Here’s what this concept is: together, we are building an essential list of video games, representing both our own tastes and titles which we feel all of us video game likers should experience. The catch: every one of you can only choose ONE game to add to the list, which we will be collectively building. So, use your one contribution wisely! I’ll be keeping track of them all in this top post.
THE LIST
The 3rd Birthday (2010), PSP - @nagatheserpent
868-HACK (2013), Multiplatform - @scoregem
ACE COMBAT 04: Shattered Skies/Distant Thunder (2001), PS2 - @JoJoestar
Advanced Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (2003), Game Boy Advance - @empika
AI: The Somnium Files (2019), PS4/Switch/Windows - @Smiauu666
Ape Escape 3 (2005), PS2 - @billy
Armed Police Batrider (1998), Arcade - @TracyDMcGrath
Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale (2013), 3DS - @tokucowboy
Banjo-Kazooie (1998), N64 - @LuigiIsThePope
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean (2003), GameCube - @baftaboo
Bazar de Gozarre no Game de Gozarre (1996), PC Engine CD - @KennyL
Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 (2002/2010), PS2/PSP - @Kimimi
Burnout 3: Takedown (2004), PS2/Xbox - @connierad
Candy Box 2 (2013), Web Browser - @DaveedNoo
Capcom vs. SNK 2 (2001), Multiplatform - @rearnakedwindow
Chrono Cross (1999), PlayStation - @2501
Crusader Kings 2 (2012), PC - @quby
Dark Souls (2011), Multiplatform - @kylebrizzown
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (2015), Multiplatform - @fridgeboy
Daytona USA (1994), Arcade - @devilsblush
Dead Rising (2006), XB360/PC - @tuxedomonk
Death Stranding (2019), PS4 - @wickedcestus
Dino Crisis 2 (2000), PlayStation - @hellomrkearns
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (2019), Multiplatform - @Bonsai
Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain? (2005), Nintendo DS - @beets
Dragon Warrior III (2001), Game Boy Color - @Nemoide
Dropsy (2015), Multiplatform - @AbandonedRocketship
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup (2006), Multiplatform - @antillese
Eternal Ring (2000), PS2 - @mtvcribs
Etrian Odyssey (2007), DS - @messemet
Final Fantasy VI (1994), SNES - @Herb
Final Fantasy VIII (1999), PlayStation - @connrrr
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (2007/2017-2019), PS2, PS4, PC, Switch - @LeFish
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (2003), GameCube - @RubySunrise
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (1996), Super Famicom - @Aizen
Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (2005), PS2 - @StimpyJoy
The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa (2018), PC/Switch/Xbox One - @antontaun
FTL: Faster Than Light (2012), Multiplatform - @matt
Gears of War (2006), Xbox 360 - @Coffinwarehouses
Get in the Car, Loser! (2021), PC - @onnuhhhh
Gimmick! (1992), Famicom - @donrumata
GOD HAND (2006), PlayStation 2 - @Gaagaagiins
Gravity Daze/Gravity Rush (2012), Vita - @330AM
Grow Home (2015), PC/PS4 - @price
Guardian Heroes (1996), Sega Saturn - @Unbeknownst2U
Half-Life 2 (2004), PC - @fetus8
Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak (2003), GBA - @crumble
Heat Signature (2017), Windows - @Samograj
Hellnight/Dark Messiah (1998), PS1 - @nurvuss
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia (1999), PC - @SU2MM
Hexen II (1997), Windows - @drinkrust
Hitman: Blood Money (2006), Multiplatform - @tombo
Hyper Gunsport (2022), Multiplatform - @bwood
Jet Set Radio (2000), Dreamcast - @Karasu
John Woo Presents: Stranglehold (2007), Multiplatform - @mack41
Jump Ultimate Stars (2006), DS - @LoBFCanti
Katamari Damacy (2004), PS2 - @The_Gloopster
Killer7 (2005, GameCube - @Adria
King of Dragon Pass (1999), PC - @TheBeigeKnight
