My Favorite Franchises
Represented by my least favorite games I've played from each franchise (I'll explain why at the bottom of each note). Keep in mind I LOVE every franchise on this list.
A franchise is defined for me as a game series with three or more mainline games under its belt.
Mostly focusing on mainline franchises, but will include spin-off franchises if there is enough for me to work with.
A franchise is defined for me as a game series with three or more mainline games under its belt.
Mostly focusing on mainline franchises, but will include spin-off franchises if there is enough for me to work with.
25 Games
This will include every mainline Kirby game and none of the spinoff games.
I'm the Kirby guy. Everyone knows me as the Kirby guy. Whenever my birthday comes around, somebody gets me some piece of Kirby merchandise. So why do I find myself so fascinated with this franchise? It's a very simple three part answer. The character designs, the simple game-play, and the lore.
Looking at all of my favorite games, you would be able to tell I prefer simplistic characters. Two giant eyes on a ball is Bugmanguy-core, so every character here speaks to me on a fundamental level.
I also love how easy and relaxing these games are. I dig a challenge every now and then, but Kirby allows me to enact destruction with minimal effort, and there is much catharsis in that.
And finally, the interconnected lore between these games and the references that HAL always sneak in are kind of insane. Even the worst Kirby games have off-the-wall finales, sometimes with blood, other times with many people dying, or maybe some grim implications about existing fan favorites. But these games never cease in their wholesome nature all the way to the bitter end, and I can respect something that knows what it's best at.
I picked Dreamland 3 because this game is boring as sin, even with an amazing presentation. Like all other Kirby games, it has an awesome finale though.
I'm the Kirby guy. Everyone knows me as the Kirby guy. Whenever my birthday comes around, somebody gets me some piece of Kirby merchandise. So why do I find myself so fascinated with this franchise? It's a very simple three part answer. The character designs, the simple game-play, and the lore.
Looking at all of my favorite games, you would be able to tell I prefer simplistic characters. Two giant eyes on a ball is Bugmanguy-core, so every character here speaks to me on a fundamental level.
I also love how easy and relaxing these games are. I dig a challenge every now and then, but Kirby allows me to enact destruction with minimal effort, and there is much catharsis in that.
And finally, the interconnected lore between these games and the references that HAL always sneak in are kind of insane. Even the worst Kirby games have off-the-wall finales, sometimes with blood, other times with many people dying, or maybe some grim implications about existing fan favorites. But these games never cease in their wholesome nature all the way to the bitter end, and I can respect something that knows what it's best at.
I picked Dreamland 3 because this game is boring as sin, even with an amazing presentation. Like all other Kirby games, it has an awesome finale though.
1
This is including the numbered games in the Pikmin franchise.
What did you expect? Pikmin 2 is my favorite of all time and the original and 3 are not far behind at all. What a perfect alignment of three games, basically a perfect record, a 4.0 GPA. Each game has their own individual reasons as to why they're great.
Pikmin is an incredible stress test, both for the GameCube and for your own sanity, as you fight against an ever-present timer and engage in battle with alien creatures. They only look so alien because the GameCube is so new and so nothing looks right. This is kind of like the Toy Story of Pikmin games.
Pikmin 2 sands off the edges and gives us the best combat the franchise has ever seen, as well as dynamic arenas with tons of objects to collect. The additional features such as the Piklopedia and Treasure Compendium may be what pushes this over as my favorite for me.
Pikmin 3 comes in with by far the most refined, efficient pikmin mechanics the franchise has ever witnessed. You will be able to pull off insane shit in this game as you switch between screens and designate tasks. This may also have the most substantial side modes as well, though 2's challenge mode comes very close behind.
I chose Pikmin 3 as my least favorite by a hair, only because it feels like the most linear of the bunch, but I love all three of these games to death. Also I never played Hey! Pikmin.
What did you expect? Pikmin 2 is my favorite of all time and the original and 3 are not far behind at all. What a perfect alignment of three games, basically a perfect record, a 4.0 GPA. Each game has their own individual reasons as to why they're great.
Pikmin is an incredible stress test, both for the GameCube and for your own sanity, as you fight against an ever-present timer and engage in battle with alien creatures. They only look so alien because the GameCube is so new and so nothing looks right. This is kind of like the Toy Story of Pikmin games.
Pikmin 2 sands off the edges and gives us the best combat the franchise has ever seen, as well as dynamic arenas with tons of objects to collect. The additional features such as the Piklopedia and Treasure Compendium may be what pushes this over as my favorite for me.
Pikmin 3 comes in with by far the most refined, efficient pikmin mechanics the franchise has ever witnessed. You will be able to pull off insane shit in this game as you switch between screens and designate tasks. This may also have the most substantial side modes as well, though 2's challenge mode comes very close behind.
I chose Pikmin 3 as my least favorite by a hair, only because it feels like the most linear of the bunch, but I love all three of these games to death. Also I never played Hey! Pikmin.
2
I will be counting every Smash Bros. game for this part.
It feels unfair to include Smash Bros. as a franchise here, because it's a compilation series, and it would be nothing without the other iconic characters that make up its roster. Well nothing may be a harsh word, Rivals of Aether showed us that platform fighters have much potential, but Smash is defined by it's characters and that makes this a tough pill to swallow.
But I don't give a shit. I've spent more time playing Smash Bros. then I've spent breathing. I have like 20 different mains from across the whole series, I've made countless memories with more people than I could begin to count, and this was one of the only video games I have ever played that I could say that I was not bad at. A low bar I know but my talents in playing video games were never really strong other than here.
We cannot ignore the lead-up to the release of a Smash Bros. game either. I spent so many hours on the Brawl and Smash 4 websites that you could see the logos branded into my eyeballs. One of my favorite memories, ever, might be watching the Simon Belmont and King K. Rool reveal for Ultimate while I was at a beach house in Maryland with friends. What a time to be alive honestly.
Smash for WiiU is here because I haven't properly played 64. The only reason I'm not too fancy on this game is because I burned myself out with the 3DS game which I adore.
It feels unfair to include Smash Bros. as a franchise here, because it's a compilation series, and it would be nothing without the other iconic characters that make up its roster. Well nothing may be a harsh word, Rivals of Aether showed us that platform fighters have much potential, but Smash is defined by it's characters and that makes this a tough pill to swallow.
But I don't give a shit. I've spent more time playing Smash Bros. then I've spent breathing. I have like 20 different mains from across the whole series, I've made countless memories with more people than I could begin to count, and this was one of the only video games I have ever played that I could say that I was not bad at. A low bar I know but my talents in playing video games were never really strong other than here.
We cannot ignore the lead-up to the release of a Smash Bros. game either. I spent so many hours on the Brawl and Smash 4 websites that you could see the logos branded into my eyeballs. One of my favorite memories, ever, might be watching the Simon Belmont and King K. Rool reveal for Ultimate while I was at a beach house in Maryland with friends. What a time to be alive honestly.
