My Top 75 Favorite Video Games
One of the things that I love about traveling the globe is discovering new worlds, new perspectives, and new people. In many ways, one of my other hobbies, video games, is very similar in that regard.
While video games offer a great opportunity to relax the brain and escape from the world after a day of intense work, it’s also an excellent medium for exploring new universes and challenging oneself.
While my taste in video games is quite broad, there are two kinds of video games in particular that appeal to me greatly.
The first is games with outstanding gameplay — challenging, fast-paced games with tight control schemes that push me to my limit; games where I can try to perfect myself.
The second is games with a phenomenal atmosphere — atmospheric games with a unique story to tell in a well-structured universe.
I’ve played quite a number of video games over my life, so I felt like sharing the games that left the greatest impact on me.
75 — Horizon: Zero Dawn
A bland, generic open-world title with boring characters lacking any form of personality, generic parkoring, and mindbogglingly tedious quests. So, why did I put it on this list?
The combat. Horizon has some of the greatest combat of any open-world game, and it made the game feel fresh and fun throughout the entire playthrough.
The sequel, Forbidden West, is absolutely a superior game, but it didn’t make this list. Zero Dawn’s combat was an innovative breath of fresh air, while Forbidden West didn’t innovate on the formula at all, instead hoping to dazzle players with its graphics. If you haven’t played either, though, then go for Forbidden West and skip Zero Dawn.
74 — Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
A Crack in Time is definitely the best entry in the Ratchet & Clank franchise. With a huge world, fantastic combat, incredible gameplay variety, and a loveable story, this is one of the finest Playstation 3 exclusives.
73 — Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
As a child, I loved every second of the first and second entries of this franchise. Great levels, great music, and fun but simple combat. Ty represents an era when 3D platformers were all the rage.
72 — One Piece: Unlimited Cruise
Unlimited Cruise is not actually a great game. The combat is mediocre, the controls are downright bad, and there is a lot of grinding. Yet, as a massive fan of One Piece, I seriously loved exploring this game’s worlds and interacting with the crew aboard the Thousand Sunny.
By the way, a confusing anecdote is that this game is a follow-up to Unlimited Adventure. Cruise was never released in the US, while Adventure was never released in Europe. Thus, many fans thought they were the same game.
71 — Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Without a doubt the best 2D platformer I’ve ever played. With pristine controls, a great soundtrack, and an amazing flow to the gameplay, along with levels that constantly introduce new concepts, Tropical Freeze is a fantastic experience.
I also love how the worlds tell a story without saying a word, like the Juicy Jungle where each level takes us through the path of fruits ultimately turned into ice cream eaten by the world’s final boss.
70 — Retro/Grade
A little-known indie game that didn’t sell very well, Retro/Grade is a rhythm game that I fell in love with. Like Resogun, this is a game where I ended up chasing the leaderboards. I entered the top 10 on the global leaderboards on the highest difficulty, which is the highest I’ve ever ranked in any game. Needless to say, I spent a great many hours replaying the same levels, and loved every second of it.
69 — Overwatch
With great character variety and fun gameplay modes, I spent many hours on its multiplayer when it first launched. This is also one of the few games where I got hooked on the e-sports scene.
68 — Until Dawn
I’m not usually into games with too much of a minimalist gameplay, but Until Dawn’s atmosphere and characters are phenomenal. This horror game feels like a classic haunted house horror movie, with great twists and turns, and major consequences to all of your actions.
67 — Super Mario 3D World
This is a faster-paced Mario game than the typical 3D entry. Inspired by the 2D entries, the game is brimming with creativity, and every level introduces a new concept. The game is pure joy from start to finish.
66 — Dying Light
Few things are as exhilarating as leaving your safe space at night and attempting to parkour your way past Dying Light’s most dangerous predators. With fun freerunning, and a tense atmosphere, the world of Dying Light was a treat to explore.
65 — Resogun
This side-scrolling shoot ’em up is pure arcade-y fun. I got hooked on the pick-up-and-play nature of the game, along with its pristine gameplay, and ended up chasing the global leaderboards. I have a very special feeling towards games where I end up trying to perfect myself to reach the top of the leaderboards. It’s a very different kind of enjoyment, which can sometimes be stressful but ultimately so rewarding.
64 — Bulletstorm
Bulletstorm is a wacky, fast-paced, fun FPS never seizes to surprise. The gameplay has a flow that few other games can match. I ended up replaying this game several times as the gameplay is so darn satisfying.
