Super Mario Galaxy is another classic 3D Mario experience. Finding yourself jumping from planet to planet across a galaxy filled with colorful creatures and funky denizens you experience the same Mario gameplay loop that has remained thankfully unchanged since SM64.

What sets this apart from its predecessors is the beautiful world around you and the top tier orchestrated soundtrack. Everything from Rosalina's hub world to the Gusty Gardens to fighting Bowser is filled with rich and exciting melodies that makes you never want to put it down.

Catherine is two things: a fun puzzle game and an enjoyable story, which is something I never would have thought I'd say.

I normally hate puzzle games but Atlus really hits the nail on the head with experimentation and not over complication in Catherine, with the puzzle missions having forgivable checkpoints and multiple ways to completion.

The story and choose your own adventure aspect of Catherine is also very enjoyable, as you witness and play a part in a lovestory completely gone wrong. Vincent's lovers and friends are always a real hoot to hang around and exist as a fun reprieve between the puzzles.

The game that started it all, the greatest space opera.

Mass Effect 1 in retrospect can seem short and scant, but at the time Bioware was doing exactly what it had been doing in the Western RPG scene in creating an innovative an immersive world with deep lore and powerful stories. While combat and UI were simple, the story and relationships built within your squad were unlike anything that was available on the market.

Beginning as a newbie Commander Shepard felt GREAT in 2007 and as time and sequels came, felt more and more vindictive. The lore team at Bioware did an impeccable job building out stories and sensical scenarios for tons of intergalactic races. It felt like there is no stone left unturned into why a certain race behaves X way in ME1 or why species Y and Z dislike eachother. Mass Effect (and the games following) is probably the only game where I've intentionally read every codex entry for lore because I was that invested in it.

The story of the Reapers and Saran is only just the start of one of the greatest fictitious universes in any medium ever made.

The best game in the storied 4X genre that implores you to learn more about the history and cultures of mankind. Civ V can be played at a very difficult level for those looking for a extremely long challenge, or by those looking for a mild gaming experience where they can chill out and experience the allure of "one more turn."

There are multiple win conditions in Civ V that are all fun to explore in their own right, which in addition to the long game length make for a seemless and enjoyable gaming experience. I love playing this game late at night or on lowkey days where I can relax and enjoy building a civilization from the ground up.

This game is the pits, nothing about this was a gratifying experience. The ham-fisted, awfully indecisive and confusing deckbuilding the game is centered around is horribly explained and was an awful gameplay mechanic. It's a shocker that this was included in a game in the last 20 years, like I'm still a few weeks after playing it flabbergasted in how horribly put together this game was. Not only are you playing through zones that you went through in Kingdom Hearts 1, the game features little to zero voice acting and adds a massive amount of lore that in Kingdom Hearts fashion makes zero sense.

I don't understand why this game was made, was it as a test to see what humanity could take before we fall apart? Was this game created because someone at the company was angry or had to settle a vendetta? Who likes this game?

This game is the lowpoint in the Kingdom Hearts franchise catalog, which for a series that contains no good games, is truly telling.

2/10 because the other game I have tagged as a 1/10 doesn't deserve company this poor.

I laughed at Josef Fares at the Game Awards when he made his infamous "F the Oscars" rant, but I knew right away after hearing him for the first time that he was somebody who truly CARED about the games he made.

It Takes Two is an absolute labor of love from EA's Hazelight Studios. Every level of this ~10 hour experience is carefully hand crafted from top down, no segment is boring and no mechanic becomes too stale. I played this with a close family member and we were constantly laughing at the pranks we pulled on eachother, but silence befell us when listening to the story and our mouths were in awe at all the beautiful colors and extensive world design.

The minigames stayed fresh, the change of platforming to gameplay unique genre segments, the characters outside of the main two all added to what is without a doubt the greatest co-operative game ever made.

Okay sidenote, I just wish that Mass Effect 3 had the same UI.

Mass Effect 2 is the perfect example of Godfather syndrome, not only being better than its predecessor but being one of the best games ever made. Bioware wins again in continuing one of the most in depth and captivating sci-fi universes across gaming, film and TV.

Shepard begins fresh with a different alleigance, with different allies and new enemies. He meets familiar faces, but how do they feel about him now that he's switched sides, will they listen to his pleas and help him in the name of the galaxy? The beautiful thing about ME2 is that none of these answers are clear or predictable, you make friends with some despicable people and say some incredibly tough goodbyes. The added squadron members like Jack, Miranda, Legion, Samara, and more are all welcome. One might think that with as many characters as ME2 has that some might be forgettable, but that is simply not the case (okay there is Jacob.) Everyone on your squadron has a degree of depth that sets them apart from their peers, they all have unique backgrounds and offer something new to the table. Getting to know them and come to their aid in the Loyalty missions was a great storytelling and teambuilding tool.

It seems like everybody knows how this game ends (hint: it's with a bang) but I won't divulge in the interest of spoiler but I will say it delivers one of the most breathtaking and nerve wracking finales I've ever witnessed.

The real mystery is the friends who we made along the way.

999 is the beginning of a legendary trilogy of detective VN/escape room games and while it is short, it is more than effective in setting up a fantastic mystery with some endearing characters and sharp humour. The puzzles in this game are much simpler than its sequels yet still require a great degree of intelligence. Character interaction and exposition is also another strongsuit of 999 seeing 9 (Lol) unique characters with their own unique quirks that make every minute of the escape exciting and enjoyable.

Undertale has gotten a lot of hype in the general gaming world since its release, and rightfully so. Within the world of Undertale you will experience moments that make you laugh, encounters that will make you cry, and a world of some very colorful characters. Mechanically it's a top down RPG in the same vein of the Mother series (in which the influence is draped on its sleeve) with combat mechanics that are unique and far more entertaining than most other RPG's on the market.

The designed pixel world is beautiful, the characters are extremely entertaining to talk to, and the story will move in some very distressful ways very quickly. I only completed the pascifist route but I very much enjoyed my time with the game and after reaching the end, wished it was never over. I've typed all this so far without mentioning the soundtrack which is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best OST's to ever grace a video game. There's much more than Megalovania (which is great in its own right,) which is probably why I hold it in such high regard.