Smash for WiiU is here because I haven't properly played 64. The only reason I'm not too fancy on this game is because I burned myself out with the 3DS game which I adore.
3
Includes every numbered Persona game, as well as Shin Megami Tensei: Persona.
This is probably my most recent franchise acquisition, and the amount that I was captured by the three Persona games that I have played in such a short period of time has been astounding. The perfect balance of snazzy RPG battles mixed with somehow meaningful life simulation elements creates a game series that has very few equals.
There so much crammed into each Persona game that you could spend hours going down a rabbit hole of one mechanic. Spend 2 hours fusing personas in the Velvet Room, play darts until your hands fall off, run around Tartarus 8 million times to do every optional sidequest possible, run around Mementos 8 million times for reasons I cannot even begin to fathom, there's just so much to do and so much to see.
This is made all the better by the social link system, where every character in the game can go through their own character arcs at your discretion. You choose how and when these characters evolve, and it makes for a very dynamic narrative experience while also allowing for massive development on characters you particularly like. I will admit I have spent several in-game weeks boosting stats just so I could talk to one character I really liked, and that's the power of Persona.
Persona 3 has the best story and some of the best characters but stumbles a bit because Tartarus is bad and there are definitely some frustrating elements more so than other entries like 4 or 5.
This is probably my most recent franchise acquisition, and the amount that I was captured by the three Persona games that I have played in such a short period of time has been astounding. The perfect balance of snazzy RPG battles mixed with somehow meaningful life simulation elements creates a game series that has very few equals.
There so much crammed into each Persona game that you could spend hours going down a rabbit hole of one mechanic. Spend 2 hours fusing personas in the Velvet Room, play darts until your hands fall off, run around Tartarus 8 million times to do every optional sidequest possible, run around Mementos 8 million times for reasons I cannot even begin to fathom, there's just so much to do and so much to see.
This is made all the better by the social link system, where every character in the game can go through their own character arcs at your discretion. You choose how and when these characters evolve, and it makes for a very dynamic narrative experience while also allowing for massive development on characters you particularly like. I will admit I have spent several in-game weeks boosting stats just so I could talk to one character I really liked, and that's the power of Persona.
Persona 3 has the best story and some of the best characters but stumbles a bit because Tartarus is bad and there are definitely some frustrating elements more so than other entries like 4 or 5.
4
Every Pokemon Game that follows the traditional format will be included here.
Yes I admit it, I am a massive Pokemon sympathizer. I started with Pokemon Pearl and I named my first Pokemon "IDIOT". He was a Piplup and he sweeped every single gym in the game because I only used him and no one else. A simpler time, honestly.
But each new Pokemon game brings with it new joy and whimsy. Pokemon Black and White 2 brought me new monsters and allowed me to start making full teams named after my friends. Pokemon Y let me actually battle my friends super easily, and introduced me to my most destructive passion, that being Shiny Hunting. Pokemon Sun allowed me to get hyped up and literally create my team before the game was even released, and is a super nostalgic game for me. I stopped after that but Scarlet and Violet look really good and I have had wonderful memories with Emerald and Fire Red.
Pokemon Y is technically the worst of the games I have played, despite me putting more hours into it than any other entry. I blame that on the heinous shiny hunting.
Yes I admit it, I am a massive Pokemon sympathizer. I started with Pokemon Pearl and I named my first Pokemon "IDIOT". He was a Piplup and he sweeped every single gym in the game because I only used him and no one else. A simpler time, honestly.
But each new Pokemon game brings with it new joy and whimsy. Pokemon Black and White 2 brought me new monsters and allowed me to start making full teams named after my friends. Pokemon Y let me actually battle my friends super easily, and introduced me to my most destructive passion, that being Shiny Hunting. Pokemon Sun allowed me to get hyped up and literally create my team before the game was even released, and is a super nostalgic game for me. I stopped after that but Scarlet and Violet look really good and I have had wonderful memories with Emerald and Fire Red.
Pokemon Y is technically the worst of the games I have played, despite me putting more hours into it than any other entry. I blame that on the heinous shiny hunting.
5
This will include every Mario Platformer.
Grass is green, water is wet, the pope is Catholic and Mario platformers are pretty good. I could sit here and tell you why the level design is designed meticulously to be as entertaining as possible, or how much goes into the cartoonish and charming art-style, but how about a more interesting question. Why do I prefer 3D Mario to 2D Mario?
After asking that question I realize the answer is obvious, they are two different kinds of games. 2D Mario will give you a fast, frenetic joy ride from platform to platform, nothing can stop you as you hop from Goomba to Goomba and reach the goal. A very different experience from the 3D games, where you, at a much slower pace, navigate and explore open environments at your leisure and pick up collectibles exactly when you want to.
They both bring great things to the table, but I love exploration more than traditional, super high level tech. I do love both genres though and that's why I can get behind including Super Mario as a whole on here, it really does do it all.
I don't think Super Mario Bros. is fun to play today, that's all I'm saying.
Grass is green, water is wet, the pope is Catholic and Mario platformers are pretty good. I could sit here and tell you why the level design is designed meticulously to be as entertaining as possible, or how much goes into the cartoonish and charming art-style, but how about a more interesting question. Why do I prefer 3D Mario to 2D Mario?
After asking that question I realize the answer is obvious, they are two different kinds of games. 2D Mario will give you a fast, frenetic joy ride from platform to platform, nothing can stop you as you hop from Goomba to Goomba and reach the goal. A very different experience from the 3D games, where you, at a much slower pace, navigate and explore open environments at your leisure and pick up collectibles exactly when you want to.
They both bring great things to the table, but I love exploration more than traditional, super high level tech. I do love both genres though and that's why I can get behind including Super Mario as a whole on here, it really does do it all.
I don't think Super Mario Bros. is fun to play today, that's all I'm saying.
6
Includes every Sonic platformer game.
Sonic has been in my life for a very long time, ever since my 2nd grade friend told me she was hallucinating Sonic characters in the clouds. Beyond that point, I went down two paths concurrently that gave me probably the best Sonic experience I could possibly have.
On one path, I was able to play the original Sonic the Hedgehog on a (probably illegal) Genesis plug-n-play. I must have crawled through Marble Zone over fifty times and I loved every second of it. That feeling of getting really good at the first few levels so you can blaze through no problem, or reaching a further level than you've ever reached before, is so invigorating and gave me that primal game experience where I just enjoy doing the funny jump and run.
On the other path, I got Sonic Adventure DX for the GameCube, and holy moly was the 3D running so much fun. There was so much in terms of amazing songs, hilarious cutscenes, just overall this game has no chill and will never rest. While Big's fishing levels scarred me for life, E102's story left me in tears, and got me warmed up for Adventure 2 as well. A wonderful experience through-and-through.
It's really that which carried me through to my other favorite Sonic games, like Adventure 2, Mania, and Frontiers.
Sonic Forces is the most embarrassing game I have ever played though and no amount of vocal tracks could ever even begin to save it.
