300 Games Bucket List
Inspired by Weatherby's "250 Retro Bucket List" ( https://www.backloggd.com/u/Weatherby/list/250-retro-bucket-list/ ), I did not limit my list to Retro games. One reason is because due to some quirks of how my life went, there was a period of about 10 years I couldn't really buy any new consoles (or a new PC), so my list of played games actually skews somewhat older to begin with. Plus I have so many games I want to play I didn't feel the need to limit myself. The basics of the list are the same: 300 games that I want to play before I kick that ol' bucket.
The first page, or Top 100, is the Top 100 games on this list I want to play, but there isn't any order within that Top 100. And while the games aren't in any super specific order besides that, I did try to make it overall aesthetically pleasing, or have some mini-themes here or there.
I'm rather undetermined in what I'll do as I actually beat these games. My first thought is to remove them to the list and do, IDK, a "Bucket List Games Completed" list while replacing it with a new game, which makes it a bit of an unending bucket list (given, after all, new games always be coming out). But maybe that's too much. But just leaving a game here after finishing it feels odd to me. What do you guys think?
I tried to avoid any games that were unreleased, or that I had what felt like "substantial" progress in, since that didn't jive with my mental image of what this bucket list is for. Funny enough, I got too far into Fire Emblem Engage to put it on, even though it was a game I thought of when making this list. Live A Live also would have been in the Top 100 if I hadn't started it already.
Later, I might I'll note down what systems the games first released on (or something) to show off that spread, and maybe which ones I actually have access to.
The first page, or Top 100, is the Top 100 games on this list I want to play, but there isn't any order within that Top 100. And while the games aren't in any super specific order besides that, I did try to make it overall aesthetically pleasing, or have some mini-themes here or there.
I'm rather undetermined in what I'll do as I actually beat these games. My first thought is to remove them to the list and do, IDK, a "Bucket List Games Completed" list while replacing it with a new game, which makes it a bit of an unending bucket list (given, after all, new games always be coming out). But maybe that's too much. But just leaving a game here after finishing it feels odd to me. What do you guys think?
I tried to avoid any games that were unreleased, or that I had what felt like "substantial" progress in, since that didn't jive with my mental image of what this bucket list is for. Funny enough, I got too far into Fire Emblem Engage to put it on, even though it was a game I thought of when making this list. Live A Live also would have been in the Top 100 if I hadn't started it already.
Later, I might I'll note down what systems the games first released on (or something) to show off that spread, and maybe which ones I actually have access to.
300 Games
The Nintendo 64 was my first console and I am pretty happy about that in a lot of ways. It let me connect with my mom, who grew up with an NES/SNES, via the vast array of multiplayer games it had and make memories I can look back on more fondly than any good game experience would give me for example.
It also introduced me to a ton of excellent games right off the bat. Super Mario 64, Majora's Mask, Star Fox 64, Mega Man 64, Paper Mario, Kirby and the Crystal Shards, F-Zero X and even more obscure stuff like NBA Jam 99 and Toy Story 2.
You might notice a prominent game missing: Ocarina of Time. Despite being an N64 gamer who has Majora's Mask as one of their all time favorites, I have NEVER had the chance to play Ocarina of Time, merely hearing it in baited breaths on the GameFAQs forum as the game Majora's Mask must live up to.
Will it still hit as well for me 20+ years later? I have no idea, but it has been a game I wanted to play since childhood.
It also introduced me to a ton of excellent games right off the bat. Super Mario 64, Majora's Mask, Star Fox 64, Mega Man 64, Paper Mario, Kirby and the Crystal Shards, F-Zero X and even more obscure stuff like NBA Jam 99 and Toy Story 2.
You might notice a prominent game missing: Ocarina of Time. Despite being an N64 gamer who has Majora's Mask as one of their all time favorites, I have NEVER had the chance to play Ocarina of Time, merely hearing it in baited breaths on the GameFAQs forum as the game Majora's Mask must live up to.
Will it still hit as well for me 20+ years later? I have no idea, but it has been a game I wanted to play since childhood.
This is actually a game I have some complicated feelings about. It looks like it has a lot of style, but the story really seemed like it disappointed me and lacked some of the depth in 3 or even 4. But I also haven't played it, so judging it that way seems quite unfair. This is a 100+ Hour RPG, and I sure ain't seen my way through it.