63 — Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
Clash of Heroes is not like other games in this series, as it is instead a puzzle game disguised as a strategy title. It’s a fun, addicting strategy formula I still find myself returning to occasionally.
62 — The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
A Link Between Worlds took not only Link to the past, but the entire Zelda franchise. With level design and gameplay from A Link To The Past and game design from the original Zelda title, ALBW created an open world that I loved getting to know. This world design concept proved successful, and we can see how Nintendo later made it the new standard for Zelda with Breath of the Wild.
61 — Mario Kart 8
Nintendo outdid themselves with MK8. The game plays phenomenally well, with butter-smooth controls that have you gliding around corners with a smile on your face. The beautiful levels are accompanied by suitably playful music.
60 — Pokémon Violet
Violet has major issues: the graphics are horrendously bad compared to other Nintendo titles, Pokémon frequently pop in, and its open world has too few points of interests. And yet, despite all of that, Violet is the most fun I have had with a Pokémon game since I was a child.
Game Freak has made many improvements to the formula of Pokémon, while also taking a Breath of the Wild and Assassin’s Creed-esque approach to story-telling to create a refreshing take on Pokémon. The game’s biggest strength, though, is the huge amount of Pokémon that one can find across the world. The spectacular variety gave the game a wonderful sense of progression.
59 — Nier Automata
Nier Automata is an emotional journey through a dark world where few things are what they appear to be. Though its side-quests and world design are hardly innovative, its tight control scheme, excellent character animations, and fantastic soundtrack are some of the key highlights of this atmospheric gem.
58 — Forza Horizon 5
Without a doubt one of the best racing games I’ve ever played, and with a great soundtrack to boot, Forza Horizon 5 is like a non-stop festival that never stops giving. Whether on the city streets, the highways, or off-road, driving feels fantastic, and the varied landscape of Mexico checks all boxes.
The game constantly rewards the player with new unlocks at a rapid pace, ensuring that the game never becomes repetitive. I can forgive the cringeworthy dialogue for this beautiful racing experience.
57 — Super Mario Odyssey
As an avid traveler, I found myself pleasantly surprised that Nintendo incorporated traveling as a concept into a mainline Mario game. At the same time, I adore that Odyssey takes you back to the open-ended level design of the first two 3D Mario games. Exploring the worlds of Odyssey is an absolute joy from start to finish, even if the developer went a bit overboard with the number of collectibles.
56 — The Last of Us
I can’t decide whether I prefer the original or the sequel — they’re both very much alike — so this spot goes to both of them. With powerful storylines, extraordinary voice acting, thrilling encounters, and exquisite action-survival gameplay, part 1 and 2 alike are breathtaking and memorable experiences.
55 — Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
I loved revisiting the world of Breath of the Wild with Koei Tecmo’s signature Warriors gameplay. Age of Calamity quickly became the best-selling Warriors game of all time, and for a good reason. It faithfully recreates the world of Breath of the Wild. While the movesets are a bit too limited compared to Pirate Warriors, and there is a bit too much resource management, the late-game playable characters are a blast to play.
54 — Dishonored
Whether you play Dishonored as a pacifist ninja or a guns-blazing teleporting assassin, this supernatural semi-open adventure is incredibly fun to play. Truly the perfect example of a game that allows you to create any playstyle you want; both the original and the sequel are bloody good adventures.
53 — Super Mario Galaxy 2
A joyous orchestrated soundtrack accompanies you as you drift from one star to another. The Galaxy games constantly introduce new gameplay mechanics and go back and forth between slow-paced and fast-paced level design in a brilliantly clever fashion.
I dedicate this spot to both titles, though I consider the sequel a slightly stronger game, as its variety and execution of ideas are even more robust than the original, which instead has the novelty effect in its favor.
52 — One Piece: Burning Blood
All style over substance, this really isn’t a game that I would recommend to anyone who isn’t a fan of One Piece. But if you are a fan, like me, then this is a blast. There’s a great number of characters to chose from in this fast-paced and exhilarating arena fighter. As a massive One Piece fan, I can say that I had a blast playing this game, and I still come back to it from time to time.
