I Did the Impossible: I Wrote a List of My Favourite Games

My wife and I became videogame journalists because we love games that much. Our devotion runs so deep that neither of us can imagine doing anything else, and we would rather spend special days enjoying gaming together than leaving the house to do something outside.

I added that addendum because I want to emphasise just how difficult it was for me to choose from so many phenomenal titles that we've experienced! After a while of thinking about it, it was undeniable: these are my absolute favourite games… in no particular order. That would just kill me.

My Time at Portia

I don't think that the My Time series counts as niche or unknown anymore, especially now that their high-quality third entry, My Time at Evershine. It might not have achieved the extreme success that Stardew Valley has, but I personally adore it.

Once you get past the beginning bit, like the intro and the tutorial, My Time at Portia opens up beautifully. If you've already played the sequel, My Time at Sandrock, it might feel much clunkier… but believe me, there's a world of quirky and hilarious characters to meet, and a surprisingly deep story to uncover.

There is so much charm in the game that I loved it even back when I played it as a snotty (and snooty) gamer. The characters and narrative ooze with empathy and layers, and it's topped with a juicy cherry of humour. Pathea Games is one of the few — or perhaps only — videogame developers I know who can make you cry in a game where you can ride adorable pink llamas.

My Time at Sandrock

If you've not played Portia, feel free to skip this one. As for the remaining readers… welcome. Let me tell you all about this incredible sequel and one of my favourite games.

I will admit that I was hesitant to play it when I first saw it: I didn't trust that such a masterpiece as My Time at Portia could be replicated, especially not in the desert and surrounded by ranchers. How would I live without the beautiful green hills? And how would I live with dumb cowboys?!

The answer is easily and happily. My Time at Sandrock crushed and surpassed any crazy expectation from a fan of the previous title. It retained what made the characters and narrative so humorous and deep while adding things I hated… things that I ended up loving.

By the end of my first playthrough, which took a whopping 240 hours to complete, I didn't know how I could go back to normality. Sandrock had become a second home to me; the dunes that I once thought so hideous and barren were stunning now. The NPCs I feared would be dull were my second family. It was the first time I had ever experienced such intense homesickness from a game.

There isn't enough digital space for me to truly unleash my love for My Time at Sandrock; I don't even think I would have enough words in the English dictionary. Is it a perfect game? No (in large part, thanks to Logan), but it is unforgettable.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

My very first soulslike experience and one of the videogame loves of my life… Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. I'll never tire of telling the tale of how I finally gave in to my wife's pleading and tried it, and at the door of every single boss, I would be sure it was my last. That lasted all the way up to the last one.

It took me about 50 hours to complete my first run, and I was terrified every step of the way. I wasn't just scared of the intimidating bosses and their scary-looking techniques: I was nervous I would snap and rage-quit. When I finally finished the game, I felt like a new me, and for years after (and occasionally still), I will use it as a flex: everything will be okay; I beat Sekiro.

I don't think I'm ever not in the mood to jump in and finish another run. FromSoftware does an incredible job designing the environment in their games, and Sekiro is no exception; some of the areas are downright stunning. Perhaps the only thing I would argue could beat that is the enemies and their design: they're disgusting, terrifying, and awe-striking all in one. I will never forget the Palace Noble; that creep gives me nightmares.

DARK SOULS III

I know, I know… everyone and their mother loves the DARK SOULS franchise. This can hardly count as a surprise at this point, but there is a reason why everyone who plays it ends up obsessed with it and the genre.

I'll even admit it aloud: I used to be a hater. I thought it was a stupid genre that had only the purpose of expanding tryhard gamers' egos. Deep inside, I was also terrified of it; I was scared of trying it and failing, feeling stupid, and raging. The truth is that I was horrified by the idea that it would only confirm that I was bad at videogames.

Yet my wife begged me nonstop to try Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and it was an unforgettable experience that I ended up adoring the genre. This led me to playing one of her favourite titles, DARK SOULS III.

After I played it, I became obsessed. I loved it so much that I played through it and then immediately finished it again in co-op with my wife; in total, I have 103 hours, which is no joke, seeing as I played it back to back.

I have deeply fond memories of my time in DARK SOULS III and numerous silly clips of deaths (even some that we shared on our YouTube channel via shorts). Thankfully, I'm not done with it yet: I aim to get the 100% and try out every build available. Here's to hundreds of hours more!

Hollow Knight

My wife begged and begged for me to play many of the games on this list… and now look at them: they're my absolute favourite ones. Hollow Knight is no exception; in fact, I'd say it's in my top three.

