While not the first game I ever played, this is the first game I remember owning myself and playing through religiously. I think this is the reason I love RPG progression and evolution is why I love visual progression tied with gameplay benefits. Yes, I frequently used a GameShark to give me 999 rare candies so I could make a level 100 Typhlosion and curb stomp Lance, but he had it coming.

When I begged my parents to get me a GameCube, it came with this gem. I had played Super Mario 64 prior to this, but this was MY 3D Mario game. It is what made me fall in love with kinetic movement mechanics, I love dolphin diving on a water path I sprayed getting to max speed and then doing a spin jump into a wall jump for no reason other than its fun.

I don't remember if I got this because of Nintendo Power, or because I thought the box looked cool, but I do know that this game helped me get good at mental math. The animations are cool, the story was interesting and dude I love turn-based strategy because of this game.

This is just magical. Nothing mechanically in this game is particularly special, what makes this game shine is its presentation. The characters, the vibes, being a tiny dude in a big house, cute sound effects and heartwarming moments. It made me fall in love with things that had little to do with gameplay.

This game is the origin of so much of my taste. Melodrama, edgy shit, cool cutscenes, fight sequences, and deep nonsensical lore. The action combat was my first encounter with anything like this and I think is some of the best action RPG combat ever created. Finally, it introduced me to Cloud Strife and Final Fantasy, which I instantly fell in love with, even if I wouldn't play it for years to come.

My ideal Zelda game. The best dungeons, story, and all of it with motion controls baby. The first game I got for my Wii, and I played it constantly, beat it, then immediately played it again. This game throws the kitchen sink in with so many dungeons, bosses, and that damn bridge duel with King Bulbin. This game culminates with one of the most rewarding boss gauntlets of all time, and an ending that still tugs on my heartstrings.

While I had played Fire Emblem, Sacred Stones, and Path of Radiance before this, this game felt like it had a larger scope than all 3 of them together. While it stumbles on occasion, it successfully tells of a complex war of ideals and gods, tackling difficult themes. Gameplay wise it really tests you and doesn't pull any punches after Act 1.

My first FPS, and the game that introduced me to the world of Xbox and as a result, online play. Halo, Call of Duty, and Battlefield would go on to dominate my life after playing this, but at the same time it showed a much more melancholic approach in its time between main missions as you explore New Mombasa. While it introduced me to my toxic era, it also defined my love of subtlety in storytelling

This game is nearly perfect. It perfectly balances comedy and intrigue, engaging puzzle gameplay, and paced to perfection. While trudging through the daily grind of CoD lobbies, this game started to reintroduce me to my love of solo experiences.

This game is largely responsible for breaking me out of my AAA FPS era by introducing me to a indie action RPG with a focus on narrative. For a long time this was one of my favorite games just because of how it hit me at just the right time.

My favorite game of all time. To date, I haven't played a game that has made me feel the way Okami does, and I doubt I ever will. This game is literally my tastes to a T. Gorgeous art style, sprawling adventure, complex dungeons and bosses, unique powers utilized in exploration, combat and puzzles, and a light-hearted story that makes you cry through its characters and music. The GOAT

My first Final Fantasy game, kind of, its complicated, but the point is, this is how I fell in love with JRPGs after our time apart. The world, the characters, the story, the presentation, all hit me at the right time to where I fell absolutely in love with this franchise.

While I thought boss fights were cool before, this is why I LOVE boss fights. There have been better Monster Hunter games since this, but this introduced me to this obsession, and playing with my friends is what drove it home. I will never forget the late nights with 3 of my buds all huddled in my room playing Monster Hunter on our 3DSes, those were the days.

My first Megami Tensei game, it kicked my teeth in, and then did it again and again until I finally pushed past and found how much I loved this game. I mostly bought this due to a Club Nintendo deal, and but little did I know how this would impact how I look at my favorite genre.

This wasn't my first Metroid, it wasn't my first Metroidvania, and it isn't my favorite either, but it did make me realize I loved both the franchise and the genre. I beat this game 3 times in the first several weeks I had this on Normal, Hard and Fusion, then I played all the other Metroid games, and found new love for one of my favorite franchises and genres.