#60 Spec Ops: The Line
Now, what kind of pretentious up-my-own-ass smug video game analyzer am I if I don’t also love Spec Ops: The Line.
After Bioshock, this is the go to for uppity deep dives and video essays. And for good reason: it’s bloody brilliant.
I was reluctant to play a military shooter at first, but I’m glad I gave this one a shot, because it’s a puzzlebox of a game that keeps you one-eyebrow-raised until the very end. And then it never lets you put that eyebrow back down.
#59 Murdered: Soul Suspect
Setting aside the silly name, Murdered: Soul Suspect hooked me from the very start. A very unique stealth-investigation game where you try to solve your own murder.
What drew me in the most is the incredible and unique world design, taking place in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts, but layering small chunks of witch-trials era Salem on top of it. The game went for a very specific feel and nailed it entirely. It also uses its atmosphere to deliver a surprisingly solidly written story.
Plus, you can possess cats and hop around the environment. That’s fun.
#58 Death Stranding 2
Every bit the unique experience as the first game, with the added improvements that come with well thought out sequels.
The story is just as compelling and strange as it’s predecessor, and the gameplay has been fine tuned and improved in many ways, giving even more room for player expression.
The only thing holding it back is the logic of the universe feels far more stretched and less cohesive than the first game. Though it doesn’t detract from the emotional payoff and sheer spectacle that it builds towards.
#57 Sin & Punishment: Star Successor
One of the most impressive games on the Wii, Sin & Punishment looks like it dropped straight out of an arcade. The constantly shifting levels look and play amazingly well for a Wii game, and the challenge is finely tuned to perfection.
You never know what to expect next as you’re blasting your way through ridiculous bosses and varied levels. A genuine blast to play through even if the end boss is an absolute d-bag.
#56 Final Fantasy XIV
I was never an MMO guy. Maybe it’s because I didn’t have a good computer growing up. Maybe it’s because other people make me grumpy. Maybe I didn’t like the grind?
Who knows, all I know is FFXIV locked me up just as tightly as everyone else in the bloody world. It’s just an excellently fun casual MMO experience. It helps it’s the first MMO I’ve poked my nose into that’s actually had a story I clicked with.
Alisaie is best girl, by the way.
#55 Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
Outside of The Great Cave Offensive in Kirby Super Star, this is the closest we’ve gotten to a full-on Kirby Metroidvania game.
The first time I played this game, I was blown away by the freedom of exploration in it’s world design. It’s just a blast to try to figure out which copy abilities you need in order to get to certain doors. Taking the Kirby formula and giving it more openness was a brilliant idea I’m surprised they’ve never gone back to in quite the same way.
#54 Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
This game felt ahead of it’s time when it came out, and in some ways it still feels fresh and new.
It’s moody atmosphere, mature story, and focus on challenging the player’s mind just as much as their might makes it a game that is easy to get into, but very hard to master.
The open-world adventure game is rarely as tightly made as Soul Reaver was, even today. And I’m glad it’s getting a second chance to shine with a remaster.
#53 System Shock 2
I’m still terrified by cyborg midwives. Fuck those things…
System Shock 2 is the perfect immersive sim. It’s designed well enough that even a complete dillweed like me can have fun figuring out creative ways around problems, while still being challenging enough not to get stale midway through.
And it’s atmosphere is second only to another im-sim coming up later on in this list.
#52 Donkey Kong Country Returns
I played a lot of the original Donkey Kong Country growing up, so I was super excited to see them return to the 2D formula with this one.
I did not, however, expect the game to be this fantastic. Still some of the best 2D platforming levels I’ve ever played, blended with near-perfect tight controls and a soundtrack that is infinitely listenable. Just a perfect game I’ll never not want to play.
#51 Super Bust-A-Move 2
I had to pick at least one Bust-A-Move game, so I’m using my personal favorite one to represent the entire franchise.
I’m incredibly mid at the series, but I will never not have a great time playing a Puzzle Bobble game. It’s simple pick-up-and-play casual feel makes it relaxing, while it’s puzzle modes and hard-to-master finesse allows for some sweaty challenge as well.
Also, it’s Bubble Bobble adjacent, so that’s always a plus.
