10 M-Rated Games That Can Be Called Masterpieces

When a game is Rated M, it means it's Mature, and for ages 17+. In most cases, Rated M games contain violence, sexual content, strong language, and other more adult themes that certainly aren't appropriate for children, but being able to utilise this content has produced some of the greatest video games of all time. Below, we've compiled the best games with an M-Rating. Spanning decades, the games below offer players incredible stories, addictive gameplay, and so many other features that make them undisputed masterpieces.
BioShock immediately impresses with its striking visuals, as a plane crash results in players delving deep into the underwater city of Rapture, a city that harnesses technology and secrets like no other. Abandoned to time and ravaged in chaos, Rapture might not be the salvation players seek, and every step is a greater risk than the last. BioShock's world-building and design are immensely memorable, and no one can deny that its art direction and design remain among the most important experiences in all of gaming.
BioShock provides players with deadly enemies and even deadlier weapons to wield. The inclusion of Little Sisters and Big Daddies makes morality a key factor in the power that you wield, for will you modify your body with the innocent power of the Little Sisters at the cost of your morality, or will you use the tools in front of you to remain a good person as you try to escape? The questions BioShock asks, and the philosophy it presents, are key factors in its ranking as a masterpiece, as is the incredible art deco world hidden in the ocean, and the sprawling environments aided by the fun FPS/RPG gameplay.
Resident Evil 4 changed the direction of the Resident Evil series, and some could say it's for the better. While the horror is still front and center, it's the blend of action/adventure amidst the carnage that makes Resident Evil 4 stand out. Anyone who's played the 2005 original or the 2023 remake knows that Leon Kennedy is a superstar, set out on a mission to a rural village in Europe to rescue the daughter of the U.S. President, only to find himself in another nightmare filled with zombies and other horrific creatures born of the Las Plagas virus.
With deep intrigue into a mysterious cult, action at every turn to keep the adrenaline running, and engaging puzzles that reward players for their intellect, Resident Evil 4 blends so many key concepts into making a game as fun as it is memorable. From the story to the puzzles to the action, Resident Evil 4 makes sure that it has it all.
Hideo Kojima leads the way for masterpieces in the gaming world, and while he and his team could have any game on the ranking, it's really Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater that deserves its spot. For a game released in 2004, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater impresses with its immense attention to detail, in which practically every action you can think of has a cause and effect. Whether it's how the wildlife of the deep jungle tastes, how they interact with the world around them, or how the AI of enemy soldiers keeps Snake on his toes, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater has so much to root for and so much to enjoy.
The story of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is some of the best fiction out there, as Naked Snake is forced to become one with his environment with one goal in mind: kill the Boss, his former mentor. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the perfect origin point for fans starting out with Metal Gear, but even die-hards can recognize that this is a masterpiece. The different areas, attention to detail, thrilling combat across stealth and action (especially with CQC), and its thrilling/tearjerker narrative, make this jungle adventure unforgettable. All in all, it's pretty good!
Everything about Silent Hill 2 complements its design, working in unison to create an unrivaled masterpiece of the survival horror genre. From its characters, themes, music, writing, levels, puzzles, and the other hundreds of factors included, Silent Hill 2 is a complete masterpiece from its first playthrough, all the way to its 10th and beyond. The dreary and miserable atmosphere surrounding the town of Silent Hill, and the widowed protagonist of James Sunderland, begins a symphony of tragedy and horror as players try to piece together the puzzle of its story. Silent Hill 2 doesn't hold your hand, but nor does it deter you from discovering the truth. It's a playthrough best left unspoiled because every factor of this world is perfect, and the same can be said for the 2024 remake from Bloober Team. For a game made in 2001, Silent Hill 2 holds up astronomically well. re
The story is gripping, the levels are chilling, and the mesh of helpless action and thought-provoking puzzles will keep you on edge from the moment you enter Silent Hill, to the moment you dare to leave it. The heavy themes that burden each of the characters present, the individual stories that they represent, and the rewarding aspect of deeper discovery aid in Silent Hill 2's status as a masterpiece, along with being one of the most depressing games of all time, and that's a compliment.
Bethesda hold an incredible selection of open-world RPGs, and while some may argue The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion deserves the spot, it's truly Skyrim that most players actually experienced across PS3/Xbox 360, PS4/Xbox One, and even PS5/Xbox Series X|S. Skyrim is breathtaking, and from your first steps into the open-world, you'll immediately be immersed in its high fantasy setting. A land filled with warring races, with a resurgence of dragons, and a discovery of destiny for the protagonist, are all key elements that make Skyrim so memorable and so deserving of the title of a masterpiece.
There is a near-endless supply of areas to explore, secrets to uncover, and abilities to invest in to truly play your own way. The freedom of this RPG provides a grand time, and the welcoming of mods only makes Skyrim more replayable on the 5th playthrough and beyond. The vanilla experience is grandiose in scale and design, and every new cave you discover will have something worth it for the lore-heads, or those seeking deeper power fantasy.
