I’ve never really considered myself a “gamer.” This is likely due to my upbringing. My parents bought into the 90s attitude that video games were violet, sexiest, and would rot your brain. We never had a console system growing up, so I never played much until middle and high school. Yet soon it became a regular part of my social life, and I had a lot of joy sharing it with my children. Here are my top 20 favorite games:
1. Civilization III
(2001, PC)
In terms of pure hours of play, the Civilization
franchise head and shoulders above any other game, and ever second was joy. I
remember playing the original Civilization on an ancient computer at my
grandmas over Christmas every year. Civilization II was the first real
computer game I played on a regular basis, and Civilization III
represented the pinnacle of the series. I loved the sandbox nature, finding
hidden villages, discovering technology, and battling barbarians. It’s still my
favorite game.
2. Animal Crossing: New
Horizons (2020, Nintendo Switch)
This is truly a family game, the only game I regularly
play my wife and oldest son. It’s also the only game that always makes me feel
better. Total zen.
3. Super Smash Bros.
(1999, N64)
I first became a fan of this game on the N64, perfecting
Pikachu to his maximum potential. In high school, my friends and I would play
the Game Cube version during lunch, a needed break from the stress of life.
4. Lollipop Chainsaw
(2012, PS3)
I absolutely love everything about this game, from the
constant jokes to the zombie glad gore, but what really takes the cake is
Juliet Starling herself, voiced by the legend Tara Strong. She is just…amazing.
5. Starcraft (1998,
PC)
I’ve always been a fan of the sci-fi genre and begged my
parents for this game when it was released. I played the story mode multiple
times and still enjoy it.
6. Goldeneye 007
(1997, N64)
I made and broke more middle and high school friends over
this game than any other. We would spend all night, fueled up on pizza and Dr.
Pepper shooting and slapping each other to death. Good times.
7. Halo: Combat Evolved
(2001, XBOX)
Unlike Goldeneye, I played a great deal of both the
storyline and multiplayer on this game. My friends were especially fond of tank
battling.
8. Pirates! (2004,
PC)
Sid Meier is probably my favorite game designer, and
Pirates is one of his masterpieces. I love sandbox games, and this one has a
slightly more adult edge. You can blast ships, duel Pirate captains, and even
seduce the governor’s daughter.
9. TowerMadness 2
(2014, Mobile)
This is my favorite mobile game, one of the few games I
completed. I love tower games, and the alien theme only improves the play.
10. Worms 2 (1998,
PC)
This lemmings style game is super silly and fun. Plus,
you get to fire the Holy Hand Grenade.
11. Perfect Dark
(2000, N64)
While it doesn’t have the nostalgia factor of Goldeneye,
the weapons and gameplay were more impressive. There was even a gun that could
shoot through walls, which was pretty annoying in multiplayer.
12. SimAnt (1991,
PC)
This is an oddly addictive game, and my favorite of the
“Sim” series. I loved fighting other ant colonies.
13. Bloom or Doom
(Unknown, Apple)
This might be the first computer game I ever played. It’s
a simple “press your luck game” where you try to grow a plant before winter
kills it, blooming as many buds for fruit as possible. I played it on my Dad’s
old work Apple in the 80s. I’ve never been able to find a copy of the game or
even a vague internet reference, so if anyone knows how to get a hold of it,
let me know.
14. Raptor: Call of the
Shadows (1994, Arcade)
The constant variety and barrage of weapons is unmatched.
15. Dead or Alive 3
(2001, XBOX)
One of my best childhood friends was Thomas Heresco, who
lived just up the street from me. He had an N64 and an XBOX, which was my first
serious forte into video games. Our favorite fighting game was Dead or Alive
3, which had a great cast of characters and cool combos. Sadly, he died at
only 29 from a hiking accident, so say a prayer for his soul.
16. Star Wars Trilogy
Arcade (1998, Arcade)
I loved going through the whole Star Wars trilogy
on this arcade game. It was quite versatile including duels with Darth Vader,
racing on speeders, and blasting stormtroopers.
17. Doom (1993, PC)
This my pure eight-year-old rage fuel. Who doesn’t love
fighting baddies with a shotgun and a little bit of gore.
18. Chip’s Challenge
(1989, PC)
When I was in fifth grade, if we were the first person
done with our math we could go play this puzzle game on the computer. I always
raced through the quizzes so I could play this super cool maze like game.
19. Michael Jackson’s
Moonwalker (1989, Sega)
If you capture a monkey, you become a laser blasting
robot. If you do the moonwalk, all the villains dance with you. The “child
saving” is a bit on the noose, but this is still a crazy, awesome game.
20. Mario Kart 64
(1996, N64)
While endlessly frustrating, I am nonetheless firm in my
opinion that Mario Kart is a fun game…if you don’t travel down Rainbow Road. My
seven-year-old certainly agrees.
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