Played On: MS-DOS

I remember when we first got this game, I thought it was based on the Batman the Animated Series game "The Riddle of the Minotaur," but when the hours long, eight disk install completed, instead I was rewarded with a vibrant pixel world of puzzles and magic. Stills from The Hand of Fate are burned into my memory, like the Octopus outside the pirate bar, or the giant rabbit statue along a cliff.

Played On: PS2

The last NCAA game I bought, my favorite past time was finding some random FCS school and then coaching them up to eventually win the FBS National Title. Of course, you had to swap out a real team to add the FCS one, so goodbye Notre Dame - every time.

Played On: PC

The first thing anyone sees the when they look at Garage is the grotesque art design of the characters and world - it's shocking and hard to look past at first. However, as you delve deeper into the game it becomes weirdly beautiful and comforting in an unexpected way, which mirrors the explorations of abuse's consequences on the human psyche.

Played On: PC

Following in its predecessor's footsteps, Icewind Dale II is full of gorgeous art and creative locations that pull you in with mystery and poetic intrigue. The narrative also has its twists and turns, but it's full of interesting vignettes that flesh out the world as you journey your way through puzzles and combat.

Played On: Nintendo Switch

The map design and exploration in Astalon is absolute perfection. The amount of shortcuts packed into the Tower is staggering, and unlocking them gives endorphin rushes from hour one to hour thirty. The ability to swap between characters creates fun wrinkles in exploration, and while ultimately you do end up with a favorite, all three are fantastic and powerful when upgraded.

Played On: PC

Islets is just pure and simple fun. The exploration is rewarding, the artwork is charming, the characters are funny, and the combat, while simple, has enough bullet-hell wrinkles in it to keep things interesting. I laughed a lot during the 8 hours or so it took me to 100% this game - much more than I expected to. It manages to not take itself seriously while still having a few heartwarming moments.

Played On: Sega Genesis

Flashback to me playing this on my Sega Genesis over and over again without having any idea what I'm doing or where I was going, but having a blast getting completely lost and immersed in the world and art. Such a cozy, beautiful game that has stuck with me forever.

Played On: Arcade

It was always super hard to find this arcade game, but there was a pizza place that had a machine and I would drag my step-dad there so we could eat pizza and play together. I loved the artwork and blasting away at DnD monsters with spells, or using the cleric's shield to block attacks and heal the party.

Played On: PC

Don't be fooled by the tiny, minimalist pixels on the screen, as this is actually one of the most ambitious Metroidvanias I've ever played. It is chocked full of secrets, power-ups, and sequence-breaks, all powered by eldritch horror that doesn't become apparent until the post-game.

Played On: PC

This game absolutely blew my mind when it came out with how good it looked both from a technical standpoint and the art design with industrial sci-fi mixing against alien landscapes and architecture. Running through the world of Unreal really did feel like I was on another planet.

Played On: PC

Beautiful and serene, Icewind Dale's freezing atmosphere provides a backdrop for an epic, yet solemn, adventure. The world feels alive, and while the player's party does not have any personality (outside of personal rp), the characters and setting drive the story as the party makes their way through the world.

Played On: Arcade + SNES

So much time spent on this between the arcades and a friend's SNES just playing all day. He was always Leonardo and I was always Donatello, and we always kicked ass, ate pizza, and wasted hours away as kids should. Turtles in Time also had a lot of good mix-ups between the sewer levels, normal brawlers, and fun moments like having to throw enemies at Shredder's screen.

Played On: Arcade

This was the game that I always raced for at the arcade. I was a huge fan of the X-Men cartoon series and whatever comics I could get my hands on, and so getting to play as them was a dream come true. Plus, I just loved that era of costumes. Classic.

Played On: PC

Incredibly charming with bright vibrant colors, Monster Boy offers some challenging platforming with creative puzzle solving. The animal forms are all fun to play around with as you explore volcanoes, pirate coves, haunted houses, and the clouds.

Played On: PC

Riven takes the atmospheric mystery and puzzles of Myst and turns it up to 11 while also focusing on environmental storytelling to really bring the Age of Riven to life. The puzzles also feel organically woven into the world which provides cohesion and a lived-in quality to the game world, something that I think a lot of puzzle games struggle with.

Played On: PC

The Neverhood was so hard for me as a kid, but I just kept playing and playing because the animation, art direction, and soundtrack are all absolutely phenomenal. The puzzles are satisfying and the characters are cute. Who can't relate to the robot that just wants his teddy bear?