Plus leaving all of that aside, it is Persona fuckin' 5. Persona 3 is one of my favorite games ever and has one of the best stories in gaming. Persona 4 is still a 10/10 game for me, even if it has more flaws. And Persona 5's critical reception has been MASSIVELY positive. It would be impossible for me to not be excited for and want to play it, even if I am skeptical.
Also not sure if Royal is even the better version tbh but such is life.
Plus leaving all of that aside, it is Persona fuckin' 5. Persona 3 is one of my favorite games ever and has one of the best stories in gaming. Persona 4 is still a 10/10 game for me, even if it has more flaws. And Persona 5's critical reception has been MASSIVELY positive. It would be impossible for me to not be excited for and want to play it, even if I am skeptical.
Also not sure if Royal is even the better version tbh but such is life.
AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE AMERICAN THAN BUYING METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE IN THIS WAL-MART OF A WORLD
SAVIOR.
BLOODSTAIN.
HELLFIRE.
SHADOW.
BLOODSTAIN.
HELLFIRE.
SHADOW.
I don't really anticipate liking this as much as Super Mario Galaxy 1, but it IS really popular and SMG1 has been fun to play through so I can't complain.
Man, though, I swear I have some kinda warped perspective on this game. When it came out all I remember is people saying it was a bit too much of a stale sequel to Super Mario Galaxy, but in retrospect both critics and fans alike felt it was as good or better than the first a lot of the time. It goes to show you that you shouldn't stick in a singular bubble of opinion.
Man, though, I swear I have some kinda warped perspective on this game. When it came out all I remember is people saying it was a bit too much of a stale sequel to Super Mario Galaxy, but in retrospect both critics and fans alike felt it was as good or better than the first a lot of the time. It goes to show you that you shouldn't stick in a singular bubble of opinion.
Few game series were as important to me in my formative years without really playing the entries than Kingdom Hearts. While my RPing first began with Pikmin roleplay on GameFAQs, around the time I wanted to become a writer happened when I started doing Kingdom Hearts RP offsite.
The only game I had as a kid was Chain of Memories, but I knew so much about the plot it was very easy to follow. The theories for the post-game trailer were fun and intense. I ended up being right about Xigbar when Birth by Sleep happened.
So KH1/2 are basically requirements for me to play one day.
BTW, Chain of Memories is actually a really good game with a cool plot. Just make sure to play the GBA version, not the Re: version. The Re version breaks the game.
The only game I had as a kid was Chain of Memories, but I knew so much about the plot it was very easy to follow. The theories for the post-game trailer were fun and intense. I ended up being right about Xigbar when Birth by Sleep happened.
So KH1/2 are basically requirements for me to play one day.
BTW, Chain of Memories is actually a really good game with a cool plot. Just make sure to play the GBA version, not the Re: version. The Re version breaks the game.
IDK how I have never played this when I love Mother 3 so much.
We do, in fact, need more demon girls in fancy suits.
Eternal Echo of the Thrilling Tour-our-our is one of the best boss themes in a while.
This being a friend's favorite Final Fantasy helps. Kuja is good y'all.
Including all expansions
The way I got started on the internet and found friend groups when I went from GameFAQs was freaking Digibutter.nerr so, like, is this even a surprise.
Most likely via FF6 Advance. Up there with 12 and 7 in terms of Final Fantasies I want to play. It somehow still sounds rather unique all these years later, and I feel intimately acquainted with it due to stuff like repeated watches of Legends of Localization's Final Fantasy VI translation comparison stream. I highly recommend it, by the way:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8fufren85t_hZIk7nzF3EkbQHhexGOpa
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8fufren85t_hZIk7nzF3EkbQHhexGOpa
Up there with Kingdom Hearts and Tales of Symphonia for that teenage year brainrot, and the game that gave Sonic appeal to me. Somehow I got Sonic Adventure 1 and Sonic Heroes instead of it when I was younger. I don't know why.
Technically I am playing the Sonic Adventure 2: Battle version, but this version has the better cover art. So.
Technically I am playing the Sonic Adventure 2: Battle version, but this version has the better cover art. So.
I feel like I need to play this game, even if I don't think I will enjoy it. I hate Black Doom and the retcons his existence makes to Shadow the Hedgehog, man. And I dislike the fact that, for SOME REASON, they didn't let Shadow the Hedgehog's creator and writer for his scenarios be involved in this game?
I will say I don't think the core idea is as bad as people say. The multiple path idea is actually a potentially great idea to get the replayability SA1/2 wanted without multiple characters. I'm honestly not opposed to Shadow using guns.
