A fav game for each year of my life? okie
this is a fun list idea sure, it just makes me think i need to play more games tho!!! anyways enjoy, i spent some time in notes giving some background or something of interest if there was any
24 Games
1998 pick
Not much to say here, wasn't even my first or second MGS actually, but it's also the only 1998 game i have any attachment to. It's great tho!
Not much to say here, wasn't even my first or second MGS actually, but it's also the only 1998 game i have any attachment to. It's great tho!
1999 pick
same sentiment here, again I don't have a 1999 game i have much attachment to. This one especially is just kinda ok, but I did grow up on an nintendo 64 being primarily my first console, and this game was such a blast to play with my brother. Fun stuff
same sentiment here, again I don't have a 1999 game i have much attachment to. This one especially is just kinda ok, but I did grow up on an nintendo 64 being primarily my first console, and this game was such a blast to play with my brother. Fun stuff
2000 pick
God I love this game. I remember first falling in love with this on wii virtual console as a preteen while MatPat was at full volume speaking of the '5 stages of grief' theory. To date it's still my favorite Zelda.
Honorable Mention: Kirby 64
God I love this game. I remember first falling in love with this on wii virtual console as a preteen while MatPat was at full volume speaking of the '5 stages of grief' theory. To date it's still my favorite Zelda.
Honorable Mention: Kirby 64
2001 pick
You'll see this a lot where most of my favorites are stuff I played in the past few years, so not much of memory here. But!!! I like to think of this game as a peak moment of transitioning for me, not just in terms of the gender meaning but also in terms of redefining my taste. This was once a game I steered clear of, hooped up on Joseph Anderson brainworms. Now it's my weapon of choice to portray genuine appreciation to the medium.
Honorable Mentions: Super Smash Bros. Melee, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
You'll see this a lot where most of my favorites are stuff I played in the past few years, so not much of memory here. But!!! I like to think of this game as a peak moment of transitioning for me, not just in terms of the gender meaning but also in terms of redefining my taste. This was once a game I steered clear of, hooped up on Joseph Anderson brainworms. Now it's my weapon of choice to portray genuine appreciation to the medium.
Honorable Mentions: Super Smash Bros. Melee, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle
ok yes it technically came out in 2001 shut up but it's my 2002 pick because i have more to say >:(
my review puts it into better words of course, but I remember this game distinctly because I was a wee laddette on disqus forums when this game was oft talked around me with such reverence. I would end up falling down this rabbit hole, but not in a way that was contrarian against those vibes. Really it was like a cultural great awakening for me, and as years go by there is even more for me to appreciate this game for and how much it has affected me in total.
Honorable Mentions: Super Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime
my review puts it into better words of course, but I remember this game distinctly because I was a wee laddette on disqus forums when this game was oft talked around me with such reverence. I would end up falling down this rabbit hole, but not in a way that was contrarian against those vibes. Really it was like a cultural great awakening for me, and as years go by there is even more for me to appreciate this game for and how much it has affected me in total.
Honorable Mentions: Super Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime
2003 pick
i spent soooo many hours on my gamecube and wii back then, getting like 80% of the achievements unlocked and getting every single red block. The edges have been far since sanded off for me to have an earnest thing to say or analyze the game from, because it's just a childhood sweetheart to me. The racing game i've just spent the most time on
i spent soooo many hours on my gamecube and wii back then, getting like 80% of the achievements unlocked and getting every single red block. The edges have been far since sanded off for me to have an earnest thing to say or analyze the game from, because it's just a childhood sweetheart to me. The racing game i've just spent the most time on
2004 pick
Being on here is kind of cute, cuz I remember how this VN and the general fanbase/roots it comes from were particularly a corner of the internet that drooled with toxicity. Odd how I sit here now feeling a sense of reclamation on it. This story didn't really 'change my life' in any respect, but it's still one i hold with great endearment.