There's so much to love about it that I find it frustrating to write it down; there is just no way for me to properly express my devotion that doesn't feel superficial in comparison. The music and atmosphere are stunning, but it's more than just that — it's what lives on inside my heart years after finishing it.

I don't know that I would have known how to love the game as much if my wife hadn't been there to help me with the narrative. The overall gameplay experience is top-notch, there's no doubt about that, but the story… oh, man, the story. If you pick it up, I highly suggest you follow the narrative.

I never thought a videogame about bugs could be so heartwrenching. It won't be explained outright, and you have to do some digging to fathom it all, but it is worth it. I would face ten Palace Nobles before I pass a fight against The Hollow Knight without getting goosebumps or downright crying.

Little Kitty, Big City

Taking a complete U-turn from soulslikes and heart-crushing narratives, Little Kitty, Big City is a prime example that you don't need a large budget or a deep, dramatic story to make an impact. This colourful adventure picks me up from the darkness by just thinking of it, flooding me with memories of silly quests, funny dialogue, and one of the most passionate developers I know.

I can scarcely imagine a better pick-me-up for a bad day. The title is oozing with charm and passion, which feels nigh never-ending, as Double Dagger Studio comes back to add more updates constantly! I appreciate the effort enormously, as I could never have enough.

The game was supposed to be short, but I spent 12 hours on it, and I still have a few achievements to go before I get the 100%. After my wife made my cat — a skeleton one! Viva Halloween! — I ran off to unleash my furry chaos on the unsuspecting citizens. A tsunami of warm feelings, laughter, and cuteness is what comes to life when I summon any memory from my time with Little Kitty, Big City.

DREDGE

Once in a while, a game will come around that buries its heels into my mind and refuses to let go. This happened to me with DREDGE after reading my coworker (and friend)'s review of the game. Considering it's a Lovecraftian narrative, it's almost scary how much it haunted me.

Before DREDGE, my exposure to cosmic horror was nearly zero. I had come across it previously, but it had never clicked in my head; I barely understood what it was or why people loved it so much. Ever since I finished the game, I get waves of an intense need to go play or read something related to the Lovecraftian genre.

To say I loved the unsettling feeling and the atmosphere is an understatement — I could live and breathe it. Black Salt Games created an experience that dances the line between cosy and scary perfectly. I am always on the lookout to scratch that fishing, horror, and cute itch ever since I picked DREDGE up.

The Walking Dead

One of the first franchises I got obsessed with when I became a true fan of gaming was Telltale Games' The Walking Dead. It was so long ago that the idea of being a videogame journalist wasn't even a concept yet.

At the time, I spent a lot of my day watching shows and movies, and one of the series that I had (repeatedly) binged was AMC's The Walking Dead. So, naturally, I was curious enough to try out the game version… boy, I wasn't ready. Far from it. I needed a lot more tissues for the tears I was about to unleash.

Throughout my younger years, I had several phases that stifled my interest in videogames. I was quite prissy about graphics at one point, and at another time, I just didn't have the attention span or interest for narratives — if I wasn't shooting something, I was wasting time. I played The Walking Dead somewhere in the middle of those two.

I became so engrossed with the experience that my family took a trip to Argentina, and I would go to my room as soon as we arrived at the house we were staying at to play it on my laptop. This was a big, big Hispanic-style vacation — I'm talking everything from my grandma and aunt to my siblings and their families were there.

Although it's been years now since I finished the entire franchise, I still hold it in my heart. I will someday return to it and experience it as an adult.

League of Legends

Finally, we've arrived at the end. I have somehow managed to cut down hundreds of games that I love to just nine of them, masterfully avoiding falling into nostalgia traps like World of Warcraft.

My longest-lasting videogameship is with Riot Games' League of Legends. It has seen every ugly side of me throughout the many years that I have played it with my wife, from my flame-y teenage years to my snooty early adulthood.

I have so many incredible (and awful) memories of League of Legends that I'm convinced it's taking up at least 30% of my brain's capacity. It might be corny, but I love that I've also seen all of its ugliness and glory, from early splash arts and hideous in-game graphics to the insane growth it has had throughout the years. I could scarcely believe it when Arcane was announced!

My wife and I don't play it as much as we used to (insert flashbacks of 24-hour sessions, where I would rage on the chat like a typical sweaty teenager), but we still get stuck for about a month or two every time we do come back. Nowadays, the experience is different: we don't worry about the win or loss, and we only boot up ARAM, but there is no doubt in my mind that League of Legends deserves a spot among my absolute favourite games.

Thanks for reading my article! It's always nice to go down memory lane. I hope you found a cool game to try out, but let's be real… most of these are pretty mainstream.