Sonic has been in my life for a very long time, ever since my 2nd grade friend told me she was hallucinating Sonic characters in the clouds. Beyond that point, I went down two paths concurrently that gave me probably the best Sonic experience I could possibly have.
On one path, I was able to play the original Sonic the Hedgehog on a (probably illegal) Genesis plug-n-play. I must have crawled through Marble Zone over fifty times and I loved every second of it. That feeling of getting really good at the first few levels so you can blaze through no problem, or reaching a further level than you've ever reached before, is so invigorating and gave me that primal game experience where I just enjoy doing the funny jump and run.
On the other path, I got Sonic Adventure DX for the GameCube, and holy moly was the 3D running so much fun. There was so much in terms of amazing songs, hilarious cutscenes, just overall this game has no chill and will never rest. While Big's fishing levels scarred me for life, E102's story left me in tears, and got me warmed up for Adventure 2 as well. A wonderful experience through-and-through.
It's really that which carried me through to my other favorite Sonic games, like Adventure 2, Mania, and Frontiers.
Sonic Forces is the most embarrassing game I have ever played though and no amount of vocal tracks could ever even begin to save it.
7
Every Mario Kart game is included here
Mario Kart 64 was one of the first games I ever played. I was so mystified by the track design. I especially loved going to Royal Raceway and exploring the section with Peach's Castle, and I would spend about ten minutes there just fucking about.
Once I started playing Mario Kart games multiplayer, though, the point changes entirely. Now it's chaotic fun with rage-inducing moments that will surely create core memories in your life. I'll never forget the first time I used the "r" button in co-op Double Dash to send my friend into a piranha plant, or when me and three friends played Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and we did a whole cup without realizing we had auto-steering on. Every drive through Baby Park is a treasure, and every time trial I could conquer in Mario Kart 7 was an achievement to me. My favorite course is Airship Fortress by the way in case you were curious.
Mario Kart 7 is good and I put a lot of time into it, but it just has the weakest roster of characters and tracks, and the 3DS limitation on multiplayer is heavily apparent.
Mario Kart 64 was one of the first games I ever played. I was so mystified by the track design. I especially loved going to Royal Raceway and exploring the section with Peach's Castle, and I would spend about ten minutes there just fucking about.
Once I started playing Mario Kart games multiplayer, though, the point changes entirely. Now it's chaotic fun with rage-inducing moments that will surely create core memories in your life. I'll never forget the first time I used the "r" button in co-op Double Dash to send my friend into a piranha plant, or when me and three friends played Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and we did a whole cup without realizing we had auto-steering on. Every drive through Baby Park is a treasure, and every time trial I could conquer in Mario Kart 7 was an achievement to me. My favorite course is Airship Fortress by the way in case you were curious.
Mario Kart 7 is good and I put a lot of time into it, but it just has the weakest roster of characters and tracks, and the 3DS limitation on multiplayer is heavily apparent.
8
Includes every Rhythm Heaven game.
I ended up loving Rhythm Heaven as a franchise so much that I made it the focus of my first real YouTube video. I love music and have a somewhat decent sense of rhythm, so getting to play games that would take advantage of these passions seemed like a match made in heaven, and let me tell you when I first played Rhythm Heaven Fever I was so fucking bad at it I couldn't beat the first level after many attempts.
Once you get the hang of it, you are entered into a euphoria where each new rhythm game locks you into a state of bliss hitting each note perfectly to the beat. Imagine that one scene from Pixar's Soul where you ascend into the aether as you play bad mitten in planes or something. There's so much you can do in this franchise but the fun factor very rarely ever lets up, and there's such a sense of satisfaction in getting a true perfect and seeing that certificate glow on the screen.
Rhythm Tengoku is the worst by default as it is the first of the bunch and has the worst lineup of games. Don't get me wrong though, Tap Trial 2 is a lot of fun.
I ended up loving Rhythm Heaven as a franchise so much that I made it the focus of my first real YouTube video. I love music and have a somewhat decent sense of rhythm, so getting to play games that would take advantage of these passions seemed like a match made in heaven, and let me tell you when I first played Rhythm Heaven Fever I was so fucking bad at it I couldn't beat the first level after many attempts.
Once you get the hang of it, you are entered into a euphoria where each new rhythm game locks you into a state of bliss hitting each note perfectly to the beat. Imagine that one scene from Pixar's Soul where you ascend into the aether as you play bad mitten in planes or something. There's so much you can do in this franchise but the fun factor very rarely ever lets up, and there's such a sense of satisfaction in getting a true perfect and seeing that certificate glow on the screen.
Rhythm Tengoku is the worst by default as it is the first of the bunch and has the worst lineup of games. Don't get me wrong though, Tap Trial 2 is a lot of fun.
9
Every Donkey Kong platformer will be included for this list
I've realized recently that, with the exception of the newest games (Returns and Tropical Freeze), I've gotten a tiny taste of three eras of the DK series.
The original country series is a masterpiece of video games, and while I don't rank the one I played very high on my favorites list, I whole-heartedly adore the game and I think it may be one of the best creations the gaming industry has ever seen. So many iconic level design choices, art-style changes, and music compositions, it makes such a perfect package.
The Nintendo 64 game may be bloated, and it may have ridiculous challenges, and it may be very slow, and it may-BUT it has the best presentation out of any Nintendo 64 game ever made and this is not up for debate.
Then we have Jungle Beat, which apparently only I like because even though I hate the bongos, I can jive with this game using a controller. A combo-heavy, score-based platformer is so cool, and this game also looks and sounds amazing. Incredible satisfaction with the boss fights too!
All of these games come together by looking good, sounding good, and playing amazingly, and I wouldn't have it any other way and I'm sure the world agrees with me.
64 gets the short end of the stick because the bonus barrels give me anxiety attacks.
I've realized recently that, with the exception of the newest games (Returns and Tropical Freeze), I've gotten a tiny taste of three eras of the DK series.
The original country series is a masterpiece of video games, and while I don't rank the one I played very high on my favorites list, I whole-heartedly adore the game and I think it may be one of the best creations the gaming industry has ever seen. So many iconic level design choices, art-style changes, and music compositions, it makes such a perfect package.
The Nintendo 64 game may be bloated, and it may have ridiculous challenges, and it may be very slow, and it may-BUT it has the best presentation out of any Nintendo 64 game ever made and this is not up for debate.
Then we have Jungle Beat, which apparently only I like because even though I hate the bongos, I can jive with this game using a controller. A combo-heavy, score-based platformer is so cool, and this game also looks and sounds amazing. Incredible satisfaction with the boss fights too!
All of these games come together by looking good, sounding good, and playing amazingly, and I wouldn't have it any other way and I'm sure the world agrees with me.
64 gets the short end of the stick because the bonus barrels give me anxiety attacks.
10
Includes every version of NieR, NieR Automata, and NieR Re[in]carnation.
