@ThatGuyDraws I remember thinking as a young teen that Super Mario Bros 3 signified some sort of rapture, the start of a new era in gaming where games were going to be increasingly complex.
I've felt like that about other games over the years. Gran Turismo was one, it really felt more like a car museum where you could drive than just a game. More of an exercise in car love than a plain game. A step up again!
Also worthy of note is the latest Flight Simulator. The hybrid cloud/local model allowing us to have the whole planet simulated is a meaningful step up!
RDRII should also be mentioned. No other game has created a more believable world (IMHO) than RDRII.
Lastly, I'll name Cyberpunk 2077 in terms of graphics and atmosphere. The rest of the game isn't noteworthy, but graphically it is incredible.