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.

Bravely Second: End Layer
Bravely Second: End Layer
TBH this sounds like it might be the best Bravely game, which given the devs apparently thought they failed with it is funny.
Blue Reflection
Blue Reflection
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Citizen Sleeper
Citizen Sleeper
I've been excited for this since release and while some reviews concerned me, it's still got me quite interested.
Bravely Default II
Bravely Default II
Killer7
Killer7
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Helltaker
Helltaker
We do, in fact, need more demon girls in fancy suits.
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Ultrakill
Ultrakill
This would probably be in the Top 100 if I was good enough at shooters to feel confident at it.
We Know the Devil
We Know the Devil
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Castlevania Legends
Castlevania Legends
Everybody has their crazy dreams. I like to imagine if I suddenly had the money of Jeff Bezos or w/e, one thing I would do would use it to fund a lot of game development. One of which would just be covering studio losses for risky ventures to try and get them to be more bold. But also I like to imagine paying a lot to let Konami have someone develop a remake of this game in an action-y, Dark Souls style combat system, because Sonia Belmont got kinda done dirty.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
Radiant Silvergun
Radiant Silvergun
I first heard about this game because Soul Eater referenced it in an attack name, and as I recall ZUN likes it as well.

Every since then, the name "Radiant Silvergun" has stuck in my head and made it a top shmup for me to want to check out.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Look, I know this game is supposed to be bad, but the idea be hind it legitimately seems cool and I'm curious to see if it feels like something that could be expanded on.
Tsukihime
Tsukihime
Aragami
Aragami
I doubt this game will be all too good, but it might be a fun way to waste some time in a stealth game, and I also just thought the cover art + in-game art style were appealing. Definitely one of those "7/10 games that caught my eye" kinda games.
Spider: The Video Game
Spider: The Video Game
I got introduced to this via a friend and the concept and idea seem unique! I mean, hell, a game called Spider: The Video Game already feels bold. Maybe we should Spider: The Video Game more often.
Pepsiman
Pepsiman
PEPSIMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!
I never beat Bomberman 64 as a kid, because I'm bad at it, but it did stick in my head a fair deal. The sequel seems notably expanded on, making me want to check it out.
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
Custom Robo
Custom Robo
One of those games I heard about as a kid and was always interested in but never had.
Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4
My favorite song (not in video game soundtracks, but in general) is from the Gran Turismo 4 sound track, so I gotta play it sometime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-omD879axE
Muv-Luv Alternative
Muv-Luv Alternative
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
The King of Fighters 2002
The King of Fighters 2002
At least half of this desire comes from the cover art.
Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream
Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream
A combination of a predominately female design staff and the visual designs drew me into this game and has given me a burning desire to see this Dreamcast hidden gem.
Lucah: Born of a Dream
Lucah: Born of a Dream
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Strange Journey's always been one of the mainline SMTs I had the most interest in, maybe because the neutral route feels like a fresh spin for the franchise, and that it might go for some more nuance than the series is already known for.

Redux feels like it ruins most of what I like from the original, especially with the neutral route.
Inscryption
Inscryption
Pathologic 2
Pathologic 2
Dark Souls III
Dark Souls III
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
The lack of Supports makes me nervous to put this in the Top 100.
Tails Adventure
Tails Adventure
IMO, Sega has never really known how to leverage Sonic's large cast of characters to make effective spinoffs. Knuckles just got put into more 2D Sonic-like platformers. Tails got like 1 or 2 attempts and forgotten. Even Shadow's edgy attempt with guns still uses a Sonic Adventure / Heroes style.

All this is to say, Hot Take, Tails Adventure is probably not Good but they should have used it as a blueprint to expand outwards. Tails is an inventor with a lot of room for his own stories, and they could have totally had a little Metroidvania subseries going on if they cultivated it properly. If they had done a Game Gear sequel (which they should have), learning from this game and making a good Metroidvania for it would have been an excellent decision.
Higurashi When They Cry
Higurashi When They Cry
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
I know this game gets a lot of hate for its plot twist but that's exactly why I'm so interested in it
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
Banner of the Maid
Banner of the Maid
Jeanne d'Arc
Jeanne d'Arc
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Crystar
Crystar
Demon's Souls
Demon's Souls
Croixleur Sigma
Croixleur Sigma
Stella Glow
Stella Glow
Imageepoch is a studio that interests me. They feel like a studio that released a lot of this interesting, kinda niche RPGs on the DS, and really tried hard to break into the RPG mainstream while probably not being talented enough to do so. They released entire series like Luminous Arc that absolutely nobody freaking talks about. It has me deathly curious.

