TechRaptor was created back in 2012, but it took almost two years for us to publish our first review. Since then, we have enjoyed giving our thoughts on a huge range of games from blockbuster AAA titles to cute indie gems. Since the very first review on our site (it's Knack in case you were wondering), we have adhered to our rigorous Review Score Policy, which forms the backbone to all our reviews. From the hundreds of games we have reviewed over the years, only a handful have ever been awarded full marks. According to our policy, for a game to achieve a full 10/10 score it has to be an example of the following:
10 – Classic - There is no such thing as a perfect game, but Classics are some of the best of all time. These are games that do nearly everything right. Even with minor flaws these games manage to become benchmarks for others to aspire to.
Every 10 awarded is subject to extra editorial review, meaning that only the worthiest of titles have managed to get these scores. Listed below is TechRaptor hall of fame, an exhaustive catalogue containing all of the games that we have given a 10/10 score so far. Entries are provided in chronological order and will be updated in the rare event of a perfect score.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Developer: CD Projekt RED | Release Date: May 19th, 2015
Reviewed by Andrew Otton on May 28th, 2015
Kicking off our list is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This sprawling open-world RPG was released back in 2015 and has since achieved an almost legendary status. Universally loved by both gamers and critics, the third entry in the long-running Witcher series has had a huge impact on the world of RPG gaming and even mainstream popular culture. Our review praises the beautiful open environment and stellar quality of writing, although did note some issues with the far from perfect inventory system.
Still, Andrew Otton writes that, "The Witcher 3 is one of those games that both meets expectations in most areas and surpasses it in some, leaving behind one of those games that will have a huge impact on all of gaming," and he certainly wasn't wrong! With a hugely popular Netflix tie-in show (featuring a catchy banger) and next-gen rerelease on the horizon, there's never been a better time to dive back into the world of CD Projekt Red's masterpiece.
You can learn all about why The Witcher 3 is worth playing by checking out our full review. It also took the top spot of our 100 Best Games of the 2010s, check out the full list here.
Undertale
Developer: Toby Fox | Release Date: September 15th, 2015
Reviewed by Alex Santa Maria on October 5th, 2015
The first, but certainly not the last, indie game to achieve a perfect score was Undertale, an ambitious 2D role-playing adventure rendered even more impressive when you consider that it was created by a solo developer. Our review praised the storytelling and characterization, describing the game as an "an unforgettable journey that will shape storytelling in games" and something that "effortlessly resonates with players."
As a result of this excellence, the game was wildly popular, with Sans, one of the title's most well-known characters, even making a surprise cameo as a fighter skin in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Although originally created with a PC audience in mind, the game has since been ported to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and, most recently, Nintendo Switch, allowing players who missed out the first time finally have a chance to experience Undertale.
Before you rush off to buy the game, make sure you read our full review.
Stardew Valley
Developer: ConcernedApe | Release Date: February 26th, 2016
Reviewed by Robert N. Adams on May 2nd, 2016
There are few games quite as relaxing to play as Stardew Valley, an indie farming sim that we described as having "a little bit of everything for everyone." Much like Undertale, Stardew Valley was created by a solo indie dev, making its "well-designed, well-polished" gameplay all the more praiseworthy.
One of the few complaints we could level at the game back in 2016 was the lack of online multiplayer, which had yet to be released at review time. Now, in addition to years' worth of content updates that have added online multiplayer among other exciting features, the game has also landed on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Vita, and even mobile, meaning that this "modern masterpiece" is more accessible than ever.
For more information on Stardew Valley, you can read the full review or even learn a little about what goes on behind the scenes through our fifth-anniversary interview with the developer.
Super Mario Odyssey
Developer: Nintendo | Release Date: October 27th, 2017
Reviewed by Andrew Otton on November 1st, 2017
If you're in the mood for some 3D platforming action, we considered Super Mario Odyssey to be easily "one of the best Mario games" yet. We praised its simple yet "pure fun" gameplay in addition to its focus on exploration, but were a little less fond of its tacked-on motions controls.
Luckily, the game is fully playable without them. Although it is currently only available for the Nintendo Switch with the chances of it appearing elsewhere incredibly slim, if you're an owner of that system, there are few titles more worthy of your time.
Find out more about Super Mario Odyssey by reading our full review.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Developer: Lucas Pope | Release Date: October 18th, 2018
Reviewed by Richard Costa on October 29th, 2018
One of the more unique titles we've ever awarded a 10/10, Return of the Obra Dinn is a detective mystery thriller like no other. Following an insurance investigator aboard a mysterious ship that has washed ashore empty, players must find out what happened to the crew, armed only with a magic pocket watch that allows them to visit the last moments of the deceased.
