Many times, pop culture’s biggest hits are instantly recognized with the mere utterance a single word. Video games are no exception. Titles like Fortnite and Castlevania can all be easily identified with their unique terms. Many video games have multiple-word titles and subtitles. However, the simple nature of their banners makes them timeless.
One-word titles for video games are a tradition that has been a part of the industry since the early days of home consoles and arcades like Galaga or Pong. We are all obsessed with single-word labels when it comes to our entertainment pleasures. It is why World of Warcraft fans more often refer to it verbally than by its full title. However, there are many incredible titles that continue the single-word title tradition across all generations.
10/10 Borderlands
Claptrap is throwing himself a birthday party, and he wants you to join him — right after you finish taking out a skag’s nest and demolishing an encampment of crazed bandits. Borderlands is the originator of what has come to be known as the “looter gunner” genre.
Borderlands, which takes cues form Diablo, places you in first-person view of your chosen Vault Hunter and gives you the explosive ability of fighting your way across Pandora’s hostile planet. Borderlands is an instant classic in video gaming history.
9/10 Fable
The 2004 action RPG introduced players to a fantasy world as The Hero of Oakvale. This magical world offers many choices that can shape your hero’s destiny.
At the time of the game’s release, Fable helped pioneer the mechanics of morality and branching narratives long before some of the most popular games in that space — like Mass Effect — ever came to fruition. The series is a classic and fans can look forward to more of it in the future.
8/10 Earthbound
You don’t have to play every game from the past decade. Take a trip back in time to 1994 with Earthbound on the Super Nintendo. This RPG allows players the opportunity to play as Ness, a young boy with psychic abilities who must confront an alien force.
Earthbound is still a favorite of children in the 90s. All who give Earthbound a chance will be influenced by the characters and the adventures.
7/10 Doom
You may be wondering: Which Doom are you referring to? Why not both? Doom was a first-person shooter that revolutionized gaming in 1993. Parents of the 90s were probably shocked by the game’s rapid gameplay and brutality.
Doomguy, the mysterious combatant who is determined to save the Earth (and Mars!) from the demon forces of Hell, has returned to the modern age as the Doom Slayer. Modern gaming was again impressed by the action sequences and shooting mechanics of the 2016 reboot. Lock and load and bring the BFG.
6/10 BioShock
This 2007 release was a revolution in story-telling within the FPS space. The 1960s-era game’s mid-century design infused a darkly and horrifying dystopia to the ocean floor. The player crashes in the middle the ocean, and must navigate through Andrew Ryan’s (a true megalomaniac), city of horrors.
BioShock guns are available to you, but injecting yourself using plasmids gives the player elemental power. To uncover the truth behind Andrew Ryan’s bizarre world, you must fight the remnants of a mad society.
5/10 Tetris
This title is as distinctive as the color of the sky in the daytime. Tetris, which was first created in 1984, has been a majorstay in the gaming world. It has been updated many times over the years with new versions and updates that include VR titles like Tetris Effect as well as a battle royale version called Tetris 99.
Tetris is a game that doesn’t need introduction. There are good chances you have played it before. The real question is what will they do next with the series?
4/10 Dishonored
Arkane Studios’ title, Dishonored, is a first-person shooter. Dishonored gives players the opportunity to feel like a mysterious ninja and put their stealth skills on the test. Players take control of Corvo, a bodyguard-turned-assassin, who leads a campaign of death to clear his name for the murder of his charge, the Empress, and rescue her daughter.
This assassin-style game involves more than just arrows and blades. Corvo is granted supernatural gifts to assist him in his journey.
3/10 Ico
Ico is perhaps the first PlayStation 2 title. It’s a unique approach to platforming and adventure. Ico’s story is simple, just like other titles by Team Ico such as Shadow of the Colossus.
You can control the adventure of Ico, a young boy. As he escapes captivity, you must save Yorda, a young girl named Yorda from the shadow creatures that roam the land.
2/10 Psychonauts
The 2005 platforming game was popularized by Tim Schafer, the creator of Double Fine Productions. Psychonauts is an adventure platformer that places players in control Razputin, a boy who has psychic abilities and seeks to become a Psychonaut. This is a secret agent who is psychic.
In 2021, a sequel to the film was released after 16 years. It’s clear to see why the title has remained in the hearts of fans.
1/10 Bloodborne
FromSoftware’s Souls-borne niche is well known to those who live in pain and suffering. Bloodborne, an action RPG in gothic horror setting, challenges players to overcome the difficulties of combat with many nefarious creatures as well as painstaking boss battles.
Fans have been longing for more from this series since its release in 2015. Many had long hoped that the game would be updated to 60 frames per second on modern hardware. Only time will reveal the future.