Played On: Arcade

I was always drawn to this one, and the other Darkstalkers games, because of the amazing artwork and theme obviously, but the combo system's simplicity makes it a joy to play as well. Easy to play match after match and not feel like you're outplayed because you didn't memorize a 12-hit combo string.

Played On: MS-DOS

Having played some of Maniac Mansion on my step-dad's old Commodore 64, seeing this game was a holy shit moment for me, and I played it over and over again. I loved the characters, the humor, and the time travel puzzles were very fun and satisfying to pull off. It's also one of those games I kind of grew up with - I kept playing it even as I got older and more and more of the jokes started to make sense with lots of little "aha" moments along the way.

Played On: PC

Playing this game for the first time, the dark jedi were terrifying (Maw really freaked me out) and amazing, and getting to battle them with my own force powers and lightsaber was mindblowing. The shooting in Jedi Knight is fun too - toggle auto-run and it's so fast that it's almost a twitch shooter. The levels are fun to run around in, and Kyle Katarn is one of the best characters in Star Wars.

Played On: PC

I guess I'm one of the few weirdos out there that actually really enjoys the main NWN campaign. It has some interesting ideas and zones like Charwood, a living snow globe, and an inn with an adventurer's dungeon beneath it, as well as a sleepy, dreamy atmosphere that I really enjoy. The two expansions are wonderful, and Shadows of Undrentide introduces one of my favorite NPCs ever - Deekin the Kobold Bard.

I'm a mongo footed professor gnar gnar! One of the first computer games I owned, I spent hours upon hours in it just building cars, jetskis, and riding around town as Pepper on my skateboard. I am ashamed how long it took me to even realize there was a "game" outside of the sandbox, but countless time was poured into just walking around the island and vibing.

Played On: MS-DOS

Classic LAN party game - we'd get together and add the max number of players into the game between us and CPUs. The game was work together to destroy the CPUs and then turn on each other to determine a winner. Zug zug - I still have the peon responses stuck in my head.

Played On: MS-DOS

An adventure to find a bigfoot and his giraffe-necked girlfriend, Sam and Max goes full-throttle (LucasArts pun) from the first moments of the game until the wholesome conclusion. The game-world is a wacky and kitsch version of the United States and feels like an epic road trip with two crazy friends. It's like Americana, the game.

Played On: PC - Enhanced Edition

Silent Hill 2 somehow takes desolate grime and makes it cozy with an introspective soundtrack, only to throw you in the horror deep end again with sexualized monsters, dark pits, and unhinged voice acting. I was not prepared for the emotional journey of exploring the town of Silent Hill, but it's one that will stick with me for a long time.

Played On: PC

The hand-drawn art is phenomenal and gives the game such a unique atmosphere that complements the simple gameplay. The ability to quickswap back and forth between the original 1989 graphics is a fun feature too and just adds to the classic feel of the remake.

Played On: PC

An amazing journey filled with incredibly deep combat, a charming cast of characters, and beautiful hand-drawn maps. It's my favorite game ever with a fascinating world that spans from the bustling city of Athkatla to pastoral forests and even the pits of Hell. I never get tired of it.

Played On: Arcade + SNES

Playing as mascots was the funniest thing ever to me - I really loved the Hornets one, and they were awesome in this game. This was the ultimate just pick up the controller and play game, and we all loved it.

Played On: MS-DOS

My mind was blown when I played this game, comparing it to the first one with just the sheer amount of new polish it had. It was absolutely stunning at the time. Then, I hit the ending and I think my little child brain melted.

Played On: PC

One of the best looking point-and-click games of all time with hilarious jokes and more pirate shenanigans. If anyone wanted to get into the Monkey Island games, this is the one I would recommend. Just an absolute classic. Even without Ron Gilbert, the game manages to retain the vibes of the originals.

Played On: PC

Amazing storytelling wrapped up in striking pixel art and plenty of humor to go with your sad. Played this over one afternoon and was totally enthralled by it as I was taken on a ride from mourning my mother, to a shopping mall cult, to rebelling against capitalism and the destruction of the environment.

Played On: MS-DOS

YOU FIGHT BOBA FETT. How cool is that? Very cool back when Boba Fett was still cool. I had never played a Star Wars game before this one aside from TIE Fighter, so being first person in this universe was mind-blowing fun.