Honorable Mentions: The Thousand-Year Door, Ace Attorney 3
Being on here is kind of cute, cuz I remember how this VN and the general fanbase/roots it comes from were particularly a corner of the internet that drooled with toxicity. Odd how I sit here now feeling a sense of reclamation on it. This story didn't really 'change my life' in any respect, but it's still one i hold with great endearment.
Honorable Mentions: The Thousand-Year Door, Ace Attorney 3
2005 pick
This and the honorable mentions also stand out as an era for me. There was a very heavy time where I was brought in by people who very specifically felt that gameplay was king, the one extremely 'underappreciated' facet where depth was the most important thing to recognize. I still have bits and pieces of that logic under a more understanding lens, but I don't really regret that time still because it introduced me to so many greats like this one!!!
Honorable Mentions: DMC3, MGS3
This and the honorable mentions also stand out as an era for me. There was a very heavy time where I was brought in by people who very specifically felt that gameplay was king, the one extremely 'underappreciated' facet where depth was the most important thing to recognize. I still have bits and pieces of that logic under a more understanding lens, but I don't really regret that time still because it introduced me to so many greats like this one!!!
Honorable Mentions: DMC3, MGS3
2006 pick
It was late year of high school when I downloaded the fan translation and played this. I usually finished my schoolwork in class so quickly that I had time to have my laptop out near the back of the room and just relax playing. I remember crying during biology class when everyone of Tazmily wished me the best, and the final fight was engrained in my mind. To this very moment every chapter of this game is a piece of my heart in its own respect.
Honorable Mention: God Hand
It was late year of high school when I downloaded the fan translation and played this. I usually finished my schoolwork in class so quickly that I had time to have my laptop out near the back of the room and just relax playing. I remember crying during biology class when everyone of Tazmily wished me the best, and the final fight was engrained in my mind. To this very moment every chapter of this game is a piece of my heart in its own respect.
Honorable Mention: God Hand
2007 pick
Yeah uhhhh no shit probably for anyone who knows me and knows a good amount about this one. Shook me enough to my core that I had to examine much about my identity, and relationships, etc. While it would be lightly facetious to call this responsible for me being non binary, as I think the furry community at large is far more to blame, it's certainly the one that gave me the most rationalization towards it. Changed my life but for realsies this time!
Honorable Mentions: Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+, The World Ends With You
Yeah uhhhh no shit probably for anyone who knows me and knows a good amount about this one. Shook me enough to my core that I had to examine much about my identity, and relationships, etc. While it would be lightly facetious to call this responsible for me being non binary, as I think the furry community at large is far more to blame, it's certainly the one that gave me the most rationalization towards it. Changed my life but for realsies this time!
Honorable Mentions: Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+, The World Ends With You
2008 pick
this is actually still my favorite combat system in a game. Most realized sense of absolute chaos and constant tug of war with a developer that hates you.
this is actually still my favorite combat system in a game. Most realized sense of absolute chaos and constant tug of war with a developer that hates you.
2009 pick
Hugely responsible for such an extraordinary chunk of what I am today. Quil comes from my OC here, as do Dew and Ivy in later PMD games. It throttled me into the furry community later, it opened my eyes in a real sense as the feeling of discovery, loss, and adventure were sown here. It's actually a game I think more people should play
Honorable Mention: Persona 3 Portable
Hugely responsible for such an extraordinary chunk of what I am today. Quil comes from my OC here, as do Dew and Ivy in later PMD games. It throttled me into the furry community later, it opened my eyes in a real sense as the feeling of discovery, loss, and adventure were sown here. It's actually a game I think more people should play
Honorable Mention: Persona 3 Portable
2010 pick
so,,, this shit is honestly scorched earth in terms of discourse huh? I do genuinely find this a favorite of mine but it's also one I don't feel good about liking. I don't know where that comes from though, because i'm not one to bend to hating something simply by contrarian proxy, nor is revealings of problematic nature a nail in the coffer for stuff i love. I think it's simply that, like the Mojave, what's left to comb through is mostly desert now. What's left to appreciate when every stone has been turned. I'll still try to love it.
