About Me: Video Games

I’m hopping on a recent trend for this one – I’ve seen some people fill out an “About Me” grid for their favourite videogames, talking about the best soundtrack, favourite protagonist, most underrated game etc.

I want to give these twenty questions a go (based on my personal tastes, of course), but I’ve given myself two tricky rules – I’m not going to repeat any games and I’m only picking one game per franchise. Otherwise, this list wouldn’t be as varied and interesting. Let’s get to it!

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

My Top 20 Favourite Videogame Soundtracks

Top 20 Best Videogame Narratives

My Favourite Videogame Of Every Year

Every “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” Boss Ranked

Favourite Game – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

I’m starting off with a somewhat easy one, as “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” has been my favourite game of all time ever since I played it a decade ago.

It’s such an incredible fantasy from start to finish, and it has everything I want from a game – compelling characters in a gritty world and story, some kickass combat, and so much monster variety that you wonder if the team at CD Projekt Red ever slept during development.

I tend to flip-flop between this and “Skyrim” as my all-time favourite. That being said, there is one other game which is in the conversation nowadays:

Best Story – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

I was absolutely blindsided by “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” on its release – especially for its narrative. Never before had I been so utterly engrossed by a videogame story … and never before had a game been so consistently gripping from start to finish.

The Gommage immediately sets some worldwide and emotional stakes, and I love the three act structure of the narrative (I know that’s a common storytelling trope but they capitalize – and weaponize – it here). Characters don’t tell the whole truth. The deeper you look into this world’s lore, the more questions are raised. You never know what’s around the next corner … or if someone isn’t going to make it out of a scuffle alive.

The other game which I would’ve chosen for this slot if E33 didn’t exist was “Cyberpunk 2077”. That world and its story, especially by the end, sucked me in completely.

Favourite Art Style – Paradise Killer

To be honest, the first art style that came to mind for this category was “Persona 5 Royal” … but I used that game for a later slot. Other styles I enjoyed were the colourful pixel art of “Celeste” and the black-and-white of “Return of the Obra Dinn”, but I didn’t think either of those were outstanding enough to win this category.

One game who’s art style is perhaps its biggest takeaway is “Paradise Killer”. I thought the story and the world were really cool, but it’s the Demonic / Vaporwave style of it all which I appreciated most.

If I had to live in any videogame world based on style and vibes alone, it would probably be this one. As long as I don’t get sacrificed for the Syndicate’s blood rituals.

Biggest Personal Impact – Skyrim

The year is 2011. I’d just moved over from Nintendo Wii to Xbox 360 gaming, and one of the first games I picked up from the store was “Skyrim” because the dragon on the cover looked cool. My gaming life would never be the same again.

I was utterly blown away by how open and sprawling the world was. This was my first experience playing a non-linear game, and it was also one of my first ventures into pure Fantasy – a genre I would go on to cherish.

I must’ve played “Skyrim” half a dozen times growing up, and I’ve also played it a handful of times since. Even if I don’t do every side quest each playthrough, it’s always fun to relive a formative (positive!) childhood memory.

Best Combat – DOOM Eternal

A good combat system can make or break a game. Examples of games nailing the combat include “Resident Evil 4 (Remake)”, “Ghost of Tsushima”, “Arkham Knight”, “Sifu”, “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor” and both “Hades” games.

I was a big fan of the 2016 reboot of “DOOM”, but little did I know how incredible the follow-up “Eternal” would be. Not only did it have the same sort of rip-roaring gunplay that I’d grown accustomed to, but now the movement was off the scales.

You zip around the battlefield, killing demons to both progress and to pick up their crucial health drops, and it’s a visceral cycle which never gets old. If I had to be stuck on a desert island with just one game, it would probably be “DOOM Eternal”.

Overhated – Middle Earth: Shadow Of War

There were a couple of paths I could’ve gone down for this category. One game that critics disliked and warned me not to play was “Days Gone”, but that game was actually awesome.

In the end, I chose a game which even I hated when I first played it – “Middle Earth: Shadow Of War”. I bought it on the day it released because I loved the original so much, but I was eventually betrayed by the late-game grind and the push towards buying in-game benefits.

When I replayed it a few years later, after a lot of my complaints had been patched out, I fell head over heels for it – so much so that I now consider it to be the better of the two “Middle Earth” games.

The Nemesis System is used to the fullest, the world is bigger and more varied than ever, and even though the story has its flaws I still appreciate how they swung for the fences.

Underrated – Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

I’ve played lots of underrated games – usually puzzle or detective games, as that’s a niche of mine. “Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments” is one of the best detective games of all time, for example, and I don’t see nearly enough people talking about how “The Talos Principle 2” is one of the most impressive puzzle games of this generation.

For this entry, however, I decided to choose an underrated game from a major franchise. “Odyssey” is one of the modern RPG so-called “black sheep” additions to the Assassin’s Creed series, and I’ve seen fans and critics alike tear it apart for the spongey combat and the shallow story. Both of those complaints are valid.