51 — Little King’s Story
Certainly not a well-known game, Little King’s Story is the textbook example of what “looks can be deceiving” means. It might not look like it, but this is a fairly complex game that beautifully combines a wide range of genres. It’s an action strategy RPG with simulation elements and Pikmin-inspired combat. The game is surprisingly challenging and features unique and interesting bosses. The best part of the game is watching your kingdom grow, discover new citizens, and create new infrastructure. It’s a very rewarding game, and it’s a shame that so many people missed out on it.
50 — Life is Strange: True Colors
As the credits roll, I find myself stunned at how moved I am. The writing for the second half of the game is honestly quite mediocre, and the ending is somewhat laughable, yet it’s still so emotional. The absolute star of True Colors is the protagonist, Alex Chen. Say what you will about the rest of the game, but her character is incredibly well-written, and her voice actress delivers her lines perfectly. She alone carried this entire game and made it into an emotional journey. I felt empty when the game was over — but in a good way.
49 — Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Not to be confused with Three Houses, which didn’t make this list, Three Hopes is a great musou entry. With a lot of the game design of the turn-based strategy game Three Hopes, but the gameplay of modern musou entries, Three Hopes was such a blast that I’m thoroughly enjoying my second playthrough.
48 — Judgment
A gripping tale with a satisfying conclusion, Judgment has you playing has a lawyer-turned-detective solving a gruesome serial murder where he himself becomes a target. Its game mechanics are a hit and miss, but Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s signature storytelling and world-building are as strong as ever. The game isn’t quite on the level of the Yakuza franchise, but I did enjoy the social aspects of creating friends around Kamurocho.
47 — Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
With really fun combat, the best arena in the series featuring plenty of playable characters, great customization options, and an ending that would make even the most hardboiled fan cry, Gaiden is yet another well-packaged experience by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios.
46 — Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Both Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War are fantastic games. I don’t actually care for the story, the lore, or the main characters, but the gameplay is masterfully crafted. The player fights an endless supply of unique orcs, each with their own personality, strengths, and weaknesses, and can use a plethora of weapons and approaches in combating them. Simply running through the world and fighting orcs is a thrill, thanks to the brilliant gameplay formula.
45 — Bastion
Bastion is close to flawless. The combat is varied, the controls are tight, the music is brilliant, the atmosphere is fantastic, and the replayability is high. Each playthrough of Bastion is as enjoyable as the last. This was Supergiant’s first game, and thus they established themselves as a major player right from the beginning.
44 — Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Even after all this time, the story of Ezio Auditore and the location of Italy is still what many people, myself included, associate with Assassin’s Creed. Whether running across the rooftops of Firenze or blending in with the crowds in Venezia, Ezio’s story of becoming a master assassin was a delight. While Brotherhood is my favorite of the three, I am dedicating this spot to all three games in the Ezio trilogy: Assassin’s Creed 2, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. What’s more, Brotherhood and Revelations featured a really unique and fun multiplayer that I miss playing.
43 — Far Cry 3
With the third entry in the Far Cry franchise, Ubisoft forged a new formula that it has stuck to since. While the franchise would end up becoming somewhat repetitive over the years as the formula only marginally changed, the first entry was a remarkable experience.
I loved exploring exotic, mysterious islands filled with crazed villains who were not afraid to enter the supernatural. Yet, perhaps most importantly, Far Cry 3 features some of the best gunplay I’ve ever seen in a single-player FPS.
42 — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
As a child, Hyrule Field felt massive, the world inviting, and the characters intriguing. As an adult, I was more impressed by the brilliant dungeon design and the rewarding gameplay. Ocarina of Time is widely regarded as one of the world’s all-time greatest games, and for a good reason. It was revolutionary at the time and has held up remarkably well.
41 — Far Cry 5
While the formula had become somewhat repetitive by the fifth entry of the Far Cry franchise, the developers added a handful of rather minor gameplay improvements, which actually resulted in surprisingly substantial improvements.
This time, the setting takes place in rural United States of America, a location which a lot of my American friends commented on as dull. However, for me, a person not from the US, I found the setting very enjoyable. With great villains, fantastic gunplay, and a genuinely spectacular expansion by the name of New Dawn made this one of the best single-player FPS I’ve ever played.
40 — Yakuza Kiwami 2
After Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami 1, Kiwami 2 feels like a fresh breath of air. The Dragon engine is not only gorgeous to look at, but the gameplay has been substantially revamped to be more fluid, both for better and worse. As you would expect from an entry in the Yakuza franchise, the story is fast-paced, littered with plot twists, and features a great cast of characters. A cringe-worthy ending besides, Kiwami 2 is a fantastic journey.