The Last of Us is a game that appears on practically every ranking of the best video games of all time, and while some may get tired of seeing it, they need to understand why it's so beloved. The game knows how to balance emotions, providing frights, scares, and sadness with exceptional highs and lows to keep you invested in the characters and their post-apocalyptic world. Grief and loss are central themes in The Last of Us, and as characters lose those close to them, they further lose their humanity to the point where humans become more dangerous than the terrifyingly creative and realistic cordyceps-infected.
While most will recall the engaging story of The Last of Us being its defining factor, the gameplay also deserves much of the credit. Exploring different regions of America ravaged by time, as unkempt nature sweeps away at society, is as beautiful as it is scary. The combat is extremely engaging, where resource management means you need to make every shot count, and the thrills of stealth are always there with its inherent danger and brutality. The Last of Us is exceptional from all fronts, and it's really Troy Baker as Joel and Ashley Johnson as Ellie that steal the show with their performances.
Crime and open-world go hand-in-hand, and that's something that Rockstar Games has mastered across all of its Grand Theft Auto titles. However, we'll give the crown to Grand Theft Auto 5 (until Grand Theft Auto 6 finally releases). The reason GTA 5 deserves its spot is because of its modern gameplay, sprawling Los Santos, and the evolving world featured in the included GTA Online, which still receives content updates 12 years after the initial game's release. Without even mentioning GTA Online, GTA 5 strives to be the defining Grand Theft Auto experience, with so much to do in terms of collectibles, cars, locations, and character stories.
While not as dark and gritty as Grand Theft Auto 4, GTA 5 still excels at character-highs with the brewing tension in the sociopathic Trevor Philips and his back-from-the-dead "best friend" Michael De Santa, who's desperate to leave the life of crime behind, yet finds no other joys in his failing life outside of it. The trinity of protagonists from Franklin, to Michael, and Trevor, and how their worlds collide in a well-woven tapestry of a story, and a sprawling world, makes GTA 5 the defining open-world title to experience, so forget to put on your seatbelt and take one last cruise through Los Santos for a blend of gun-tooting action and pedal-revving racing.
Baldur's Gate 3 tore through the gaming scene back in 2023 with its story-rich and party-based design, in which every decision and discovery would shape your unique journey. Choices matter in exploration and conversation as much as they do in combat. While most casual players might look past Baldur's Gate 3 for the fact that it is a turn-based RPG, they need to be aware that they are missing out on one of the greatest games of all time, especially since the turn-based movement is only for combat, and very beginner friendly to the point where anyone unfamiliar with games can have a great time here.
Baldur's Gate 3 redefined what was possible in video games by ensuring the best time ahead for all. Basking in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, players were provided with a high fantasy where they could shape their own destiny of heroism, fellowship, or betrayal in a quest for survival or absolute power. The characters involved are as memorable as the areas you can explore, and the turn-based combat is so fun to meddle with as you create unique builds with a vast amount of affinities.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is truly breathtaking on all fronts. Immersing yourself in 1899's America, where the West is becoming more tamed and civilized, while playing as a bitter outlaw unable to accept the fact that times are changing, is already a recipe for success in terms of a premise. Roger Clarke's portrayal as the hate-filled Arthur Morgan, seeking redemption despite feeling irredeemable, combines a narrative that explodes on all fronts in terms of emotion. It's a grandiose Western epic, and the truest depiction of the Old West in terms of immersion, realism, and fantasy for that time period.
The gunplay is exceptional, and it's so easy to spend hours in the wilderness across vastly different states, hunting animals, engrossed in strange tales, exploring new areas, or even getting up to mischief as an outlaw should. There's so much variety of gameplay in Red Dead Redemption 2, and so much fun to have between the violence and the drama. There's a choir of excellence in Red Dead Redemption 2, and every last detail, from the graphics, gameplay, and acting, is exceptional. It'll make you laugh, cry, and pump your fist with the most thrilling fantasy of cowboys and outlaws.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt excels in fantasy, combat, and RPG mechanics to provide a thrill ride that you'll never want to end. The Witcher 3 isn't just one of the best M-rated games, nor one of the best RPGs, but arguably one of the best games of all time. Starting as a Witcher with superhuman abilities, players will claim the silver and steel swords of Geralt of Rivia as they explore war-ravaged lands to fight monsters for coin, justice, and secrets. The story isn't just a grand finale to an epic trilogy, but it's also a great jumping-in point for players who have never played or read anything from The Witcher before.
The dark fantasy open world cements itself as sprawling, ambitious as it is ambigious, and filled with dreadful evils, all of which aid in the demand for player-driven choice and consequences to ensure that your decision matters, and your morality determines the fates of many or the few. With dialogue-rich encounters and dynamic combat, players will have so much to explore, so much to say and do, with so much to fight, ensuring that Geralt is in for some restless nights as a hunter of monsters and men alike.
There are some truly amazing masterpieces in the M-rated gaming scene, spanning decades, with more set to come. However, we can't highlight every single one of them individually, but it's not fair to forget those that also deserve to be among the best of the bunch. Below, we'll mention other M-rated masterpieces that deserve to be on this list.