Persona 5 Royal is an outstanding game. This statement shouldn't come as much of a surprise and, to me, is a generally shared opinion of many who have played through this game, or the original Persona 5. Funnily enough, however, I had no idea the Persona series existed for the longest time. It wasn't until the protagonist, Joker, was added as a DLC fighter into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that I took notice of his unique style, and was immediately invested in him and wanted to learn more. I found myself on YouTube watching playthroughs of the game and figuring out how I could get my hands on this game. Lucky for me, Xbox Game Pass came to my rescue one fateful Summer month, and I never looked back.

When I booted up the game for the first time, a friend had told me just how long this game was and I shuddered. There are plenty of long games I started and never finished, and was wondering if this game would join that list. Oh how joyous I am that it didn't. Persona 5 Royal quickly jumped into the top echelon of my favorite games. To put it simply, I have never played a game like Persona. The in-your-face and loud art style that blends seamlessly with the world around it, the flashy and vibrant characters, both in your party and on the opposing side of your battles, and who can forget the incredible sound track accompanying this game? Not to mention the incredible story of this game, joining the Phantom Thieves, stealing the hearts of those who hunt their selfish desires at the expense of others. The game masterfully phases from act to act, while tackling serious issues in the world as well. I found myself unable to put this game down, playing for longer and longer sessions until I completed the game, all 150 hours of it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

When you look in the dictionary and find the word "Revolutionary", you will find a picture of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare right next to it. Stepping away from COD's WWII roots and moving the focus onto the conflict in the middle east proved to be the stepping stone the series needed to revamp, and revolutionize the FPS industry. This is a near perfect game. An iconic campaign with some of the most iconic characters in all of gaming, multiplayer that I spent night after night playing until the sunrise with friends, what I wouldn't give to play this game for the first time again.

I think it's safe to say that there are a lot of Call of Duty games. However, there are few that manage to make a first impression (for me) to the series like the second had managed. It was games like this that are the reason I'm as big of a history buff that I am today, and for good reason. D-Day is a scene that is recreated and reenacted in many forms of media, however Call of Duty 2 manages to make this one daunting and horrifying, all while giving you a slight glimmer of hope that your victory is somehow ensured. While it might not be the most memorable of the COD series, it sure makes its mark on the series.

As a fan of platform fighters, Brawlhalla is in a bit of a weird spot for me. I adore the characters, not to mention the sheer amount of guest characters. The core mechanics of the game are solid, however the weapon system makes the game a wee bit confusing, and at times oppressive to newer players and can be a bit intimidating to learn the more technical aspects of the game. However, this game does a fine job of maintaining a perfect level of casual play and competitive play separated. Overall, a fun time with some friends.

I loved the first Borderlands game. It introduced me to the RPG/Shoot & Loot genre at large and introduced me to some of my favorite characters of all time. To say I was excited to play Borderlands 2 is an understatement. And, oh boy, did I ever play this game. What is there to say? Even more colorful and instantly recognizable characters, along with the return of iconic characters from the first game? Check. An even more expansive Pandora, filled to the brim with colorful and memorable locales, new and refreshing enemies, and even MORE guns? Check. Fun quests? Well, mostly check. Every RPG game has some stinky quests. Bottom line is, I love Borderlands 2, and would happily sit back down to play it for a 3rd, 4th, and maybe even 5th time.

This game is where a large portion of my love for RPG games comes from. Borderlands was my first RPG, and to this day is one of the most iconic and intriguing games I have played. The instantly recognizable characters, seemingly endless waves of weapons and customization, the world of Pandora itself was always something that I yearned for while playing this game. I still come back to this game from time to time to load up my max level characters and just walk around a bit, completing a few pesky side quests I may have forgotten to complete during my main playthrough. A timeless classic.