So I wanted to make a chost about my favorite video games of the year. After all, that's been a tradition that I kept on other websites for almost ten years now (oh no).
Unfortunately, this year I haven't had the time to play enough titles to make a credible list!
It turns out I have finished exactly 5.
But that's technically enough for a top 5, and I enjoyed all of them, so, uh...
H-here you go!
Number 5: Touhou 18.5: Black Market of Bulletphilia 〜 100th Black Market
100th Black Market's an interesting Roguelite take on Touhou. Instead of precise enemy patterns for every stage, they're.
Past the first two stages, which were too easy to be fun, the first clear of each stage was thrilling! All in all, however, it ended up being my least favorite Touhou game so far. The two problems I had with it:
- It encourages grinding, which makes the game more repetitive than usual
- Some card combinations are too strong compared to your typical run, which makes you feel at times like you're deciding between monotonous victory or creative losses.
I highly recommend giving the series a shot! But as an entry point, I highly recommend going with either Touhou 18 (Unconnected Marketeers) for a modern entry or Touhou 7 (Perfect Cherry Blossom) for a more classic one instead.
Number 4: Pokémon Scarlet
I completed the regional Pokédex for this one, which I very rarely do -- which is a testament to these games doing something right. In fact, if not for the miserable technical state of the game I'd put it up there with my favorite of the series, Heart Gold/Soul Silver and Black/White!
After Sun/Moon made me take a break from the series, I was genuinely happy to return to this world, especially seeing how the series improved from there. The music, the characters, the ease of training Pokémon, the variety of said Pokémon, and of course the freedom in how you tackle the game. These have all been significantly improved, compared to the low point I left the series at.
But it's also a game that runs like doodoo, while slowing down as the framerate drops, while flashbanging you with models and lighting that repeatedly load and unload. It's making it really hard to focus on the things it's doing right -- hopefully, it will get a solid round of patches. I'd love to be able to recommend these games without attaching a thousand asterisks.
Number 3: Triangle Strategy
Another game with... let's say shaky framerate, at least with the Switch version, Triangle Strategy was otherwise a home run for me pretty much all the way.
Gameplay-wise, it improves on the classics it's inspired by (like Final Fantasy Tactics/Tactics Ogre) by having every character be truly unique. In doing so, the game becomes less of an RPG and puts more importance on the Tactics aspect which is really cool. I have nothing but praise for how Triangle Strategy plays.
Not only that, but I really enjoyed how most decisions in the game didn't have an obviously correct course of action. In doing so, it encourages you to participate in the roleplay, and to consider your values, instead of just going with the paragon option or whatever.
The pacing's a little slow, and some of the writing feels less natural than it perhaps should, but overall this is a wonder tactics RPG that stands up there with the best of the genre.
Number 2: Kirby and the Forgotten Land
I don't even have that much to say about this one! Kirby and the Forgotten Land just got me feeling like this:
It's cute, it's vibrant, and the abilities are fun to use. It's a game filled to the brim with happy vibes. I haven't felt this kind of nostalgia while playing a brand new game since, I dunno, Gravity Rush?
I always liked the Kirby series, though my favorite entries were starting to get a little old now (Super Star and Nightmare in Dreamland). I'm happy to add this one to the list.
Number 1: AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative
The AI: The Somnium Files series is made for me. I am the audience.
They're such a captivating mix of funny goofball characters, mind-bending stories, varied puzzles (some of which got me to take physical notes!), spicy conspiracies, and fun facts taken straight from Wikipedia.
Compared to the original, nirvanA Initiative improves in a lot of ways too. Both main characters are more immediately likable than Date from the original, the interface is slicker, the puzzles require less trial and error, and the animation work is improved... Great stuff all around.
The only point I'd give to the original game is that the overarching story more directly relates to the cast. But that's it! Give these games a go if you haven't already and you enjoy Kotaro Uchikoshi's previous work (or sci-fi visual novels in general).
And now that's all the time I got! What did you play this year, did anything stand out to you?