Played On: PC

One of the most gorgeous games I have ever played, with exciting combat and smooth movement. The story starts out confusing with the player not knowing what is happening, but as everything is revealed turns out to be touching and thoughtful.

Played On: PC

The original Baldur's Gate games are my favorite games of all time, hands down. I've been playing this game for 25 years now and I don't think I'll ever stop. Playing this for the first time was a wonderful adventure and while I didn't fully understand the mechanics, I threw myself into the world over and over again just to experience the magic of the Sword Coast and its stories.

Played On: Sega Dreamcast

Yeah, I had a Dreamcast. I barely had any games for it, and for the longest time the only ones I did have were House of the Dead 2 and NFL 2k, so I played the absolute crap out of both of them. House of the Dead 2 is ridiculous B-movie fun with insane voice acting and protagonists that respond to everything as if they are aliens. The monster designs are creepy and weird, and the whole game feels like a fever dream. I love it.

Played On: Mac OS

Whenever I would visit my Dad, he had a Mac, so there weren't a lot of computer games available to play with. However, he did have Myst, and I became completely enamored with the half-spooky, half-calming worlds - traversing the treetops in Channelwood, or listening to the rain in the Stoneship Age.

Played On: PC

Where Baldur's Gate and its sequel revel in being classic stories of heroism and grandeur, Planescape is weird, grungy, and mind-bending. The interweaving of companions stories into the main narrative makes the world feel complete, as you try to piece together the game's most pressing question: what can change the nature of a man?

Played On: PC

The Penitent One controls like a dream, making the platforming through gothic and macabre environments tight and satisfying, and combat feels better than ever. The idea of tying in platforming ability upgrades into the weapons is genius as well, giving each weapon a unique feel and progression path through the early stages of the game.

Played On: Nintendo Switch

Stylistically bombastic with a way-deeper-than-I-thought combat system and sadistic yet satisfying platforming, The Lost Crown made me feel like I was trapped on Mount Qaf as well - I couldn't put it down (big apologies to my co-workers). Movement across screens when exploring or backtracking is fluid and smooth, full of little platforming tricks to pull off that make traversal fun. Then, when the game decides to fully test you with either a cinematic boss fight (shout out to Kiana the Forest Queen, one of my favorite bosses ever), or an intense platforming section, you really feel like an acrobatic master worthy of the title Immortal.

Played On: PS5

I was not expecting to like Remnant II, and in the first 30 minutes of the game, I was wondering if I had made a mistake. Then, I was transported to the wild jungle of Yaesha and I fell in love. The storytelling in each of Remnant II's worlds is rich and thought-provoking, and exploration is rewarded through narrative as well as loot, making it feel like you are really exploring alien worlds. The gameplay system provides opportunities for unique and deep build-crafting and a ton of replay value. The game has seamless co-op, but as a single-player experience, it also provides an atmosphere of solitude, reflection, and tense danger.

Played On: Nintendo Switch

A relaxing journey through post-apocalyptia wrapped up in a JRPG and Zelda-like blanket. Sam is absolutely adorable and the rest of the cast make for wholesome and heartbreaking moments.

Played On: Nintendo Switch

Playing this on my Switch, I was instantly transported back to playing the LucasArts point-and-click games as a kid. It gave me the same kind of feeling and emotional connection, with the same goofy video game puzzle logic that those have. The cast of characters are unique and memorable, and the wholesome humor the game exudes put a smile on my face.

Played On: MS-DOS

Guybrush Threepwood is my hero and took me on so many adventures as a kid with ridiculous humor and loveable characters. I owe every come-back I've ever used to the sword fighting in Monkey Island.

Played On: PC

Nazis, supersoldiers, zombies, and demon princes populate the expertly designed levels in this alternate version of World War 2. I had watched my step-dad play the original Wolfenstein and always wanted to play but wasn't allowed, so RtCW was my first Wolfenstein game. It starts off with a bang - throwing you right into the titular castle, and from there taking you on a ride through catacombs and into science labs with flying supersoldiers that scared the shit out of me.

Played On: PC

My fondest memories of Quake III are when we installed the demo version onto the high school's network drive, so a bunch of us would play against each other while in BCIS or Keyboarding or just while we were supposed to be in study hall at the library.

