023 saw the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, set after the events of the seminal The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. With Ganondorf revived and Zelda missing, Link must travel around Hyrule to solve these mysteries and defeat the Gerudo King.
It may not be better than its predecessor, but Tears of the Kingdom would have won Game of the Year if not for one other game. It expands on the world with new areas to explore, more enemies to fight, and inventive side quests to have fun with. It is one of Nintendo’s most ambitious titles ever, both visually and narrative, and with so much content, it is a game with hundreds of hours of value.
2 ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)
The previous entry mentioned Tears of the Kingdom would have won Game of the Year if not for one game, and that title is Baldur’s Gate 3. After players are infected by a Mind Flayer parasite, they will turn into one if they don’t find a cure. Journeying with a party to find a cure, their mission becomes even more challenging as a war between mortals and gods is brewing.
There aren’t many games that are more ambitious than Baldur’s Gate 3, which uses its player agency to create a freeing masterpiece of choice and creativity. Every solution has infinite answers, but it is up to the player to experiment and find out. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a heartfelt love letter to gaming overflowing with passion, proving why it is an essential masterpiece of 2020s gaming.
1 ‘Elden Ring’ (2022)
The past five years have produced some of the greatest games ever, but two are easily better than the rest. One was Baldur’s Gate 3, and the other is Elden Ring. With the shards of the titular ring scattered, the player must travel the Lands Between and collect them while defeating demigods in order to become the Elden Lord.
FromSoftware’s magnum opus instantly established itself as a modern classic that blended its staple combat with open-world prestige and George R.R. Martin’s narrative prowess. The result is one of the most compelling games of this decade that encourages exploration and rewards players through boss battles, items, and lore. Elden Ring is a testament to modern gaming and undoubtedly a masterpiece of the last five years.
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.