I sure as shit haven't played the gacha game but what a great impression Automata and Replicant have imprinted into my brain. Yoko Taro is basically a mad genius with the power to fuck with our emotions and our perception as we journey through his surreal daydreams under his massive, narrative thumb.
The original NieR, and Replicant by extension, has a type of plot that I have only ever seen done right in one other game, and it's so fascinating in fact that it makes playing through the game multiple times feel not so painful. Automata has the distinction of not making any fucking sense at all and that's what makes it great, with symbolism thrown around more liberally than a Persona game and that truly is an achievement.
What NieR games have in spades though is amazing combat. So much kinetic, fast paced slashing, slicing and dicing, swooshing and cutting, slashing and dashing, it's all here.
Combine excellent combat with wacky ass stories and you get games that are unlike any other you'll ever find, and will leave you with a sense of satisfaction (or immense confusion) upon completion, with lasting emotional impacts of course.
NieR Replicant loses by default because it had to go up against Automata.
I sure as shit haven't played the gacha game but what a great impression Automata and Replicant have imprinted into my brain. Yoko Taro is basically a mad genius with the power to fuck with our emotions and our perception as we journey through his surreal daydreams under his massive, narrative thumb.
The original NieR, and Replicant by extension, has a type of plot that I have only ever seen done right in one other game, and it's so fascinating in fact that it makes playing through the game multiple times feel not so painful. Automata has the distinction of not making any fucking sense at all and that's what makes it great, with symbolism thrown around more liberally than a Persona game and that truly is an achievement.
What NieR games have in spades though is amazing combat. So much kinetic, fast paced slashing, slicing and dicing, swooshing and cutting, slashing and dashing, it's all here.
Combine excellent combat with wacky ass stories and you get games that are unlike any other you'll ever find, and will leave you with a sense of satisfaction (or immense confusion) upon completion, with lasting emotional impacts of course.
NieR Replicant loses by default because it had to go up against Automata.
11
Every numbered Jackbox Party Pack game is included.
Fuck it, I'm just gonna list off my favorite Jackbox games from each entry I've played and talk about those.
Jackbox 2 loses by having a lot of really not-so-impressive games, but it was kind of close.
Fuck it, I'm just gonna list off my favorite Jackbox games from each entry I've played and talk about those.
- I have such a soft spot for You Don't Know Jack, as I used to play it a ton with friends on an OUYA. It's legitimately a fun trivia game and has so many cool features and twists.
- Bidiots is hilarious, being able to try and out-bid people on the stupidest drawings imaginable makes the perfect mix of comedy and genuine game design.
- It's Tee K.O. and it's not even close.
- I will die on the prospect that I think Fibbage 3, specifically All About Me, may be my favorite game in the whole franchise.
- It was tough but I have fonder memories of Mad Verse City, text-to-speech is funny always.
- Trivia Murder Party was already fantasic, so making a second one seems like an obvious choice, and when it's not going against Tee K.O., Murder Party is always the best.
- This was super tough but Champ'd Up is so ridiculous and absurd that it has to be my favorite on principle.
- The Poll Mine is such a cool idea, and it could be neat to maybe see more co-op vs. games in these packs.
Jackbox 2 loses by having a lot of really not-so-impressive games, but it was kind of close.
12
Every Mario Party game is included here.
When it comes to the kind of multiplayer fun that I dream about listlessly at night in my never-ending loneliness, I always come back around to some plan that involves playing Mario Party.
Chaos is the word of the day here folks. There is nothing more hilarious, nothing more adrenaline pumping, and nothing more anger-inducing than random chance. The fact that we have a game where at least half of it operates on dumb luck, and that's being extremely generous, and you can play this game with other people may very well be the most brilliant thing that has ever happened.
My flood of memories with this franchise knows no bounds. I remember the time we played through all of Mario Party 6 on a shitty YouTube channel. I remember building rockets in Mario Party DS on bus rides to Six Flags. I remember making one of my friends cry in Mario Party 4 because I refused to try and still won because of Reversal of Fortune. I can't even count on eight hands the amount of drunk Mario Party's that have ended with me completely incapacitated. Also, Mario Party Cockfights are just a complete blast.
A game series I can't even admit is that great formed brick-by-brick with positive reinforcement. I'm not sure there are any other Multiplayer franchises that have generated as much emotion as this.
Mario Party 9 is the only game in the franchise I've played that actually bored me to tears. What a disaster.
When it comes to the kind of multiplayer fun that I dream about listlessly at night in my never-ending loneliness, I always come back around to some plan that involves playing Mario Party.
Chaos is the word of the day here folks. There is nothing more hilarious, nothing more adrenaline pumping, and nothing more anger-inducing than random chance. The fact that we have a game where at least half of it operates on dumb luck, and that's being extremely generous, and you can play this game with other people may very well be the most brilliant thing that has ever happened.
My flood of memories with this franchise knows no bounds. I remember the time we played through all of Mario Party 6 on a shitty YouTube channel. I remember building rockets in Mario Party DS on bus rides to Six Flags. I remember making one of my friends cry in Mario Party 4 because I refused to try and still won because of Reversal of Fortune. I can't even count on eight hands the amount of drunk Mario Party's that have ended with me completely incapacitated. Also, Mario Party Cockfights are just a complete blast.
A game series I can't even admit is that great formed brick-by-brick with positive reinforcement. I'm not sure there are any other Multiplayer franchises that have generated as much emotion as this.
Mario Party 9 is the only game in the franchise I've played that actually bored me to tears. What a disaster.
13
Let's just include every Metroid game I can't bother with genres right now.
I do have to confess that I have only ever played through one 2D Metroid game fully, so it can be inferred that the majority of the reason this franchise ranks so high is because of the Prime trilogy.
But I absolutely will give the nod to Metroid Dread, because the game is incredible. Such a fast-paced, action-oriented adventure as you skip and hop like a rabbit on crack from place to place. The EMMI may be my favorite robot designs ever, and there are so many cool lore implications and boss fights that it can kinda make your head spin.
Sadly Dread does not hold a candle to the Prime trilogy in my opinion. Metroid Prime sent so much positive emotions to my brain that I wasn't even able to process it. Wonder, fear, joy, everything is here, and I even considered speedrunning this game because I loved it so much. Metroid Prime 2 comes in at a very close second, giving me some of the most satisfying combat I have ever experienced in a first-person shooter, and the light and dark world mechanic was so interesting. Also, Quadraxis is another one of my favorite robots ever.
Metroid Prime 3, however, is mid. Can't stand the world design, boss fights are mediocre, power ups uninteresting, it had some good roots planted with some interesting characters but this game stumbles and eats concrete very fast.
I do have to confess that I have only ever played through one 2D Metroid game fully, so it can be inferred that the majority of the reason this franchise ranks so high is because of the Prime trilogy.
But I absolutely will give the nod to Metroid Dread, because the game is incredible. Such a fast-paced, action-oriented adventure as you skip and hop like a rabbit on crack from place to place. The EMMI may be my favorite robot designs ever, and there are so many cool lore implications and boss fights that it can kinda make your head spin.
