Game Reviews
Top 15 Games
1. Minecraft: It's Minecraft. I don't know what else to say. It has been a very important part of my life and I think the game's amazing building system, mix of gameplay styles, and longevity in culture earns it this spot.
2. Baldur's Gate 3: 2023 GOTY. I've yet to see a role playing game that successful has so much depth to the role playing elements without sacrificing other game mechanics. It throws you into a massive world with details and features around every corner. This isn't Skyrim; every inch of the game has a story to tell.
3. A Short Hike: Greatest indie game ever. It tells a short beautiful narrative set in a masterpiece of level design. Please play this game.
4. Hitman: World of Assassination: A murder sandbox! So many ways to kill people! Upon first impression it might seem like just a stealth game or just an action game, but it's a game that rewards strategy and planning more than quick thinking.
5. Super Mario 3D World: Bowsers Fury: The greatest and latest 3D entry in the Mario series. It's shorter than any full mainline game, but the gameplay is much better than even Odyssey's. It would be higher if it weren't for the reused boss fights, which become tedious after a couple times.
6. Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim: It's not perfect, but I cut it some slack that I wouldn't give a new game. The world might not be as full of unique things to do as some of the other games on this list, but the tone and the depth of the lore is unmatched. The sense of wonder and scale that Skyrim manages to create even with the limitations of a 2011 open world game is very impressive.
7. Super Mario World: It sucks, but 2D Mario peaked here. It's not afraid to be hard, and feels far more modern and well rounded than the four games before it. Also it added Yoshi. I LOVE YOSHI!
8. Super Mario Maker 2: You get to make your own Mario games, what is there not to love. The game gives you a massive toolbox and just lets you create, I love it.
9. Superliminal: It's the best puzzle game I've ever played. The game never tries to trick you by hiding the mechanics. You know what you need to do and what you can interact with, but it still is confusing.
10. Bear's Restaurant: This one is heavy. I don't want to spoil it, but I want you to play it. If you can handle themes of death and family strife, play it. Please. Please. Only game to bring me to tears.
11. The Stanley Parable: Another one I can't spoil. It's very funny. I love messing around and seeing that the developers actually expected me to.
12. Sonic Mania: Sonic Mania is just pure fun. The music is great, the levels are great, and the art is beautiful.
13. Star Wars: Battlefront II (2017): Before you get mad, they removed the loot crates a long time ago. That was an awful part of the game, but this recommendation is based on how it is now. It's the best shooter I've played, even without the Star Wars license. DICE managed to add countless unique abilities, ships, and heroes, without the game become unbalanced. Visually it still holds up, and exceeds many games that have come out in recent years.
14. Fortnite: It's Fortnite. I love it even though I shouldn't. Epic manages to keep the game fresh by not being afraid of adding new features that fundamentally change how the game is played. Most studios would have frozen the game in its 2018 state after it blew up, but Fortnite keeps evolving.
15. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: The world's only good racing game. I don't know what else to say.