39 — Lost Judgment
With some of the best combat and side activities ever in a Ryu Ga Gotoku (RGG) game, along with a story that, while not quite at the level of its predecessor, does a great job at delving deep into high school bullying and student suicides, Lost Judgment is such a brilliant game. Its downloadable expansion, The Kaito Files, is a sharp and personal tale that acts as a cherry on top of the package.
38 — Yakuza 5
A quite literally massive entry in the Yakuza franchise, featuring essentially four full games in one package, Yakuza 5 has really high highs and really low lows. Some of the slowest and dullest moments are found in this fifth entry, but when it shines, it shines very, very bright.
Many fans hold Yakuza 5 as the strongest game in the franchise, and for a good reason. With immense variety and fantastic character building, I have to forgive its awful final act for the highs provided throughout the journey.
37 — Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Few things beat sailing the Caribbean while your crew sings one of the game’s many sea shanties. Black Flag offers a beautiful, rewarding world that’s a blast to explore and features the best ship combat I’ve ever witnessed. The only issue is the loose connection to Assassin’s Creed — honestly, the game would have been better as its own franchise. It’s the best pirate game ever made.
36 — Tomb Raider (2013)
The Tomb Raider reboot left people divided, but I was completely hooked by it, both on my first and second playthrough. The atmosphere is phenomenal — the island that Lara is shipwrecked on is full of mysteries, lore, and intrigue. The combat is a bit streamlined, sure, but great fun nevertheless. 2013’s Tomb Raider is a true journey of survival, and I enjoyed every second of it.
35 — Advance Wars: Dark Conflict
Dark Conflict, which is known as Days of Ruin in the US, was my first Advance Wars game, and I was blown away by this fast-paced strategy game. Whether a minute or an hour to spare, AW is the perfect portable game. Incidentally, this would also be the last game in the series, before Fire Emblem got all the attention.
34 — The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Assassins of Kings has the most excellently crafted choice-and-consequence I’ve seen in a video game. The story is phenomenal, and the semi-open world level design ensures great pacing where fast travel points aren’t needed. While The Witcher 3 is a better game overall, the second game had a much stronger story.
33 — Bioshock
It’s hard to forget the opening minutes of Bioshock — sinking into the fallen underwater city of Rapture while hearing Andrew Ryan’s opening speech about humans’ entitlement to the sweat of their brow. Rapture is one of the most intriguing locations I’ve ever seen in a video game. The atmosphere is tenser than a violin, the gameplay is satisfying, and the story is shocking. The sequel, Bioshock 2, which was made by a different team, didn’t have the same originality but did feature incredible gameplay.
32 — Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 is one of those games that you never really stop thinking about. Remedy has created the Remedy Connected Universe, which connects series like Alan Wake and Control. Even after just a few entries, I already find this to be one of the most exciting universes in gaming.
This universe has a delightful plethora of mysteries, and Remedy is clever enough to answer only a handful of the questions they open up. I am intrigued to learn more about the characters of Remedy’s universe.
The only unfortunate bummer about Alan Wake 2 is that, while the story and atmosphere are absolutely top-notch, the gameplay is honestly not that fantastic — and it’s a pretty important part of a game, as it were. Nevertheless, the game features some absolutely spectacular moments, including a musical entry that still lives in my head rent-free.
The original Alan Wake is one of my favorite games of all time, and I’m so glad the game finally got a sequel.
31 — Persona 4 Golden
Striking a delicate balance between hip and mysterious, Persona 4 Golden tells the story of a supernatural murder mystery in rural Japan. The gameplay is excellent, and the story is intriguing, but what really hooked me was Persona’s unique social link system. I love socializing and getting to know new people, but I never thought socializing with fictional people would be this enjoyable too.
30 — Luigi’s Mansion
The mood of Luigi’s Mansion is hard to describe. While the mansion feels foreign at first and its inhabitants unwelcoming, it slowly starts to feel like home as you wander through the hallways. I love the excitement of opening a previously locked door to discover another inhabitant of the mansion. With unique gameplay on top, Luigi’s Mansion has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. Luigi’s Mansion has had two sequels, but neither could come close to capturing the feeling of the original.
