Our Top 5 Video Games Of All Time | Between Levels Podcast Ep. 6

What are the greatest games of all time? This week, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe reveal their personal Top 5 Games of All Time and some of their choices may raise a few eyebrows. From nostalgic classics and community-driven experiences to modern masterpieces, the hosts explain why games such as Phantom Dust, Elden Ring, Nioh 2, Armored Core, Destiny, Shenmue, Alan Wake 2 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 left such a lasting impact. The discussion explores how narrative, gameplay, music, exploration, replayability and the memories created with other players can transform a great game into a personal favourite. The hosts also debate nostalgia versus modern design, the growing focus on optimisation over exploration and how gaming communities influence the way we experience and remember games. We also feature Top 5 submissions from the Between Levels community, including several unexpected choices. What are your five favourite games of all time? Share your list in the comments. Follow Between Levels: X: @BtweenLevels Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast TikTok: @betweenlevelspodcast Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast hosted by WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe, covering the games, news and discussions shaping the industry. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and how the Top 5 lists work 00:20 FightinCowboy’s number one: Phantom Dust 02:09 Elden Ring and the joy of discovery 04:58 Nioh 2 and the evolution of Soulslikes 12:12 Armored Core’s legacy and latest instalment 21:17 World of Warcraft, MMOs and community memories 23:04 Nostalgia versus modern gameplay and graphics 26:49 Turn-based games and narrative-driven experiences 34:50 Shenmue’s legacy and Alan Wake 2 43:33 Sarthe’s Top 5: Destiny, Clair Obscur and more 50:36 Exploration, breaking mechanics and game design 55:44 The community’s Top 5 submissions 1:03:35 Competition, collaboration and community feedback 1:08:06 Close calls, World of Warcraft and creative MMO PvP 1:14:25 Optimisation versus exploration 1:17:28 Final thoughts on our favourite games