Sadly Dread does not hold a candle to the Prime trilogy in my opinion. Metroid Prime sent so much positive emotions to my brain that I wasn't even able to process it. Wonder, fear, joy, everything is here, and I even considered speedrunning this game because I loved it so much. Metroid Prime 2 comes in at a very close second, giving me some of the most satisfying combat I have ever experienced in a first-person shooter, and the light and dark world mechanic was so interesting. Also, Quadraxis is another one of my favorite robots ever.
Metroid Prime 3, however, is mid. Can't stand the world design, boss fights are mediocre, power ups uninteresting, it had some good roots planted with some interesting characters but this game stumbles and eats concrete very fast.
14
For the sake of simplicity and to allow me to keep my sanity, let's just include every Pac-Man game ever made.
Me and Pac-Man have a long and complicated past, and I have to admit that I think I like the character more than his games.
Pac-Man was my Mom's favorite game, and it's easy to see why. Such a simple idea with so many opportunities for hype maneuvers and satisfying finishes. Using the word "Iconic" to describe it would be an understatement, but it was the early 2000s where I grew to love this yellow piece of shit.
Pac-Man World 2 has no right to be as great as it is. The entire Pac-Man World series is an anomaly solely due to the fact that the concepts alone were doomed to fail. However, World 2 shines among some of the greatest 3D platformers by being really kinetic, bouncy, and endlessly nostalgic in its aesthetics and music. It really feels like if a 3D platformer was an arcade game.
Then if you're lucky enough, you may get to pick up a bundle with Pac-Man Vs. included. If you just so happen to have three GameBoy Advance consoles, like a psychopath, then you can enjoy one of the best multiplayer games ever made, where you can control ghosts and listen to Mario demand that you eat fruit.
I've always felt myself drawn to Pac-Man, like how stand users are drawn to other stand users. It feels like no matter where I go or how long I live, another Pac-Man game comes around for me to love all over again, and while there definitely seems to be some franchise rot as of nowadays, I will never forget that one time I made a coffee mug and painted Pac-Man and the ghosts on the side.
Pac-Man World 3 is a boring slog that somehow had the balls to twist the genre on a series that already deformed its genre beyond comprehension. This game is everything the Pac-Man World series should have been.
Me and Pac-Man have a long and complicated past, and I have to admit that I think I like the character more than his games.
Pac-Man was my Mom's favorite game, and it's easy to see why. Such a simple idea with so many opportunities for hype maneuvers and satisfying finishes. Using the word "Iconic" to describe it would be an understatement, but it was the early 2000s where I grew to love this yellow piece of shit.
Pac-Man World 2 has no right to be as great as it is. The entire Pac-Man World series is an anomaly solely due to the fact that the concepts alone were doomed to fail. However, World 2 shines among some of the greatest 3D platformers by being really kinetic, bouncy, and endlessly nostalgic in its aesthetics and music. It really feels like if a 3D platformer was an arcade game.
Then if you're lucky enough, you may get to pick up a bundle with Pac-Man Vs. included. If you just so happen to have three GameBoy Advance consoles, like a psychopath, then you can enjoy one of the best multiplayer games ever made, where you can control ghosts and listen to Mario demand that you eat fruit.
I've always felt myself drawn to Pac-Man, like how stand users are drawn to other stand users. It feels like no matter where I go or how long I live, another Pac-Man game comes around for me to love all over again, and while there definitely seems to be some franchise rot as of nowadays, I will never forget that one time I made a coffee mug and painted Pac-Man and the ghosts on the side.
Pac-Man World 3 is a boring slog that somehow had the balls to twist the genre on a series that already deformed its genre beyond comprehension. This game is everything the Pac-Man World series should have been.
15
Includes every WarioWare game, as well as Game & Wario.
Back in the day, there was this one flash game that I used to sink tons of hours into, that being "Four Second Frenzy". It was a game where you played a bunch of four second mini-games that all utilized the keyboard. Little did I know at the time that there was a full-fledged franchise masquerading around with this exact idea, one with characters I would recognize nonetheless.
The hectic nature that permeates a session of WarioWare is unmatched by anything ever made, as each screen prompts you to frantically get a grip on the right controls and steer your way to victory. This feeling of needing to adapt quickly and efficiently turns you into a Microgame Machine, where you're able to complete games without even thinking, and entering this trance can be a spiritual experience.
This is helped even more by the franchise's colorful cast of characters, all of which deserve to be in more games. All of them look like they could be part of different games, and have wonderfully wacky personalities to boot. Mike the robot will always be my favorite but honestly the vast majority of characters featured are model citizens.
One last thing that makes this franchise so cool is how different every game is from each other. Somehow, we can get full-fledged games that take advantage of one gimmick, and WarioWare makes sure to squeeze these mechanics for everything they're worth. You will use the Wiimote in ways some may deem disturbing, and have fun spinning your GameBoy around 2060 degrees to make sure a finger picks someone's nose. It's hard to say that there is a single WarioWare game that doesn't feel unique in some way.
Game & Wario is certainly unique, and I gotta say I do like the multiplayer games quite a bit. The singleplayer games, however, are very stinky, and there really isn't a lot here.
Back in the day, there was this one flash game that I used to sink tons of hours into, that being "Four Second Frenzy". It was a game where you played a bunch of four second mini-games that all utilized the keyboard. Little did I know at the time that there was a full-fledged franchise masquerading around with this exact idea, one with characters I would recognize nonetheless.
The hectic nature that permeates a session of WarioWare is unmatched by anything ever made, as each screen prompts you to frantically get a grip on the right controls and steer your way to victory. This feeling of needing to adapt quickly and efficiently turns you into a Microgame Machine, where you're able to complete games without even thinking, and entering this trance can be a spiritual experience.
This is helped even more by the franchise's colorful cast of characters, all of which deserve to be in more games. All of them look like they could be part of different games, and have wonderfully wacky personalities to boot. Mike the robot will always be my favorite but honestly the vast majority of characters featured are model citizens.
One last thing that makes this franchise so cool is how different every game is from each other. Somehow, we can get full-fledged games that take advantage of one gimmick, and WarioWare makes sure to squeeze these mechanics for everything they're worth. You will use the Wiimote in ways some may deem disturbing, and have fun spinning your GameBoy around 2060 degrees to make sure a finger picks someone's nose. It's hard to say that there is a single WarioWare game that doesn't feel unique in some way.
Game & Wario is certainly unique, and I gotta say I do like the multiplayer games quite a bit. The singleplayer games, however, are very stinky, and there really isn't a lot here.
16
Every numbered LittleBigPlanet game will be counted here.
If there's one thing I can appreciate more than anything else we may have discussed, it's tools that can allow any average person to create truly incredible things. That must have been part of the mission statement Media Molecule had while working on this quaint little game with a smiling sack child and his world of cardboard and crafts.
