Think back to games that defined their genre or changed how people viewed video games as a story-telling medium. Some that come to mind might be Mass Effect or Legend of Zelda or even Grand Theft Auto. These are the games that stay with fans long after they play them once, twice, or however many times.

What makes a game good though? Is it the art direction? Perhaps it is the characters or the mechanics. Different fans have different rubrics, but Metacritic has its own scoring system, too. Though the two don't often line-up, a game with a great Metacritic score will often provide a unique gaming experience.

RELATED: 10 Best Retro-Inspired FPS Games Ranked, According To Metacritic

With the market flooded with AAA, indie, and one-person-made games these days, it can be difficult for gamers to sift through to find what they really want to play. For gaming veterans, they might just have forgotten about some of the classics having made space in their brains for newer experiences like Death StrandingHorizon Zero Dawn, or Hades -- the latest darling of the gaming community.

But these games are all but certified fried gold with scores above 95 out of 100 on Metacritic. Though no game has a perfect score yet, one game comes close with the ultimate score of 99. Read on to find out which games ranked the highest, their release dates and platforms, and why fans consistently flock to them.

32 GTA Double Pack: GTA III And Vice City - 96

images of GTA Vice City and GTA III characters

The Grand Theft Auto Double Pack first released for Xbox on October 31, 2003. It contained a double whammy of Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Fans could flip from terrorizing the seedy streets of Liberty City to cruising palm tree-laden streets to the sweet jams of Vice City with ease earning this title a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.

31 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty - 96

Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid 2

Though the timeline of the games can be confusing, the Metal Gear series retains many die-hard fans for good reason. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty follows Solid Snake and Raiden, a dark horse character some fans love and some fans despise. Kojima's zany, but irresistible storytelling and the series' unique mechanics keep gamers coming back for more. The game released originally for PS2 on November 12, 2001, and has a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.8.

30 Bioshock - 96

image of Rapture in Bioshock with Art Deco statues and windows

This game set the tone for unique FPS experiences once it launched for PC on August 21, 2007. The iconic Art-Deco aesthetics paired with the creepiness of an abandoned paradise known as "Rapture" stalked by intimidating Big Daddys and bloodthirsty genetic slug/human hybrids called "Little Sisters". Bioshock holds up to this day with a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.6. Curiously, the Xbox 360 version of the game has a lower user score of 8.2.

RELATED: 10 Action RPGs To Play If You Like BioShock

29 Gran Turismo - 96

image of PS1 Gran Turismo cover next to Toyota racing car

For many gamers growing up in the late 90s and early 2000s, Gran Turismo was the quintessential at-home racing game next to Twisted Metal. It originally released for PS1 on April 30, 1998. The faithful recreations of racing cars featured classics, racing, and kitted out cars for use across 11 environments. It retains a user score of 8.6 with a Metascore of 96.

28 The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker - 96

Having launched for the Nintendo Gamecube on March 24, 2003, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker sought to do things no previous game in the series had ever done: let Link take sail. The game also featured a unique cel-shaded animation style with vibrant colors to make the game come to life even more. Though it has the same Metascore of 96 as the previous games on this list, it has a user score of 9 out of 10.

27 Resident Evil 4 - 96

resident evil annual franchise

The Resident Evil 4 remake is still a bit up in the air, but fans of the series continue to push for it. After all, the game has a Metascore of 96 with a user score of 9 on PS2 -- the same as Wind Waker. Pretty boy cop Leon S. Kennedy of the Raccoon City Police is no longer a rookie. The game starts 6 years after the city's destruction and the Umbrella Corporation has been destroyed. But Leon still has to take on all-new scary zombies and monsters. The Nintendo Gamecube version of the game scores a bit higher with users with a score of 9.2 and the same Metascore.

26 Half-Life - 96

image of headcrab attacking Gordon Freeman with his crowbar

Half-Life was the first game for many people that truly turned them into video game fans. It, too, has a Metascore of 96 with a user score of 9. Since its original launch for PC on November 19, 1998, there have been countless mods, fan creations, and headcrab plushies created. Not only did the game introduce a unique style of intense action, but it also incorporated technology in a way that encouraged players to think more about the actions they took rather than just hack, slash, and shoot.

25 Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 96

image of opening scene in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

It's hard to believe that this game originally debuted on November 11, 2011, for the Xbox 360. With many re-releases, mods, and even a VR version, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim remains an epic contender in the gaming community. With Microsoft having just purchased Bethesda and only a brief teaser for the next game in the series, fans may have to be content with Skyrim for the time being. It has a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.6.

24 The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 96

metacritic best games

Released for both Nintendo Gamecube and Wii, the December 11, 2006 launch of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess created a rift regarding how much fans enjoyed the art direction, tone, and world design vs. the poor Wii motion controls. Despite that, the game maintains a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.9 for the Nintendo Gamecube version. Fans of the series who haven't played it should consider since Link can transform into a wolf and help Midna -- a cute little gremlin princess in the Twilight Realm.