#50 Kirby and the Forgotten Land
The fact it took as long as it did to make a truly 3D Kirby game is crazy. Especially when the results are as great as Forgotten Land.
Keeping the same energy as the 2D platformers, Forgotten Land manages to translate the fun of Kirby copy abilities flawlessly into 3D. And it does all of that while looking and sounding amazing.
Some of my favorite Kirby levels, bosses, and story beats all mix together in this adorable, silly game that is always fun to go back to and play around in.
And it has Mouthful Mode. Which is a hilarious name for anything.
#49 Pokemon Black/White
My favorite generation of Pokemon! Unova was such a breath of fresh air at the time, and I don’t think Pokemon has ever been as robust and fully featured as it was at this point.
The pixel art is superb, the story is surprisingly engaging, and everything comes together to make a game that is easy to lose hundreds of hours into and still not see all it has to offer. Pokemon perfection.
Justice for Trubbish. He’s just a little guy.
#48 Legend of Legaia
The forgotten gem of the PS1 JRPG library, Legaia is a must-play for classic turnbased JRPG fans.
The Arts system gives it a unique identity, the mild Pokemon-style monster collecting gives you something to grind away at, while it’s genuinely challenging bosses allow for long-time fans of the genre to really have to hunker down and learn it’s systems inside and out.
It also helps that Noa is adorbs.
#47 Final Fantasy XIII
I didn’t ask for your opinion, Final Fantasy XIII rules!
The story, the world building, the fast-paced strategic battle system, they all come together for a tightly designed experience that never lets up on the gas.
Yes, I get that it’s linear, but it’s designed so well around it that I didn’t mind one bit. It’s also JUST challenging enough that I had to actually think instead of just mashing the same 3 attacks over and over again like most JRPGs.
#46 Bioshock
The game that made me come around on the FPS genre! Bioshock was mindblowing when it first came out.
Sure, it’s easy to point at some of it’s flaws in the later half, but never has a game made such a first impression! It’s easy to look back on it now and not see it’s value, but at the time it’s atmosphere was unmatched, and it’s deep philosophical ramblings were fresh for a genre that was full of mindless blasting.
A game as influential as it is to blame for a lot of what followed.
#45 The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
2D Zelda done to perfection.
I love the quirkiness of this game. You never know what weird thing you’re going to be doing next to progress. Taking a chain chomp for a walk? Flying around with the aid of a ghost rooster? Yelling swear words at your Game Boy while river-rafting? Endless fun!
I wish Zelda games were willing to break the Hyrule mold like this more often, because it really gave the series a much-needed creative boost.
#44 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
WHAT IS A MAN…
We all know the memes about the silly voice acting, but it’s a testiment to how good the game actually is that the awkward talking is actually endearing more than annoying.
This is the grand daddy of the Metroidvania genre, the defining gem that’ll never age out. It’s also probably responsible for an entire generation of emo kids lusting after androgynous pretty boy vampire types.
#43 Suikoden 3
Suikoden really hit it’s stride in the gameplay department once the third installment rolled around.
While it isn’t as emotionally impactful as the second game, the decision to take things in a different direction mostly worked in it’s favor. I love the “multiple stories coming together into one” flow of this game. And it’s still my favorite town-building in the series due to how endearing the characters are.
#42 Final Fantasy X
There are several games on this list I wasn’t that into originally but came around on. Final Fantasy X is one of those games. And it’s come leaps and bounds from my initial impressions.
This is maybe the most well-realized world and plot in the history of the series, with every area steeped in symbolism and every cutscene expertly crafted to tell a story that still stands as one of the most original and heartfelt in the JRPG genre.
And quit saying the laugh scene is bad. It’s excellent. You’re wrong. Thanks for coming to my Tidus Talk.
#41 Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Not a lot of JRPGs get a direct sequel, and even less manage to make the story follow up hit with the kind of impact Covenant does.
The original Shadow Hearts showed some growing pains coming out of Koudelka, and takes forever to get going. Covenant on the other hand hits the ground running and never lets up. Great character development, a quirk that no game can match, and a genuine emotional payoff makes it a compelling playthrough.
Helps that the Judgement Ring system is peak PS2 JRPG turnbased combat.
The Mog Pile 