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How to read a “best games” list for 1998
Review aggregation offers one useful comparison, not a universal verdict. Metacritic’s 1998 all-platform ranking puts Ocarina of Time first at 99, followed by Tekken 3 and Half-Life at 96, Gran Turismo at 96, and Metal Gear Solid at 94. Those positions reflect the games and reviews covered by Metacritic, not every game released worldwide or every player’s priorities. See Metacritic’s 1998 all-platform ranking.
Genre and platform change the picture. On Metacritic’s PC-specific 1998 page, Half-Life leads at 96, with Grim Fandango at 94, Thief: The Dark Project at 92, and Baldur’s Gate at 91. GameSpot’s historical awards made separate PC and console choices: Grim Fandango won its PC award, while Ocarina of Time won its console award. Scores and awards answer different questions; neither ranking cancels out the other. Metacritic’s PC ranking and GameSpot’s award archive provide the respective lists.
The essential games of 1998
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — Nintendo 64 action-adventure
Ocarina of Time is the clearest all-around pick if “best” means a combination of critical standing and lasting influence. Its 99 Metascore tops Metacritic’s all-platform 1998 ranking, and GameSpot named it its 1998 console Game of the Year. GameSpot’s archive reproduces Jeff Gerstmann’s November 23, 1998 review, which called it “the masterpiece that people will still be talking about ten years down the road.” GameSpot’s retrospective treats it as a defining step in 3D adventure design. GameSpot’s award archive and review; GameSpot’s 20th-anniversary retrospective.
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Half-Life — PC first-person shooter
Half-Life is the top choice for a PC-first list: it leads Metacritic’s PC ranking at 96 and shares that score on the all-platform page with Tekken 3 and Gran Turismo. Its significance extends beyond its aggregate position; GameSpot’s retrospective includes it among the year’s influential games. Metacritic’s game listing says it “has won more than 50 Game of the Year awards from publications around the world”; that is Metacritic’s wording, rather than an independently verified tally of awards. Metacritic’s PC ranking; Metacritic’s Half-Life listing; GameSpot’s retrospective.
Metal Gear Solid — PlayStation stealth action
Metal Gear Solid earned a 94 on Metacritic’s 1998 all-platform ranking and is one of GameSpot’s retrospective selections. Its place on the list reflects the year’s growing interest in stealth and cinematic presentation: it helped make careful movement, concealment and story-forward staging central to a major console action game. Metacritic’s 1998 ranking; GameSpot’s retrospective.
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Grim Fandango — PC adventure
Grim Fandango is the strongest alternative if you value writing, atmosphere and puzzle-driven adventure over action. It placed second on Metacritic’s PC list at 94 and won GameSpot’s 1998 PC Game of the Year. GameSpot’s retrospective highlights its contribution to adventure-game interface design. The gap between its award and Half-Life’s higher Metacritic score illustrates why “best” depends on the measure being used. Metacritic’s PC ranking; GameSpot’s award archive; GameSpot’s retrospective.
Thief: The Dark Project — PC stealth
Thief: The Dark Project ranked third on Metacritic’s 1998 PC page at 92 and is also among GameSpot’s retrospective picks. It belongs on any genre-spanning shortlist for its stealth focus: success comes from avoiding detection and managing a space carefully, rather than treating every encounter as a direct fight. Metacritic’s PC ranking; GameSpot’s retrospective.
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StarCraft: Brood War — PC real-time strategy expansion
StarCraft: Brood War represents the year’s competitive strategy side. GameSpot’s retrospective includes it among the notable games of 1998 and connects it to the development of competitive strategy play. It is a natural pick for players who want tactical planning and faction-based matches rather than a character-led adventure or shooter. GameSpot’s retrospective.
Banjo-Kazooie — Nintendo 64 platformer
Banjo-Kazooie is the platforming choice on this list. GameSpot’s retrospective discusses it alongside Ocarina of Time, emphasizing the year’s advances in 3D adventure and platforming. It broadens the shortlist beyond the games that dominate aggregate rankings, particularly for players looking for exploration and collectible-focused movement. GameSpot’s retrospective.
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Baldur’s Gate — PC role-playing game
Baldur’s Gate ranked fourth on Metacritic’s PC 1998 page at 91 and gives the list a substantial role-playing option. Its inclusion is useful for anyone choosing by genre: it offers a different kind of long-form PC play from the shooter, stealth and adventure games above. GameSpot also includes it in its retrospective selection. Metacritic’s PC ranking; GameSpot’s retrospective.
Tekken 3 and Gran Turismo — PlayStation fighting and racing
For two more highly rated console options, Metacritic lists both Tekken 3 and Gran Turismo at 96 on its all-platform 1998 page. Their shared score does not make them interchangeable: one is a fighting game, the other a racing game. They are strong picks when the desired experience matters more than choosing one overall winner. Metacritic’s 1998 ranking.
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Which 1998 game should you choose?
- For the strongest all-platform review case: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
- For the highest-ranked PC game: Half-Life.
- For PC adventure and atmosphere: Grim Fandango.
- For stealth: Thief: The Dark Project or Metal Gear Solid.
- For strategy: StarCraft: Brood War.
- For 3D platforming: Banjo-Kazooie.
- For role-playing: Baldur’s Gate.
- For fighting or racing: Tekken 3 or Gran Turismo.
What “1998” means in these retrospectives
GameSpot describes its 20th-anniversary selection as games that reached the Western market. That is a retrospective’s stated scope, not a complete worldwide release chronology; regional release dates can differ. The rankings and awards cited here likewise represent the specific services and categories named, rather than a definitive survey of every game or critic from every territory. GameSpot’s retrospective.
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