My Childhood in Games

My son was born a month ago, and it got me reminiscing on my childhood. These are games I associate with that blissful time in my life before I knew games cost money.

In release order, but not necessarily the order in which I played them. I was an original Xbox kid. I cut it off at 2008

(list will likely always be under construction)

Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy
Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii
Wii Sports
Wii Sports
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
BioShock
BioShock
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.
Only game my mom has ever beaten, to my knowledge. All NES games on this list were played via a horrendously bad plug-n-play bootleg from the LA garment district.
New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros.
Pokémon Emerald Version
Pokémon Emerald Version
One of the best birthday gifts I ever received was a Gameboy Advance SP and this game
Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge
Fallout 3
Fallout 3
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: Combat Evolved
Greatest Christmas gift of all time. An Xbox and my favorite game ever
Doom
Doom
Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead
Super Mario 64 DS
Super Mario 64 DS
Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros.
Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Duty: World at War
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
Birthday gift and my first videogame. Brutally hard for a kid imo but I loved it anyway
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Christmas
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Metroid: Zero Mission
Metroid: Zero Mission
Pokémon Crystal Version
Pokémon Crystal Version
Pokémon Pearl Version
Pokémon Pearl Version
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Gears of War
Gears of War
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
birthday gift
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap
Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 2
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 2
Got with the Xbox 360
Star Wars: Battlefront
Star Wars: Battlefront
Christmas
Far Cry 2
Far Cry 2
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
Christmas gift
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II
Played at Steve’s Krazy Sub in Mesa, AZ
Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Christmas gift
Tony Hawk's Underground
Tony Hawk's Underground
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Crash Twinsanity
Crash Twinsanity
Sonic Advance 2
Sonic Advance 2
One time I accidentally unlocked everything with a random cheat code. Straight up miracle
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Rock Band
Rock Band
Tekken 6
Tekken 6
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Excitebike
Excitebike
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
The Orange Box
The Orange Box
Tekken 2
Tekken 2
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
Recommended by my elementary school friend Matt
Tomb Raider: Legend
Tomb Raider: Legend
Destroy All Humans!
Destroy All Humans!
Played this for about one afternoon until my mom made me take it back to Walmart for being too violent. ??? Still don’t get it.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Birthday gift
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
Birthday gift
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Tekken
Tekken
I have my dad on video opening up a brand new PS1 on Christmas, and saying this was his favorite game.
Crash Nitro Kart
Crash Nitro Kart
Christmas gift
The Simpsons: Road Rage
The Simpsons: Road Rage
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Konquest mode addict. Birthday gift
Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Set Radio Future
Enter the Matrix
Enter the Matrix
Dig Dug
Dig Dug
Played at Ned’s Krazy Sub in Mesa, AZ. Moving the joystick left was sticky.
Gun
Gun
Quake III Arena
Quake III Arena
Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man
Played it at Water & Ice in Mesa, AZ
Pac-Man World 2
Pac-Man World 2
Birthday gift
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Played at Aunt’s house
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Game of the Year Edition
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Game of the Year Edition
First game I ever bought with my own money. Baller choice too
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal
Alien Hominid
Alien Hominid
The Darkness
The Darkness
PictoChat
PictoChat
Rampage World Tour
Rampage World Tour
Favorite game to play with cousins
RuneScape
RuneScape
Would play with friends and talk over the regular house phone
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament
Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo
Birthday gift
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
Quake 4
Quake 4
Got with the Xbox 360
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
Unreal Tournament 2004
Unreal Tournament 2004
Hulk
Hulk
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Stranglehold
Stranglehold
Neopets Browser
Neopets Browser
Frogger
Frogger
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing

9 Comments


11 months ago

Yea baby

11 months ago

While I don't have much of a connection with most of these, seing the DS and flash games brings back so many memories... god do I sometimes miss those times...

Also I'm so sorry you grew up with Drake of the 99 Dragons, but you also played Metroid: Zero Mission, so I guess it evens out.

11 months ago

Thank you for your sympathies. Game was super hard for no reason

11 months ago

Ohh, I should do one of these.

11 months ago

Thank You for such an interesting list idea. Imma make my now

11 months ago

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s lists!

11 months ago

Great list and idea! I'll probably make a list for mine soon too.

11 months ago

The Magic School Bus games were awesome. Peak 90s childhood computer gaming.

I end up thinking about that one minigame where you control that one long fish near the thermal vents often.

11 months ago

They were such a vibe for real


Last updated: