# What is the best work of Shakespeare?

> Dive into the richness of literary history, where timeless classics butt heads with hidden gems—each selection offering its own unique mix of emotion and intrigue. Which masterpiece will emerge victorious in this battle of artistry and passion?

*By YouPickBest · Published December 12, 2025 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-work-of-shakespeare*

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## Current results (362 votes)

1. **Hamlet** — 7.73% (28 votes · score 1000/1000)
   Tragic play about revenge and madness, written around 1600
2. **Macbeth** — 4.42% (16 votes · score 854/1000)
   Tragedy exploring ambition and guilt, written around 1606
3. **Romeo and Juliet** — 7.46% (27 votes · score 755/1000)
   Iconic love story set in Verona, written around 1595
4. **Henry V** — 6.35% (23 votes · score 684/1000)
   Historical drama about leadership and warfare, written around 1599
5. **The Tempest** — 5.8% (21 votes · score 628/1000)
   Final play exploring themes of forgiveness and magic, written around 1611
6. **Richard III** — 5.25% (19 votes · score 563/1000)
   Historical play about ambition and tyranny, written around 1592
7. **Othello** — 3.04% (11 votes · score 488/1000)
   Tragic tale of jealousy and betrayal, written around 1603
8. **Much Ado About Nothing** — 2.76% (10 votes · score 413/1000)
   Romantic comedy featuring witty banter, written around 1598
9. **As You Like It** — 5.8% (21 votes · score 400/1000)
   Romantic comedy set in the Forest of Arden, written around 1599
10. **Twelfth Night** — 7.18% (26 votes · score 293/1000)
   Comedy of mistaken identities and love, written around 1601
11. **A Midsummer Night's Dream** — 9.12% (33 votes · score 163/1000)
   Comedy blending love and fantasy, written around 1595
12. **The Merchant of Venice** — 8.29% (30 votes · score 163/1000)
   Drama exploring mercy and justice, written around 1596
13. **The Taming of the Shrew** — 5.8% (21 votes · score 1/1000)
   Comedy about marriage and gender roles, written around 1590
14. **Julius Caesar** — 8.01% (29 votes · score 1/1000)
   Historical tragedy about power and betrayal, written around 1599
15. **Antony and Cleopatra** — 4.97% (18 votes · score 1/1000)
   Tragic romance set against political intrigue, written around 1606
16. **King Lear** — 8.01% (29 votes · score 1/1000)
   Tragedy about aging and madness, written around 1605

Tags: theater, books, shakespeare