Played On: Dolphin

I kind of view Mega Man 10 as a counterpart to 9, like two sides of the same coin. 10 has some amazing robot masters as well (Sheep Man is awesome and there's a baseball level!), but I think the platforming challenges in 10 are some of the best the series has to offer.

Played On: PC

Some of my favorite writing in a video game ever is in Pillars of Eternity, as it not only poses philosophical questions, but it forces the player to reconcile them with their experience. The worldbuilding is rich and grounded in cultural myth and history, making it feel like you're really taking part in something larger than your character.

Played On: PC

A Jedi adventure with sniper rifles and rocket launchers, Jedi Outcast is equal parts hack and slash and FPS. The story is pretty decent, but the gameplay is what kept me enthralled for hours and hours as a kid - I mean you got a rifle that would disintegrate someone; it was awesome. I also remember a mod where you would fight waves of Dark Jedi while Prodigy's Smack My Bitch Up looped in the background. Peak.

Played On: MyBoy!

Smooth controls and movement like Zero Mission and Fusion but looks and plays better with twice as many secrets. Nintendo is just jealous they couldn't make a GBA game this good.

Played On: Dolphin

9 is the absolute perfection of the classic Mega Man formula. The soundtrack is catchy, all of the boss abilities are powerful and fun, platforming is challenging, and the length of the game is perfect. There are also several paths through the game because the boss weapons are so good outside of just using them on bosses - they can change the way you interact with mini-bosses and platforming.

Played On: PC

Cue the atmospheric guitar because we're going dungeon delving. The first Diablo is an absolute masterpiece in atmosphere and creepy vignette storytelling with all of its small side quests as you dive deeper and deeper under Tristram, learning spells, finding loot, and discovering more and more horrible enemies. I think everyone that played this when it came out still remembers the first time they opened a door and heard "FRESH MEAT."

Played On: PC

Pentiment feels like a game written directly for me with commentary on medieval philosophy, deconstruction of reformed theology, and plenty of historical tidbits. Throw in a murder-mystery and baby, you got some pottage goin. Did I mention you get to make out with a nun?

Played On: Nintendo Switch

Mega Man 11 looks great, controls great, and the double-gear system adds a nice wrinkle into the classic Mega Man formula. The robot master designs are all top notch, and the levels are satisfying to explore with a lot of variety between them. I remember my wife getting this for my birthday and I played and beat it that same day and booted it right back up to play on a harder difficulty. It's addictive and also a great portable game to play in small spurts - I always take it with me when I travel.

Played On: ZSNES

I love Mega Man 7 for it's uniqueness compared to the other Mega Man games at the time. I think differentiating itself from the MMX games on the same console by making it more cartoonish and bright with wacky dinosaur and vampire robot masters really makes 7 stand out, and gives it a freshness that some of the other classic games lack. They also introduce Bass and improve upon the Rush Adapter system in his boss battle which I loved.

Played On: NES

Using the Rush adapter for the first time was amazing, and 6 has some great robot designs (thank you fan contest) and stages. It's also a fairly easy entry in the series, which makes it a very fun replay.

Played On: Nintendo Switch

Pure platforming fun with dynamic level design and awesome worlds to run around in. There's also enough challenge to keep things interesting, or you can roll as Funky Kong if you just want to do some relaxing platforming. Absolute treat to play.

Played On: SNES

Completely cozy game with watercolor graphics and animal companions to give Kirby some friends. This was one of my go-to relaxing and chilling games as a kid.

Played On: Nintendo Switch

I played through the world of Super Mario RPG while eating tiny bites of jello from a spoon and popping painkillers for the holes in my head where my wisdom teeth used to be. It was like reverting to childhood, discovering the magic and creativity of Mario all over again.

Played On: NES

Whenever I would go visit my Dad, this was the game they had available at the grocery store to rent, and I grabbed it every time. Pharoah Man was the COOLEST Robot Master I'd ever seen, and the levels were amazingly creative.

Played On: PC

Fallout 2 is THE Fallout game - the one that, in my mind, defines the series regarding lore, tone, and world-building. It is incredibly rich in characters and ideas with roleplaying opportunities and interesting stories around every corner. I actually played this one after Fallout 3, as I wanted to learn more about the universe, and seeing how different the worlds were presented blew my mind.

Played On: PC

My step-dad and I used to play this with each other all the time, just building our civilizations and destroying CPU opponents before turning on each other. I loved the aesthetic and vibes so much that I would sometimes just play solo without any enemies on a custom map just to build out a little civilization for fun. Wololo.

