Summary

• Screen Rant Gaming has reviewed hundreds of games since our inception, and we've created a definitive five-star game ranking to celebrate our 20th anniversary.
• While every game on this list received a perfect score, the ranking takes into various categories like gameplay, story, and industry impact.
• The article highlights five-star games like Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, Uncharted Legacy of Thieves, Elden Ring, and more.

Since the inception of Screen Rant Gaming, we've reviewed hundreds of games from AAA Game of the Year winners to sleeper indie hits. While no game is perfect, there's many that have still earned a five-star rating from our reviewers thanks to their impressive gameplay, story, and design. While an incredibly difficult task to rank these phenomenal titles, our Gaming editors have collectively decided how these industry-shaking games stack up against each other, resulting in the definitive five-star game ranking in celebration of Screen Rant's 20th anniversary.

When reviewing a game, Screen Rant's reviewers consider a wide range of categories, not only the gameplay, but also the graphics, bugs, accessibility, approachability, world design, characters, and more. However, what our reviewers can't predict is each game's impact on the industry. Some of our five-star games, while older, have truly stood the test of time, amassing countless players and remaining part of the cultural gaming landscape even years after their release. Others have had less longevity or less of an impact, which is one of the wider considerations of our ranking. With this list, we aren't only considering the games on an individual basis, but also their impact since launch.

36 Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes (2022)

Nintendo Switch

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review

Released in 2022, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a spin-off of the 2019 hit, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Houses. As the title suggests, the game uses the same mechanics as Dynasty Warriors and The Legend of Zelda spin-off, Hyrule Warriors. Three Hopes garnered generally very favorable reviews at launch, with its current Metacritic rating standing at 80.

In Screen Rant's five-star review, we praised its strategy mechanics and combat, stating: "The game is a great choice for those who enjoy real-time combat or past Fire Emblem titles, as well as fans of Fire Emblem: Three Houses."

35 Uncharted Legacy of Thieves (2022)

PS5, PC

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review

Another five-star title from Screen Rant in 2022, Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection bundles together Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, and its standalone expansion, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Both games were remastered for this PS5 release, with additions like Fidelity Mode, 3D audio, improved framerate, and DualSense features. Both Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy are considered to be two of Naughty Dog's best games in the Nathan Drake saga, with the latter often overlooked due to its smaller size and framing as DLC.

In our review of Legacy of Thieves, we noted: "Uncharted: Legacy Of Thieves Collection is authentic, exciting, and well worth exploring, neatly tying together the series past and potential future in the best version of both to date." The title currently sits at 87 on Metacritic.

34 Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (2021)

Nintendo Switch

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl reimagine Generation 8's Diamond & Pearl with an all-new Chibi aesthetic, 3D graphics, and new additions such as the Underground. The dual-release launched in 2021 to mixed reception, with plenty of fans unhappy with what was deemed divisive graphics and overly easy battles. Remakes will always draw comparisons to their original releases, and with particularly nostalgic IPs such as Pokémon, it can be hard for new titles to stack up to the originals.

At Screen Rant, however, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with the game, calling it: "a perfect starting point that bridges the gap between classic and modern Pokémon games. The quality-of-life additions make the game more accessible without making it feel bloated, the art style is simplistic and cute, and the gameplay mechanics will keep players moving through the adventure with ease." Metacritic has both games at a score of 73.

33 Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Rise PC (2021, 2022)

Nintendo Switch, PC

Read: Screen Rant's 5-Star Review (Nintendo Switch)

First launching on Nintendo Switch in 2021, Monster Hunter Rise took the world by storm with its beautiful worlds, exciting combat, and hundreds of hours of gameplay. On Switch, Rise truly put the console to the test with features like the verticality-adding Wirebugs, Rampage Missions, and Palamute mounts. When the game later released on Xbox, PS5 and PC, it truly shone with its impressive visuals and worlds.

In Screen Rant's Nintendo Switch review of Monster Hunter Rise, we said: "This is the game that the Monster Hunter franchise should have been all along. The annoying parts of the experience that were retained due to tradition have finally been stripped away, leaving a polished, enjoyable experience for newcomers that will make long-time fans equally happy." Metacritic has the game at a score of 88 on Nintendo Switch.

