My 25 Favorite Games
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch, 2017)
The perfect evolution for my favorite series of all-time. Gameplay challenges the player to always think creatively, to experiment, and to discover. Nintendo at their absolute best.
(Note: Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess could easily be on this list as well, but I’ll leave Breath of the Wild as the stand-in for the best of the series.)
2. Prey (PS4, 2017)
An under-rated gem that encapsulated the best part of gaming: A smart story, gameplay the emphasizes strategy and choice, and spectacular atmosphere and level design. The most immersive game I’ve ever played.
3. The Last of Us: Part II (PS4, 2020)
No game has affected me emotionally as much as The Last of Us: Part II. Undoubtedly, there are parts of the story and game you can criticize, and it can be a bit uneven: But what’s undeniable is that Naughty Dog achieved a level of storytelling — both through spectacular gameplay and film-quality cutscenes — that no one else has really come close to.
4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (PS2, 2005)
Hideo Kojima’s magnum opus. The most grounded Metal Gear Solid, Snake Eater drops you in a jungle and asks you — constantly — to learn and adapt. In my view, the pinnacle gameplay, storytelling, and bosses of a rightfully well-regarded series.
5. Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox, 2001)
The shooter to end all shooters. Still feels fun and modern to this day, thanks to silky smooth controls, a wide-variety of situational weapons, and a sci-fi setting that feels familiar yet mysterious. Probably my most played multiplayer game ever — and can anything really top LAN 8v8 CTF on Blood Gulch?
6. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4, 2019)
And now, the From Software section… there really is very little separating these three, but Sekiro narrowly wins out. Its combat system is the peak of From Software’s work, and the variety and consistency of levels and bosses make for the most steadily paced game of this studio’s incredible portfolio.
7. Bloodborne (PS4, 2015)
Bloodborne has the best atmosphere and aesthetic of any game I’ve ever played. Every part of it just drips in Victorian cosmic horror — not a setting I knew I loved, but its executed so well here that you can’t help but fall for its gothic charms. Plus the moody digs are a perfect match for From Software’s uncompromising gameplay, which is taken up a notch here with the trick weapons and faster fighting system.
It has a few issues — namely a little too much opaqueness in level flow, and I’m not a huge fan of the blood vial healing system — but the DLC makes up for these small flaws.
8. Dark Souls III (PS4, 2016)
Dark Souls III started my journey down the From Software void, and I could easily put it in Bloodborne or Sekiro’s place depending on my mood. The level design is really the star of the show in this one: it’s a perfect balance of From’s trademark arcaneness, but you never feel totally lost — and fun discoveries are everywhere. The RPG elements are also the best of any game in the series, making it the most replayable as well.
8. Rocket League (PS4, 2015)
I’ve been playing Rocket League since 2015, and if my time-spent playing it was charted year-over-year, you’d see that I’ve played it more and more and more— a testament to just how damn deep this game is. Despite being the exact same “game” every match, the gameplay changes dramatically the more you play: e.g., “Gold” level play is completely different than “Diamond” level play. And that’s what makes this game truly special, and in my view, unmatched.
9. Slay the Spire (PC, 2017)
Like Rocket League, I’ve been playing Slay the Spire pretty consistently since it first dropped. I just don’t get tired of it. It’s the perfect rogue-like card game: the rush of building that perfect deck is so great because it requires a lot of strategic thinking, and just a dash of luck — and that’s what keeps me coming back for more and more.
10. Civilization V (PC, 2010)
This is a stand-in for the entire series, Civ 5 and Civ 4 being my favorites. The history nerd side of me loves the setting, and the “just one more turn” gameplay has made this maybe my most played series in terms of raw hours.
11. Death Stranding (PS4, 2019)
I admit I was skeptical of this one for the first 10–15 hours, and there are certainly a lot of Kojima excesses and uneven moments in this odd duck of a game. But there’s something magical about the world Kojima created, and the trek-the-world with the help of asynchronous other players gameplay. Its bizarre and idiosyncratic, yet its message of connectedness — which is borne out in the story *and* the gameplay — really resonated with me during a year of isolation.