I can look past the obvious flaws when the game itself is so fun. Ancient Greece is one of my favourite worlds in any game – both in terms of its beauty and mythical lore – and the side quest writing could be genuinely hilarious at times.

Overrated – Red Dead Redemption 2

For the record, I liked “Red Dead Redemption 2”. I thought it was a fun cowboy romp with an amazing story and a compelling cast of characters. I wasn’t particularly a fan of the gameplay or mission design, but I didn’t let that get in the way of my enjoyment.

Which is to say I’m baffled as to why this keeps getting “best game of all time” shouts. I frequently see it either in the top ten or at the very top of some lists entirely. Did we play the same game?

Rockstar spent far too much time perfecting the animations of their horse droppings and animal skinning rather than making a world I wanted to engage with. The side content was all fine but nothing I was desperate to do. The world was gorgeous, and the bustling towns and cities were a joy to explore, but travelling between them all on horseback got old fast when there was nothing much to do on the journeys there.

Oh, and “Silksong” is also a hella overrated game. Sorry not sorry.

Needs A Remake – Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

I’m not a fan of the concept of remakes. The “Resident Evil” games get away with it because Capcom are just built different. For most other franchises, however, I’d much rather game companies pushed for new IPs or new entries in an existing series instead of pumping out the same regurgitated slop. But oh well. For the sake of this category, I’ll have to pick a game to remake.

I remember liking “The Prince of Persia: Sands of Time” when I was younger and I’ve seen many people calling for a remake, but I don’t feel too strongly about it. One game I loved and which I think could be awesome on modern consoles, on the other hand, is “Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions”.

You play as four different versions of Spider-Man across the multiverse, and each version has their own style of gameplay. Each level also culminated in a kickass boss fight against an iconic Spider-Man villain. Basically, it was everything you could possibly want in a linear Spider-Man game. I bet it would be incredible with modern technology and updated gameplay.

Criminally Overlooked – The House In Fata Morgana

If you’re a visual novel fan, there’s a good chance you’ve already played and loved “The House In Fata Morgana”. If you’re a general gamer like me, there’s an even better chance that you’ve never even heard of it.

I certainly had to do some digging before I uncovered it, and I had to convince myself to play it in the first place. I’ve played visual novels like “Ace Attorney” and “Danganronpa”, but those are much closer to games than novels. “The House In Fata Morgana”, on the other hand, is straight up a book with the occasional choice to make here and there. And it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.

This has, without question, the best depiction of love and romance I have seen in any game, and one of the best I’ve seen in any medium ever. It’s a grueling read which will test your humanity and your patience, but I promise it’s worth it in the end.

Favourite Protagonist – God Of War

This was actually one of the hardest categories to pick. I couldn’t use Arthur Morgan or Geralt of Rivia as I’d used their respective games for other categories. Other frontrunners were James Sunderland from “Silent Hill 2”, Ichiban Kasuga or Kazuma Kiryu from the “Yakuza” series and – the one I almost went for – Ezio Auditore (specifically from “Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood”).

I really liked both of the modern “God Of War” games, and I think a lot of my appreciation for them has to do with the story and characters – specifically the characterization of Kratos.

What was once a ruthless and single-minded killer has now become a caring yet stoic-to-a-fault father, and seeing Kratos navigate the complexities of parenthood is half the fun of “God Of War”.

But Kratos is also still a badass. That’s what a lot of modern writers get wrong about their male characters – they try to make them impassive, flawed and brooding, but it’s far more fun to see someone like Kratos or Leon Kennedy kick everyone’s and everything’s butts.

Favourite Antagonist – Danganronpa

I’ve never given much thought to my favourite gaming antagonist – which is one of the many reasons why this “About Me” trend is actually quite fun to do. Renoir from “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” was at the forefront of my mind (probably due to recency bias) but I already used that game for another slot.

I was tempted by GLaDOS from “Portal 2”, Joker (and the rest of Batman’s foes) from “Arkham City”, or Hades from … well, “Hades”, but there’s an antagonistic teddy bear which has a far more prominent place in my gaming memory.

Monokuma is the epitome of a fun villain. He’s not a complex character by any means, but he knows what he stands for and he’s dedicated towards making the protagonists’ lives as terrible as possible during the “Danganronpa” killing games.

There’s an argument to be made that Junko is the real antagonist of “Danganronpa”, as she’s the one who conceived of Monokuma, but either way they’re both the embodiment of despair – and they’re both fantastic representations of the evils which can only be overcome by hope.

Best Soundtrack – Persona 5 Royal

Massive shout-outs to “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”, “Paradise Killer”, “Skyrim”, “DOOM”, “Minecraft” and “Super Mario Galaxy” for their flawless soundtracks … but “Persona 5 Royal” was one of the first slots I filled in when compiling this list.

The soundtrack is all hits and no misses. Whether it’s the chill background tracks like “Beneath the Mask”, the Palace themes like “Gentle Madman” or the iconic battle themes like “Last Surprise” I was often more focused on the fantastic music than the combat itself.

Oh, and both “Persona 3” and “Persona 4” have some all-timer soundtracks too. I guess what I’m saying is that “Persona 6” has a lot of musical expectations on its shoulders.

