Assassin’s Creed Black Flag writer unpacks Blackbeard’s most iconic line
Polygon has released a comprehensive list of the 100 greatest video game quotes of all time, celebrating dialogue and screen text that have become as memorable as gameplay itself. The compilation reflects how video games have evolved into a writer’s medium, with carefully crafted quotes that embed themselves in players’ memories alongside mechanical achievements.
The list features iconic lines from multiple landmark titles. Final Fantasy 7 includes Cloud’s raw, emotional response to Aerith’s death—described as frantic, disjointed, and deeply sad—which elevates the entire game to “all-timer” status. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag contributed Blackbeard’s final words, a supporting character’s line that has become one of the series’ most enduring quotes alongside the Creed’s “nothing is true, everything is permitted.” An entry from The Legend of Zelda was ranked as the #1 greatest video game quote of all time. The Resident Evil series, with its legacy of memorable one-liners born from distinctive voice acting and historical translation quirks, provided multiple contenders that were difficult to whittle down.
The editorial process involved significant debate and difficult choices. The Polygon team spent weeks determining which quotes best represented the diversity of gaming’s storytelling achievements, sometimes limiting popular series to just one or two selections to ensure breadth. This careful curation acknowledges that while games didn’t begin as a writer’s medium, they have undeniably become one, where dialogue rivals gameplay and puzzle-solving as a defining element of the experience.
The list represents a milestone moment—video game writing finally receiving comprehensive critical recognition traditionally reserved for film and television.