#44: Super Mario Land 2

That's the one!

I have new titles entering my list, which in turn means - others are going away. So here are the titles, that were present on my list in past years, but didn't make the cut this time. Which doesn't mean they are bad.

#45

Super Metroid (SNES)

Change YOY: -5

The progenitor for what is today one of the most popular, and some might argue the most overpopulated video game genre, the Metroidvania, and it's still one of the best examples of the genre over 25 years after its original release. I didn't actually get around to playing Super Metroid for the first time until a few years ago, and in fact, despite having several friends who had the SNES back in the day, none of them owned Super Metroid. Because of that I just never had the chance to play the game growing up.

Although practically every element of the game, from its music to the gameplay is excellent, the real star in my mind is the actual setting of planet Zebes. Every location is impeccably designed and highly varied, while still keeping the world feeling coherent. Add to that the various secrets found around the game world and the excellent boss fights and you have one of the all-time greatest games on your hands. 

42. Dynasty Tactics?

43. Splatoon 2?

Superhot?

Superhot is pretty amazing, especially in VR. Wish I'd remembered it before I made my list. It might have made it in there somewhere!

50. Astro Boy: Omega Factor (GBA)
guessed by supermario28

I started getting into retro gaming a few years ago and the first “new to me” game that really impressed me was Astroy Boy on the GBA.  This game was developed by Treasure and they just did everything right.  Great controls, beautiful graphics, catchy music and just a lot of pure fun in every stage.  This game needs to be played on a TV via Gameboy Player to get the full effect, and it looks even better on a CRT.  

49.  Super Mario Bros 35 (Switch)
guessed by supermario28

There are a lot more than 50 games that I really love and have spent countless hours with.  One of those games is the original Super Mario Bros.  This was one of my most played games for years back in the NES days.  It’s just that Mario 3 had improved upon the original is almost every way, and that keeps Mario 1 out of my top 50.  However, with the release of Super Mario Bros 35, I get a brand new way to enjoy an old favorite again.  The levels are the same, but the combination of attacking other players and the item roulette add a lot of new fun to an old classic.  My biggest complaint about this game is that Nintendo has stated it will only be available until March 31, 2021.  I would definitely pay money if I could permanently own some sort of physical version for this game.

48.  Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)
guessed by Jpcc86

This is another classic game that I played for the first time only about a year ago.  This game is terrific, but it also gives me something of a bittersweet feeling.  On the one hand it is an extremely fun, open world, 2D action game from the PS1.  On the other hand, I have been upset for years how the game industry has gone overwhelmingly in the 3D direction, starting with the PS1 era.  This game gives me a window into what could have been if more game makers had kept with 2D.  I feel that a lot of potentially great 2D games never got made throughout the years simply because Sony and Nintendo wanted to back 3D so heavily.  At any rate, this game is perhaps the very best single player 2D action game from the PS1 or PS2 era.

Warriors Orochi?