29 — Bioshock Infinite
Columbia is such a incredible world to explore. Honestly, the world itself is the highlight of the game. Elizabeth is a fun sidekick that makes this journey all the more enjoyable, and the story is filled with absurdly exaggerated yet oddly cohesive twists. While Ken Levine couldn’t deliver on all of his promises, the Infinite that he and his team produced is nevertheless a masterpiece that I’ve enjoyed playing through time and time again.
28 — Control
Remedy is a master of creating atmospheric games, and their experience shows with the masterfully crafted Control. The Oldest House is an exciting world to discover, and fighting enemies throughout it with the game’s unique and fresh combat was a delight. The game is full of mysteries, and Remedy are clever to never reveal to many answers, leaving much of its mystique up in the air.
27 — The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Sailing across the vast ocean of the Wind Waker while the lovely soundtrack blasts one of its many creative tunes is a moment to savor. And who can forget stopping by Windfall Island for some side-quests together with its quirky characters before moving on to the next adventure? The Zelda franchise is filled with masterpieces, and Wind Waker is one of my personal favorites. The art style is beautiful, the soundtrack is packing, and the world is a joy to explore.
26 — Spider-Man
I’m not much of a fan of superhero comics or movies, but I’m delighted that I gave Insomniac’s Super-Man a chance. Swinging, wall-running, and flying through the city of New York as Spider-Man never gets dull. With production values through the roof, an entertaining story, and splendid combat, it’s safe to say that Insomniac outdid themselves once again with a marvelous game.
25 — Battlefield 3
This was my first Battlefield experience, and it completely blew me away. Rushing to a point together with a small army of infantry, tanks, and helicopters alike is a genuinely epic feeling. Meanwhile, jumping out of an airplane to shoot a rocket at a pursuing one is a feeling that few other games can replicate. No Battlefield title has topped this entry in the franchise, and given the unfortunate direction the franchise has been going, it seems unlikely that any sequel ever will.
24 — Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Ryu Ga Gotoku is a master of creating atmospheric video games with tense storylines and loveable characters, which is very evident in Yakuza 6. I loved getting to know the locals of Onomichi while uncovering the city’s many mysteries.
23 — Cyberpunk 2077
I wasn’t sold on Cyberpunk 2077 at first. The gameplay was basic, the characters unconvincing, and the story overrun with dull dialogue. But the more I played, the better it got. As I unlocked more abilities, I was able to customize my character with exhilarating playstyles. As I started to focus on the side-quests, I discovered incredible stories. And as I started to focus less on following the main story and more on just exploring the city, I fell in love.
Night City itself is the star of the show. Though the universe may not be proper cyberpunk, it’s a delightfully bizarre reality, a visual marvel, and a spectacular location for stories to be told. I spent an enormous amount of time simply driving and walking around the city’s different districts. From a design perspective, I’ve never seen a developer put this much effort into a game’s world before, even though the number of side activities is rather slim.
In the end, a tear or two escaped my eye as I finished Cyberpunk 2077. The journey started dull — but ended spectacularly.
22 — Hyrule Warriors
Age of Calamity may be great, but the original is far better. With a massive roster of diverse and fun characters, a responsive control scheme, an unreal amount of content, brilliant music, and a more enjoyable musou system, Hyrule Warriors is a phenomenal game that I sincerely couldn’t stop playing. The definitive version, available on the Switch, is the best version of the game, much like its name implies.
21 — Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Criterion used to be the king of racing games, and Hot Pursuit was a testament to their skill. In my opinion, Hot Pursuit is the best racing game ever made. Even after all these years, I still find myself dusting off my Xbox 360 by going back to Hot Pursuit to satisfy my need for speed. Few other games offer the thrill of speed that Hot Pursuit does. Outrunning cops on highways using various gadgets will never stop being anything but an absolute blast. I’m a bit bummed that there hasn’t been another arcade racer like it since then.
20 — Civilization VI
The fifth and sixth entries in the Civilization series are very much alike, and I struggle to choose a favorite. Both of them are extremely deep, offering tons of strategies and playstyles. Civ 6 takes the prize, though, as it’s available on Switch, a portable console. With its incredibly addicting nature, Civilization can make any flight or train ride feel like a five-minute-long journey. If I could only play one game for the rest of my life, it would be one of the Civilization titles.
19 — The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The latest entry to this list, I’m not yet sure where I will end up placing it. Like Breath of the Wild, TOTK is a mind-blowingly phenomenal game, where I feel a joy of exploration that few other games can provide.