Played On: PSX

This isn't a Mega Man game - it's a Zero game. The levels flow better, the bosses are more fun, and Zero is just kick ass with his saber. Zero's playthrough also has some of the best voice acting work in video game history.

Played On: PS2

Fuck Eric Sparrow, the most punchable face in video game villainy. I was a fan of Tony Hawk from the first game, but adding in a story made a huge difference in replayability for me. I threw hours into this game trying to become the star skater I was born to be but couldn't in real life...because...well I have no talent.

Played On: PC

While KOTOR 1 told a wonderful classic Star Wars story, the Sith Lords was more interested in asking questions and exploring the nature of both the Jedi and the Force in a way that no other Star Wars media has, and the narrative and philosophy weaved throughout is thought-provoking and wholly unique.

Played On: Arcade

Another arcade classic - I loved MK1, but Mortal Kombat II was always the clear choice because of the goofy friendship and babalities, as well as being able to actually play as Reptile.

Played On: Xbox Series X

Simplicity speaks to me, and the press-button-as-attack-lands mechanic provides just the right amount of endorphin rush to keep me engaged - timing the moonerang for as many hits as possible and watching the boss turn to dust never gets old. The story of Sea of Stars is simple and wholesome, played out through a classic adventure with stunning graphics, an amazing soundtrack, and mini-platforming/puzzle world traversal that keeps things fresh and moving. Atmosphere and vibes rule the world.

Played On: PC

The leap from Diablo to Diablo II was insane with just how much they expanded the lore and gameplay. The larger world and different regions make chasing Diablo feel epic, and the introduction of class specific skills breathe life into the characters and emphasize replaying with new strategies and builds. I was never a huge online person, but taking a new character from Level 1 all the way through Hell difficulty is always an exciting adventure.

Played On: Sega Dreamcast + Arcade

I didn't know who half of the Capcom characters were, but I loved playing as Spider-Man, Storm, Mega-Man, and Wolverine, so I just ran tournaments over and over against the CPU on my Dreamcast, making up stupid stories in my head about why these people were fighting. I loved playing X-Men Children of the Atom at the arcade, so when MvC came out, I had to have it.

Played On: SNES

Donkey Kong Country 3 took the several rambling and sprawling levels of Diddy's Kong Quest and said let's make these the entire game. The level design gets nuts and pretty wacky with gimmicks and animal companions, which I absolutely adore. It's a wild ride and I appreciate the creativity showcased especially in the latter half of the game.

Played On: PC

The best thing about Morrowind is that it's just weird - mushroom towers, jungle romans, strange floating palaces, and a giant volcano - it's the best setting the Elder Scrolls has ever had. The second best thing is the sheer amount of freedom afforded to you while you explore the deep lore of Vvardenfell and its people, like crafting weapons with custom magic effects (I made a spear that would turn me invisible every time I attacked), or trying to find the perfect combination of spells to launch yourself across the continent for speedy travel.

Played On: PC

The world of Alan Wake II is like a love letter directly from Remedy and Sam Lake to me. I am a massive fan of Twin Peaks, True Detective, crime procedurals, cult documentaries, post-modern narrative, and a certified coffee snob, so to have that all distilled down into one piece of interactive art is like a dream come true. The opening sequence is one of the best in gaming, and I was hooked from that moment until the very end, eyes strapped wide to my monitor just waiting for what would come next.

Played On: PC

Smashing the roll button while traveling through adorably designed levels and fighting waves of enemies or taking down bosses is an absolute blast. Death's Door is also very detailed with lots of little things throughout that make the world pop, even the small things like the Crow's idle animation add mountains to the game's charm.

Played On: PS4

Really fun and compelling adventure through a giant castle with enough unique powers and enemies to keep things interesting. Kitschy and just enough cringe from the cast to be hilarious. Getting my ass kicked by anime Solid Snake was a hilarious and fun experience.

Played On: PC

How do Norse mythology and hardboiled detective fit together so well? I enjoyed Max Payne 1 (although the dream sequences scare me on multiple levels), but its sequel really fleshed things out in a cinematic way in both gameplay and narrative presentation. Full of grit and fog and gunsmoke, it's easy to get drawn into and lost in Max Payne's New York.

