#12: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Action-Adventure
2011
The Legend of Zelda series has always been a special one to me because Link feels like a character that you connect with, because in reality you are Link. The series has always strived to put you in the shoes as one of videogame's biggest royalty, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword makes that connection even more impactful with your ability to control Link with the WiiMote. Every sword swing, every use of the bow, every encounter was made all the more harrowing, all the more personal, because it was you who was swinging that sword, who was pulling the bowstring, who was engaging the enemy. That combined with some of the best temples in the series (The Ancient Cystern is absolutely sublime.) and the best bosses in the series... well it makes for a game that is truly unforgettable. By the end I was standing up, fully engaged (and fully engrossed) in defeating the ultimate evil and saving the day. I haven't been that captivated since I was a kid. It really says it all.
