Top 10 timeeee

#10

(+2)

One of my favorite games ever, that just got an entirely new version which doubled the content in fascinating and incredible ways I never could have saw coming, enhancing what was already so amazing. A hilarious, but also thought-provoking, and mind-bending game that plays with all the rules typical of the gaming industry. An extremely clever and unique experience that just has this perfect atmosphere that can bounce between funny, creepy, and insightful all in minutes, very similar to the Portal series. The narrator also might be the best voice performance I've ever seen, an absolute juggernaut that carries the entire game. I can't say too much else cuz I don't wanna give anything way so if you haven't played this one, please buy the new version released this year, its an unforgettable experience.

16. Gears of War 2

My personal favorite in the franchise. It took what was already a badass game in the first entry, and pretty much ramped everything up in the best way possible. Bigger set piece moments, bigger battles, more brutal executions, and the story got some much needed emotional stakes. And, of course, this is also the game that started the now ever popular Horde mode trend. Between that, and competitive MP, this was pretty much the only game I played for almost 2 years lol. Truly one of the defining games of the PS360 generation.

15. Sekiro

I struggle with my placement of this title. I don't think it's the overall best game that FromSoft has ever made - we'll get to that - but it is perhaps my personal favorite to actually play. Arguably, this is the most focused game that FS has made in it's recent history. A singular, somewhat grounded, historically inspired setting. A combat system constructed entirely around one weapon. And probably their most straightforward storytelling. I LOVE the combat in Sekiro. Stripping away stamina, and instead urging the player into an unrelenting assault on your enemies, playing high stakes rock, paper, scissor with katanas, trying to break each others guard. It's just a non-stop adrenaline rush, and mastering it over the course of the game was immensely satisfying. It also features what I would argue is one of the best final bosses in any game ever, that truly tests everything the game has taught you over the course of it's runtime.

14. KOTOR

If you love Star Wars, and you love RPGs, this is going to be somewhere on your list. This was my first Bioware game, and it started a long love affair with the studio, that had them cemented firmly as my favorite developer in the world for most of the next decade. Their character writing, and approach to relationship building within your party, as well as the moral freedom they afforded you to approach the story on your own terms, rather than being forced into the typical hero's journey, were all things I instantly gravitated towards. And you know...I was a teenager, so again...it didn't hurt that it was Star Wars. Also, the Revan plot twist, is probably one of the most memorable in gaming history. 

13. Civilization V

Probably my most played game of all time. If not, it's certainly damn close to it. I still go back to it all the time. By far my personal favorite strategy game ever made. I can play it by myself, and kinda multitask if I'm watching a show that doesn't particularly require my full attention. I can play it with friends and kill a whole day. It's got tons of fun mods that add various different factions, maps, gameplay and tech changes, etc. It's just an infinitely re-playable game. I also very much prefer it over Civ 6, both in terms of visual style, and some of the core game design.

12. MGS3: Snake Eater

I don't quite share the general love affair with Kojima, and the Metal Gear franchise, that is common throughout the gaming landscape. Frankly, I think both the franchise, and it's creator, are vastly overrated. That said, I do however consider this particular game to be a masterpiece. It's still a bit silly and convoluted at times, but for the vast majority of it's runtime, I was wholly immersed in the story, and particularly the personal dynamic between Snake, and the Boss. Truly one of the best antagonists ever put forth in a video game. I also think it helps that this is very much a self contained story, forcing Kojima to sort of get on with things in terms of how it's directed. I actually almost skipped this game, after not much caring for MGS2, but I'm very glad that I didn't. I think I replayed this game like 5 times in a row after finishing my initial playthrough.

11. Gothic 2

One of my first experiences with a large, sprawling RPG, I will always have fond memories of this game. It's setting wasn't anything particularly special. Standard medieval fantasy stuff. But I absolutely loved the reactivity of the world. Which faction you joined, which jobs you worked, and how law-abiding you were absolutely defined pretty much every single interaction you had with the people of this world. As such, it really felt like every choice you made had incredible weight to it, and also gave the game immense replay value, experiencing the story in different ways. I honestly remember very little of the story itself, outside of a few particular beats, but I will always remember living in this world. Sometimes, that's a bigger compliment.

#11

YoY: =       My Rating: 9.4/10

The last game to miss the top ten, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky was my introduction to the series that would quickly turn out to be something very special. I remember browsing through Steam quite a few years ago now, just looking for something new to play, when I came across Trails in the Sky. It looked like something that would be fun to spend some time with, so I bought it on sale and began playing. About 35 hours later I had finished and found one of the best games I'd ever played, almost entirely by accident.