Our review highlights the allusions to the work of Edgar Allan Poe and the brilliant focus on real puzzle solving. Overall, we found it to be "an extraordinary conjunction of cerebral puzzle, supernatural nautical tale" all brought together by a wonderfully "ornate art direction."
Although we reviewed the PC version at the time, the game has since become available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. If you want to learn more, be sure to investigate our full review.
Dreams
Developer: Media Molecule | Release Date: February 14th, 2020
Reviewed by Samuel Guglielmo on February 21st, 2020
Dreams isn't so much a game in the traditional sense, rather it is a set of robust user creation tools. Created exclusively for PlayStation 4 and 5, our review praised the system's wide array of content creation tools, describing it as all you need to "let you make the game of your dreams."
Full of "I can't believe it" moments, Dreams is an impressive testament to the power of the player. With a solid tutorial system and a huge number of available user-created games to try, a number that has only grown since the time of our review, if you want to try your hand at creating a game in an easy to use and accessible fashion — it doesn't get much better than this.
Find out more about why Dreams could be the game of your dreams in our full review.
Death Stranding
Developer: Kojima Productions | Release Date: July 14th, 2020
Reviewed by Nirav Gandhi on July 14th, 2020
One of the more controversial entries on this list, Death Stranding is a game that undeniably makes some missteps. Our review highlighted especially the somewhat janky climbing mechanics and often nonsensical dialogue, but like all great pieces of art, it was the ability of Death Stranding to rise above these constraints that makes it so special.
We concluded by describing Death Stranding as "a transformative experience that transcends genres to convey a message everyone must hear: we are stronger together and weaker apart." Considering recent world events and the imminent arrival of a new Director's Cut, this message is more important than ever.
To prepare for this new rerelease, why not give our full review a read.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
Developer: Capcom | Release Date: July 27th, 2021
Reviewed by Dashiell Wood on August 18th, 2021
In this visual novel, players must work as a rookie lawyer in 19th-century England and Japan to try to secure their client's innocence across a number of elaborate murder cases. In addition to being entirely standalone, our review praised how this entry built "upon the strong foundations of the games that came before it" and proved to be a unique reimagining with innovations "at every turn."
The review ends by imploring that "if you only play one Ace Attorney game in your lifetime, make it this one," and you can do that by picking up the game on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, or PC via Steam.
Before you do however, find out why we had no objections to this title in the full written review.
Neon White
Developer: Angel Matrix | Release Date: June 16th, 2022
Reviewed by Austin Suther on June 27th, 2022.
Some games are huge, sprawling affairs with a ton of moving parts and an epic scale. Others limit themselves to a handful of mechanics and polish them to a mirror shine. Neon White is a shining beacon of a game, delivering fast-paced, adrenaline-inducing gameplay that will keep you "on the edge of your seat most of the time in Neon White, because it creates such elation to move through the air and get a new speedrun record."
To sum it all up Austin had this to say: "A speedrunner's dream and an adrenaline junky's delight, Neon White is a helluva game with top-shelf gameplay, impeccable voice acting, and outstanding visuals."
To read more of the review, check out here.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Developer: Nintendo | Release Date: May 12th, 2023
Reviewed by Andrew Stretch on May 23rd, 2023.
How do you follow up one of the best games of all time in Breath of the Wild? Few games have seen such universal acclaim. Nintendo was rubbing their hands together in secret, as they knew that, really, Breath of the Wild was just a prototype. Tears of the Kingdom delivers an even more epic scale, with more freedom, more player agency, and so many interesting things to do that it's hard to fathom.
So, Nintendo decided to follow up one of the best games of all time with what many may consider THE best game of all time, as Andrew's thoughts could be summed up here: "Tears of the Kingdom is an impossibly good sequel to what was already a near-perfect game."
To read more of the review, check out here.
Animal Well
Developer: Shared Memory | Release Date: May 9th, 2024
Reviewed by Andrew Stretch on May 9th, 2024
Every game has a goal in mind for what sort of experience they want to convey to its players. Obviously, some games have more success than others, but Animal Well is near perfection. From the surface, it has great gameplay, atmosphere, charm, and everything else you'd want in a metroidvania. But if you keep peeling back the layers, there's secret after secret to find.
To sum it up, Andrew had this to say: "I came into Animal Well with pretty high expectations of a platforming adventure filled to the brim with increasingly complex puzzles. Not only did the game meet those expectations, but it far exceeded them."
Which games do you think deserve a 10/10 score? Are there any entries on this list that you agree with or strongly contest? Let us know in the comments below!
Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net
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