However, before the hyperrealistic games and open-world sensations took over the industry, the 20th century took the first step and invented video games. That is why this list will rank the best video games from the 20th century based on gameplay, design, visuals, narrative, influence, originality, staying power, critical acclaim, fan opinion, and overall quality. Non-gamers were introduced to the medium through this open-ended digital toy, which greatly shifted the way people viewed video games in the future. It brought a cinematic narrative framework to video games, making each moment feel like an epic action movie. 11 'Pac-Man' (1980)Image via NamcoSpeaking of the best video game characters, Pac-Man from 1980 was the first game to create a video game mascot.