Read: Screen Rant's 5-Star Review (PC)

32 Carrion (2020)

All Platforms

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review

The self-titled "reverse horror game" of 2020, Carrion allows players to take control of a horrifying pixelated mass whose aim is to feast on flesh while escaping from the underground facility it was created in. Praised for its unique premise, gruesome art style, and lack of hand-holding, Carrion amassed a strong following of fans who enjoy its very frank and unsettling absurdity.

In Screen Rant's review, we said: "In certain games, it's a nightmare to drop in without any sort of tutorial, but Carrion is the rare exception that learns from the mistakes of others. The creature's toolset grows with every stage, but there's never more than one or two ways to solve any problem. The answer isn't always obvious, but any halt in progress come from players not using the creature's full potential rather than unruly difficulty spike. [...]The whole vibe is enjoyably upsetting, a truly singular journey that no player will soon forget." The game currently has a score of 75 on Metacritic.

31 Backbone (2021)

All Platforms

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review

2021's post-noir detective adventure Backbone features a compelling narrative and unique art style. Playing as private detective Howard Lotor in the dystopian city of Vancouver, BC, players must solve what appears to be a simple case - until the plot thickens. Featuring stealth, puzzles, and some classic point-and-click gameplay, Backbone excels in both its design and story.

In Screen Rant's review, we said: "Backbone is a must-play GOTY contender that deserves every bit of mainstream recognition it receives, and exceeds the usual reach of its genre, making for a compelling experience that even those with little interest in point-and-click adventures will find difficult to put down." The game has a score of 72 on Metacritic.

30 Streets of Rage 4 & Mr. X Nightmare DLC (2020, 2021)

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review (Streets of Rage 4)

Streets of Rage 4 released in 2020 and was followed by its Mr. X Nightmare DLC in 2021. Both the base game and its follow-up content more than live up to the Streets of Rage name, offering fresh yet familiar combat with an all-new art style. Winning over fans both new and old, the Metacritic score for the base game is an impressive 84, while the DLC sits even higher at 88.

In our review of Streets of Rage 4, we noted: "The challenge of reviewing Streets of Rage 4 is that most every single aspect of the game is easily worth a thousand words, whether it’s the excellent new musical themes, the fantastic elevator sections, how each level’s lighting affects visual shading on the heroes (even on the retro characters), or the heavy-duty challenge of mania difficulty."

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review (Mr. X Nightmare DLC)

29 Kentucky Route Zero (2020)

All Platforms

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review

Seven years after its first Act released in 2013, Kentucky Route Zero concluded its story in 2020 and the wait was certainly worth it. The game follows Conway, a delivery driver for an antique store in Kentucky. The premise is simple: Conway must deliver a parcel to Dogwood Drive, but it's the journey in which the heart of Kentucky Route Zero lies. Focused more on characters and their stories than puzzles, this is one title that has stuck with many players, earning a Metacritic score of anywhere from 81 to 90, depending on the Act.

In our review, we described Kentucky Route Zero as "equal parts the abstract Americana of David Lynch and the magic realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez; a world of wreckage and loss, but with the potential for the growth of something more."

28 Eastward (2021)

Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review

Eastward's beautiful visuals and call-backs to classic titles like Earthbound made the game an instant hit when it released in 2021. Following the story of father-daughter duo John and Sam, players will explore, cook, and battle their way through the magical world of Eastward in a wonderfully charming title for RPG fans. The game's art style is complimented by a strong script and memorable music, all of which culminate in an unmissable 5/5 experience for us, with an 82 on Metacritic.

In our review, we said: "For RPG fans, Eastward is the real deal, and it’s an unmissable and impressive feat of indie design that deserves plenty of recognition amongst a sea of bigger releases in 2021."

27 Street Fighter 6 (2023)

PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X/S, PC

Read: Screen Rant's Five-Star Review

Capcom's latest entry in its iconic Street Fighter series launched in 2023 to rave reviews, with an impressive 92 on Metacritic. The game adds more approachable ways to play thanks to its Modern and Dynamic control styles, but those who adore the complexity of classic Street Fighter can still make the most of this release thanks to its Classic mode. With new and returning features like Drive Impact, World Tour, and Fighting Grounds, there are plenty of modes to explore in Street Fighter 6.

In Screen Rant's review, we summarized saying: "With everything that Street Fighter 6 includes, it's set the bar incredibly high for future fighting games. [..] A well-balanced roster of characters and new control options helps Street Fighter 6 stand tall as an excellent entry point for fighting games, while also containing the depth and precise gameplay that pros expect."