12) Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal

This probably holds the record for game I have replayed the most times - no fewer than 8. I love almost every game in this series, but something about this one is just perfection. Nefarious is a brilliant villain, and characters like Lawrence and Courtney Gears bring some variety to their side. The planets have a huge variety of environments and challenges; the Starship Phoenix is a great homebase; the Qwark vidcomics are a great diversion. And I loved the local multi too, different as it was to the main game.

11) God of War II

A huge improvement on an already excellent game. The graphics are so extraordinary it looks better than most early PS3 games. The combat and upgrade system are tighter. The story is better structured with some genuine twists. And of course it has all of its predecessor's addictive hack and slash action.

10) Portal 2

Portal was a fun tech demo but Portal 2 is really the full realisation of the concept. Challenging puzzles make up a much longer campaign with more variety: I particularly enjoyed working with the gel but the light tunnels and bridges were fun too. Just as importantly the story is fully fleshed out, with standout characters like Wheatley and Cave and some genuine mysteries being resolved. The other highlight is the environmental design: quite bland and identikit in the original but featuring varying signs of decay and nature this time around. This game also has some of the best co-op I've ever played.

9) The Last of Us Part II

I think it is fair to say that this game's story wasn't what we expected. If you go in with a closed mind and preconceptions about what this game should be, you'll probably hate it like so many people do. If instead you go in willing to trust ND to deliver a fresh and unforgettable experience this will become one of your favourite games ever - there is hardly any middle ground. Even aside from the emotional, visceral and horrifying story the gameplay feels much deeper this time around, with more options for stealth, better weapons and deeper puzzles.

Dark Forces is a first person shooter based on the foundation Doom layed, and it is a really good one. It has some technological advancements in the engine like looking up and down and some fog effects. It has also a much more consistent world as other shooters of the time, basically because it is based on the already established Star Wars universe. The level design is great, the mission briefing is made well with actors voicing their roles. This is a pretty good shooter.

As this is placed in the Star Wars universe the game is made by LucasArts. I have some games from them on my list, but mostly point-and-click adventures. This is the shooter from them I really like. The game clearly steps into the mold that Doom layed out for shooters, but advances it in so many ways. With the mission setup with clear goals and the actors you get a pretty good story for a shooter, something that wasn't that common back then.

You are playing Kyle Katarn who works as a mercenary for the rebels. And you are tasked with finding out more about the new Dark Trooper project of the Imperials. In the missions you find more out about it and then go on to stop it.

The game shows memorable locations and has pretty good events layed out in the missions. Another point keeping you on you're toes is, that you can only save between missions, but got multiple lifes. So no save scumming.

Star Wars: Dark Forces runs well in Dosbox if you have an old copy. Or you can buy it from GOG, where it is currently on sale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPGhsy-L7vc

Is this perhaps Freedom Force?

Wind Waker?

Correct!

nope.

Correct!

Here's another hint:

5. a)  At the very beginning of this game a sage discovers that you are the real hero instead of your former best friend.
b)  The Calculator is broken.
c) This spinoff game uses a character class system that is highly inspired by a game from the main series.  However, in North America this spinoff game was released before the original mainline game.

Final Fantasy Tactics! I got it on the first hint but haven't been responding. 

Correct!

#18

Final Fantasy VII (PS1)

Change YOY: =

I'm not really what I can say about Final Fantasy VII at this point. It's a beloved classic for a reason, with iconic and well-written characters, excellent story, and some of the best music in video game history. What shortcomings it has can generally be attributed the game's age and the period in which it came out, from things like dated visuals to the somewhat shoddy English translation that even managed accidentally alter some storyline details due to the poor localization.

I guess the one difference between me and a lot of other people is that I don't actually consider Final Fantasy VII to be among the very best games in the series, though as you probably could already figure out, it's still in my top 20 games of all time. There are just even better games in the series still to come in my top 50. I love the subtleties and themes expressed in the story, from environmentalist viewpoints to PTSD and many more.

#17

Final Fantasy VI (SNES)

Change YOY: =

Speaking of Final Fantasy games I consider better than VII, here's Final Fantasy VI, the best SNES game of all time in my opinion.  Everything that was great in VII is that here too, just a little bit better in few minor ways that gives VI the edge in my mind. Visually, it has aged much better than VII, though that's mostly because most early 3D games just don't age well at all. The score is probably the most ambitious ever produced on the SNES, and the story and characters are among the best in video games in general.

The game also tackles and touches upon various different, often very difficult subject matters that games even today don't really talk about. Elements like an ongoing industrial revolution clashing with older values, dualism in general plays a significant role in the narrative, with various details and elements being juxtaposed with some kind of opposing force or element. Among the major themes of the game is the search for a meaning in ones life, and coping with the loss of loved ones, something several major characters have to go through over the course of the game.

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.

The PS5 now has a remake of the game, which apparently is true to the gameplay but updates the graphics and has a renewed online. If that is true, then it keeps all the things that made the original great while updating others and therefore it should be recommended.

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

8. Parasite Eve?