The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Final Edition (2011), Multiplatform - @nolimitsquesting
Koudelka (1999), PlayStation - @xhekros
Kunio-kun: The World Classics Collection (2018), PS4, Switch, Xbox One - @tanuki
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993), Game Boy - @zm1704
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (2000), N64 - @TheFragranceOfDarkCoffee
LSD: Dream Emulator (1998), PlayStation - @kingnothing
Max Payne 3 (2012), PS3/Xbox 360/Windows/iOS - @shlootermcgavin
Mega Man Battle Network 3: Blue Version (2003), GBA - @kyleprocrastinations
Mega Man Legends (1997), PS1 - @MegaSigil
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), Multiplatform - @andrewelmore
Metroid Prime (2002), GameCube - @fugazi57
Mirror’s Edge (2008), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 - @missingdata
Mother 2: Giguno no Gyakushū/Earthbound (1994), Super Famicom/SNES - @Funbil
NBA Street Vol. 2 (2003), Xbox/PS2/GameCube - @whatsarobot
Neo Turf Masters (1996), NEO•GEO - @mindleftbody
NieR Gestalt (2010), Xbox 360 - @Jaffe
NieR: Automata (2017), PS4 - @esper
NiGHTS into Dreams (1996), Sega Saturn - @pasquinelli
Ninja Gaiden Black (2005), Xbox - @copySave
No More Heroes (2007), Wii - @hi-im-jt
Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors (2003), Xbox - @skebump
Outer Wilds (2019), Multiplatform - @MDS-02
Outrun 2/Outrun 2006 (2003/2005), PS2/Xbox/PC - @hellojed
Pathologic 2 (2019), PC - @yeso
Peggle (2007), Multiplatform - @dicegame
Pentiment (2022), PC - @diogo
Phantasy Star IV (1993), Genesis - @jeelz
Pikmin (2001), GameCube - @safety_lite
Pokémon Puzzle League (2000), N64 - @Jonii
Portal (2007), Multiplatform - @Squit
Punch-Out!! (2009), Wii - @Creekgrin
The Question (2006), PC - @Video_Game_King
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998), PSX - @tomjonjon
Resident Evil 4 (2005), Multiplatform - @KingTubb
Return of the Obra Dinn (2018), Multiplatform - @kory
Rez Infinite (2016), PS4 - @recorder
Ryū ga Gotoku 0/Yakuza 0 (2015/2017), PS3/PS4 - @Jax
Sakura Taisen (1996), Sega Saturn - @穴
The Secret of Monkey Island (1990), PC - @rejj
Shenmue (1999), Dreamcast - @seasons
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne (2003), PS2 - @sabertoothalex
Shining Force II (1993), Mega Drive/Genesis - @chazumaru
Shutokō Battle 2 (2000), Dreamcast - @Chopemon
Sid Meier’s Civilization IV (2005), PC - @YerryMina
Snafu (1981), Intellivision - @Mnemogenic
Sonic R (1997), Sega Saturn - @andersmattson14
Sora no Kiseki/The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (2004), PC - @Tradegood
Space Channel 5 Part 2 (2002), Dreamcast - @vmu_beep
Space Giraffe (2007), XBox 360 - @gunk_rider
Star Cruiser (1988), Multiplatform - @PasokonDeacon
Stardew Valley (2016), PC - @QuenchGrust
Stephen’s Sausage Roll (2016), PC - @Dunkr
Streets of Rage 4 (2020), Windows - @robinhoodie
Suikoden II (1998), PlayStation - @tapevulture
Sunset Riders (1991), Arcade - @palo
Super Mario World (1990/1991/1992), Super Famicom/Super Nintendo - @goonbag
Syvalion (1988), Arcade - @treefroggy
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (2010), PSP - @thebryanjzx90
Team Fortress 2 (2007), PC - @sdate
Trico the Giant Man-eating Eagle (2016), PS4 - @captain
Ufouria: The Saga (1991), NES - @NoJoTo
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (1992), PC - @AlecS
Umihara Kawase Shun (1997), PlayStation - @Badoor
Unlimited Saga (2002), PS2 - @Hyper-Guts-Shooter
Virtua Tennis (1999), Dreamcast - @onefiftythree
VVVVVV (2010), Multiplatform - @Kez
WarioWare: Twisted! (2004), Game Boy Advance - @JackOakLeaf
The Witness (2016), Multiplatform - @Snowdecahedron
Ys: The Oath in Felghana (2005), PC - @BoldOblique
Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward (2012), 3DS/Vita - @dylanfills