But ultimately it makes me sad because while Sonic '06 was the killshot (and Sega had from day one had Issues), Shadow feels like what really killed the style of Sonic games I was intrigued by for quite a while. It lost the audience and made Heroes go from "a small misstep" to "start of a worrying trend". And it felt like it showed Sega had no idea what they were doing (true).
I will say I don't think the core idea is as bad as people say. The multiple path idea is actually a potentially great idea to get the replayability SA1/2 wanted without multiple characters. I'm honestly not opposed to Shadow using guns.
But ultimately it makes me sad because while Sonic '06 was the killshot (and Sega had from day one had Issues), Shadow feels like what really killed the style of Sonic games I was intrigued by for quite a while. It lost the audience and made Heroes go from "a small misstep" to "start of a worrying trend". And it felt like it showed Sega had no idea what they were doing (true).
I keep debating between this and the original, though.
Marx Soul's scream is the DS sequel to the great Neo Ridley scream from the GBA.
Marx Soul's scream is the DS sequel to the great Neo Ridley scream from the GBA.
Does this game have one of the coolest art styles in recent memory or what?
Unfortunately I am pretty late to the party.
Hot damn does Street Fighter 6 look good though.
Hot damn does Street Fighter 6 look good though.
port this game to the switch already come on
Seems like the title I most hear as likely to unseat Symphony of the Night for Metroidvania CVs. Seems like the culmination of the GBA Castlevanias and great fun.
Also hot damn that box art is so good.
Also hot damn that box art is so good.
This would probably be in the Top 100 if I was good enough at shooters to feel confident at it.
Spyro and Crash Bandicoot are two of those platformers that were BIG when right about when I was growing up (I got my N64 when I was five, as I recall, give or take), although I did not hear much about them until later (since I mostly got plugged into gaming news as it went into the Gamecube/PS2 era). That's left me curious about what that Nintendo competition was up to, especially with how highly regarded both of those are. I'm a bit more excited for Spyro than Crash (plus I am partway through Crash 1, which has just been Okay so far), so he makes the Top 100.
This game came out and like 3 of the friends I know whose opinions on video games I kinda trust came to tell me it was based and super lit. So.
The only problem with this game is that it is best played on original hardware and boy do I not have that. But this is a game I've wanted to play for an eternity.
Fun fact, in the Smash Bros. moveset theory contest I run, the only contest I won was for a set for Sho Minamimoto in the Brawl days. The set is horribly outdated now, but I'm still happy.
Fun fact, in the Smash Bros. moveset theory contest I run, the only contest I won was for a set for Sho Minamimoto in the Brawl days. The set is horribly outdated now, but I'm still happy.
Miriam's design is peak. I actually played through, like, the very start of this and it seemed fun (aside from some weird models during dialogue).
Actually one of the first games I purchased when I got a computer that might be able to run it.
I wish I had easier ways to play this.
The only reason this isn't in the Top 100 is because Phoenix Wright was EVERYWHERE when I was a teen on the internet and so I know SO much about this game when it is obviously highly dialogue focused.
For some reason, this game especially sticks out for me among Classicvanias. I think it is the fact it sounds like innovations were made that are kickass and that were very well received at the time (multiple review outlets consider it a Best SNES Ever kinda game), yet fans seem to have turned against it and later games reverted more away from it with other acclaimed games such as Rondo of Blood. It really makes me wonder what, exactly, was happening there!
Story-wise, this is the Final Fantasy that might have me the most interested, and I already have multiple cutscenes memorized in my head from catching them on youtube.
Only thing is IDK if I'll end up liking the gameplay.
Only thing is IDK if I'll end up liking the gameplay.
Kreia's been one of my favorite video game characters to watch in videos and I ain't even played the game lol
Hot Take: I actually prefer the controller aim of Metroid Prime 1/2 to the more Wiimote / Gyro aiming of the Trilogy. This is also true for the Pikmin games, where the New Play Control versions makes it utterly inferior in that case due to the lack of a C-Stick. This is a good part of why Echoes is on here, but Corruption is currently not.
Echoes also just seems pretty fun and has some kinda unique twists and Metroid Prime was great so.
Echoes also just seems pretty fun and has some kinda unique twists and Metroid Prime was great so.
I've wanted to play this since Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Lots of days with my Gamecube checking if Tales of Symphonia, Path of Radiance or Wario World were available. Somehow I never had any of them!
but why is the sequel mobile only
