Most of these cinematic effects are not so bad when used in moderation. But when the chromatic aberration looks like a russian camera from the '70s, or the lens flares makes you think the game was directed by Jar Jar Abrams, that’s bad design. And sadly, that’s like 90% of the games that try to look realistic.

And I haven’t seen anyone mention the worst of all: vignette. That’s one that never, never works.

I don’t think I could just limit my candidates to three. One of my personal criteria is that the game was awesome when released (one of those games I kept obsessing about, outside gaming time), but is also good now when replayed (discounting the typical gameplay QoL improvements since then). Several really good games do that for me (in no particular order):

• Silent Hill 2
• Morrowind
• Terranigma
• Bloodborne
• Chrono Trigger
• Half-Life
• Baldur’s Gate 2
• Pokémon Crystal
• Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
• Tactics Ogre
• Ultima 6
• Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines

… and many others.

Most of them are old, mainly because I don’t know if my modern favorites will pass the test of time in 10 years (games like Crimson Desert, Control, Lies of P or Wuchang).

Even though I love Elden Ring, Bloodborne is a better, and I would say more interesting game.

God of War can suck my ass though. The original was awesome for its time, though not really a candidate for “best game”. The new one is just boooring.