“But, how does a game alter your DNA?” Unscientifically speaking, it’s many things. The hours logged, the emotions triggered, the concepts learned, the laughs shared, the trophies earned, the replays done, the memories crystallized. I present to you ...
Sections
4
Shooters
Open World
Nintendo
Sports
Shooters
Some of the most artistic, storyful, emotive stuff out there.
Kid you not, this is my favorite game of all time. I know it's a bit late for most millennials, but I still think about the writing, ambiance, and plot twists of Infinite.
BioShock Infinite
A+ writing that makes you laugh. A+ puzzles which actually force you to slow down and think. A+ voice acting, art, and soundtrack. This game is pretty close to perfect in my book.
Portal 2
Untold hours spent in the Zombies mode. Kino der Toten created friends and inspired all-nighters. Such a formative game for me.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
I didn't quit this one until I had the true 100%. So much to do and see. The beauty was in the repetition. Plus, Vaas was one of the most memorable villains ever.
Far Cry 3
People loved to hate on Destiny, and I loved to ignore them. This game scratched that Halo-shaped itch and generated dozens upon dozens of hours of fun with friends.
Destiny
If you know, you know. If you don't know, TF2 is a legendary game that is still active today. Amazing community and online play. Hilarious characters. Incredible experience.
Team Fortress 2
Peak drama back in the day. Really felt like I was storming the bunkers. I can still hear the soundtrack. This title stands tall in my memory.
Medal of Honor: Frontline
Not only did I adore this game for its almost weird fiction artistry, but I also continued listening to the score for years later. Incredible music and drama.
Dishonored
Hands down, this was it. This was THE game. My friends and I wore out the disc and never failed to have a fantastic time.
Star Wars Battlefront
Open World
All those side quests were well worth it.
Top 5 game for me. Of all time. Well over 100 hours in this one. I still hear the soundtrack and the absurd NPC dialogues when I close my eyes.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
I remember seeing the ads for this game and my mouth dropping. The clash of feel-good oldies and the war-stricken landscape was just so … right. Amazing game.
Fallout 3
I was late to the Witcher party, I'll admit it. 3 was the first title I played, and boy did I play it. I got lost in this universe for a time. Incredible work of art.
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
I went to Blockbuster to rent this game with two friends and we stayed up all night playing. The novelty of seeing parkour in this way was enough to play AC1 over and over.
Assassin's Creed
Nintendo
That Italian plumber and those pocket monsters.
Strong candidate for best Mario game ever. Yes, that's my opinion. I stand by it.
Super Mario Sunshine
A personal favorite. I spent my own money on this game and never regretted it for a single second. It brought friends and family together over and over again.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
There are too many Pokemon games to mention, so I'll mention one. My all-time favorite, and I will fight anyone who throws shade on Ruby.
Pokemon Ruby Version
It was once my life's goal to be the best racer in Super Circuit, ever. I didn't quite get there, but the thrill of the journey kept me going for endless hours.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Sports
Where the flow state begins and ends.
My all-time favorite TH game. Bam's antics. The soundtrack. The “Nawlins” map. The builder. Everything about this game still lives in my head.
Tony Hawk's Underground 2
By no means the first NFS title, but this was the first one that mattered to me. I never grew tired of playing co-op with my friend and taking turns being the cop chasing the racer. Legendary game with a soundtrack I still think about.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2
Ridiculous amounts of fun. Back when Barry Sanders and Jerry Rice were on the scene. Hocus Pocus was my signature move.