Everything that you see in the singleplayer campaign can be created by you in the level editor. This fact alone is so important, as it creates that inspiration needed to develop the game of your dreams. Oh look, World 2 of LittleBigPlanet 2 has a giant spider-monstrosity boss fight, looks like I'll be able to make something just as cool. Three phase final boss fight? No problem. Literally every genre imaginable is within your grasp, and it's safe to say that the list of impossible feats within this game's editor is minuscule at best.
But why go as far as making games, why don't we just make cool things!? Let's make a rocket ship that blasts Nightwish songs, or a giant robot with eight appendages that chucks bombs at you, or any number of horribly cursed abominations that could be conjured into the game. Learn to program, design a world, create something artistic, the toy box that is on display here is vast and exciting. The best part though, is that it's all so accessible. This could be anyone's intro to game development, and even those who had no plans on programming or making games could try out the tools here and unlock a new passion for themselves. It is inspiring in the most direct, straightforward sense, and I can't lie and say that this was not a major brick for me on the road to my career.
The first game goes here because the second game is better and that's all there is to it.
If there's one thing I can appreciate more than anything else we may have discussed, it's tools that can allow any average person to create truly incredible things. That must have been part of the mission statement Media Molecule had while working on this quaint little game with a smiling sack child and his world of cardboard and crafts.
Everything that you see in the singleplayer campaign can be created by you in the level editor. This fact alone is so important, as it creates that inspiration needed to develop the game of your dreams. Oh look, World 2 of LittleBigPlanet 2 has a giant spider-monstrosity boss fight, looks like I'll be able to make something just as cool. Three phase final boss fight? No problem. Literally every genre imaginable is within your grasp, and it's safe to say that the list of impossible feats within this game's editor is minuscule at best.
But why go as far as making games, why don't we just make cool things!? Let's make a rocket ship that blasts Nightwish songs, or a giant robot with eight appendages that chucks bombs at you, or any number of horribly cursed abominations that could be conjured into the game. Learn to program, design a world, create something artistic, the toy box that is on display here is vast and exciting. The best part though, is that it's all so accessible. This could be anyone's intro to game development, and even those who had no plans on programming or making games could try out the tools here and unlock a new passion for themselves. It is inspiring in the most direct, straightforward sense, and I can't lie and say that this was not a major brick for me on the road to my career.
The first game goes here because the second game is better and that's all there is to it.
17
This includes Trigger Happy Havoc, Goodbye Despair, and Killing Harmony.
This is one of those franchises that I think really benefited from how me and my friends played it, that being we all played it together.
There is so much charm in being able to play a very refined, smooth-as-butter visual novel with a bunch of stupid troglodytes doing voices for all of the characters. As the stupidest troglodyte of them all, I may or may not have made the most frustrating contributions to our playthroughs, with voices ranging from 50's newscaster for Mahiru, to Lord of the Rings Golem for Fat Byakuya, all the way to voicing Celestia Ludenberg with a Mario voice. I am truly insufferable.
But that's not to diminish the impact the games themselves brought to the table. The Rube Goldberg cases that occur throughout these games adds such an insane flair to the detective game-play that unfolds. I will never believe that any single person could actually pull off most of the stunts displayed during these murders, but it's incredibly entertaining. Combine that with a lovable cast of characters, Fuyuhiko being my personal favorite, and a plot that goes from bonkers to inconceivable and you've got a recipe for disaster. A wonderful disaster at that.
Danganronpa V3 gets the lowest spot as, even though it doesn't have my least favorite cast, it does contain some truly baffling writing decisions, and it's not even the ones that people mostly talk about.
This is one of those franchises that I think really benefited from how me and my friends played it, that being we all played it together.
There is so much charm in being able to play a very refined, smooth-as-butter visual novel with a bunch of stupid troglodytes doing voices for all of the characters. As the stupidest troglodyte of them all, I may or may not have made the most frustrating contributions to our playthroughs, with voices ranging from 50's newscaster for Mahiru, to Lord of the Rings Golem for Fat Byakuya, all the way to voicing Celestia Ludenberg with a Mario voice. I am truly insufferable.
But that's not to diminish the impact the games themselves brought to the table. The Rube Goldberg cases that occur throughout these games adds such an insane flair to the detective game-play that unfolds. I will never believe that any single person could actually pull off most of the stunts displayed during these murders, but it's incredibly entertaining. Combine that with a lovable cast of characters, Fuyuhiko being my personal favorite, and a plot that goes from bonkers to inconceivable and you've got a recipe for disaster. A wonderful disaster at that.
Danganronpa V3 gets the lowest spot as, even though it doesn't have my least favorite cast, it does contain some truly baffling writing decisions, and it's not even the ones that people mostly talk about.
18
This will include Demon's Souls, all three Dark Souls games, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring.
I used to be so indifferent to this franchise that I would barely lend it a second glance. Can you blame me? I just find classic fantasy to be kind of boring. Then one day, a friend of mine sits me down and gets me to play Bloodborne. That, my compatriots, is when it all changed.
These games may be challenging, but what makes them so great is that you don't feel like an asshole clown for dying a hundred times to Finglord the Gatekeeper to the Abyss. Instead, you feel determined, you learn patterns, you can almost feel your improvement pumping through your veins as you mouth gibberish to yourself during attempt #112. This all culminates in some of the most immense satisfaction you can ever siphon from a video game, and that can only be achieved from games that are designed as fairly and are as well crafted as these.
This can come with some drawbacks for me though. Difficult games can turn me off a bit, and I can find them to be rather exhausting, but honest to god it's so worth it to plot out a month and dedicate the whole thing just to making progress in a Soulsborne Ring.
Elden Ring had to compete against Bloodborne and that is a battle it could never hope to win. Still fantastic though, even if the open world kinda skives me out sometimes.
I used to be so indifferent to this franchise that I would barely lend it a second glance. Can you blame me? I just find classic fantasy to be kind of boring. Then one day, a friend of mine sits me down and gets me to play Bloodborne. That, my compatriots, is when it all changed.
These games may be challenging, but what makes them so great is that you don't feel like an asshole clown for dying a hundred times to Finglord the Gatekeeper to the Abyss. Instead, you feel determined, you learn patterns, you can almost feel your improvement pumping through your veins as you mouth gibberish to yourself during attempt #112. This all culminates in some of the most immense satisfaction you can ever siphon from a video game, and that can only be achieved from games that are designed as fairly and are as well crafted as these.
This can come with some drawbacks for me though. Difficult games can turn me off a bit, and I can find them to be rather exhausting, but honest to god it's so worth it to plot out a month and dedicate the whole thing just to making progress in a Soulsborne Ring.
Elden Ring had to compete against Bloodborne and that is a battle it could never hope to win. Still fantastic though, even if the open world kinda skives me out sometimes.
19
Regrettably, I'll include every Super Monkey Ball game.
There's not much to talk about with this one, because the entire conversation can be diluted into one phrase. Super Monkey Ball is really fun.
