The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

• Genre: Action/Adventure/Roguelike
• Year: 2014

Personal Notes: I genuinely used to despise this game when I sucked at it, and while I'm still crap at it, I have since devoted almost 500 hours into it and have less than 100 cheevos left to clear. This game will seriously get his hooks into you if you let it, and will not let go for a long while.

Dark Souls

• Genre: Action RPG
• Year: 2011

Personal Notes: Incredible atmosphere and challenging gameplay. Game was made somewhat easier with knowledge that I obtained before playing, but all the bosses were beaten without looking up strategies for them.

Dead Rising

• Genre: Action/Adventure/Survival
• Year: 2006

Personal Notes: The best game in the series bar none, with a pretty engaging story and satisfying roguelike-esque mechanics of New Game+. The mall and atmosphere are also really good. Fuck 7 Day Survivor.

Fallout: New Vegas

• Genre: Action RPG
• Year: 2010

Personal Notes: I used to be a massive contrarian and hater towards this game due to what I felt were weak opening hours of lots of walking. But I very recently got around to giving it a fair chance, and it is genuinely one of the best games I've ever played. Fantastic writing that hooked me like heroin to the game's world and atmosphere. Fallout 3 and 4 wish they were as good in the writing department.

Getting Over It

• Genre: Physics/Platformer
• Year: 2017

Personal Notes: One of the best video games I've ever played. Beat it over 200 times at this point. If you'd like to know more about what makes this game great, I would recommend reading my "Only Downhill" post on the blog.

Grand Theft Auto IV

• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Year: 2008

Personal Notes: By far the best story in the series, as well as my favorite open world map in the series if not in all of gaming. The sheer attention to detail and density of things to look at and admire with the feeling of it being realistic and mundane makes it a perfect city to take casual sunday drives in.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Year: 2004

Personal Notes: While I believe the reception for this game today is incredibly overrated, I still particularly like playing it out of fondness and enjoyment. The multiplayer mods can be pretty fun too. Modding the game with new mods is a pretty sweet way to kill time.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Year: 2002

Personal Notes: My personal favorite of the entire series, and one of my favorite games from my childhood. Absolutely stellar soundtrack and fun story. It's a bit rough around the edges, but the game as a whole is still a blast to play through.

Guitar Hero

• Genre: Rhythm/Music
• Year: 2005

Personal Notes: Super rough around the edges and the hardest engine to play in the series by far, but the vibrant atmosphere and charm more than make up for it. The songs are pretty fun to play too, even if not all the covers were hits. Some of the bonus songs are also real sleeper gems. (Shoutout to Even Rats.)

Guitar Hero II

• Genre: Rhythm/Music
• Year: 2006

Personal Notes: Harmonix's rhythm games always felt superior and more genuine to all other entries in the Guitar Hero series from 3 onwards, and this game is the perfect example of this. Great setlist and tough but fair and satisfying engine.

killer7

• Genre: Action/Adventure
• Year: 2005

Personal Notes: Absolutely one of the best experiences to ever grace the medium. Phenomenally unique and bizarre in a way that only Suda51 could pull off. An essential entry in my personal shill list.

No More Heroes

• Genre: Adventure/Hack and Slash
• Year: 2007

Personal Notes: Awesome game with incredibly fun combat and lots of symbolism in its story. Another game that I'll personally shill to anyone.

PEAK

• Genre: Action/Adventure/Climbing
• Year: 2025

Personal Notes: What people with no taste, spine or non-parroted opinions might call "friendslop" was absolutely my favorite game of 2025. Super fun to play with the in-game showcase of your achievements with both the badges and cosmetics. While it obviously shines when played with friends, it is also quite a fun game when played solo.

Resident Evil 4

• Genre: Action/Horror
• Year: 2005

Personal Notes: Everything good you heard about this game and all of the glazing it still gets over 20 years later is true. Undeniable masterpiece of gaming and a must-play for anyone, honestly.

Rhythm Heaven

• Genre: Rhythm/Music
• Year: 2008

Personal Notes: While I enjoy the whole series, I'm going to put in the DS one on the list simply for its amount of memorable bangers and Lockstep. (Fun Fact: It's what the site is currently themed after!!)

Rock Band 3

• Genre: Rhythm/Music
• Year: 2010

Personal Notes: The sheer amount of features and content in this game makes it not just the best game in the Rock Band series, but an endlessly replayable music platform at this point.

The Silver Case

• Genre: Adventure/Visual Novel
• Year: 1999

Personal Notes: Very unique and bizarre visual novel-type game with an awesome story.

Super Mario 64

• Genre: Platformer
• Year: 1996

Personal Notes: Infinitely replayable and excellent game with very satisfying controls. Completed it 100% over 30 times.

Super Mario World

• Genre: Platformer
• Year: 1990

Personal Notes: Incredibly fun and challenging platformer with the single best power-up in the whole series. Fun to replay and fly through levels in when you're bored.

Teardown

• Genre: Action/Puzzle/Simulation
• Year: 2022

Personal Notes: Beautiful graphics with it's stunning lighting, a great ambient soundtrack and simply groundbreaking physics. The campaign is incredibly fun.