Lol, yes. Couldn't be anything else.

Mass game dump incoming! (#17-#8). We're getting to the pointy end now. Every game between #1-#16 on my list were games I would give a perfect score. Ranking them all is very hard, but I've gone on gut feelings here.

Tangledeep was one of my biggest surprises this year. It is a roguelite dungeon crawling RPG with a huge amount of customisation (crafting weapons/gear, capturing and training pets), a solid story and an incredible amount of ongoing content (side quests etc). I picked it up just on a gameplay video alone and was blown away. The artstyle is fantastic, the music is great and it surpasses every goal it sets for itself.

Mario's first foray into RPGs was a mindblowing success. Filled with a cast of lovable characters, a great story, incredible music, a great artstyle that still holds up today, and all of this taking place in a vibrant world - Mario RPG is a remarkable achievement.

The sequel to my favourite multiplayer game of all time, Overcooked 2 manages to add a host of new mechanics to the original's frantic gameplay whilst not becoming cumbersome, and remaining incredibly fresh at the same time. It's atmosphere and music are absolutely perfect, and the level design absolutely masterful. It's content-packed base game (took my fiance and I around 60 hours to 3-star everything) is complemented by the most generous helping of DLC I've seen in gaming, with new content packs being added every couple of months (many of which are free - though the season pass pack levels are very much worth it). As a package, Overcooked 2 is simply incredible.

FE: Awakening represented an (in my opinion, greatly needed and excellently executed) evolution for the FE franchise. The franchise, on the canvas and about to pass out, was suddenly rejuvenated by Awakening - a love letter to the series that expands upon all its previous features with a host of new ones. It's story is engrossing, it's characters varied but all lovable and well-written, music absolutely incredible, and gameplay refined to perfection.

Although one of the darkest games in the franchise, XD strikes a considerably lighter tone than Colosseum. In doing so, it loses some of the gritty nature of Colo, but more than succeeds in crafting its own incredible world. It's storytelling, difficulty curve and gameplay (doubles!) are all fantastic, and its soundtrack is one of the best in the entire franchise (every single track is a banger!). In expanding upon the Shadow Pokemon concept from Colo, XD creates a more varied gameplay style, and also builds a deep lore that I really wish got to be explored in more detail.

Overcooked's frantic gameplay is complemented very well by its fantastic music and artstyle - and most importantly its impeccable atmosphere. It drew my fiance and I in from the logo screen onwards, and never let go. The best multiplayer game of all time, Overcooked is an incredible idea executed incredibly well.

Pokemon B2W2 are the most content-rich, varied, well-crafted, well-written games in the whole franchise. They truly felt like games made for people who had played a Pokemon game before and they didn't hold your hand. The gameplay was super snappy, and its art-style remains the best in the franchise. B2W2 were the last really ambitious games in the mainline series, and I wish they'd kept on the direction they set. I can only imagine the scale of the modern games if they had.

DQVIII is an amazing game. It has the best soundtrack in the series (the overworld theme is marvellous). It's story is good, but it absolutely nails the feeling of going on a journey. It felt like I was there, like I was part of a group of friends who were moving as one. I only got around to playing it earlier this year, and was astonished by just how good it really was.

Pokemon Colosseum has the absolute best atmosphere of any Pokemon game, and one of the best in all of gaming. Its gritty world is oozing with charm, backed by an incredible soundtrack and filled with absurd (their names seem to have been determined by somebody slamming a keyboard) but memorable characters - all of which combine for an incredible experience.

Earthbound is incredible from start to finish. Before I played it, I didn't know that a world this big, colourful and vibrant was even possible on the SNES. It's writing is absolutely incredible, music amazing, characters fantastic and gameplay great. It is one of the all-time classics, and remains as perfect today as it was 25 years ago.

19. Final Fantasy IX

17. Tales of Symphonia

15. Persona 4

#17 - Suikoden V?