Rolling around at high speeds is so adrenaline-pumping, and trying to speedrun these games becomes a series of wacky tricks and physics manipulations that the greatest scientists on Earth could never explain. It has this very nostalgic, arcade-like aesthetic, and there are so many little details to appreciate. The announcer is a big selling point for the game, and I can't get over all of the little secret buttons you can find to make levels a bit easier.
But yeah, there's not much to say here. Monkeys in balls, if you like that idea then play it. If you don't, avoid these games like the plague.
I played the first Super Monkey Ball high off my balls against my roommate who was a Super Monkey Ball speedrunner. Needless to say that while I was amazed at all of his tricks, it just can't hold a candle to the second game.
There's not much to talk about with this one, because the entire conversation can be diluted into one phrase. Super Monkey Ball is really fun.
Rolling around at high speeds is so adrenaline-pumping, and trying to speedrun these games becomes a series of wacky tricks and physics manipulations that the greatest scientists on Earth could never explain. It has this very nostalgic, arcade-like aesthetic, and there are so many little details to appreciate. The announcer is a big selling point for the game, and I can't get over all of the little secret buttons you can find to make levels a bit easier.
But yeah, there's not much to say here. Monkeys in balls, if you like that idea then play it. If you don't, avoid these games like the plague.
I played the first Super Monkey Ball high off my balls against my roommate who was a Super Monkey Ball speedrunner. Needless to say that while I was amazed at all of his tricks, it just can't hold a candle to the second game.
20
I think every game with Punch Out!! in the title can be included here.
I'm basically talking about one game here, even though I have a massive amount of respect for how the franchise plays and I do enjoy the game-play in theory. I find that the only game I've played to get this style truly right is the Wii game.
And how right it was. Punch Out!! Wii is one of my favorite games of all time, and there's so many reasons for this. The character design is so on point, and balances that very tricky tightrope where it's cartoonish enough to be entertaining and full of life, but not too cartoonish to be insulting to different cultures. That's part of the fun in Punch Out!! as a franchise, different cultures, and the Wii game knocks it out of the park by treating things respectfully with only a little tongue in the cheek. I love how everyone speaks their native language, and that Next Level threw dirt at themselves by bringing back Bear Hugger in wondrous form. I made Super Macho Man my personality for all of high school, and I think beating this game is a memory I will cherish for a long time.
But I really want to play Super Punch Out!!. It looks like so much fun and has these interesting mechanics and new fighters I haven't seen, and I would love to play the original arcade Punch Out!! just to see where it all began, I care about this series enough to go back and experience this strange, reflex style game-play even in its more archaic forms.
However, I do not like the NES Punch Out!! very much. Very frustrating to play, very culturally insensitive especially compared to the Wii game, and there's just not a lot here for me.
I'm basically talking about one game here, even though I have a massive amount of respect for how the franchise plays and I do enjoy the game-play in theory. I find that the only game I've played to get this style truly right is the Wii game.
And how right it was. Punch Out!! Wii is one of my favorite games of all time, and there's so many reasons for this. The character design is so on point, and balances that very tricky tightrope where it's cartoonish enough to be entertaining and full of life, but not too cartoonish to be insulting to different cultures. That's part of the fun in Punch Out!! as a franchise, different cultures, and the Wii game knocks it out of the park by treating things respectfully with only a little tongue in the cheek. I love how everyone speaks their native language, and that Next Level threw dirt at themselves by bringing back Bear Hugger in wondrous form. I made Super Macho Man my personality for all of high school, and I think beating this game is a memory I will cherish for a long time.
But I really want to play Super Punch Out!!. It looks like so much fun and has these interesting mechanics and new fighters I haven't seen, and I would love to play the original arcade Punch Out!! just to see where it all began, I care about this series enough to go back and experience this strange, reflex style game-play even in its more archaic forms.
However, I do not like the NES Punch Out!! very much. Very frustrating to play, very culturally insensitive especially compared to the Wii game, and there's just not a lot here for me.
21
Well there are only three Splatoon games so do the math.
I'm actually a bit iffy about including this one among these other legends of my life. I do recognize the cool aspects of Splatoon, however I find that my inability to be good at the game can hinder my enjoyment at times. I just suck at aiming, and I don't know the best weapons, and my shmovement is iffy at best, and a whole host of other reasons. This lack of skill can make playing any of the modes quite frustrating, however the reason I've included these games is because I have found these small niches in each game that have given me enough enjoyment to justify strong appreciation.
I must have played the multiplayer in Splatoon 2 for five collective minutes, but I did have a lot of fun with the campaign mode. It was the combination of excellent level design that was never too frustrating mixed with wonderful boss design, all topped off with an explosive finale that made me realize that I had a fantastic time with this game.
Splatoon 3 checks in with the opposite reason, as while I did not enjoy the singleplayer nearly as much, I have sunk a lot of time into the multiplayer. This is weird given my previous statements, however I have played the mode in such a way where I can basically spend my time talking to friends while mindlessly trying to splat some losers. By diverting my attention, I remove the frustration that comes with the game, and that allows me to play longer and slowly improve. It's so crazy watching myself get somewhat better at the silly squid game, when before I could barely even shoot giant, motionless balloons with the gyro controls, whereas now I can get four splats in a row without even thinking about it on occasion. Splatoon 3 has become a regular routine for me, something that I cannot say about a lot of games.
Despite me loving my time with Splatoon 3's multiplayer, the singleplayer made me throw up in my mouth on many instances, so Splatoon 2 wins the day this time.
I'm actually a bit iffy about including this one among these other legends of my life. I do recognize the cool aspects of Splatoon, however I find that my inability to be good at the game can hinder my enjoyment at times. I just suck at aiming, and I don't know the best weapons, and my shmovement is iffy at best, and a whole host of other reasons. This lack of skill can make playing any of the modes quite frustrating, however the reason I've included these games is because I have found these small niches in each game that have given me enough enjoyment to justify strong appreciation.
I must have played the multiplayer in Splatoon 2 for five collective minutes, but I did have a lot of fun with the campaign mode. It was the combination of excellent level design that was never too frustrating mixed with wonderful boss design, all topped off with an explosive finale that made me realize that I had a fantastic time with this game.
Splatoon 3 checks in with the opposite reason, as while I did not enjoy the singleplayer nearly as much, I have sunk a lot of time into the multiplayer. This is weird given my previous statements, however I have played the mode in such a way where I can basically spend my time talking to friends while mindlessly trying to splat some losers. By diverting my attention, I remove the frustration that comes with the game, and that allows me to play longer and slowly improve. It's so crazy watching myself get somewhat better at the silly squid game, when before I could barely even shoot giant, motionless balloons with the gyro controls, whereas now I can get four splats in a row without even thinking about it on occasion. Splatoon 3 has become a regular routine for me, something that I cannot say about a lot of games.
Despite me loving my time with Splatoon 3's multiplayer, the singleplayer made me throw up in my mouth on many instances, so Splatoon 2 wins the day this time.
