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
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.
Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii
New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wii Sports
Wii Sports
Pokémon Emerald Version
Pokémon Emerald Version
One of the best birthday gifts I ever received was a Gameboy Advance SP and this game
Doom
Doom
Mirror's Edge
Mirror's Edge
Fallout 3
Fallout 3
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: Combat Evolved
Greatest Christmas gift of all time. An Xbox and my favorite game ever
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed
Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Metroid: Zero Mission
Metroid: Zero Mission
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
Birthday gift and my first videogame. Brutally hard for a kid imo but I loved it anyway
Super Mario 64 DS
Super Mario 64 DS
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead
Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Duty: World at War
Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
Pokémon Crystal Version
Pokémon Crystal Version
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Christmas
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2
Gears of War
Gears of War
Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Jet Set Radio Future
Jet Set Radio Future
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 2
Far Cry 2
Far Cry 2
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Pearl Version
Pokémon Pearl Version
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
birthday gift
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 2
Got with the Xbox 360
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
Christmas gift
Crash Twinsanity
Crash Twinsanity
Sonic Advance 2
Sonic Advance 2
One time I accidentally unlocked everything with a random cheat code. Straight up miracle
Tekken 2
Tekken 2
Star Wars: Battlefront
Star Wars: Battlefront
Christmas
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II
Played at Steve’s Krazy Sub in Mesa, AZ
Tekken 6
Tekken 6
Tekken
Tekken
I have my dad on video opening up a brand new PS1 on Christmas, and saying this was his favorite game.
Tony Hawk's Underground
Tony Hawk's Underground
Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Christmas gift
Tomb Raider: Legend
Tomb Raider: Legend
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
Birthday gift
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
Recommended by my elementary school friend Matt
Excitebike
Excitebike
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
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
The Darkness
The Darkness
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3
Gun
Gun
PictoChat
PictoChat
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts
Crash Nitro Kart
Crash Nitro Kart
Christmas gift
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Birthday gift
Rock Band
Rock Band
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.
Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Ms. Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man
Played it at Water & Ice in Mesa, AZ
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Mortal Kombat: Deception
Konquest mode addict. Birthday gift
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
Played at Aunt’s house
Quake 4
Quake 4
Got with the Xbox 360
Enter the Matrix
Enter the Matrix
The Orange Box
The Orange Box
Dig Dug
Dig Dug
Played at Ned’s Krazy Sub in Mesa, AZ. Moving the joystick left was sticky.
The Simpsons: Road Rage
The Simpsons: Road Rage
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Quake III Arena
Quake III Arena
Pac-Man World 2
Pac-Man World 2
Birthday gift
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe
Zuma Deluxe
Zuma Deluxe
Rampage World Tour
Rampage World Tour
Favorite game to play with cousins
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo
Birthday gift
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
Unreal Tournament 2004
Unreal Tournament 2004
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Alien Hominid
Alien Hominid
Bionicle: The Game
Bionicle: The Game
Christmas gift
Spyro: Season of Ice
Spyro: Season of Ice
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Christmas gift
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Gauntlet Dark Legacy
Gauntlet Dark Legacy
Co-op with cousins

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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