1.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Xbox 360 | 2010)
Having not played any AC past Black Flag (which would be here instead of this title if it weren't for the godawful present day guff, and sparse city content), this game still stands as the pinnacle of the Assassin's Creed series for me. As much as I've enjoyed the series' subsequent entries, this one remains the best, taking in an iconic, beautiful, ancient city at a truly fascinating time in its history, with one of the best protagonists in gaming history.
2.
Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360 | 2010)
One of the finest sci-fi experiences I've had the pleasure of delving into, taking the potential of the series' first entry and improving on it in most respects. I missed the Mako from the first game, and "proper" planetary exploration, but not the identikit building interiors or weak weaponry. The game's array of excellently written characters (& dialogue), varied locations and fantastic story arcs makes for an incredibly compelling experience. A gaming highlight I will not soon forget.
3.
Horizon: Zero Dawn (with Expansion) (PS4 | 2017)
The best sci-fi game I've played since Mass Effect 2, and one of the best stories I've had the pleasure to enjoy in a very long time. The game world is gorgeous, and while dauntingly huge, it never feels too big. The characters are incredibly well written (Aloy is up there with Ezio Auditore as one of gaming's best lead characters), the imagination on display is first rate, and the music is hauntingly beautiful. It is a truly wonderful game.
4.
Sonic Mania (Plus) (PS4 | 2017)
In the decades after the 16-bit era, the gaming world watched with dismay as Sonic the Hedgehog's golden reputation turned into a shit-smeared embarrassment. As time went by, I longed for a return to my childhood favorite's glory days, but Sonic Team just seems incapable of doing that - and whenever they do hit on a good idea, like Colors apparently was (I never played it), they can't seem to stick with it. Sonic Generations showed promise, but it wasn't quite what I wanted, and then came Sonic 4, which proved that Sonic Team couldn't even do a "proper" return to the series' roots well.
But then came Christian Whitehead and his friends at Headcannon and PagodaWest Games, appearing like Gandalf and the Rohirrim at the end of the LotR: The Two Towers. Entrusted by Sega with a new 16-bit-style Sonic title of their very own after the critical success of their enhanced Sonic 2 port, they hit the ball out of the park and then some. In Mania, we got a masterclass in what happens when the series is given over to people who really
get how to do 2D Sonic right; they took existing zones from the classic era and mixed them up into something truly special, delivering genuinely improved experiences, while in the new zones they built they proved they can hold their own with the greats of old.
This was the game my inner 10 year old had been wanting. It just sucks that Sega evidently couldn't figure it out first.
5.
Metro 2033 (Xbox 360 | 2010)
Easily the best "gritty" post-apocalyptic game I've played, not that I've played very many. It oozes atmosphere from every orifice, accompanied by a haunting and atmospheric soundtrack. Artyom's fraught and harrowing journey through the bleak, unforgiving, sometimes distinctly creepy Moscow Metro, is a memorable one.
6.
Metroid: Samus Returns (3DS | 2017)
Fantastic classic Metroid gameplay with some truly great modifications, a gorgeous and atmospheric soundtrack, challenging battles and a big ass game world to explore.
7.
Sid Meier's Civilization V (with Expansions) (PC | 2010)
In the years following the (now, it seems, temporary) demise of the Age of Empires series, I didn't really have much to do with strategy games, beyond a brief foray into Rome: Total War. But then I heard about Civ V, and read on here and review aggregate sites the views of those so enamored by it. So I bought it, and promptly lost several hundred hours of my life. Suddenly, my (still) beloved AoE seemed small fry compared to the multi-epochal, global civilizational epic stories I was living out in Civ V. The "just one more turn" addiction is
monstrously real.
I might have put Civ VI here, but somehow it still doesn't have an official map editor.
I just wanna build ancient Earth maps; Triassic, Jurassic, Eocene etc.8.
Darksiders (Xbox 360 | 2010)
A wonderful, inventive, Zelda-esque journey through the apocalypse, filled with colorful characters, great boss battles, puzzles that never felt too difficult, a great story and a beautifully realized post-apocalyptic Earth. Mark Hamill's scene-stealing voice acting talent was a joy to watch. Such immense fun! The sequel was wonderful too, but not quite this great. I have very high hopes for the third installment.
9.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii | 2011)
I didn't think that any new Zelda game could top the glories of the Wind Waker, but when I played this, I just fell in love. It has
by far the best story of the (3D) series, the best use of items, a great swordplay mechanic, and a fantastic cast of characters. It has some shortcomings, it's true, but it got to me in a way Wind Waker never quite did - perhaps because of the persistent feeling of TWW's incomplete state whenever I play it.
10.
Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360 | 2010)
A first rate Spaghetti Western in game form, with a compelling story, a great cast and exceptionally well written dialogue. The game world is breathtaking, and the soundtrack is just beautiful. I didn't want it to end, and yet end it did.