Honorable Mention: Xenoblade Chronicles
so,,, this shit is honestly scorched earth in terms of discourse huh? I do genuinely find this a favorite of mine but it's also one I don't feel good about liking. I don't know where that comes from though, because i'm not one to bend to hating something simply by contrarian proxy, nor is revealings of problematic nature a nail in the coffer for stuff i love. I think it's simply that, like the Mojave, what's left to comb through is mostly desert now. What's left to appreciate when every stone has been turned. I'll still try to love it.
Honorable Mention: Xenoblade Chronicles
2011 pick
metroidvanias are a metaphysical bread and butter for me. This game injects so much nonstop amazement into my VEINS. The moment i put my selfmade maps on top of each other to understand one of the last puzzles was a 'moment' that is actually just impossible to eclipse. This is what games are soooo fucking capable of doing on a mechanical level.
Honorable Mentions: Child of Eden, The Fruit of Grisaia
metroidvanias are a metaphysical bread and butter for me. This game injects so much nonstop amazement into my VEINS. The moment i put my selfmade maps on top of each other to understand one of the last puzzles was a 'moment' that is actually just impossible to eclipse. This is what games are soooo fucking capable of doing on a mechanical level.
Honorable Mentions: Child of Eden, The Fruit of Grisaia
2012 pick
Frustrating fav. The controls still hate me, even though I like to think myself adaptable to most I think there's something genuinely fucked about how you left brain right brain some of this. But it's a nonstop heartful thrill ride with the best of sakurai's design on display, so like, is that really a bad thing?
Frustrating fav. The controls still hate me, even though I like to think myself adaptable to most I think there's something genuinely fucked about how you left brain right brain some of this. But it's a nonstop heartful thrill ride with the best of sakurai's design on display, so like, is that really a bad thing?
2013 pick
I've long held the opinion that if Zelda had to follow a formula this stringently, then this is quite literally the best way of doing it. Freedom to go where you like, but still with a solid amount of actual direction. Illusory in that it's more linear on a moment to moment basis than it lets on, but still constantly giving that feeling of discovery. More games should emulate ALBW's sense of pacing and structure above all else.
I've long held the opinion that if Zelda had to follow a formula this stringently, then this is quite literally the best way of doing it. Freedom to go where you like, but still with a solid amount of actual direction. Illusory in that it's more linear on a moment to moment basis than it lets on, but still constantly giving that feeling of discovery. More games should emulate ALBW's sense of pacing and structure above all else.
2014 pick
I imagine if i played this for the first time now, Shovel of Hope would be rather milquetoast for me. I played it in the year it came out though, while I was 16 in high school, and it was the tightest most true-to-platforming I'd have played while also juggling aesthetic pleasure until Ori and the blind forest and will of the wisps soon after. In some ways it's great then that yacht club kept delivering to satisfy a broader sense of what I like in platforming, because I do still think of Shovel Knight as a whole with reverence.
Honorable Mentions: Duck Game, Freedom Planet
I imagine if i played this for the first time now, Shovel of Hope would be rather milquetoast for me. I played it in the year it came out though, while I was 16 in high school, and it was the tightest most true-to-platforming I'd have played while also juggling aesthetic pleasure until Ori and the blind forest and will of the wisps soon after. In some ways it's great then that yacht club kept delivering to satisfy a broader sense of what I like in platforming, because I do still think of Shovel Knight as a whole with reverence.
Honorable Mentions: Duck Game, Freedom Planet
2015 pick
the year of high school i played this was the most formative one for me with art. Very much still my favorite game of all time for many many many many reasons. Honestly glad this game is such a cultural capstone of the year now. It's heartwarming.
Honorable Mentions: Bloodborne, FFXIV Heavensward
the year of high school i played this was the most formative one for me with art. Very much still my favorite game of all time for many many many many reasons. Honestly glad this game is such a cultural capstone of the year now. It's heartwarming.
