Sophmin
Breath of the Wild was a genre defining game. Tears of the Kingdom makes it look like a tech demo. The mechanics are fun, puzzle solving revolves around the mindset of the player themself rather than mechanics alone, and creativity is almost always rewarded. The story was both interesting and had strong emotional grips, and the ending left me feeling satisfied. I still have more to finish, but exploration continues to feel fresh even with the surface level being mostly the same. The soundtrack is fitting, beautiful, and powerful - something Nintendo never fails to deliver on. This game should be considered to replace its predecessor on many lists of the greatest video game of all time.
2011
A classic that never gets old. There was never a fight between Terraria and Minecraft simply due to their different gameplay styles. Terraria wants you to progress while encouraging creativity, while Minecraft wants you to be creative while encouraging progression. I love both games, but the execution of progression in Terraria is honestly one of the best systems that exists in any game like it. The difficulty options such as Expert and Master add a strong spice to the game, and modding takes it to the next level.
I believe that The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth has become a key genre defining title for modern roguelikes/lites. Despite some present flaws, they are vastly outshined by a consistently different gameplay loop. While your end goal might be the same, the way you get there or which goal you choose can differ wildly. A vast array of characters with a span of different mechanics allows the game to feel even more unique, and mods only crank this up to 11.
2004
Best literal sandbox game
2019
One of the best roguelikes to exist, and what I would consider the definitive fully 3D rendition of the genre. Combines both random generation, outcomes, and items with exceptional levels of game knowledge and run control to create a roguelike that almost always feels winnable. The music defines the game's phenomenal atmosphere, and is an absolute must-play
One of the best examples of how to do DLC. New content that can be toggled, new key mechanics, a new ending, and primarily two new survivors that are very unique and interesting. Highly recommend to veteran Risk of Rain 2 players and complete newcomers alike.
The black sheep of the souls series is still a fun experience. While the reign of "gank" boss fights and the 8 direction controls (even when using controller) lead to frustrating moments, the overall gameplay is still very enjoyable. Memorable bosses such as the Pursuer and the Looking Glass Knight define the game for me, however, it still tends to be the last souls game I would consider replaying.
2018
Bloons TD has been at the forefront of the tower defense genre for around a decade at this point. Bloons TD 6 released 5 years ago as of writing this, yet it continues to be updated with more content that maintains a strong community and continued interest in the game. The core mechanics of the game maintain incredibly sturdy, and the balance is constantly tweaked so that no one strategy reigns supreme.
2017
Team Cherry's debut game is a masterpiece. Incredibly gameplay, an enthralling and interesting world, beautiful music, and large amounts of content. I return to this game almost annually to relive its best moments, from the Mantis Lords to the harrowing endings.
2018
Did you know transwomen can double jump?
2016
This game has so much charm that it killed me with a gun that shoots a bullet that shoots smaller guns that shoot even smaller bullets
2017
I love Dead Cells. It is an amazing rougelike that consistently maintains relevance among the genre. My sole critic is that the emphasis on creating a build has inevitably killed creativity in the later boss cells, as you find a working solution to win a run and search it out consistently, rather than being able to find multiple options consistently.
2023
Gunbrella deserves more attention than it has received. The game tells a gripping story in a unique and interesting world, all backed up by incredibly fun and nuanced gameplay. The soundtrack is also phenomenal, and notable songs such as the merchant's theme will continue to loop in my head for a long time. The only notable thing this game lacked was iteration on the core gameplay, as the ideas mostly end at the concept of the Gunbrella, leading to slightly repetitious level design and boss fight design.
1996
Funny red man goes 3D
2004
Wario is playable in this game. That is a good thing.