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)

Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Duty: World at War
Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 2
Fallout 3
Fallout 3
Far Cry 2
Far Cry 2
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers
Tap Tap Revenge
Tap Tap Revenge
Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Tekken 6
Tekken 6
Rock Band
Rock Band
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy
Halo 3: Limited Edition
Halo 3: Limited Edition
The Orange Box
The Orange Box
Stuntman: Ignition
Stuntman: Ignition
Stranglehold
Stranglehold
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
BioShock
BioShock
The Darkness
The Darkness
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3
Dance Dance Revolution Universe
Dance Dance Revolution Universe
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 2
Dexter's Laser Lab
Dexter's Laser Lab
Pocket Bike Racer
Pocket Bike Racer
Wii Sports
Wii Sports
Eragon
Eragon
Gears of War
Gears of War
X-Men
X-Men
my mom let me get this on a whim at some random non-game store
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Pokémon Pearl Version
Pokémon Pearl Version
Line Rider
Line Rider
Test Drive Unlimited
Test Drive Unlimited
X-Men: The Official Game
X-Men: The Official Game
New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros.
Tomb Raider: Legend
Tomb Raider: Legend
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Marble Blast Ultra
Marble Blast Ultra
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat
Paperboy / Rampage
Paperboy / Rampage
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Zuma Deluxe
Zuma Deluxe
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
Got with the Xbox 360
Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS
Falling Bush
Falling Bush
Gun
Gun
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Christmas
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 2
Got with the Xbox 360
Quake 4
Quake 4
Got with the Xbox 360
Thing Thing 2
Thing Thing 2
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man
Gauntlet / Rampart
Gauntlet / Rampart
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
Thing Thing
Thing Thing
Halo 2: Multiplayer Map Pack
Halo 2: Multiplayer Map Pack
Dad brought this home from work with zero warning
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
Nintendogs Chihuahua & Friends
Nintendogs Chihuahua & Friends
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
birthday gift
Stinkoman 20X6
Stinkoman 20X6
Pac-Man Arrangement
Pac-Man Arrangement
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Namco: Featuring Ms. Pac-Man
Namco: Featuring Ms. Pac-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man
PictoChat
PictoChat
Super Mario 64 DS
Super Mario 64 DS
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Halo 2: Limited Collector's Edition
Halo 2: Limited Collector's Edition
My dad bought this at midnight and brought it home to me in bed. “Do you know what this is?”
I felt the cold metal box.
“Halo 2. Halo 2!”
And then I went and watched my dad play through Cairo Station. Close to the best night of my entire life
Midway Arcade Treasures 2
Midway Arcade Treasures 2
Wanted this game so bad just so I could play MK2, MK3, and Rampage World Tour
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Konquest mode addict. Birthday gift
Crash Twinsanity
Crash Twinsanity
Star Wars: Battlefront
Star Wars: Battlefront
Christmas
Pokémon Emerald Version
Pokémon Emerald Version
One of the best birthday gifts I ever received was a Gameboy Advance SP and this game
Wik & the Fable of Souls
Wik & the Fable of Souls
Peasant's Quest
Peasant's Quest
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2
Interactive Buddy
Interactive Buddy
Unreal Tournament 2004
Unreal Tournament 2004
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
Metroid: Zero Mission
Metroid: Zero Mission
Secret Collect.
Secret Collect.
Strong Bad's RhinoFeeder
Strong Bad's RhinoFeeder
StrongBadZone
StrongBadZone
Thy Dungeonman
Thy Dungeonman
Cartoon Cartoon Summer Resort
Cartoon Cartoon Summer Resort
Teen Titans One-on-One
Teen Titans One-on-One
Outlaw Golf: 9 More Holes of X-Mas
Outlaw Golf: 9 More Holes of X-Mas
Frogger's Journey: The Forgotten Relic
Frogger's Journey: The Forgotten Relic
Dad brought this home from work. Apparently his company met with Konami or something like that.
Crash Nitro Kart
Crash Nitro Kart
Christmas gift
Dr. Seuss': The Cat in the Hat
Dr. Seuss': The Cat in the Hat
Birthday gift
Drake of the 99 Dragons
Drake of the 99 Dragons
Impossible for me to beat as a child. Ridiculously hard. I’m a sucker for bullet time though, and had no idea this was widely considered one of the worst games of all time.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
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

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


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