Honorable Mentions: Bloodborne, FFXIV Heavensward
2016 pick
Ok so this is cheating, it actually technically came out in 2010 with this version but i don't care :) it reached its worldwide peak starting from this year and I definitely consider it the close proximity introduction. My absolute favorite fighting game at the moment, and god damn i just love how frantic it is. The godly air game makes dmc look like trash.
Honorable Mentions: Furi, VA-11 HALL-A, Rabi-Ribi, Ori and the Blind Forest
Ok so this is cheating, it actually technically came out in 2010 with this version but i don't care :) it reached its worldwide peak starting from this year and I definitely consider it the close proximity introduction. My absolute favorite fighting game at the moment, and god damn i just love how frantic it is. The godly air game makes dmc look like trash.
Honorable Mentions: Furi, VA-11 HALL-A, Rabi-Ribi, Ori and the Blind Forest
2017 pick
ok i already gushed about a metroidvania entry but it's only fitting that this one be the metroidvania but done on a far grander and quieter aesthetic center! matthewmatosis really put this in the best words, what an experience
Honorable Mentions: NieR Automata, Nioh, Night in the Woods
ok i already gushed about a metroidvania entry but it's only fitting that this one be the metroidvania but done on a far grander and quieter aesthetic center! matthewmatosis really put this in the best words, what an experience
Honorable Mentions: NieR Automata, Nioh, Night in the Woods
2018 pick
i cannot reduce this one down into accessible understandable words. people have tried to boil down dysphoria and the fight against cultural gravity for years and it's still something even now that takes a large amount of understanding and cultural proximity to relate to. That's the hardest part of loving heaven will be mine, but it's also something the game knows deep down. I stick to it obfuscating that information in such scientific words as a genuine attempt at portraying how monumental an undertaking it is to understand identity.
Honorable Mentions: Arcane Dimensions, ZeroRanger, Deltarune Chapter 1
i cannot reduce this one down into accessible understandable words. people have tried to boil down dysphoria and the fight against cultural gravity for years and it's still something even now that takes a large amount of understanding and cultural proximity to relate to. That's the hardest part of loving heaven will be mine, but it's also something the game knows deep down. I stick to it obfuscating that information in such scientific words as a genuine attempt at portraying how monumental an undertaking it is to understand identity.
Honorable Mentions: Arcane Dimensions, ZeroRanger, Deltarune Chapter 1
2019 pick
i'm still at the campfire with the rest of them crying as the world moves on. i hope i've picked up the right instrument to play. the tuning takes effort and the notes are hard to reach, but the result is beautiful. I hope the universe is moving along blissfully for all of you, at least at some point.
Honorable Mentions: FFXIV Shadowbringers, Disco Elysium
i'm still at the campfire with the rest of them crying as the world moves on. i hope i've picked up the right instrument to play. the tuning takes effort and the notes are hard to reach, but the result is beautiful. I hope the universe is moving along blissfully for all of you, at least at some point.
Honorable Mentions: FFXIV Shadowbringers, Disco Elysium
2020 pick
2020 is the year that defines my taste of now. It's the year that finally brought me into an even more holistic approach, growing to understand context, building atop my political background and letting me write flowery prose about complete bullshit. so it only makes sense that KRZ is that favorite. I'm Going That Way
Honorable Mentions: Doom Eternal, FFVII Remake, Project+
2020 is the year that defines my taste of now. It's the year that finally brought me into an even more holistic approach, growing to understand context, building atop my political background and letting me write flowery prose about complete bullshit. so it only makes sense that KRZ is that favorite. I'm Going That Way
Honorable Mentions: Doom Eternal, FFVII Remake, Project+
2021 pick... for now
honestly i don't think this is quite representative of the year for me yet. But it's worth acknowledging for now. Great game
honestly i don't think this is quite representative of the year for me yet. But it's worth acknowledging for now. Great game