Guessed by @Darashiva
I feared Nier: Automata needed a second playthrough to really solidify itself among my favorites, yet after spending its first two years at #17, it's now moved up the list without a replay on my end. To be fair, replaying it would probably allow it to go even higher up the list, maybe I'll get around to doing that sometime.
Anyways. This is an amazing game, everyone knows that. It has some of the best character development I've ever seen in a game, some of which happens in very unexpected and unusual ways, but very believable and realistic. It has some of the best music I've ever heard period, a soundtrack I often listen to on repeat, my favorites being City Ruins, Alien Manifestation, and Bipolar Nightmare. Again, everyone knows how good the story and music are.
I feel like with how legendary this one is, I've not much to add or say about it. Similarly, I feel that maybe if I'd played it earlier, before it got its reputation, before I knew some of the ending shenanigans, I could've loved it as much as some other people do. As it was, though, I experienced it kinda like I was opening a window to this highly regarded masterpiece, it never felt "mine", just... it's Nier: Automata, it's there. And yeah, it's amazing, but I kinda wish it impacted me more on a personal level. But that I put it this high on what is a very personal list, with not much in the way of personal attachment to it, is testament to how great it really is.
