What makes them your favorite games?

[SvennoJ]

My top 3 hasn't changed in 20 years, all 3 have an emotional attachment

1. Everquest. I played it from the end of '99 to 2005. I started the game when I was at my lowest as a get away from the world. While playing I fell in love with a girl 6,000km away. It lead to me immigrating to Canada in 2002 and get married. Happily ever after. Besides from completely changing my life for the better, it was/is an amazing game as well, extremely hard and unforgiving, but so rewarding with a well oiled group of people.

2. Civilization (1991). I was into board games at the time, getting bullied at school, not a fun time. Then a friend from school brought a copy of civilization over and we played it all night into the morning. It was a new genre to me, so many possibilities, open ended, so many ways to play. I played it it for years, altered the game by hex editing the exe file, then bought all the follow up versions. I did finally get enough it, but so many memories and different friends I've played it with.

3. ICO (2001). Apart from being a great game, I started playing it together with the girl I met on Everquest when she came over to visit. She had to go back of course and we left the game halfway. After I emigrated I bought the game again (NTSC version) and we finished it together (while also now playing Everquest side by side)

I doubt anything can ever penetrate my top 3.

Runner's up: Valkyria Chronicles and Dark Souls. Both great games, yet at the time our youngest had severe acid reflux and could not sleep in his own bed. He could only sleep while on my on my wife's lap, holding his head up. Thus we had shifts at night and he would be sleeping on my lap while I was playing those games. I hope I dind't screw him up with Dark Souls lol. Even though it was a bad situation, it was also the most peaceful experience with my son sleeping on my lap. Best recipe for gamer rage! It's probably why I don't have the patience anymore for Souls games, he grew up (healthy :))