Played On: PC

Many games have good writing, but few contain actual well-written prose. Disco Elysium uses this strength to weave a narrative and mystery that unravels not only the world at large, but the amnesiac detective in the center. I think the first time I realized I was truly into this game was exploring the bookstore and stumbling upon the old TTRPG company - such a small and ultimately minor thing but the texture and humanity that it gave the city was really touching. Another game that I replayed as soon as I finished my first run. My favorite build is physical-psyche; I love playing as the brute who somehow has a mainline connection with the universe.

Played On: PS3

UMBASA, the vibes! The atmosphere! The solitude! The haze! Boletaria has it all! The original has an emotional feeling that is so unique compared to the rest of the games that is amplified by its unconventional soundtrack. I also absolutely love the level structure of Demon's Souls - being able to tackle the worlds in any order gives a lot of options for builds and replay, and adds variety for challenging yourself.

Played On: NES

One of the few games I actually owned on the NES, I played the absolute crap out of Kirby's Adventure over and over. It's one of the best looking NES games and was easy enough that I could usually make it to the final boss, Nightmare. Whereupon I would get my ass kicked almost every time. It took me forever to beat this game as a kid but it was so rewarding once I conquered it and returned peace to Dream Land.

Played On: NES

Such a huge level up from the original Mega Man with one of the best retro gaming soundtracks ever. You also get to fight a mecha-dragon and an alien which is peak.

Played On: PC

Wolfenstein doubles down on the humor, offering satire and absurdism to cut through the tense and horrific reality of a Nazi-controlled world. It also manages to be touching and humanizes BJ in ways I did not expect.

Played On: PC

I put Demon's Souls on here twice because I do think they are fairly different experiences that I love almost equally, as I think both completely achieve what they set out to accomplish. The Remake is a cinematic masterpiece that makes the player's journey through Boletaria feel epic and grand. Tower Knight's theme has been changed into a soaring score, Shrine of Storms welcomes the player with a lightning strike blasting a tree, the Swamp of Sorrow now shows the immensity of the village as glowing lights in the distance, and Storm King finally feels larger than life through the PS5's haptic feedback. While it does leave behind some of the solemn haze of the original, the Remake's vision stands as a powerful vision of Boletaria in its own right.

Played On: PC

I absolutely adore Heather as a protagonist and how much more assertive and aggressive she is compared to James in SH2. Of course, that means the nightmare turns more aggressive as well, which creates some visually striking areas that are genuinely creepy.

Played On: PS2 + PS4

I first played DMC3 as a rental from Blockbuster when I was in high school, only replaying and actually finishing it 16 years later. The combat system is as deep as any modern game, and the over-the-top action and humor make DMC3 a masterpiece. If anyone ever asks, "should I play this game?" all you have to do is show them the pizza cutscene and they'll know what to do.

Played On: PC

In 2003, I got this for my step-dad at Christmas, which was a classic double-gift since I wanted to play myself. Watching him install and play through the first few segments on Christmas morning, I thought the reflections on the sith armor was the absolute peak in graphic fidelity. When I finally got to play myself, I found an epic roadtrip with fantastic companions across a rich planetary system, and a classic yet shocking narrative that enthralled me until the very end.

Played On: PS5

Boss fights, vibes, and soundtrack are all amazing. There are some incredibly memorable sequences as well, filled to the brim with spectacle and visual framing with incredible scope and perspective. I loved experimenting with different combinations of abilities to max out my damage and lay down some huge numbers.

Played On: GameBoy Classic

As soon as I got my Pokémon Blue cartridge into my GameBoy, I never put it down. I carried that thing everywhere - to school, to restaurants, to church, running errands, every single car ride. We were inseparable, and every kid around me with their GameBoy was the exact same way - a generation entranced. Squirtle was my starter, and I didn't really understand how to play so I leveled him up and none of my other Pokémon were any good. Yes, you may have a type advantage, but nice try trainer with level 30 Pokémon, my Blastoise is level 70.

Played On: M64Plus FZ - Android

Incredibly charming and quaint, I loved exploring the Mushroom Kingdom in Paper Mario. Simplicity in mechanics works wonders as the artstyle, connected world traversal, and character encounters do the heavy lifting for Paper Mario. I had a smile on my face the entire time while playing this.