RELATED: Zelda: 10 Differences Between Twilight Princess On GameCube And Wii

23 Mass Effect 2 - 96

image of all Mass Effect 2 companions in a line

For some fans of the series, Mass Effect 2 stands out as the best one of the original trilogy. Stellar companions like Legion, Mordin Solus (cry every time), and Tali Zorah Vas Normandy (née nar Rayya) enrich the lively universe set up in the first game and the Paragon/Renegade system really comes into its own as Shepard romps around space to uncover the mystery behind the Collectors. Released for the Xbox 360 on January 16, 2010, the game maintains a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.9.

22 Tekken 3 - 96

image of Tekken 3 screen next to Xbox 360 game case

Released for the PS1 all the way back in April of 1998, Tekken 3 burst onto the fighting game scene as another powerful entry in the series. To fight the ancient force feeding on powerful warriors, fighters have to lure it out in a competition of their own. The time tested mechanics of this classic earned it a Metascore of 96 and a user scores of 9.1 -- one of the highest user scores on this entire list.

21 Batman: Arkham City - 96

metacritic best games

The night is dark and full of terrors and all of them were imprisoned at Arkham Asylum. Batman: Arkham City sees our fated hero Batman battling his way through former inmates at the fabled Gotham facility in their new "home" Arkham City. Fan favorites like The Joker, Catwoman, and Robin make appearances along with Oracle, The Riddler, and more. It has a user score of 8.8 and a Metascore of 96.

RELATED: 5 Best Batman Games (& 5 Worst), According To Metacritic

20 The Orange Box - 96

image of The Heavy from TF2, Gordon Freeman from Half-Life, and Chelle from Portal

Released in 2016 for Xbox One, The Orange Box launched concurrently for PC and Xbox 360 on October 10, 2007. But the user scores for both versions differ with the PC taking the higher 9.2 over the 360's 8.8. The collection of games from Valve include Team Fortress 2Half-Life 2 (episodes 1 and 2), and Portal. Both platform versions have the same Metascore of 96.

19 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - 96

image of Nathan Drake in Uncharted 2 Among Thieves

Nathan Drake got into many, many scraps before Tom Holland got the option to portray him in film. Though not the first in the franchise, Uncharted 2 Among Thieves ranks high with a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 8.8. This game sharpened the series' knack for puzzles, exciting gunplay, and unique environments. Fans hope to see a successful film adaption, but that sadly won't include Nathan Fillion it seems.

18 GoldenEye 007 - 96

GoldenEye 007

Though the game may seem very dated by today's standards, GoldenEye 007 set the bar when it initially released for the Nintendo 64 on August 25, 1997. Featuring 12 3D interactive environments, players could look and shoot in pretty much any direction. Next to Quake, there may not be as iconic a console shooter game out there before the year 2000. Also, who knew David Harbour was in this game?

RELATED: 15 Switch Games To Play If You Loved Breath Of The Wild

17 Half-Life 2 - 96

image of the gravity gun in Half-Life 2

Fans of the Half-Life series will tell you: nothing beats the gravity gun. Valve's epic hit launched for PC on November 16, 2004 and was later named Metacritic's PC Game of the Year for 2004. The same aspects that made the first game fantastic got amped up to 11 in the sequel episodes. Though Half-Life: Alyx came out recently, fans yearn for a true Half-Life 3. The game has maintained a Metascore of 96 and a user score of 9.1 in its long life.

16 NFL 2K1 - 97

image of football players in NFL 2K1

This ain't the average Madden game that gets pumped out every year boys. But NFL 2K1, published by Sega for the Dreamcast with a release date of September 7, 2000, sought to improve on the previous year's game all the same. Despite its age, this game paved the way for future sports games along with the FIFA series. With some issues, users rated it lower with a score of 6.4, but Metacritic awarded the game a Metascore of 97 for its innovation in the genre.

15 Halo: Combat Evolved - 97

Master Chief in Combat Evolved

The game that started it all, Halo: Combat Evolved sparked a revolution in the FPS world with its RPG element and addicting gunplay. It originally debuted on the original Xbox on November 14, 2001, and fans can play the beautifully remastered version of it in the Halo: Master Chief Collection. The game aged remarkably well, making its Metascore of 97 and user score of 8.5 well-earned.

14 Super Mario Odyssey - 97

image of Mario on a beach in Super Mario Odyssey

Mario's latest adventure dazzled fans with thoughtful puzzles, a surprisingly open world, and plenty of sweet outfits. Releasing for the Nintendo Switch on October 27, 2017, Super Mario Odyssey once again follows Mario on his quest to save Princess Peach from Bowser. But this time, he has the help of a magical, sentient...hat? Fans lauded its sandbox-style since the last games to have something similar were Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 64. The game has a Metascore of 97 and a user score of 8.9.

RELATED: Which Super Mario Character Are You Based On Your MBTI®?

13 Grand Theft Auto III - 97

image of GTA III protagonist

Those ultra baggy pants, leather jacket, and chip-on-his-shoulder countenance can only mean one thing: that's a GTA protagonist. Rockstar released the third game in the series for PS2 on October 22, 2001, to much acclaim. It included 3 hours of music, more than 50 vehicles, a complete 3D city, and tons of weapons for wreaking havoc on Liberty City. Users gave it a score of 8.4 while it earned a Metascore of 97.