Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,000 most recommended games across 904 critic lists from 141 publications.

Updated: February 3, 2026

Most Acclaimed Video Games of 1988

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9 of 9

#1 Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) (#26)

Nintendo R&D4 | NES | Platform | ~5h | 60 lists

#2 Mega Man 2 (1988) (#98)

Capcom | NES | Platform | ~3h | 39 lists

#3 Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) (#277)

Nintendo R&D4 | NES | Platform | ~3h | 16 lists

#4 Ninja Gaiden (1988) (#386)

Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games | NES | Hack and Slash / Platform | ~3h | 13 lists

#5 Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (1988) (#518)

Origin Systems | 4, DOS | Role-Playing | ~20h | 8 lists

#6 Bionic Commando (1988) (#616)

Capcom | NES | Platform | ~2h | 10 lists

#7 Snatcher (1988) (#628)

Konami | PC88, MSX, TG16, SCD | Point-and-Click / Visual Novel | ~8h | 5 lists

#8 Ghouls 'n Ghosts (1988) (#686)

Capcom | ARC, 5, GEN | Platform | ~2h | 6 lists

#9 Exile (1988) (#862)

Audiogenic | 5 | Action-Adventure | ~5h | 4 lists

#26

Nintendo R&D4

NES

Platform

~5h

60 lists

Super Mario Bros. 3 1988

#98

Capcom

NES

Platform

~3h

39 lists

Mega Man 2 1988

#277

Nintendo R&D4

NES

Platform

~3h

16 lists

Super Mario Bros. 2 1988

#386

Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games

NES

Hack and Slash / Platform

~3h

13 lists

Ninja Gaiden 1988

#518

Origin Systems

AMI, A2, AST, C64, DOS

Role-Playing

~20h

8 lists

Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny 1988

#616

Capcom

NES

Platform

~2h

10 lists

Bionic Commando 1988

#628

Konami

MSX, PC88, SCD, TG16

Point-and-Click / Visual Novel

~8h

5 lists

Snatcher 1988

#686

Capcom

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, GEN, ZXS

Platform

~2h

6 lists

Ghouls 'n Ghosts 1988

#862

Audiogenic

AMI, CD32, AST, BBCM, C64

Action-Adventure

~5h

4 lists

Exile 1988

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