Played On: SNES

RAUGH! Sorry, I just stepped on a kremling. Amazing level design that can range from sprawling to sprint-right and reflex jump, with platforming puzzles and animal companions and pirate crocs and improved boss fights and and and...damn I love this game. It can be frustratingly hard at times, but that's why they put the best songs in the hardest levels. Bramble Blast is a treasure. I owned this and DKC3 on SNES at my dad's house and it's one of those that took me years to finally beat since I couldn't play it regularly.

Played On: Nintendo Switch

Experiencing Samus's vision in first person is incredibly immersive and spellbinding. I love how alien the world feels at first and how comfortable it begins to be as you start to memorize the map and become more powerful.

Played On: PC - Moguri Mod

A powerful adventure full of personality and charm reflected in the atmospheric storytelling of the world and the colorful cast. Each character is a treasure with their own personality and I want to hug them all.

Played On: SNES

Easily my favorite game when I was a kid. Mega Man X is just perfect - badass bosses, fun powers, quick movement, Zero's first appearance, and impeccable level design, plus a weirdly almost neo-noir plot spin-off of Blade Runner. X controls like a dream and blasting through levels to the amazing OST just never gets old.

Played On: MyOldBoy - Android

There's just something undeniably comfy about Johto and its Pokémon inhabitants. I actually didn't play the 2nd Generation of Pokémon until quite a bit later, but I felt like a kid again running around with my Typhlosion.

Played On: PC

Will of the Wisps takes everything I disliked about the Blind Forest and fixes it spectacularly. The combat is much improved and very satisfying, but the real stars are the platforming sections that a perfectly designed. I think about the final few levels a lot. The art style is absolutely gorgeous of course, and the narrative is touching. Just a magical experience.

Played On: PS4

While Replicant can be absolutely frustrating at some times, the storytelling and payoff are absolutely worth it. The characters are incredibly endearing as well as the small narratives woven throughout the game.

Played On: Nintendo Switch

The new adorable art style for Link's Awakening fits the game's dreamlike narrative so well, making it a pure joy to play. The puzzles for some of the dungeons are also fairly challenging on the first time through which helps to keep the game fresh. It's also directly inspired by Twin Peaks! I had played the original as a kid but never finished it, so the remake was almost a fresh experience for me.

Played On: PC

I did not expect this game to go the places it does, or for it to impact me emotionally like it did. The twists of the narrative keep the mystery alive while simultaneously twisting the gameplay as well. It's fun to break and bend the cards to your will, but the characters and creativity make Inscryption shine.

Played On: PC

I was a senior in high school with no money, my PC could barely run it at probably like 20fps, but I saved up and bought Oblivion and became completely obsessed from the moment I stepped out of those sewers for the first time. Oblivion was so easy to get lost in, and it has the best side-quests out of any game in the Elder Scrolls series, like an upside down castle, human hunting grounds, and rescuing a mage trapped in his own dream.

Played On: Snes9x - Android

I was a late-comer to Chrono Trigger, and I first finished the game playing it on my phone while I was supposed to be working - I couldn't put it down! The story and world are both exciting and feel real, oozing with adventure and charm.

Played On: SNES + ZSNES

Onett theme goes hard as hell and so does Earthbound's vibes. My cousins had a copy of this when I was younger, and I loved going over to their place and just wandering around not even really knowing what was happening except I was a cool kid with a baseball bat and magic friends. Later I played it through emulation and it's like the perfect amalgamation of everything I like - cults, aliens, psychic powers, baseball bats, and 90s nostalgia.

Played On: PS4

The gameplay loop bouncing between frenetic boss fights to contemplative exploration gives Shadow of the Colossus a dynamic quality and meditative factor that, when combined with the atmosphere, makes the experience seem otherworldly, yet by grounding it with such a simple and human narrative, it makes Wander's journey personal to the player. It's a beautiful tragedy.

Played On: PS4

The Spencer Mansion wonderfully recreates the haunted house we all have living in our brands - that one twisting, turning house that comes to your mind when you think of the genre. The game is also delightfully well paced between horror, exploration, and b-movie silliness, providing satisfyingly gameplay that cuts the tension with playful relief. This game is fun.

Played On: PS4

Can't talk about Symphony of the Night without mentioning its masterfully crunchy pixel art. The game looks like a dream and every area of the castle oozes charm from the enemies, bosses, music, and yes, the busted magic spells. I played this one for the first time around Halloween one year and my fondness for it has only grown over time. It's easy to see why other games have been so inspired by it over the years.