Best Multiplayer – Rocket League

I’m not big on multiplayer games … usually because I get way too angry at myself, my teammates or my terrible internet … but there have been a few over the years which I enjoyed. “GTA V” had a great online many years ago, and the “FIFA” series was my go-to as a kid.

I’ve played “Rocket League” semi-consistently ever since its release in 2015, and I imagine I’ll be playing it either until the servers go down or my fingers stop working. I’m not great at the game by any means, but there’s no thrill quite like pulling off an amazing aerial shot or a last-gasp save.

Not Usually My Thing, But … – Elden Ring

Hot take time – I couldn’t get into the “Dark Souls” games, or even “Sekiro”. I’ll never call those games bad or overrated because I can tell an immense level of passion and craft went into them, but I soon decided that those kinds of difficult, unforgiving games just weren’t my thing.

For whatever reason I gave “Elden Ring” a try a couple of years ago (probably because it was everywhere when it released), and I fell in love immediately. It skyrocketed up my personal game rankings straight away.

I think what helped me the most was how open and beginner-friendly it was. If I was struggling on a boss I could always go somewhere else and get stronger. It meant that I never hit a hurdle I couldn’t eventually jump over.

Sure, there were moments when I almost quit because the level design or the bosses were ridiculously unfair, but I kept coming back to the engrossing world and the addicting combat. I don’t know if an “Elden Ring 2” will ever be on the cards, but if it is then I’ll be there opening day.

Turn My Brain Off – PowerWash Simulator

I used to avoid mind-numbing games as I found them to be a waste of time and money, but in recent years I’ve come to appreciate the change of pace. “BallxPit” and the “Vampire Survivors / Crawlers” games have all kept me busy on rainy days. I almost chose “Balatro” for this slot, but to be fair you brain is supposed to be turned on for that one.

One game you can absolutely go into autopilot for, however, is “PowerWash Simulator” and its recent sequel. Cleaning virtual dirt and grime from objects tickled a part of my brain which I didn’t know existed.

Call me crazy, but I was constantly listening to music and audiobooks while I was PowerWashing. So even when I was wasting time I still refused to waste my time.

Best With Friends – Minecraft

There were a handful of games I played constantly with friends as a teenager – “Rocket League”, “GTA V” and “FIFA” all came with their evenings of laughter and rage, and “Factorio” was a game that a couple of friends of mine sunk hundreds of hours into during the school holidays.

But there was only ever going to be one winner for this category. “Minecraft” has a shout at being the ultimate game, and I don’t think there are any other games which evoke such creativity and joy within a group of friends.

At first it was a simple world with the goal of beating the Ender Dragon, then it was Skyblock, then it was PvP multiplayer servers like Hunger Games or Hypixel, then it was early modpacks, then it was modpacks with quests, and even today I reckon I could get the band back together and find something fun to do. With a game like “Minecraft”, the possibilities are endless.

Best Retro Game – Halo: Combat Evolved

It might be controversial to define what a “retro” game is. I was born in this millennium, so anything before the 2010’s is pretty retro to me. “Wii Sports”, for example, is now twenty years old – that was an iconic game from my and many people’s childhood. But I think I can go back to an even older game.

2001’s “Halo: Combat Evolved” is one of the few “old” games I’ve played which still holds up today. It’s one of the most definitive first person shooters ever, and it launched a franchise which I and many others fell in love with.

Nostalgic Childhood Game – Super Mario Galaxy

All of the games on this list are nostalgic in one way or another. I have so many fond memories of “Skyrim” and “The Witcher 3” when I was a pre-teen / teenager, and even in the Wii days there were classics like “Wii Sports” and “King Kong” (yes, I know that’s a rogue shout but that game was awesome!).

It has to be a Wii game in this slot, I think, because that was my first console and it had the games which made me who I am today. The Wii game I had the fondest memories of playing by far was “Super Mario Galaxy” and its sequel.

I was blown away by the cosmic aesthetic and the plethora of varied levels, and the avid collector in me loved gathering all 120 stars to power up Rosalina’s Observatory. Few platforming games have ever recaptured the magic of this one.

Game Everyone Should Play – Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

If we’re talking about a game that literally anyone could play, even children and grandparents, then I’d choose “Stardew Valley”. A safe choice. But if we’re talking about games which every gamer should play – casual or competitive – then I’d champion the “Ace Attorney” series.

It’s a story which strikes that perfect balance between goofy and sincere, and the visual novel format means that anyone can play it (and not stress over the controls, for example).

If you fully commit to this series – whether it’s the original trilogy or some of the fantastic later entries, like the “Great Ace Attorney” duology – you’ll enjoy games with puzzling contradictions and quirky characters oozing with heart and charm. This series is exactly what videogames should aspire to be – both fun and affecting.

Aaaand that’s my list! If you liked this post and want to support me, please consider giving me a one-time donation. Even a few pence (or whatever currency you use) is fantastic! I’ve never monetized this blog before, but it would be great if I could do this comfortably and not have to worry about the yearly website domain costs. Thank you so much!