The reason I place it so far back, even though I have BOTW in my third spot, is because the game simply doesn’t have the same wow factor that BOTW did. BOTW was a genre-defining game, while its successor is merely following in its footsteps. Still, those are some mighty good footsteps.
18 — Hades
I’ve never played a game before where literally every character is both remarkably considerate and polite yet equally relentlessly passive-aggressive and condescending. With a seemingly near-unlimited amount of brilliantly written dialogue, Hades never seizes to offer entertaining interactions with its many mythical characters in between each run of this addicting roguelike.
The gameplay is some of the best I have ever experienced in any video game. It’s fast-paced, responsive, and incredibly varied. I still come back to Hades frequently for another run through the chambers of this Greek underworld. And another. And another.
And another.
17 — Fable 2
The combat is mediocre at best, the game is repetitive at times, and its choice-and-consequence system is ridiculously black and white. And yet, the game enchanted me with its charming world of colorful characters, seductive tunes, and unique simulation elements. I wish more RPGs would fuse simulation elements into their gameplay like Fable 2 did, as I adored it. Fable 2 is one of the most magical games I’ve ever played.
16 — Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
I love the setting of ancient Greece. It was a joy to explore every region of the game as Kassandra and solving the game’s three riveting main quests. I thought the melee combat was mediocre, so I opted to embrace a combination of stealth and archery, which was a blast. You can play the whole game using only a bow and arrow, along with supernatural abilities, which felt great. The ship combat isn’t as good as Black Flag’s, but overall, the game is one of the absolute best RPGs I have ever played.
15 — Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ultimate is the ultimate celebration of gaming. It is so much more than a fighting game, so much more than a game packed with countless characters, stages, and game modes. It’s a journey, both inside and outside of the game. I’ve spent many hours with friends and communities online speculating and anticipating announcements of upcoming characters. It’s a game that I keep coming back to, whether to just try the latest character or to challenge my friends to some intense one-on-one battles.
14 — Alan Wake
Drawing inspiration from Twin Peaks, Lost, and Stephen King’s novels, Alan Wake tells a tense, mysterious, and thrilling story with some of the best story-telling in the business.
13 — Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Infinite Wealth, or Yakuza 8 as we usually call it in the community, is an incredible journey. It has a very slow start, even by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios standards, but once the game opens up, it gives you an infinite wealth of enjoyment.
Unfortunately, Infinite Wealth’s story has major shortcomings, which is why I had to rank it below its predecessor. The story is still very satisfying and does have brilliant character moments, but as a whole, it is definitely in the bottom tier of RGG storylines.
Despite the story’s shortcomings, the game is a treat. Exploring Hawaii is an absolute delight, the turn-based combat improvements are very welcome, and the side activities are some of the greatest in the series’ history.
Infinite Wealth sports entire parodies of Pokémon, Pokémon Snap, and Animal Crossing as side content. These side activities are all brilliant experiences in their own right, but it’s even more remarkable when you think of the fact that these experiences are just extras on top of the already massive core game.
12 — Ghost of Tsushima
Wind, birds, and foxes alike guide me as I ride across Tsushima, with no distracting user interface in sight. Featuring one of the most beautiful art styles I’ve ever seen, a world that begs to be explored, and top-notch responsive and varied combat, Ghost of Tsushima is an unquestionable masterpiece. This is a great game to play on a high difficulty setting.
11 — Super Mario 64
It blew me away as a child on the N64, as a teenager on the DS, and as an adult on the Switch. Super Mario 64 is 3D platforming at its best. But I don’t need to sell you this game. If you’ve ever played a video game, you’ve probably played Super Mario 64.
10 — Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Rare are the occasions when two wildly different settings merge as successfully as when Like a Dragon’s modern-day tales of poverty, politics, and criminal organizations blend with supernatural abilities and childlike optimism. Unlike most JRPG’s, which tend to star a young cast, Like a Dragon makes the bold move of making the main characters middle-aged homeless men, and it tells a unique story as a result.
With a gripping storyline that pays homage to past legends while introducing new ones, a brilliantly unique take on open-world design, and fantastic RPG gameplay, Like a Dragon is an addicting journey from start to finish. Oh, and the soundtrack slaps harder than my taxes.