12. God of War (PS4, 2018)
God of War is a perfect action game. I was fully ready to hate on it after bouncing off the cringy and over-the-top angry dudeness of earlier games in the series. But its finely-tuned combat, well-crafted story, and spectacular art direction make for one of the best ~20 hours I’ve spent breaking skulls and yelling “boy” in my gruffest dad voice.
13. Subnautica (PC, 2018)
I have a hard time with crafting games: They’re fun, but they rarely hold my attention for more than a few hours. Subnautica is different. Its undersea world is a joy to discover, and its minimal story does just enough to keep you pressing forward to uncover the mystery. By the end, it really feels like you’ve created your own little world, and the satisfaction of making it through alive felt earned.
14. Warcraft 3 (PC, 2002)
Warcraft 3 deserves a place in gaming history: Not for the game itself — though that part was great, too — but for the many genre of games it spawned. Dota, footman frenzy, tower defense, life of a peasant… the custom game scene in this game was a special moment in games, where lots of creativity was unleashed by the internet and Blizzard’s awesome customization tools.
15. Resident Evil 2 (PS4, 2019)
Resident Evil 2 may be the shortest game on this list, clocking in at about 7 hours, but damn if those weren’t the tightest 7 hours of survival horror I’ve ever played. The underlying horror never goes away, as you’re constantly running out of resources and holding onto that last bullet for when you really, really need it.
16. Rimworld (PC, 2018)
Rimworld is an amazing accomplishment, the work of a single dude who created a colony simulator that is the best in an increasingly packed genre. I love the programmatic storytelling: Events happen according to a certain “AI” you’ve selected, and little things like statues all get custom descriptions. It results in a game with endless depth that I keep coming back to.
17. Portal 2 (PC, 2011)
I’ll admit I haven’t played the single-player campaign of this, but the co-op campaign is one of my favorite gaming experiences. Real brain-twisters that always felt amazing to solve, and overall just a really clean design.
18. Dead Space (Xbox 360, 2008)
Another survival horror great — basically Resident Evil in space — that sadly got worse with every new installment. But the first one deserves a place among the greats for its well-paced, densely atmospheric jaunt through an alien-infested spaceship.
19. Mark of the Ninja (PC, 2012)
A 2D side-scrolling stealth game doesn’t seem like it should work, but Klei pulls it off magnificently in Mark of the Ninja. A game with no real lows and a ton of highs.
20. Zeus: Master of Olympus (PC, 2000)
My favorite city-builder growing up, that I still think holds-up today. Unfortunately the genre died for decades, but has recently experienced somewhat of a resurgence — though it’s hard to say if anything will top this amazing Sierra game.
21. Bioshock Infinite (X360, 2013)
Bioshock Infite isn’t perfect — the combat feels over-the-top violent, and the time-traveling story doesn’t quite stick the landing — but I adore the setting. Turn of the century America was a horrific place, and Bioshock Infinite is smart enough to let it speak for itself.
22. Animal Crossing (Gamecube, 2001)
The original Animal Crossing has a special place for me because of its lowkey, relaxed style that oozes charm. The series has maintained its quality, especially with New Horizons, but the original will always be my favorite.
23. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Gamecube, 2004)
It’s too bad Nintendo has gotten away from making Mario RPGs, because they used to be some of their best work. Paper Mario and the Mario & Luigi series are both fantastic, but The Thousand Year Door is the best of the best. It’s got just enough to think about, tons of variety, hilarious writing, and that classic Nintendo polish and charm. The fact that it’s the only pure RPG on this list is a testament to Nintendo’s ability to make any genre fun and accessible.
24. Assassin’s Creed II (X360, 2009)
This is my guilty pleasure of the list. Does this game say anything important? No. Does it do anything innovative? Not really. But I got 100% completion, the only game I’ve ever done that with… so while it didn’t do anything spectacular, it did everything so solidly that it created something I couldn’t put down. Unfortunately this series really sunk after IV.
25. NBA Street: Vol. 2 (Gamecube, 2003)
I am not a basketball fan. I don’t play basketball video games. But I do love NBA Street: Vol. 2, my favorite sports game of all time. This game is just pure fun, full of flashy plays that actually require practice and strategy, and it drips in atmosphere with a killer soundtrack and stylized graphics that just make basketball feel so freaking cool.