22
This can get complicated so let's just include every Resident Evil game.
I have not played a lot of Resident Evil games, but I have a massive appreciation for everything this franchise has represented in terms of the survival horror genre. While Silent Hill is the brilliant, terrifying creature that stalks you endlessly, Resident Evil is the stupid clown that asks if you have Albert in a can. Both are scary in their own ways, but Resident evil sacrifices some fear for some funny, and this exchange appeals to me on a primal level.
The elephant in the room here is of course Resident Evil 4, one of my favorite games ever and contains no shortage of things that either give me nightmares or send me into hysterical laughing fits. Leon S. Kennedy is the entire circus, as he does nothing but make puns out of every piece of villain dialogue, and he may not even be the goofiest character in the game. In stark contrast, the regenerators may be one of the scariest things I've ever seen in media, so much so that just entering the lair of one makes me sweat.
I bring up Resident Evil 4 as the prime example because most Resident EVil games are like this. Comedy in spades, horror in chunks, and an endless amount of shooty blooty action fun. Amazing monster designs, writing and voice acting that is quite frankly unbelievable, and an aura of self-awareness that makes it impossible to not enjoy any of these adventures.
The original game's only competition is Resident Evil 4, which is kind of like a WWE wrestler getting hit with an asteroid. The wrestler is cool, but it's just not fair.
I have not played a lot of Resident Evil games, but I have a massive appreciation for everything this franchise has represented in terms of the survival horror genre. While Silent Hill is the brilliant, terrifying creature that stalks you endlessly, Resident Evil is the stupid clown that asks if you have Albert in a can. Both are scary in their own ways, but Resident evil sacrifices some fear for some funny, and this exchange appeals to me on a primal level.
The elephant in the room here is of course Resident Evil 4, one of my favorite games ever and contains no shortage of things that either give me nightmares or send me into hysterical laughing fits. Leon S. Kennedy is the entire circus, as he does nothing but make puns out of every piece of villain dialogue, and he may not even be the goofiest character in the game. In stark contrast, the regenerators may be one of the scariest things I've ever seen in media, so much so that just entering the lair of one makes me sweat.
I bring up Resident Evil 4 as the prime example because most Resident EVil games are like this. Comedy in spades, horror in chunks, and an endless amount of shooty blooty action fun. Amazing monster designs, writing and voice acting that is quite frankly unbelievable, and an aura of self-awareness that makes it impossible to not enjoy any of these adventures.
The original game's only competition is Resident Evil 4, which is kind of like a WWE wrestler getting hit with an asteroid. The wrestler is cool, but it's just not fair.
23
Includes every Halo game that is a First Person Shooter.
Halo was always a very difficult franchise for me to get into. When I got my Xbox 360, all I wanted was as many Halo games as possible, so that I could fully immerse myself into Master Chief's world. Alas, it was not meant to be, as I just couldn't get used to playing a Halo game with a controller. For those who know me well, they know I hold a control stick like a literal crab, gripping it on two ends with two fingers. It's a problem, I know, and it makes aiming way harder, so when I played Halo: Reach and Halo 4 for the first time, I didn't care for them because I was having a really rough time.
Then I got the Master Chief collection, and everything changed. Suddenly, a mouse and keyboard were mine to wield, and enemies would fall before me in some of the most satisfying FPS gameplay segments I have ever experienced. You've got vehicles, you've got so many weapons and side upgrades, you have grunts that scream when you smack them, confetti pours out when you get head shots, you can play with friends, there's so many redeeming qualities. That's not even going into the insane extended lore or the multiplayer modes, both of which range from great to exceptional depending on the game. Glad to have a simple little mouse change everything for me.
The original Halo loses because it's the original Halo. Easily the most archaic of the lot, and its going up against Halo 4 and Halo Reach, so while I recognize its legacy, I'll leave it at that.
Halo was always a very difficult franchise for me to get into. When I got my Xbox 360, all I wanted was as many Halo games as possible, so that I could fully immerse myself into Master Chief's world. Alas, it was not meant to be, as I just couldn't get used to playing a Halo game with a controller. For those who know me well, they know I hold a control stick like a literal crab, gripping it on two ends with two fingers. It's a problem, I know, and it makes aiming way harder, so when I played Halo: Reach and Halo 4 for the first time, I didn't care for them because I was having a really rough time.
Then I got the Master Chief collection, and everything changed. Suddenly, a mouse and keyboard were mine to wield, and enemies would fall before me in some of the most satisfying FPS gameplay segments I have ever experienced. You've got vehicles, you've got so many weapons and side upgrades, you have grunts that scream when you smack them, confetti pours out when you get head shots, you can play with friends, there's so many redeeming qualities. That's not even going into the insane extended lore or the multiplayer modes, both of which range from great to exceptional depending on the game. Glad to have a simple little mouse change everything for me.
The original Halo loses because it's the original Halo. Easily the most archaic of the lot, and its going up against Halo 4 and Halo Reach, so while I recognize its legacy, I'll leave it at that.
24
I'm just going to count every Mortal Kombat game ever made on this one.
This is the only franchise on this entire list that I have only ever played one game from, that being the game listed. This automatically designated the franchise to the last place position. However, I have watched a lot of kontent from both earlier and later Mortal Kombat games, and I gotta say that I am intensely interested in this franchise's lore and kharacters.
Faction is the word of the day here. You've got three different factions that exist, all at odds with each other, and I love plots where there are multiple, intertwined motivations going around. Shang Tsun wants to steal some souls but Quan Chi is like no I want souls for my Nether Army so here's this bad ass yellow ninja, but no we here on Earth have a BLUE ninja and now you're gonna fight bang bang boom boom kiss kiss.
I feel like I'm a kid again when I describe Mortal Kombat lore, and there's so many kool character designs too. I think Motaro is my favorite I just love this centaur lookin' guy, but I also love Johnny Kage and Noob Saibot.
Mortal Kombat 9 is on here by default as it is the only one I've played, but don't misunderstand me when I say I fucking love this game.
This is the only franchise on this entire list that I have only ever played one game from, that being the game listed. This automatically designated the franchise to the last place position. However, I have watched a lot of kontent from both earlier and later Mortal Kombat games, and I gotta say that I am intensely interested in this franchise's lore and kharacters.
Faction is the word of the day here. You've got three different factions that exist, all at odds with each other, and I love plots where there are multiple, intertwined motivations going around. Shang Tsun wants to steal some souls but Quan Chi is like no I want souls for my Nether Army so here's this bad ass yellow ninja, but no we here on Earth have a BLUE ninja and now you're gonna fight bang bang boom boom kiss kiss.
I feel like I'm a kid again when I describe Mortal Kombat lore, and there's so many kool character designs too. I think Motaro is my favorite I just love this centaur lookin' guy, but I also love Johnny Kage and Noob Saibot.
Mortal Kombat 9 is on here by default as it is the only one I've played, but don't misunderstand me when I say I fucking love this game.
25