Top 25
Work in progress - trying to maintain a top 25 list of all my favourite games.
Breakdown per console (taking the platform that I first played/ most enjoyed the game on):
PC - 12
Gameboy - 3
Xbox 360 - 3
Gamecube - 2
SNES - 2
Wii - 2
N64 - 1
List items
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An amazing game which adds the simple twist of time manipulation to a one of my favourite genres and cleverly explores the new possibilities that this allows with some of the cleverest level design I've ever seen.
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Keeps the same tight level design of the original and adds a fantastic story with a great sense of humour... The only game I've played which does comedy to such a high standard - Steven Merchant certainly makes this game. The inclusion of co-op is a nice addition, with some good level design, but it isn't quite as amazing as the single player experience.
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A great original concept, with very tight and intelligent level design. The inclusion of a story almost takes the first time player by surprise - and is very well done. However surpassed by the sequel in all but two ways - it's originality and it's credits!
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This was the 2nd Zelda game I played, and probably one of the most difficult. It's one of the few games on this list that I don't actually remember much about - other than a memory that this game was amazing... I should probably play it again some time just to check!
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I think that this was the first game that I ever played online - I expect that there is probably still a community of worms players on the Armageddon servers - I imagine if I had owned that game at the time, then it would take World Party's place - as by all it accounts very little changed between these two games. However, it is fond memories of local multi-player games that gives this game such a high rank - a very silly - very British game with a great skill/luck balance. Learning to use the ninja rope well is one of gamings must rewarding experiences.
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Simulation games are probably what got me hooked to gaming - and this is one of the finest examples of the (now pretty much dead) genre. For me, there was as much fun in designing an efficient path system as there was in creating the world's craziest roller coaster - making the rides crash was also very fun!
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I find it odd that this game appeals to me so much, as it is a game that relies upon fan nostalgia for a genre that I'd never particularly cared for before. Perhaps the dual analogue stick controller is what the genre had always been waiting for? The fact that this game is not apologetic about its difficulty is fantastic - and the music and graphics were very impressive for its time.
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The game that introduced me to RPGs - I doubt/(hope!) I'll ever be as obsessed about a single game as I was for this one - and to this day I'd still be reluctant to delete my seven level 100 Pokemon, (Charizard, Venesaur, Blastoise, Mewtwo, Alakazam, Articuno and Raichu).
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One of the few FPS that I've enjoyed - class based combat adds a nice variety to the genre - but it was the sense of community and support with continuous updates to this game that kept me coming back for so long. If the internet connection at my current address wasn't so poor I've no doubt that I'd still be a regular player.
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My first Zelda game - I remember spending hours drawing out maps for this game - I was quite new to gaming when I played this, so found it pretty tough, which of course made it all the more rewarding when I finally beat it! The side-quest which turns out to be instrumental to beating the game makes me laugh looking back on it - game designers couldn't get away with that sort of decision any more!
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The first game that I ever "owned", (as supposed to playing my Dad's games) - on the original game boy. It took me months to launch that rocket! A very nice simple game mechanic - and some incredibly catchy music!
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Mario is one of the few long term video game franchises that seems prepared to take big risks with each iteration - Mario Galaxy was a fantastic game, and although this is only a minor refinement on that formula it is the new game plus additional 120 green stars that really makes this game stand out, giving a genuinely new experience for the 2nd play through of the game.
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The campaign doesn't stand up to modern RTS classics such as Star Craft II - but the variety of multi-player options and inclusion of an in-depth map editor makes this one of the best RTS' I have ever played. The developers supported the game for a long time, with some important tweaks in both the conquers expansion pack and the 1.3 patch - it's just a pity that graphically this game hasn't aged particularly well.
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A game that really pushed the console to its limits - a fantastic re-imagining of a fantastic franchise with an amazing story, which (unfortunately) has set the formula for all future 3D Zelda games (the under-rated Majora's Mask being the only exception).
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I played this game with some friends for about an hour a week for 4 years - it is the only beat-em-up that I have ever enjoyed - and is to this day my favourite local multiplayer competitive experience.
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I missed out on Metroid when I was younger, so for me this game offered something completely new - with some excellent replay value due to well designed new-game plus mechanics and creative achievements. Learning to speed run this game was great fun!
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This game has a great online multiplayer mode, but it is also one of the few games to encourage replaying it's single player challenges through the use of online leaderboards. I have fond memories of trying to shave a hundredth of a second off many of my times trying to regain the top spot on friend leaderboards - and I am very much looking forward to the sequel of this quirky racing game.
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Despite starting this game with three different sets of friends - I've still never finished this game... they all seem to get frustrated with me and vote for me as player of darkness. It is one of the few games that manages to create a nice balance between competition and cooperation - (although there is the odd section where poor level-design leaves you in a bit of a rut, as it is in nobody's interest to cooperate). The single player really isn't worth playing, and this game is definitely at its best in four player mode... which is quite expensive since you need 4 GBAs and 4 link cables!
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I have a fondness for games that subvert the form my adding a simple twist to an established genre and then fully explore the new design space that they have created, e.g. Braid, Portal. This game has an amazing variety of levels, and can be played almost entirely (compulsory teleports aside) with only 3 buttons. Left, Right and 'v' (although I tend to map 'v' to down, as it seems more natural) - 'v' allows you to flip gravity, replacing the more traditional jump button found in most platformers. Finding all the trinkets in this game is hugely satisfying, and the music is very nostalgic of early games in the genre.
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This was my first Sim game (it came with a long forgotten game called Unnatural Selection which I am keen to see a remake of!) I enjoyed the way that in the early simulation games there was no real objectives, so you were free to set your own challenges - a true sandbox game.
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Choosing the All-Stars package is probably cheating - if I had to choose then my vote would definitely go to Super Mario World, (which wasn't included in the Wii re-release!). They are all fantastic games though - (although I never really enjoyed Super Mario Bros. 2)
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Another fantastic piece of early 90s British design - an amazing puzzle game with fantastic music, which has never been improved upon by any of its remakes or sequels (although Revolution came close). I have still never been able to complete this game...
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I bought this game last year and haven't found the time to complete it yet - I was however thoroughly enjoying the single player campaign, and I am looking forward to returning to it and the later planned games in the series. Without a doubt the best mission variety I've seen in a single player campaign for an RTS.
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Yet another fantastic piece of early 90s British design! A very quirky management sim with some comic diseases.
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A really enjoyable frantic multi-player experience, with some really tough challenges in the unlockable bonus world. The chaos that ensues with four players on screen at once is very enjoyable.
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