Video Game Madness

It’s March, which means the brackets are here. Over the last few years, I’ve seen countless brackets. Food, sports, movies, etc. If you can think it, there has probably been a bracket created for it. I’ve seen a decent amount on video games, but never a full 64-team bracket. So, I took it upon myself to create one. This week, I will be posting polls so you can vote on each matchup.

The Breakdown

Each region is broken down into a video game type. Now, before the hardcore gamers get their torches and pitchforks out, I understand that some games might be a “better fit” in another region, but I really tried to get the best 64 in. I tried to be as objective as possible. I looked at countless lists and even used some friends for reference (Thank you, Tony, Al, Dane, Zak, and Jerry). Also, keep in mind that this is the best of the best. Even the 16 seeds are favorites to many. Of course, there are going to be some omissions; if that’s the case, let me know in the comments. I already know that Chrono Trigger and Dark Souls fans are going to be there.

No Sports Games

This was tough, especially considering that I write and make content for a sports blog/podcast. Full disclosure, I’ve loved and played sports games my entire life. However, it’s difficult to be objective with sports games. So, for that reason, I kept them off. I did make an exception, and I’m sure everyone will see why. Could even be the inspiration for next year’s bracket. 

The Regions

Platformers

I think everyone grew up loving at least one platformer. For most, it’s Mario 64, which is why that is my 1 seed. It was the first 3D platformer and revolutionized the genre.  My favorite platformer is the 5th seed in Banjo-Kazooie. A bit of “collector”, but it’s so charming with its cartoon-like characters and imaginative worlds, it’s Rare’s crown jewel. A possible complaint might be my lack of Crash games; I chose Crash 3: Warped as their representative, as it takes on Donkey Kong Country in a huge showdown of 8 vs. 9. Sega gets its representation with 10th-seeded Sonic 2. The PS2 exclusives each get a game from 12 to 14. Portal 2 gets in as the 15th seed, which might be too low, and what would a platformer bracket be without that little purple dragon? Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage rounds out the bracket at 16.  

RPG/Adventure/Open World

Across the bracket are the RPG/Adventure/Open World games. I have to admit; there are a few here that I never played and are going off of what the general consensus is. I did, however, play the 1 seed. Red Dead Redemption 2 deserves to be at the top of this region. Beautiful open world, tons of content, and a story that is worthy of a movie script. Two Legend of Zelda games make the tournament, with Ocarina of Time at the 2nd seed and Breath of the Wild at the 8th. Like Mario 64, OoT was one of the first 3D open-world games people played. Its updated successor, Breath of the Wild, is at 8. Personally, I love Breath of the Wild; the advantage goes to the OG for what it did for the time. Of course, we need a Pokémon game, which will be Soul Silver/Heart Gold. Updated Johto, but you also get to explore the Kanto region at the end. Grand Theft Auto gets San Andreas and 5 in even though 3, Vice City, and 4 are all fantastic. Our 7 vs 10 matchup are two games I have never played, but it seems everyone agrees that they deserve to be there. The 12th seeds are notorious for upsets, and this one is no different and is a personal favorite of mine. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the best Star Wars games, period. Even if you’ve never seen a movie, you would love this Sci-Fi RPG. Not many superhero games here, but Spiderman 2 (2023) and Batman: Arkham City sneak in at 15/16 as “adventure” games.

Horror/Survivor/Shooter

The term “shooter” was used lightly here to fill out the brackets. The 1 seed is Halo. Some may not like it, but it changed the game for first-person shooters; it had a detailed multiplayer and gave players a campaign that everyone remembers. From that first time the Covenant invaded the Light Cruiser, exploring the ring, discovering the ancient flood, and the race against time in the Warthog, this game had some amazing moments.  The finale of the trilogy gets the nod at 8 over Halo 2. Resident Evil 4 is an adventure/horror classic at the 2nd seed. Modern Warfare is the representative of Call of Duty. The 5 vs 12 matchup puts two of Nintendo’s most popular shooters against each other. Mass Effect 2 is one of my absolute favorites, taking on Fortnite. Personally, I’d put Mass Effect as the higher seed, but no one can deny Fortnite’s popularity for almost a decade.

Everything Else

This last region is exactly what it sounds like. If I couldn’t fit a game into a box or had some leftovers from other regions, a game might fall here. The 1st seed is Minecraft, and the 2nd is Tetris, two of the most played games of all time. World of Warcraft is at 3 for its loyal fanbase and longevity. The arcade legend of Pac-Man makes the cut at 4, and the new-gen sequel Mortal Kombat 11 at the 5th. My sports exception is Wii Sports at the 7th seed. It came with the Wii, and even if you didn’t play sports games, it was a perfect party game with friends (my grandma even played it!). The 8 vs 9 matchup is the one I’m looking forward to the most. The first sequels of Rock Band and Guitar Hero go up against each other in the first round to see which is the best music/rhythm game of all time. Another personal pick for me is Tony Hawk’s Underground. First Tony Hawk game with a story, and it’s a fun time if you’ve never played the others. Lastly, The Sims 4 rounds out our bracket as the 16^th seed. Never played the Sims, but know how popular it is with gamers and non-gamers alike. 

Polls

Starting tomorrow, March 17th, I will be sending out polls for each matchup. One region a day. To follow the bracket, follow me @CFBJake on Twitter. I also cover College Football on @TheGBCoach podcast. 

Special thanks to Tony Adams for putting the graphic together.