9 — One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4
Whether you are a fan of One Piece or not, I would argue that the entire Pirate Warriors franchise offer the best gameplay in the musou genre. With tons of unique and fun characters, PW4 is an absolute blast that’s hard to put down. I keep coming back to it for another quick fix, time and time again. Four years after the release of the game, the game was still enjoying new downloadable characters, and every time I thought I would just stop by for an hour or two, I found myself investing many more hours.
8 — Yakuza 0
Far exceeding even my wildest expectations, Yakuza 0 tells a heart-breaking, plot-twist-infested, non-stop story. I loved getting to know the districts of Kamurochō and Sotenbori and meeting their wacky inhabitants. Perfecting my skills in the game’s satisfying combat was also a blast throughout my entire journey through this world of yakuza.
7 — Hollow Knight
Few games are as masterfully crafted as Hollow Knight. The game invites you to get lost in its tensely terrifying yet oddly charming world. But get too lost and you’ll risk losing it all. Hollow Knight is a challenging game that never crosses the border of becoming unfair. Every time you die, it’s your fault. The game pushes you to improve, and you desire to do so, thanks to its wonderfully responsive controls and its outstanding combat.
6 — The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
With Wild Hunt, developer CD Projekt Red set a new standard for open-world RPG’s that no other developer have been able to live up to since. Every quest is meaningful, every monster is a foe to respect, and every character has a story to tell. With phenomenal music, brilliant writing, and a fantastic world, The Witcher 3 is an absolute masterpiece. Its two expansion packs are also some of the best expansion packs in gaming.
5 — Persona 5 Strikers
While lacking the social links, the grand story with heavy themes and the calendar systems that mainline Persona games are known for, this sequel to Persona 5 is still an incredible, delightful journey that I enjoyed every minute of. I was so happy to meet the Phantom Thieves again after our journey through Royal. I absolutely love the combat, which is a brilliant blend of Koei Tecmo’s signature Warriors gameplay and the systems of Persona 5. But best of all, Strikers really captured the feeling of going on a road trip with old friends.
4 — Catherine
Catherine is not what you think it is. It’s branded as something of a romantic video game, but it is in reality a thriller action-puzzle game with deeply engrossing characters that tackle the big decisions of life. I loved hanging out with people at the Stray Sheep as much as I loved the nightmare-fueled fast-paced puzzling. Look, I don’t really like puzzle games, but this fast-paced gameplay is an absolute blast.
The story is one of the best I’ve ever seen in a video game, offering plenty of mystery, anxiety, and character development. The game was later re-released in a version called Full Body, which is even better than the original and is the game’s definitive version.
3 — The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
I definitely underestimated Nintendo. Not known for completely changing their formulas, and certainly not known for the open-world genre, Nintendo nevertheless managed to reinvent the genre completely with Breath of the Wild. No other game has a world this inviting and this much fun to explore. Exploring the world of BOTW was an absolute joy from start to finish.
2 — Ōkami
With Ōkami, Clover Studio did the impossible. They took the Zelda formula and surpassed it. Okami has a beautiful art style, magnificent soundtrack, unique and fun combat system, wonderful storyline, loveable characters, and sprawling world. It does have a slow start, but when it finally gets going, it takes you on the journey of a lifetime.
1 — Persona 5 Royal
I think a solemn tear might have escaped my eye when I defeated Royal’s excellently written final villain. Persona 5 Royal is a game that tackles many serious issues: suicide, sexual harassment, employee exploitation, and political corruption, to name a few. Yet, it does so without ever becoming too dark. On the contrary, this is a stylish, entertaining journey with bright characters.
With a large cast of characters that are rewarding to interact with and a heavy dose of character development, the game shines with its substantial focus on socializing. It also features a brilliant calendar system. There are tons of activities around Tokyo, and choosing how to spend one’s time is a tricky but enjoyable part of the game.
The story keeps on giving. The scale constantly ramps up, offering both light and serious dilemmas that keep you hooked from beginning until end. The presentation, meanwhile, is incredibly stylish. The user interface is some of the best I’ve ever witnessed.
The combat is incredibly fluid. Never would I have thought that a turn-based JRPG would be my favorite game of all time, but even despite the game’s remarkable length, the gameplay never once becomes repetitive. The game cleverly introduces new gameplay concepts continually throughout the journey, ensuring that new surprises are always around the corner.
I wanted a long, deep game to get me through quarantine, but I never thought I would have found a game that would leave such a lasting impact on me.
Persona 5 Royal is the best game I’ve ever played.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this piece of text, you would definitely enjoy these as well.
