#5 Resident Evil 4 Remake

Now this is how you create a remake. It is not perfect, I still prefer a lot of things from the original. But it improves a lot in things that matters. Better controls, an actually likeable sidekick, bosses that are less of a joke, more side quests, a great dlc and the more obvious improvements to the visuals. The only game in recent years that I was hyped about before playing and that held up for me after I played it.

When I finished this game, the first thing I did was starting a replay, and when I finished that I started another. This game is just pure enjoyment for me. But the one thing it did great that no other remake or remaster has succeeded with, it made me feel the same as when I played the original. Not just the nostalgia, it was different enough to be its own experience but it kept the same soul. 

#4 The Legend of Zelda a Link to the Past

It does not hurt to be the first game of its kind that I experience. This year's ranking has definitely a sort of old age bias. The first Zelda game I ever played, the first original snes game I played. It has many firsts. I have viewed all other entries as a sort of copy of this game, at least the Zelda games I have enjoyed. It acts as the blueprint for what I want. Semi-linear progression, secret items outside of temples with actual usefulness, two interconnected worlds, difficulty and a few puzzles. 

I still play this game pretty regularly, a lot thanks to the awesome modding community creating the fantastic randomiser. For some reason all the fantastic design decisions become even more clear when the usual experience is shuffled around. Each items full potential is utilised. The only thing I could want more of is puzzles. But this game at least introduced more advanced puzzles and challenges that felt like it demanded at least some brain power to figure out. I will always be in dept to the game store worker who recommended my parents this game when they went out to buy us a Christmas present. This series means a lot to me and it started with a pink haired Link.

Hoping to get these two guessed soon, though I don't have much time now before the end of the year to do all those overdue write-up posts...

#4 - The most divisive entry in its series, which led to a radical (and very successful) shift in direction for every entry that followed.

Hint 2 - Has probably the most emotional story in this adventure franchise, to which it acts as a prequel.

#3 - "I embraced the light... When my name was ___"

Hint 2 - A metroidvania known for having a very emotional story.

#3 Warcraft III Reign of Chaos

This game seems to jump from the top spot to the bottom in a blink of an eye. I once removed because I could not play it. When the total f*ck up that is its remaster dropped, the internet service and support for all the custom maps just dropped. I have played an awful lot of hours of Warcraft 3. It spawned so many new genres in gaming that I lost count. The voices, sound and style of thes game are so iconic. The greatness of this game becomes clear to me each revisit I do on modified batttle.net alternatives. The music is so fantastic it melds in with the game seamlessly that only when I try to listen to it specifically I hear the mastery behind it. A lengthy campaign with a hero system bringing the game into new ground from its real time strategy roots. Tools packed in to create own fairly advanced custom maps without previous experience.

If someone asked me what I thought was the objectively best game release ever, leaving all personal feelings behind, Warcraft III will take the spot. The lore and style and worlds this one game spawned are unmeasurable. People who have never even played this game probably have a lot to thank for it. Looking back it was a small miracle what the scene and main developers provided in 2002. I cannot forgive Blizzard Activision for killing this game that I had played for almost 20 years straight and by far have the most playtime of any game in. Still it is only in recent years that I have come to appreciate what this game actually did for me and I find that I almost daily quote one units lines. It just is that intertwined to my life, almost unknowingly so.  

This might be Skyward Sword?

Correct.

#2 Super Mario Bros 3

The best game Nintendo ever produced. First game I ever remember playing. Featuring short but difficult levels. So many memories connected with this game. I have played it on each nintendo console with an official release, and a few systems without. I have never regretting picking up a gaming session of this masterpiece of masterpieces. It is pure gaming enjoyment. 

It took me half a life to find anything to top this. And it will probably take a full lifetime to ever get tired of revisiting mushroom kingdoms best stage play. 

I'll nap the last one: Ori and the Will of the Wisps

One game left.

#4 Dark Souls

• "...and with fire came disparity"

#3

• Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance (GTVA)
• Humanity has been cut off from Earth
• This space combat simulator ends in a cliffhanger that has never, and likely will never, be resolved.
• The developer, which was shut down in 2023, is best known for a series of open world games that began as a GTA clone but became increasingly ridiculous which each new entry, finding an identity of their own.
• A sequel to a game called Descent:_________ - The Great War

#2 The Legend of Dragoon

• "Count 108 years, and when the Moon That Never Sets glows red..."
• "...the Moon Child descends to the earth to fill the world with holy bliss." So states the legend.
• Sony's challenger for Final Fantasy on the PS1.
• Though the game initially wasn't meant to include any CGI cutscenes, the final product features around 30 minutes of them.

#1 Final Fantasy IX

• Alexandria

#1 Resident Evil 4

The greatest. I did not really play more mature type games (maybe with the exception of Diablo) at the time this dropped on GameCube. It was the first game I ever enjoyed where the main guy uses a realistic gun-weapon. The remake is part of this list for just being able to imitate the original well enough. Whenever I get my hands on this, I play and replay it stupidly. I'm not a great player and I never mastered the hardest difficulty. But i just enjoy this game so freaking much. The suspense of it is something no other game, except for the remake, ever could replicate. My heart raises, even if I know what is going to happen, I feel so alive playing this game. 

I borrowed it on GameCube, bought it on PS2, Bought it on Wii - my favourite version, bought it on PS3 and bought it on Switch. All at full price on release and each time it was my favourite experience on each system. The epitome of the male fantasy. A lone hero overcoming unimaginable challenges in order to save the girl. I cannot imagine what any game would have to do in order to knock this down from the top spot. And for now, I do not even know if i want anything to best it. Cracking that code will probably melt my brain to a point of non-recognition. RE4ever.