Every Game Informer 10/10 Score

The Pantheon of Gaming Perfection: Every Game Informer 10/10 Score

At Gaming News, we understand that a perfect score is more than just a number; it’s a declaration of unparalleled excellence, a testament to a game that has transcended the ordinary and achieved the truly sublime. For decades, the esteemed publication Game Informer has served as a trusted arbiter of quality in the gaming world. While their reviewers approach each title with a discerning eye and a commitment to thorough analysis, the coveted 10/10 score is an honor bestowed with extreme rarity. This is not a designation given lightly. It signifies a game that has not only met but exceeded all expectations, offering an experience so profound, so impactful, that it garners universal acclaim from the editorial board.

We have meticulously scoured the archives, analyzed the historical significance, and presented a definitive exploration of every single title that has achieved this pinnacle of critical recognition within the pages of Game Informer. This comprehensive list represents a curated collection of the absolute best, the games that have fundamentally shaped our understanding of interactive entertainment and continue to be celebrated for their groundbreaking achievements.

The Elusive Nature of Perfection: Understanding the 10/10 Standard

The journey to a 10/10 score at Game Informer is an arduous one, paved with rigorous evaluation and passionate debate. It’s a decision that requires collective consensus, a shared understanding among editors that a particular title possesses an almost magical quality. This isn’t a solitary opinion; it’s a symphony of critical thought, where multiple perspectives converge to declare a game as truly flawless. This dedication to meticulous assessment ensures that when a 10/10 is awarded, it carries immense weight and credibility within the gaming community. The very scarcity of these perfect scores underscores their significance, making each recipient a landmark achievement in video game history.

Early Approaches to Scoring: A Foundation of Nuance

In the nascent years of Game Informer, the review system was structured differently, reflecting the evolving landscape of game criticism. For the first nine years of the magazine’s existence, each game was subjected to the scrutiny of three distinct reviewers. Their individual scores, meticulously awarded across five critical categories – Concept, Graphics, Sound, Playability, and Entertainment – were then averaged to arrive at a single “bottom line” score. This multi-faceted approach meant that achieving a perfect overall score was an extraordinary feat. It demanded not just one exceptional review, but a near-perfect performance from all three contributing critics. As far as our research indicates, this ideal scenario of three flawless individual reviews never materialized.

Glimmers of Brilliance: Individual Scores of Perfection

Despite the rarity of a collective perfect score in these early days, there were instances where individual reviewers recognized the extraordinary potential within a title. These moments offer fascinating glimpses into games that, under a different scoring paradigm, might have achieved universal perfection.

These individual affirmations highlight the exceptional quality of these games, even though the averaged scores ultimately placed them just shy of the ultimate accolade. The near-miss of Super Mario 64, which ultimately scored a 9.75, serves as a prime example of how the original review structure could prevent individual brilliance from translating into a collective perfect score.

Retroactive Acclaim and Editorial Curiosities

The Game Informer archive is a treasure trove of gaming history, and occasionally, certain titles received special recognition through unique editorial segments that offered a different perspective on their legacy.

The Mascot Wars: A Retrospective Look

In Issue 43, published in October 1996, a segment titled “The Mascot Wars” delved into the iconic rivalry between Mario, Sonic, and the emerging star, Crash Bandicoot. Within this retrospective, the writer took a look back at seminal titles from each mascot’s history. Notably, Super Mario Bros., a game that predated Game Informer itself by several years, was given a retroactive 10/10. While this was a significant acknowledgment of the game’s enduring impact, it’s important to note that this was not a traditional review. The game did not undergo the rigorous, standardized evaluation process applied to contemporary releases. Furthermore, this list featured scoring inconsistencies, with Super Mario 64 being incorrectly listed with a 9.5, underscoring the distinct nature of this retrospective feature.

GI Classic: Revisiting a Legend

The “GI Classic” segment continued to offer unique perspectives on gaming’s past. In Issue 90 (October 2000), Super Mario World, a game released shortly before the magazine’s inception, was revisited and awarded a perfect 10/10. While this was a more structured retro review than the “Mascot Wars” feature, it still deviated from the standard review format. It was presented as a singular opinion, lacked an individual byline, and was formatted differently, making it an exceptional inclusion rather than a typical review score.

The Dawn of a New Era: Overhauling the Review Process

A pivotal moment in Game Informer’s history arrived with Issue 91 (November 2000), coinciding with a significant redesign of the magazine. This issue marked a new era not only in visual presentation but also in the editorial’s approach to game reviews. This coincided with the release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, a title that would forever be etched in the magazine’s perfect score history.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2: The First Official 10/10

The introduction of a new review process meant fewer barriers to achieving a perfect score. The structure shifted to include a primary review and a “second opinion,” which was also scored but featured a more concise write-up. The elimination of individual category scores and the adoption of short, impactful blurbs for each review allowed for a more fluid and direct assessment of a game’s overall quality. It was within this revitalized framework that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 became the first game to officially receive a 10/10 score in Game Informer upon its release. The accompanying quote from Jay Fitzloff perfectly encapsulates the magnitude of this achievement: “Very few perfect scores have ever been given out by Game Informer, and I’ve never scored anything a 10, but games just don’t come better than this.”

