The game that showed me how to read games.

The only truly perfect game.

Theorized video games as art and the threat that poses, from first principles in isolation.

A work of staggering ambition laced with charming jank that nevertheless manages to deliver both thought-provoking literary themes and phenomenal level design open to many playstyles.

The crystalline distillation of the puzzleworld genre.

An endless trove of ultratight platformers, most of which take the form of a Metroidvania, but possessed of an enormous diversity of aesthetics and goals atop its rock-solid core.

A meta-reflexive feminist character piece that ultimately disembowels itself on its own staggering technical achievement, breaking my heart.

My stim toy, an integral part of my daily life.

Deeply effecting tragedy about depression and the fluidity of identity.

The only fast shooty action game on this list. A mesmerizing ballet.