#12

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PlayStation 4)

Change From Last Year: =

As far as I'm concerned, Uncharted 4 was the perfect way to wrap up Nathan Drake's story. I doubt it's the end of the series in general, but Drake's adventure, at least as the main character are most likely done, and Naughty Dog couldn't have done a better job finishing things up with him. The gameplay is once again improved from the previous games in the series, visually Uncharted 4 is naturally gorgeous, and the story is genuinely excellent. Seeing characters you've slowly come to know over several games reach a satisfying conclusion to their story was great, and the new characters fit into the mix perfectly.

I fully expect to see more Uncharted games in the future, perhaps with Nathan's daughter as the main character this time, but for now with A Thief's End and Lost Legacy, I think the series was wrapped up wonderfully for the time being.

Heh, yeah without that last sentence it could’ve been a couple of things. It was Twilight Princess, the crowd went nuts as soon as a realistic looking Link came on screen. I’ve never played the original Final Fantasy VII. It’s one of my gaming sins, like I also never played Chrono Trigger or Shadow of the Colossus. Not sure if I should play the FFVII remake, I don’t think it’d get me the satisfaction it should give if you’ve played the original.

Also, I feel like I’m only able to guess Zelda games from people’s hints lately;

16: Majora’s Mask?

It is often said that the games of the Souls series are punishingly hard. I don't feel that way. A death is cheap, even if you can't recover the souls. And most of the problems are solvable if you go into them calm, cautious and patient. But this style of game is probably difficult for many gamers, who are trained to go in guns blazing and rely on their fast reactions. Demon's Souls takes the speed out of the battle, but you need to learn your enemy and wait for openings in their attacks.

I like a lot about this game. I like how the game keeps you on your toes. Even going through previously cleared areas can be lead to death, if you aren't cautious. But exploring new areas has dangers at all corners. I also like how exploring is despite the dangers so rewarding. You find items, other paths or simply things that put together the lore of the game. And yes, I very much like the lore. The intro namedrops a lot of heroes who vanished into the fog, but while playing you find them and learn about their fate. I love the Nexus as safe base, but also an area that in itself has ways to explore the lore. This all fits neatly.

Another way this game shows it's strengths is in the design of the monsters. They are inventive and all fit in the general theme of the demonic infestation. And the online features even support the general feel. I remember seeing these ghosts of other players in their last moments before death, but the monster doing it isn't visible. So I saw a ghost doing fighting moves and then suddenly freeze and start floating, only to fall down and die shortly thereafter. I hadn't met the monster, these brain-eating prison guards, at this point, but as I did I learned how the ghostly picture had died, as the same happened to me. These moments are simply incredible.

This game projects a cool feeling. Learning about the demise of Boletaria and all the heroes trying to fight the demonic invasion. The dark and trapped surroundings and the ruins of the once great kingdom. Everything is connected, everything fits the lore. This is one great gaming experience. Sadly the online servers are shut down, which severs a part of what made the game great. Maybe Sony decides to remake the game. I would like that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MRYo4hL1cs

As I will be absent over christmas I drop now hints for a few upcoming games.

#10 Guessed by S.Peelman: Star Wars: Dark Forces

#9 Guessed by Keybladewielder: Okami

#8 Guessed by Keybladewielder: Xenoblade Chronicles

#7

a) Remake of the first game in the series with a new added story mode, extended graphics and new features and the new engine of the fourth game on a new system.

#6 Guessed by S.Peelman: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

a) Being a japanese Pop-Idol as cover to fight mirages that threaten the people.

#5

a) Break their defenses!

#4

a) Lift the curse of the beast on your loved one.

12- Disgaea

11- Digimon World 2            Unguessed

10- Final Fantasy XII

New hints:

9- This entry is the 4th game in this now long running series. It is like the 3rd game in this series but worse, and the 7th game in this series but better. A notable change from the 3rd game is the voice acting is more professional. One example is a general is voiced by Steven Blum, a famous voice actor for many games and anime series with credits like Spike in Cowboy Bebop, Tom from Toonami and Sub Zero in Mortal Kombat.

8- This is one of the most played games in the world, if not the most. Probably the most important game of the last decade.

7- This game features a character with a name based on an old greek society. While it is not the first in the series, it features a more robust campaign which features both humans and aliens.

Without checking if these make sense;

7: Resident Evil Remake?

6: TMS#FE?