Game Of The Year Every Year I've Been Alive
The panacea for the unbearable weight of time's unrelenting march is making fun lists!
27 Games
as of: August 2022
the endless hunger for connection in miserable times as told by a schizo (positive) tumblrina via post-soviet abstraction and capitalist realist quirkiness. a true masterpiece
the endless hunger for connection in miserable times as told by a schizo (positive) tumblrina via post-soviet abstraction and capitalist realist quirkiness. a true masterpiece
a gameplay system that feels like grabbing sheer chaos by the horns and driving it around to your whim. a narrative with tremendous reverence for the original while crafting its own unique vision that is uniquely of its time as the first was. a game whose very existence is a miracle
2020
a game made by a team so confident in their vision that they didn't drop a single hint that things were changing. veteran devs rewrite the playbook and ask players to reconsider what final fantasy vii "was" while exalting everything that made it great.
a game made by a team so confident in their vision that they didn't drop a single hint that things were changing. veteran devs rewrite the playbook and ask players to reconsider what final fantasy vii "was" while exalting everything that made it great.
2019
a treatise on loneliness, of caring about others even when it feels impossible. kojima's most brutally vulnerable work, and perhaps his most visually arresting as well. monster energy heals you.
a treatise on loneliness, of caring about others even when it feels impossible. kojima's most brutally vulnerable work, and perhaps his most visually arresting as well. monster energy heals you.
2018
a shock drop that actually felt shocking. undertale was back but entirely brand new. a game about teenage ennui where a lizard, nonbinary twink and a furry wizard fight an insane clown and their friend Lancer's abusive dad. this had me excited for video games for the first time in a long time, and it really says something when a 2 hour demo was the best game of the year it released!
a shock drop that actually felt shocking. undertale was back but entirely brand new. a game about teenage ennui where a lizard, nonbinary twink and a furry wizard fight an insane clown and their friend Lancer's abusive dad. this had me excited for video games for the first time in a long time, and it really says something when a 2 hour demo was the best game of the year it released!
2017
the most touching way a piece of art has ever told its audience to go outside
the most touching way a piece of art has ever told its audience to go outside
2015
my favorite game of all time. a game that feels so alive and so fully realized that when i first played it i felt like i was returning to an old favorite.
my favorite game of all time. a game that feels so alive and so fully realized that when i first played it i felt like i was returning to an old favorite.
2016
there are few pleasures greater than an author bearing their soul to you, especially in a way that is this messy and this raw.
there are few pleasures greater than an author bearing their soul to you, especially in a way that is this messy and this raw.
2014
such a bad year for games that i kinda just had to count this as 14 instead of 13. telltale handles a property better than its creators ever had, and actually makes the choices matter this time.
such a bad year for games that i kinda just had to count this as 14 instead of 13. telltale handles a property better than its creators ever had, and actually makes the choices matter this time.
2013
yeah 7th gen sucked. the last time bioware ever did anything they were good at.
yeah 7th gen sucked. the last time bioware ever did anything they were good at.
2012
this game saved my life and saved gaming. the best first half of a game ever, and the second half was still leagues above most everything else that came out that year.
this game saved my life and saved gaming. the best first half of a game ever, and the second half was still leagues above most everything else that came out that year.
2011
it's minecraft, what else is there to say. it may literally be the most documented piece of media ever. i have 200 hours of this on ipod touch alone
it's minecraft, what else is there to say. it may literally be the most documented piece of media ever. i have 200 hours of this on ipod touch alone
2010
barely playable without mods, one faction is so blatantly unfinished that picking them cuts you off from 3/4 of the end/midgame, ugly drab and brown. still manages to be more replayable, more narratively dense and more fun to play than every other entry in the series.
barely playable without mods, one faction is so blatantly unfinished that picking them cuts you off from 3/4 of the end/midgame, ugly drab and brown. still manages to be more replayable, more narratively dense and more fun to play than every other entry in the series.
2009
morphogenetic sorrow is one of my favorite pieces of music. a game that says so much but still feels so dense and contained. still the best twist uchikoshi ever wrote
morphogenetic sorrow is one of my favorite pieces of music. a game that says so much but still feels so dense and contained. still the best twist uchikoshi ever wrote
2008
underrated entry in the "misery simulator" genre. theyve built a franchise on trying to recapture the magic of the jackal
underrated entry in the "misery simulator" genre. theyve built a franchise on trying to recapture the magic of the jackal
2007
the best action rpg, still. a story about growing up, falling in love, and finding your identity. also the most homoerotic final boss sequence of all time
the best action rpg, still. a story about growing up, falling in love, and finding your identity. also the most homoerotic final boss sequence of all time
2006
both kh2 and p3 had extremely improved rereleases the year after their release. persona 3, however, has a much more complete core experience without the FES additions. also potentially the most emotionally souldrending ending in a game?
both kh2 and p3 had extremely improved rereleases the year after their release. persona 3, however, has a much more complete core experience without the FES additions. also potentially the most emotionally souldrending ending in a game?
2005
my second favorite game of all time. tense, surreal, claustrophobic, hilarious. a game that is so confident in what it is that it offers no answers about what that actually IS.
my second favorite game of all time. tense, surreal, claustrophobic, hilarious. a game that is so confident in what it is that it offers no answers about what that actually IS.
2004
proof positive that a game can feel "cinematic" but still be completely and totally a video game.
proof positive that a game can feel "cinematic" but still be completely and totally a video game.
2003
peak early aughts nu metal angst. a game that takes gleeful delight in killing you, making you hate its protagonist and more critical of the police state and celebrity culture than most of its contemporaries
peak early aughts nu metal angst. a game that takes gleeful delight in killing you, making you hate its protagonist and more critical of the police state and celebrity culture than most of its contemporaries
2002
20 years have passed and only a very small handful of games look as good as this does
20 years have passed and only a very small handful of games look as good as this does
2001
tied with sons of liberty but im giving this the edge for being the game that made me love games. a beautiful love story set against a beautiful, richly textured world. also the dub is good, seethe.
tied with sons of liberty but im giving this the edge for being the game that made me love games. a beautiful love story set against a beautiful, richly textured world. also the dub is good, seethe.
2000
the only zelda game ive ever finished and the only one i ever need to finish.
the only zelda game ive ever finished and the only one i ever need to finish.
1999
not really actually this game's biggest fan and i probably have to play more pre-2000 games lol
not really actually this game's biggest fan and i probably have to play more pre-2000 games lol
1998
the second most homoetotic game of all time.
the second most homoetotic game of all time.
1997
feels like playing a childhood dream. the most influential game that most of those influenced by it never played.
feels like playing a childhood dream. the most influential game that most of those influenced by it never played.
1996
i love this game but fuck doug tennapel
i love this game but fuck doug tennapel