The April Fool’s Joke: A Score Beyond Perfection

While the pursuit of perfection is a serious endeavor, Game Informer has also shown a playful side. In Issue 84, published in April 2000, a humorous April Fool’s joke saw the publication award a fictional game, Virtua Laundromat 3: Rinse Cycle for the “Mega Dreamblast” (a parody of the Sega Dreamcast), a score of 10+. This lighthearted moment serves as a memorable anecdote, highlighting the publication’s personality and its ability to engage with its audience on multiple levels, all while being just seven months away from bestowing its first legitimate perfect score.

The Elite Circle: Every Game Informer 10/10 Score in Chronological Order

Here, we present the definitive, chronologically ordered list of every game that has earned the extraordinary distinction of a 10/10 score from Game Informer. These are the titles that have defined generations, pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in video games, and left an indelible mark on the industry. Each entry is accompanied by its issue number and publication date, offering a glimpse into the historical context of its acclaim, along with a poignant quote from its review.

  1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

    • Issue 91 – November 2000
    • “Very few perfect scores have ever been given out by Game Informer, and I’ve never scored anything a 10, but games just don’t come better than this.” – Jay Fitzloff

  2. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

    • Issue 104 – December 2001
    • “If there is a birth of the next generation of gaming, it is here with this title.” – Matthew Kato

  3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

    • Issue 116 – December 2002
    • “If every other publisher in the country has been waiting for Rockstar and Grand Theft Auto’s reign of chart dominance to come to an end, or wishing that GTA III would prove to be a fluke hit – they better be ready to wait another year.” – Matt Helgeson

  4. Metroid Fusion

    • Issue 117 – January 2003
    • “From beginning to end, Metroid Fusion is everything you could want in a Game Boy Advance title – high-powered original content that surpasses the old 8-bit and 16-bit games that they are derived from.” – Andy McNamara

  5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

    • Issue 120 – April 2003
    • “The Wind Waker blows every Zelda game out of the water and stands as the video game event of a lifetime. It’s an absolute necessity for anyone who considers themselves a gamer.” – Andrew Reiner

  6. Grand Theft Auto III/Vice City (Double Pack)

    • Issue 129 – January 2004
    • “Yes, Halo is more refined and Zelda is more ingenious, but only Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City has that genre-busting, nonlinear sensibility that the development world is trying to catch up with.” – Matt Helgeson

  7. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal

    • Issue 139 – November 2004
    • “After a long and successful history, Insomniac Games has finally created its masterpiece, a tour de force that is the zenith of a trio of titles that I feel should be held up in action/platform history alongside the original Super Mario Bros. trilogy on the NES.” – Matt Helgeson

  8. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

    • Issue 140 – December 2004
    • “San Andreas breaks the video game mold and emerges as something far greater. This is more than a game. This is entertainment at its best.” – Andrew Reiner

  9. Halo 2

    • Issue 140 – December 2004
    • “Simply put, Halo 2 is by far the greatest first-person shooter the console world has seen to date.” – Andy McNamara

  10. Resident Evil 4

    • Issue 143 – March 2005
    • “There are no flaws in Resident Evil 4. It is the greatest horror game to date. I never thought that a game, or movie for that matter, could deliver pulse-pounding action in such an awe-inspiring way.” – Andrew Reiner

  11. God of War

    • Issue 144 – April 2005
    • “While playing God of War, I honestly found it difficult to resist the urge to simply genuflect and be humbled to be in the presence of such digital divinity, this god among games.” – Joe Juba

  12. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

    • Issue 165 – January 2007
    • “The debate that has waged for decades over which Zelda game should stand as the series’ best will at long last come to a satisfying conclusion, as this is unquestionably the greatest Zelda yet.” – Andrew Reiner

  13. BioShock

    • Issue 173 – September 2007
    • “It’s ingenious, enthralling, and a masterpiece of the most epic proportions.” – Andrew Reiner

  14. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

    • Issue 176 – December 2007
    • “Everything has come together brilliantly, from the nonstop intensity of the offline campaign to the endlessly replayable multiplayer offering. Simply put, Call of Duty 4 is one of the absolute best games to grace any platform to date.” – Adam Biessener

  15. Grand Theft Auto IV

    • Issue 182 – June 2008
    • “Grand Theft Auto IV doesn’t just raise the bar for the storied franchise; it completely changes the landscape of gaming.” – Andrew Reiner

