Not all of these games are going to be critical successes, but I don't give a shit. I had tons of fun with these games, and I don't need confirmation from outside sources to tell me otherwise! These aren't in any particular order, so enjoy!
One of the first games I ever remember playing. It's incredibly simple, but so addictive.
Me and my Mom used to play this back before I was even in preschool. We ended up beating the game together. More teary-eyed nostalgia. I was actually shocked to hear that Jeff didn't feel that this was a very good game.
A very weird game, but I remember having so much fun with it. Cool boss fights, memorable music, and colorful worlds.
I got this game for my 7th birthday, along with the NES console. Mario 3 holds a special place in my heart for helping pull me through my family splitting apart.
I used to be able to beat this game as a kid. Have you tried playing it today? It'll kick your fuckin' ass!
So many happy memories from this game. This is nostalgia at it's finest, for me. Not to mention, playing it almost 20 years later on my computer with an emulator, it still holds up!
Take everything that was great about 3 from the NES, and turn the dial to 11. That's this game. One of the best platformers ever made.
This game still holds up to this day as a fun racing game. Great music.
I never was a big fan of Zelda games, but holy SHIT, this game blew my mind.
Yeah, I cheated a lot in this game. I don't give a shit. I built a city with 10 million people in it!
I fondly remember building a long, snake-like line of sandbags up to the enemies base to block their entrance off. The AI was too dumb to bust through. I would then proceed to build a massive army consisting of hundreds of units, and then steamroll the enemy base.
The idea of exploring an exquisitely-rendered world, filled with mystery, is among my favorite things to do in games. Myst is the game that established my love for adventure games.
The first person shooter that made me a PC gamer. I had so much fun using the level editor that came with Infinity to make my own levels and missions.
I'll always remember my dad watching me play this. He thought the name of the Ultimate Doom bonus campaign, "Thy Flesh Consumed", was really funny for some reason.
Another game I had way too much fun making my own ships, weapons, and worlds with. Ambrosia Software is still around, and after all these years, they still sell this game!
F.E.A.R. is one of those really good shooters from the early to mid 2000's with a campaign that I just played over and over again because it was so damn good. Fucking TERRIFYING as well. I would say the only game scarier than this one is Amnesia, from what I've played. Seriously, this game is just so damn good.
I love me some first person shooting from time to time, and it doesn't come much better than Crysis. The suit powers make me feel so empowered, whether i'm stalking my prey in the jungle, or taking tank shells head-on in a military base. It doesn't hurt that it's easily one of the best looking games of all time, with modern games STILL struggling to catch up to it.
A game so compelling that I played it almost every day for over 5 years, the last year culminating in me getting the legendary weapon Shadowmourne, and rising up to raiding in a Top 100 U.S. 25 man guild. Easily one of the best games I've ever played. To this day, I still talk to my old raiding buddies. Sure, I'm sick of the sight of this game now, but those 5 years were memorable ones.
Post-apocalyptic worlds are strangely fascinating to me. This game is the epitome of what it might be like to see one first hand.
An exciting, emotional journey through a well-realized world, filled to the brim with great characters, worlds, and action. Star Wars combined with Star Trek is the name of the game here, and it all combines into a space opera that is absolutely unforgettable.
Virtual Lego, in a procedurally-generated sandbox adventure world, with survival elements and multiplayer. It's almost as if Notch peered into my mind and made it just for me.
Not many games can call themselves perfect. Perfect, as in nothing needs to be cut out, and nothing needs to be added. That's Bastion in a nutshell: the perfect video game. Moving story, fun gameplay, incredible music, and beautiful art all combine into the perfect package.
Could it be? Sega has resurrected Sonic? Not quite, but Sonic Team knows how to play the nostalgia card. The colorful levels are pure eye candy, the music is retro and modern combined, and the gameplay, while not everyone's cup of tea, is engaging and a ton of fun to master. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I absolutely love Sonic as well.
There's just something about this game...I can't quite put my finger on it. Is it the charm? The gorgeous use of color? The painstakingly-detailed pixel art environments? The mind-blowing music? Maybe it's the puzzles! Or the subtle environmental storytelling! I don't know for sure, but when I fire up Fez and lose myself for hours again and again, I just have to say, "this is one of the best games I have ever played".
Games with powerful and moving stories always hold a special place in my heart, and this game stands tall and proud above the rest. Doesn't hurt that it's a ton of fun to play as well, but this game's ending instantly cemented it in my mind as one of my all-time favorites.
