No. 30: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time – 100 Greatest Games Ever

Now this is how you update a beloved series. Sands of Time took the basic Prince of Persia formula and perfectly implemented it into a 3D environment (unlike the earlier Prince of Persia 3D). It would have have been enough for a great game but they went one step further with the titular sand, which helped turn it into a classic.

You'll hold the Sands of Time in an Hourglass that can be charged up by killing enemies, and it will allow you to rewind time itself. In a game that features lots of death-defying acrobatic sections it will quickly become your best friend. The mechanic has been used in plenty of games since but never as well.

The sequels to this commercially well-received installment are excellent as well but go for an oddly dark feel, which conflicts the light feel of the game.

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