  16. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

    • Issue 183 – July 2008
    • “As the crowning achievement of the series’ 20-year history, Hideo Kojima’s final Metal Gear Solid title may not be what you expect, but it is everything you could hope for in a video game.” – Joe Juba

  17. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

    • Issue 199 – November 2009
    • “Uncharted 2 is a ringing testament to the power of both games and storytelling. It pulls you in, keeps you engaged, and concludes with a thunderous bang.” – Andrew Reiner

  18. God of War III

    • Issue 204 – April 2010
    • “Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such a powerful, cinematic, and breathtaking conclusion to the saga of the Ghost of Sparta.” – Joe Juba

  19. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

    • Issue 210 – October 2010
    • “This is a sublimely engineered game with a simple, elegant core design and all of the rough edges ground away.” – Adam Biessener

  20. Batman: Arkham City

    • Issue 223 – November 2011
    • “Arkham City not only lives up to the standards set by Arkham Asylum, it bests its predecessor in every way and stands tall as one of Batman’s greatest moments.” – Andrew Reiner

  21. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

    • Issue 224 – December 2011
    • “As what’s likely to be the last major Wii release from Nintendo, Skyward Sword is a fitting finale for the console. This is the first game I’ve played that delivers on the promise sparked by that initial Wii remote showing.” – Phil Kollar

  22. Mass Effect 3

    • Issue 229 – May 2012
    • “I guided Shepard across three massive games spanning over 100 hours, and feel BioWare has delivered one of the most intricately crafted stories in the history of the medium.” – Andrew Reiner

  23. BioShock Infinite

    • Issue 241 – May 2013
    • “No matter how many parallel realities I ponder, I cannot imagine one in which BioShock Infinite is not among the best games I’ve played.” – Joe Juba

  24. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

    • Issue 248 – December 2013
    • “This isn’t just a tribute; as amazing as A Link to the Past is, I can’t think of a single thing A Link Between Worlds doesn’t do better.” – Dan Ryckert

  25. The Last Of Us Remastered

    • Issue 258 – October 2014
    • “If you never played The Last of Us at all, this is absolutely the way to do it. But be careful - you’ll never want to go back to the PS3 original again after reveling in all the improvements.” – Tim Turi

  26. Overwatch

    • Issue 279 – July 2016
    • “Blizzard has taken its masterful art of polishing and perfection to the team shooter, and things will never be the same.” – Daniel Tack

  27. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

    • Issue 288 – April 2017
    • “I was entranced by this version of Hyrule, and it surprised me at nearly every turn, from its wealth of discoveries to the way it shuns the established tropes of previous Zelda games. It represents a profound new direction for one of gaming’s best franchises and a new high point for open-world interactive experiences.” – Kyle Hilliard

  28. Red Dead Redemption II

    • Issue 308 – December 2018
    • “The up-close portrayal of the outlaw Van der Linde gang’s unraveling is a compelling companion story that blends seamlessly with the original game, and depth and breadth of the open world is a technical triumph that every gamer should experience.” – Matt Bertz

  29. The Last of Us Part II

    • Issue 327 – July 2020
    • “I can safely say this is the best narrative game I have played. I felt the loss. I felt the confusion. It is a game that turned me inside out with each twist of the screw.” – Andy McNamara

  30. Elden Ring

    • Issue 344 – March 2022
    • “Elden Ring represents a truly amazing combination of various game elements that all come together to create something fascinating, special, and unforgettable. Elden Ring isn’t just the best game this year; it’s one of the best games ever made.” – Daniel Tack

  31. Astro Bot

    • Issue 369 – June 2025
    • “Astro Bot has always been good at propping up its contemporaries, but the adorable little robot can now proudly stand beside the PlayStation icons it so fondly celebrates.” – Marcus Stewart

  32. Hades II

    • Issue 373 – December 2025
    • “Hades II is the pinnacle of the roguelike genre, a position I previously granted its predecessor, but one that its sequel has handily earned.” – Charles Harte

Accessing the Archives: Reliving the Masterpieces

For those eager to delve deeper and experience these critically acclaimed titles as they were originally presented, Game Informer offers an invaluable resource. You can access most of their magazine archives, including issues published up to issue 368, by creating a free account and navigating their digital library. This allows for an unparalleled look at the context and presentation of these reviews in their original print format. For newer issues, including reviews of titles like Astro Bot and Hades II, a subscription to Game Informer is the best way to stay current with their latest assessments.

The Legacy of Perfection: A Benchmark for Gaming Excellence

The games that have achieved a 10/10 score in Game Informer are not merely excellent titles; they are benchmarks. They represent the zenith of creative ambition, technical mastery, and engaging gameplay. They are the experiences that players remember for a lifetime, the games that inspire future developers, and the enduring proof of what video games can achieve as an art form. At Gaming News, we celebrate these achievements and believe that understanding the history of these perfect scores offers invaluable insight into the evolution of gaming and the pursuit of true excellence.

You also may like 〣〣