5. Inside (Xbox One/PC – 2016)

Atmosphere! I guess that is the best word to describe Inside. It is a small budget indie game, but the experience is deeper than most triple A games. The puzzles are extremely satisfying, the game world unique and dark. The story, while minimalistic, and told through the visuals and gameplay, is very clever and metaphorical. I love this game and cannot recommend it enough. I think it is best played in a single long session or two sessions over a weekend. There just is this constant uninterrupted flow in the game that makes the experience truly special.

Is #3 one of the Civilization games?  When I think of Phalanx that is the first (and maybe only) series that comes to mind.

6: Similar to previous games in my list. It is a strategy game based in China. This time the focus is only on ruler play. In the 4 corners there are troublesome barbarians, but if you nerf them a little bit, gameplay is pretty perfect.

5: Similar to previous games in my list, it is a hack and slash game based in China. For this entry the voice acting is pretty poor, but charming. So with 41 characters, every single character has specific but short voice lines for every cutscene.

How about Rome Total War?

Demon's Souls then.

Mario 64 is correct!

Hint 2 could be a lot of things, Bioshock is what I was looking for but;

Knights of the Old Republic is correct!

Indeed it is!

#5: This must totally be a Dynasty Warriors title. Apparently DW3 has 41 characters.

#14

Dark Souls II (PS3)

YoY: -1

Although it is admittedly the weakest game in the trilogy, and doesn't feel quite like it's a part of the same continuity the other two games seem to share, Dark Souls II is still an amazing game. It has its issues and quirks, certainly, but even a comparatively weak Dark Souls game is better than the vast majority of other games out there. It has too many bosses, some weird and illogical level design choices, and unfair hitboxes, and yet I still love the game without reservation.

I find the story and lore of the game highly intriguing. I think the decision to focus on various different kingdoms both during the main story and in the DLC (which are still some of the best things in the entire series) was a brilliant one. I love that we learn how the influence of Manus, the Father of the Abyss and his destruction in the Artorias of the Abyss DLC in the first game reached so far, and see the literal manifestations of Manus' different aspects shape, destroy, and even protect the great kingdoms that have come since. It's a perspective in the world of Dark Souls that we don't get to see in the other two games. Basically, if DS1 and DS3 focus on how gods manipulated and directed the course of the world, DS2 is the story of humankind and how they reacted to the events unfolding as a result of the gods' actions.

Yes that is correct.

I have decided I will do a writeup for my top 5. Too good to not describe it. Might as well give a partial writeup as a hint for number 6 too.

6: Similar to previous games in my list. It is a strategy game based in China. This time the focus is only on ruler play. In the 4 corners there are troublesome barbarians, but if you nerf them a little bit, gameplay is pretty perfect.

This PS2 game has everything going on, on a giant map. There is a lot of decisions to be made. For example you can builds forts or barricades to slow the enemy down, or to have a stepping stone to their city. You can confuse the enemy or break their formation, while they are fighting you, or you can boost your own units with a rally or troop boost. You can use your officers advantages with strategical moves or military movements. There is just so much depth to this game. Even if you are greatly disadvantaged, you can turn the tide by making better decisions.