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Kaunisto on 31 December 2023
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About my 10-1:


10. Live A Live (SNES)

Live A Live is a great JRPG that only recently became officially available in the west. I however did play it unofficially - that is, fan translation - and it was the best game I haven't yet played for second time. Like DQ4, LAL is divided into chapters; a structure I love. And in this case you can play most of them in your preferred order.
Warning about the end: this is one of those JRPGs that have hidden real ending; don't miss the final chapter!


9. Okami (PS2)

I assume no explanation is needed.


8. Myst (PC)

While third game is better in gameplay/puzzles, original is still my favorite of the series because of the story and setting. And puzzles are more fair than in most sequels.


7. Max Payne (PC)

Excellent style throughout and enjoyable gameplay.


6. Privateer 2: The Darkening (PC)

I call it "the best movie I've ever played". While not actual part of my clear favorite series Wing Commander, this spinoff is great on its own right. Best cast of actors ever in a game (many of them even performing well, for greenscreen), nice freelancer universe and a rather unique shooting style make this worth more than one playthrough.


5. Loom (PC)

I said Grim Fandango (#14) is "beautiful, atmospheric and unique game with good puzzles". Loom goes even above it in all those.


4. Wing Commander II (PC)

WC2 wouldn't be quite as high if it wasn't for the two great expansions. But as second best game of my favorite series, I have to put it up here.


3. The Secret of Monkey Island (PC)

You've seen by now my love for Lucas adventures and I consider original Monkey Island the peak of it. Surely subjective view, it being the one I played first of them. But nevertheless I value it this high.


2. Phantasy Star (SMS)

Also a subjective choice. Everyone loves their first JRPG, whether it is one of FF, DQ or whatever - and for me it was Phantasy Star 1. But I do think it's also one of best examples of the genre. The world expanding to other continents and then to other planets is well planned. I hate it when games (particularly RPG) are linear, but it's OK if they can fade it into the world so that player doesn't even realize it on first playthrough. PS1 is such a game. And I do like the 3D dungeons better than 2D of later games.


1. Wing Commander (PC)

My answer to "what is the best game ever" has remained the same for almost three decades: Wing Commander 1.
I'll just list reasons. Nicely divided to short missions. Branching mission tree - something I love - and related to that, the best invention (still sadly rare in games): you don't have to always win, you can lose a mission here and there and the game goes on without keeping you there playing it again and again (well, except on the expansions and the couple desicive missions). You have wingmen characters who can die - or you can even kill yourself if you want to; either way you get to attend to their funeral. Friendly fire was pretty rare thing back then and in some games it does fit into the gameplay. Your ship doesn't have just one life meter: it has regenerating shields, armor separately on four sides, taking damage can destroy your weapons, slow you down, cut down max shields, take away your ejection seat or radar... so many types of damage before you die and same for wingman and enemies. Good balance along game that you have two better and two worse ships that are different but somewhat equally good. You've got medals, promotions and killboard to motivate you. Plenty of cutscene talk and between missions chatter.
But it really comes down to the enjoyable gameplay, thrill of the dogfight. When you hit the afterburner to get on the side of the approaching enemies, turn to put full charge of shots on one of them and finish him with a missile, then start hunting next one... This is what I consider to have been the greatest gaming pleasure of my life.
Some may say game being short is a bad thing, but for me it means I will play it again. And again. Besides, there's the two expansions and the very similar sequel with two expansions and if those 100 missions aren't enough there are several more games in the series that are on this list.