Best Gameplay

List of my favorite games based mostly on mechanics, as well as how they integrate themselves with other aspects of the game.

Bloodborne
Bloodborne
Elden Ring
Elden Ring
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
Armored Core: Last Raven
Armored Core: Last Raven
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Definitely recency bias but goddamn is this game such a blast. If I had to criticize anything, it'd be how most of the game's regular missions are incredibly forgettable and mostly walks in the park with fragile enemies. That being said, having S-ranked every mission and getting the platinum, I've not only developed a newfound appreciation for a lot of what would be the more mundane missions on a normal playthrough, but I also think it's the most fun I've had completing a game. The NPC fights aren't super hard most of the time, but they're speedy, frantic, and usually provide insightful characterization, always making them a blast. The highlights are definitely the bosses and big, important story missions. Defeating many of the former and S-ranking many of the latter were just pure bliss. I also feel like I've only scratched the surface of this game's mechanics, using typically lightweight parts and relying on machine guns+melee. Once I get back to this after playing previous AC games and understanding the two-decade long synthesis, I just know it'll be just as enjoyable as when I first played.
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight
Lost Judgment
Lost Judgment
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
On my other list, I've spoken at length about how much I admire this game's bosses. Bosses aside, the gameplay loop is really solid (ha). Not perfect; I think flying enemies and certain elite enemies like the gorilla guys could've been balance better, and my GOD is the camera janky as hell. I swear, I could get dropkicked by a gorilla cyborg and suddenly the camera is face flat on Raiden's ass. That aside, it's so, so satisfying to master MGR's gameplay loop, with the Zanmatsu being a perfect way to incentivize aggression and high level play. It makes for an obscenely nutty gameplay loop when you're able to execute, probably the most satisfying in any game I've ever played.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Includes Torna
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Armored Core: Master of Arena
Armored Core: Master of Arena
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V

Unrated

Dark Souls
Dark Souls

Unrated

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

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