When robots began taking the jobs of manual laborers, so-called creative types looked on with a smug sense of self-assuredness and unwavering confidence that a machine could never replace them. However, with the emergence ofChatGPT and other artificial intelligence systems like it, many of those people are now starting to have doubts as to whether their jobs are really as secure as they once thought them to be.
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In all likelihood, AI still has a little way to go before it can reliably start to replace the artists, musicians, and writers of the world. Nonetheless, the rapid progress that it’s making will no doubt have a lot of people glancing nervously over their shoulders. To find outwhether ChatGPT could cut the mustard as a video game writer, it was asked to come up with a list of the best video games of all time and to justify its decisions. Listed below are the games that it chose.
ChatGPT was given the following prompt to generate this list: “What are the ten best video games and why? Please provide a sentence or two to explain each of your choices.”
1Super Mario Bros.
Although Mario technically made his debut inDonkey Kong, it wasn’t until the release ofSuper Mario Bros.in 1985 that the Italian plumber became the superstar that he is today. This breakout title helped todefine the platforming genreand marked the beginning of one of the longest-running and most successful video game franchises of all time.
When asked why it choseSuper Mario Bros., ChatGPT points out that the game helped to revolutionize the medium by establishing trends and mechanics that are still widely used to this day. It also points out that this was the game that really introduced Mario to the world, with most having known him simply as Jumpman prior to its release.
2The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeis arguablythe bestLegend of Zeldagameever made and is easily one of the standout titles on the Nintendo 64. Like so many other games on the system, it helped to bring its franchise into the third dimension, introducing important mechanics like Z-targeting in the process.
ChatGPT cites the game’s “compelling blend of action, exploration, and puzzle-solving” as one of its biggest strengths. The AI language model also mentions the new standards thatOcarina of Timeset for the adventure game genre, which at the time were incredibly impressive.
3Tetris
Perhaps the very definition of a true system-seller,Tetrisis one ofthe best-selling games of all timeand made a massive contribution toward the overwhelming success of the OG Game Boy. This iconic puzzle title remains hugely popular to this day, with games likeTetris Effect: Connectedstill attracting plenty of attention from modern gamers.
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ChatGPT correctly points out thatTetrisis an incredibly addictive game and one that has found a way to “transcend generations.” It also praises the mechanics of the game, which it describes as “simple yet endlessly engaging.”
4Minecraft
Yet another genre-defining title on ChatGPT’s list of the best video games of all time,Minecrafttook the world by stormwhen it arrived on the scene way back in the summer of 2010. It helped to popularize numerous mechanics, including building, crafting, and survival systems.
According to ChatGPT,Minecraftoffers “unparalleled freedom and creativity,” allowing players to build their own digital worlds in an endless sandbox setting. It mentions the impact thatMinecrafthas had on the medium, too, as well as the “vibrant community” that the game has inspired.
5Grand Theft Auto 5
Grand Theft Auto 5probably isn’tthe bestGrand Theft Autogamewhen all’s said and done, but it is definitely the most enduring. Rockstar’s open-world epic has now been released across three different console generations, making it one of only a handful of games to accomplish this impressive feat.
When asked why it considersGrand Theft Auto 5to be one of the best video games ever made, ChatGPT praises the title’s immersive storytelling and the “unprecedented level of detail” that went into creating its vast open world. According to the AI language model, it is, simply put, “a cultural phenomenon.”
6The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The GPT-3.5 architecture has a knowledge cutoff of September 2021, meaning that it knows very little aboutThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As such, it’s impossible to say whether it would have chosen the 2023 title ahead ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but the latter remains a good shout nonetheless.
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ChatGPT describesBreath of the Wildas a masterpiece that “redefined exploration and player freedom” and helped to immerse its players better than anyZeldagame before it. ChatGPT clearly holds the franchise in high regard, butZeldaisn’t the only Nintendo series to get two entries on its list of the best video games of all time.
7Super Mario 64
Released in 1996,Super Mario 64marked the series' first steps into the third dimension and served asa huge leap forward for the platforming genrein general. Its controls and camera haven’t aged all that gracefully, but at the time, the game was an incredible achievement and helped to inspire countless other developers.
ChatGPT puts it perfectly when it suggests thatSuper Mario 64"left an indelible mark on the industry." The AI language model praises several aspects of the game’s design, including its “tight controls,” its “innovative level design”, and its “imaginative worlds.”
8Pac-Man
Everybody and their mother has playedPac-Manat some point in their life, but whether or not there are many who consider it one ofthe best games ever madeis not quite so clear. It’s undoubtedly a good one, though, and one that gobbled up more than its fair share of quarters during the eighties and nineties.
ChatGPT chosePac-Manfor its “best games of all time” list due to how recognizable both the game and the character are. It goes on to cite the impact that the game had on arcade gaming, describingPac-Manas a “cultural touchstone” due to how memorable the character is.
9The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
TheWitcher 3: Wild Huntis one ofthe best open-world games of all time, so it’s perhaps unsurprising to see ChatGPT recognize the title’s brilliance. It boasts some of the best side quests in gaming, after all, and still looks fantastic despite having been released almost a full decade ago.
ChatGPT chooses to focus on the quality of the storytelling on offer inThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, suggesting that it helped to raise the bar with its “engrossing” narrative. The AI learning model also highlights the game’s “deep” characters, but fails to mention whether it prefers Triss or Yennefer.
10Half-Life 2
FromDoomtoUnreal, there have been plenty ofinnovative and influential first-person shootersover the years, but few can hold a candle toHalf-Life 2. Valve’s 2004 epic is one of the best games of all time, with many people still hoping that a sequel will someday see the light of day.
When asked why it thinksHalf-Life 2is one of the best games ever made, ChatGPT provides a few good examples. Chief among these are the game’s realistic physics and “groundbreaking” gameplay mechanics, which it believes have helped the game to “solidify its place in gaming history.”
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