Faye
2004
A game a grew up with, and one that has left its mark on my subconscious decades later. The semi-random nature of its caves was novel then, and still captivating now. The sense of adventure and discovery throughout this game is unmatched. I'm in love with every creature design, and as a child I spent many hours admiring them through the Piklopedia. I suspect that this may be the culprit for my finding monstrous creatures adorable in other media properties! My favourite is the Man-at-Legs.
2003
Blessed Kirby Air Ride; how on Earth did you get made? One of the more unique and interesting titles in a franchise full of unique and interesting titles. I grew up playing this, and one may even argue it was my first roleplaying-within-a-video-game experience via City Trial's Free Run. Young me walked so modern me could collaboratively write JRPGs inside of MMOs.
There are better Mario Karts from a party game perspective, but Double Dash is the one I think of when I think of "the best Mario Kart." Part of it is, no doubt, childhood nostalgia peeking from behind the curtain. Still, I find the physics of this Mario Kart the most bombastic and fun to play. Additionally the fact that you get to choose your power-ups and that they're tied to character (and as such, a vehicle for characterization) is such a cool system; I'm a bit disappointed it never makes a return in some way.
Arguably the best implementation of the formula. I would argue there's reasons to go back, and obviously there's reasons to go forward... But if you want a comfy starting point, New Leaf is what I'd recommend.
2012
Another horror classic. The gameplay is simple but engaging enough with its puzzles, the music is haunting and quite beautiful, and the ambiance is excellent. What really captured me is its plot; it contains such compelling themes centered around evil, mortality, witchcraft, friendship and betrayal... it really sticks with me to this day, serving as an inspiration for my own art.
2005
Yes, Mario Kart DS, I love you too, but you're overshadowed by both your older and younger brothers.
Every single button, activity, and system in ARK: Survival Evolved feels bad. It is anti-fun. You're introduced to a stunning natural world full of amazing ancient creatures, and for some time, that might entertain you enough to keep playing. But as the frustration with building, crafting, taming, and even moving slowly builds up, you'll come to realize that this game is a waste of time.
It's a shame, because the creatures in this game look great and interacting with and taming them should be great. Unfortunately no taming method feels good to play. They're all simply time gated activities so PVP doesn't become a meme (except it's still a meme).
This game does not feel designed. This game does not feel thought-out. This game is to a bridge a bunch of unruly wooden boards held together by duct tape. To the last, ARK was like a buggy mess with a garbage coding foundation.
It's a shame, because the creatures in this game look great and interacting with and taming them should be great. Unfortunately no taming method feels good to play. They're all simply time gated activities so PVP doesn't become a meme (except it's still a meme).
This game does not feel designed. This game does not feel thought-out. This game is to a bridge a bunch of unruly wooden boards held together by duct tape. To the last, ARK was like a buggy mess with a garbage coding foundation.
1991
My first Castlevania (sorta) and I had a great time with it. The whip mechanics are surprisingly complex. There's some cheeky sections but I do think it's worth playing if you want to give the platformer-style Castlevanias a shot.
Charming in some ways, but I'm not big into the idol genre when it comes to storytelling, so all that's left to sustain me is the rhythm gameplay. It's fun, but the gacha elements makes it so grindy and extrinsically-motivated that it chokes out any enjoyment I'd get from just playing the songs. My being a completionist probably also has something to do with it.
2013
Don't spoil yourself. Give it a go.
2017
I haven't played since the launch year, and I can only imagine how much worse it's gotten since. As with any gacha game, you shouldn't play it.
Some would say this one is too easy, and it is, but - honestly, that's part of its charm for me. Touhou excels with how much variety goes on in terms of mechanics and difficulty between games. And of course, the themes are excellent. Yuyuko, my beloved.
2001
There's a mysterious, vaguely uncanny vibe to this one that later games never quite emulated. I like it, and it sticks in my mind long past the lifespan of newer, and arguably better, Animal Crossing games.
2018
Beautiful. The "gameplay" is not very interesting, mind, but the themes... the vibes... it's wonderful.
2016
It's cute, it feeds both my Numbers-Go-Up and Collecting brainworms, but it's a gacha game, and aggressively grindy, so any and all satisfaction from feeding either of said worms is starved out.