Anyway this was their last game ever and it got pretty good reviews so.
Sinisistar
Sinisistar
Fun Fact: I got told about this game from someone I know before there was a Clean version who was like "okay, look, ignore the pornographic elements here, this is one of the best action platformers I've played in a WHILE".
AM2R: Return of Samus
AM2R: Return of Samus
I might be even more inclined to play this if it wasn't so hard to get working. It STILL won't properly detect my controller!
Grapple Force Rena
Grapple Force Rena
Serial Experiments Lain
Serial Experiments Lain
Valkyrie Profile
Valkyrie Profile
Tales of Berseria
Tales of Berseria
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
One of the most difficult of these to play I wager, because I've heard emulating this game can be wonky, but that art style man! This is one of those truly unique DS game that shows why people should respect Nintendo hardware from different angles.
Nostalgia
Nostalgia
The DS had a LOT of games on it due to its massive, massive success, and that included a lot of under the radar RPGs. When I got a new computer capable of DS play, I went searching through the entire DS library for what I wanted to play.

gyoza/iyellatcloud's review of this game when looking at this game at the time got me curious about it, and then looking it up further it made it look like it might be a bit of a Hidden Gem. It's been on my mind since then.
Cannon Spike
Cannon Spike
I first noticed this game just because of the name being a Cammy reference but, like, this seems like a pretty interesting idea, watching Matt McMuscles play it briefly made it look fun, why not give it a whirl, right?
Breath of Fire IV
Breath of Fire IV
The Breath of Fire series is one I had only vaguely heard about before I got a Switch, where Breath of Fire 1/2 being on NSO made me investigate it a bit more.

That ended up getting me interested in 3/4: They seem to be quite highly regarded, the way they look visually is appealing in the way some PS1 RPGs were, the transformation mechanics might be neat and also man I love this one's cover art. Field Skills sound fun.
Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak
Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak
Nano Breaker
Nano Breaker
Not gonna lie, a big reason this is on here is the Yugioh monster: https://yugioh.fandom.com/wiki/Nanobreaker
Super Sami Roll
Super Sami Roll
Another game that NitroRad got me very interested in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn0IobSCMmE
Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog
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).
New Super Lucky's Tale
New Super Lucky's Tale
Glover
Glover
Frogger: Helmet Chaos
Frogger: Helmet Chaos
NitroRad's review of the Frogger series was a great listen, and made me want to play through the Frogger games he showed off out of curiousity (outside of probably the first two). This is the one that really stuck out though, since it seemed like a triumphant last hurray.

I do recommend checking out the video series! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaMAHLti0R_lhab2CnpinyMPXV9MBo2B_
Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross
I have no idea what the hell to think about this game and that makes it exciting. Seems iconic anyway.
Ristar
Ristar
Wild Arms
Wild Arms
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Banjo-Tooie
Banjo-Tooie
TBH, Banjo-Kazooie hasn't been quite as good as I was hoping, but it's still fun and this is another N64 classic.
Chibi-Robo!
Chibi-Robo!
Rosenkreuzstilette
Rosenkreuzstilette
Definitely one of those games I heard about as a teenager and has been stuck in my brain for a while.
Mischief Makers
Mischief Makers
Nights of Azure
Nights of Azure
lesbiab

lesbiam

less bien

girls
Rocket: Robot on Wheels
Rocket: Robot on Wheels
Phantom Brave
Phantom Brave
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
428: Shibuya Scramble
428: Shibuya Scramble
This game just seems incredibly unique, really.
Iconoclasts
Iconoclasts
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Metroid: Samus Returns
Metroid: Samus Returns
Super Mario 3D Land
Super Mario 3D Land
Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World
Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World
This is on here over the normal Wooly World because it is the one I can actually play.
Yume Nikki
Yume Nikki
Baba is You
Baba is You
Off
Off
Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt
Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt
Iji
Iji
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4
Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters
Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Doki Doki Literature Club!
Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Itsuka Kakumei Sareru Monogatari
Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Itsuka Kakumei Sareru Monogatari
Utena is my favorite anime so, like, yeah.
One Night, Hot Springs
One Night, Hot Springs
.Hack//G.U. Last Recode
.Hack//G.U. Last Recode
A game series I've had a big eye on due to a friend who played them back in the day and have always wanted to play. The original .Hack games would be fun as well.
No More Heroes III
No More Heroes III
This honestly sounds like a bit of a divisive game to me but also I've been waiting for No More Heroes 3 for 11 years between NMH2's end and NMH3's announcement so how could it not be on here?
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
This one is a bit of an oddball. I know it isn't the most acclaimed of the Castlevanias by a long shot, but something about it has kept my eye on it for a while. Maybe it is because it is a rare Castlevania game to NOT star a Belmont?

I also think it is a bit of a shame it seems to be excised from the canon, when unlike Legends (which at least does contradict later series ideas) it feels like it could slot in quite easily. I know it's been said it is because the devs wanted it to be a "standalone title" but I don't see why that makes it non-canon. The GBA Castlevanias also just all seem rather interesting, really.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Summon Night: Twin Age
Summon Night: Twin Age

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