There isn't a single aspect of this game that I don't at the very least like. The graphics are perhaps its weakest aspect, owing to the game's origin as a PSP title released all the way back in 2004. Even then, there's a definite charm to them that holds up to this day, and when everything else in the game is amazing, I can't really complain. Not that graphics have ever really been that important to me anyway. The characters and story are excellent, the English localization bringing the world alive in a way that few other games can compare, the music is the usual Nihon Falcom quality, that is to say great, and the battle system has more than enough depth to keep the player engaged throughout the running time.

Trails in the Sky is an absolutely wonderful game. The story and characters hooked me and made me want to see more immediately upon finishing this game. The gameplay never got dull or repetitive, and the world building here is amazing, showing the beginnings of what would eventually become one of the most impeccably designed fantasy worlds I've ever seen. And yet, even with all of this praise, this is still not the best game in the series. I'll get to that one soon.

10: Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 really brings back the amazing level design of DS1 to a great extent. It doesn't have the world design where every level just connects to every level in 2 different ways (exaggeration, but still). But an absolutely great game. Fantastic combat. 

11: Dark Souls 1:
It took me a really long time to really start enjoying this one. But I felt like I should try. This was my third Souls game, and I absolutely love Souls games. It was difficult to get used to how slow it is. Estus healing is an amazing mechanic, but it also is the slowest healing system in any of the games, and it completely stops you for a very extended period of time.
But when everything clicked, it was amazing. It is incredible how the levels connect. It's pretty impressive that you can get from completely different levels in a minute, even without fast travel.

12: The Last of Us 2:
In a lot of ways this game is an improvement over its predecessor. Gameplay is vastly improved. Visuals are still stunning to this day.
But I would say this is not a game for everyone. It is pretty brutal.
I think a major flaw with the game is that the pacing is not great. The second part of the game feels unexpectedly long.

#27: Mario Kart: Double Dash

Nothing better than doing an All-cup Tour in Mario Kart: Double Dash! This is another game I played for hours and hours with my brothers. While MK64 was our battle mode game, Double Dash was our racing game, we'd select All-Cup, 150cc and proceed to fight for first place (because frankly the CPU didn't stand a chance). The two drivers mechanic was a fun addition to the series, allowed for some nasty tricks when you were two people controlling one kart (like violently slamming other karts as you drove by).

All-Cup Tour is the bomb :)

Not too sure about any of these, but since things are slow going I might as well give it a shot:

9) I know you have advisors in Civilization, but I haven't actually played any of them. Maybe Civilization V?

The thing about raising land and painting the sides seems familiar, but I don't really have a good guess.

Still missing a few here. Adding one final hint to them since I plan to post the write-ups tomorrow:

10) It's every game ever created. It's Skyrim. It's Persona 3.
Hint 2: I picked this as my Game of the Year on Steam, but it's debatable whether it should qualify
Hint 3: "This is a story of a man named _______"
Hint 4: I have this game in the exact same spot as another poster on here

8) The unofficial return of a game and character I alluded to in my last batch of hints, but unfortunately they couldn't get the original voice actor onboard
Hint 2: Released in the same year as the long awaited sequel a VR spin-off.
Hint 3: A fan-made remake of the first game in the series
Hint 4: I guess ____-____ is obscure around these parts

6) The last three games in this series correspond to a different color each. This is the red one.
Hint 2: A famous detective is trying to catch you and your band of thieves.
Hint 3: I too could go for some delicious pancakes
Hint 4: This japanese game from 2016 came a year late to the west, adding to what was already one of the best years for games ever

6: Persona 5? Haven't yet played it, but some of those hints still make me think of it.

#26: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Super Mario 3D World was already awesome enough to be on my list back when it first released, now that it comes with the amazing Bowser's Fury attached, well it's even more deserving! Let's take them one by one.

SM3DW is a halfway point between 2D Mario and 3D Mario and it's packed to the brim with fun ideas the whole way through. You'll boost your way around a Mario Kart track, make your way across a Japanese temple, cheat death jumping on block that disappear to the beat of the music all that with fun power ups like Cat Mario and the Double Cherry. If you're friendships are strong you can also opt for the multiplayer "co-op" play!

On the other hand, Bowser's Fury feels like a proof of concept for yet a new kind of 3D Mario game, open-world 3D Mario and boy do I want a full game of this! Going around from island to island, occasionally fighting a giant pissed off Bowser felt really fresh and was loads of fun. Plessie, the Nessie knockoff, makes a return, serving as a means to travel between sections quickly and he also provides some of the most fun Cat Shine challenges as you zoom around the map going through giant rings.

The Bowser fights in the game are well done but sometimes to randomness of when Bowser gets mad can be frustrating when trying to get the last few Shines and you have to wait for his wrath to break blocks. Not a big complaint for an overall exciting new addition.