Every February on whatever message board I'm hanging out on, I try to have a little stupid fun and do a theme month. Didn't pull it off last month, but usually it works out. Anyway this year, I'd like to present my Top 28 games of all time. This is a list I've been thinking about during a lot of down time at work for the past week, and I'm actually pretty proud of it. It's just my list of favorites, so there will be several games you've never heard of or at least never played. And there will likely be some that you'll go, "seriously? you like that turd?" Well, fuck you in advance. It's my list and I love it.
Anyway, I'll be posting one game a day with a blurb about why I love it so until the month is over, with my number 1 game being presented on Feb 28. Before we begin here is a semi-sorta sneak preview. Just a quick list of the honorable mentions. The ones that came so close and yet..... not good enough.
- Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess
- Fortune Street
- NiGHTS Into Dreams
- Final Fantasy Legend II
- Lemmings
The top 28:
28. Super Mario Bros. 2
27. Dig-Dug
26. Hero's Quest/Quest for Glory: So You Want To Be A Hero
25. Scorched Earth
24. The Saboteur
23. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
22. Azure Dreams
21. Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant
20. Legend of Mana
19. Harvest Moon: Magical Melody
18. EverQuest
17. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
16. Rune Factory Frontier
15. Street Fighter Alpha 2
14. The World Ends With You
13. Pokemon Snap
12. Mother 3
11. Heroes of Might and Magic III
10. SimCity
9. Super Mario World
8. Chrono Trigger
7. Tetris
6. Red Dead Redemption
5. Persona 3
4. Resident Evil 4
3. Final Fantasy Tactics:
2. Valkyria Chronicles
1. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
#10. SimCity
Ahhhh SimCity. . . How many cities did I build and then watch slowly descend into ruin due to poor choices in laying out a highway system? How many cities did I build with perfectly laid out street designs only to watch it all get completely fucked up by tornados and giant monsters? Few games ever gave me the level of satisfaction that this one did. Making a giant functioning city that continues to thrive year after year creates such a feeling of pride. Of course watching that city fall apart due to natural disasters is maddening in a way that few games can replicate, but that's why the game is so great. Just as remarkable, this is one of the first times that a PC game was recreated well for a console (SNES). Later installments of the game have been great and improved on many features, but none of them have quite caught that magic of the original. Here's to hoping the upcoming PC version will.
it should still be interesting because you're actually including old games which is another area where these lists generally fall short.
GME isn't Archie
#9. Super Mario World
This game is far more than the greatest Mario game of all time. It's the greatest 2-D platformer ever made. Though I don't know if it should make me sad or if I should marvel in the fact that in the last 20 years we've never had a platformer that's better than Super Mario World. Regardless this game is the measuring stick for all others in the genre. It has creative level design, just the right amount of difficulty progression, catchy music, dinosaurs, and a Special World that truly felt special! Without question though the best part of all of it. . . the secret levels. God they were so much fun to find. You knew they were there.... but where the hell was the secret exit that would reveal them? And where would they take you? Would it reveal a path to Star Road or would it open up a new path like the Butter Bridge? So many amazing things, and such an amazing game.
Such an a amazing game. I remember being floored my first time in the boo haunted mansion levels. Best launch game ever.
#8. Chrono Trigger
For 10 years Chrono Trigger was the the king of the jRPG genre. Not only that, but it was the top game when the genre was in its prime. It was made my video game gods, and it shows in every way. The story, the music, the art design, even the innovations in gameplay... it was all fucking amazing. I could gush over this game forever. The first time I completed it I immediately started up for a second gameplay... and then a third...and more. Getting all of those different endings became an obsession, and by god I followed through. The game was unlike any other RPG I'd ever seen, read about, or heard of. It's legendary, and will remain that way forever.
Now this list is getting awesome.
#7. Tetris
Anyone who does a best game list and doesn't include Tetris on it is either ignorant or a dirty filthy lying whore. It doesn't matter which version; Gameboy, Tengen NES, PC, Arcade.... whatever. This is the best puzzle game ever made. Fact. Whether you're playing it for 5 minutes or 50 minutes it can suck you in like few other games can. Other games like Puyo Puyo can come along and "borrow" parts of it and make it their own, but they never quite get it as good. This is a timeless classic and it's just as much fun to play today as it was 20 years ago.
I still get the Tetris song stuck in my head sometimes.
De do do dooo do do dooo da da deeee da da do, da de da doo da dee..