Topic: What's your favorite game of all time?

Hello everybody! I was kinda shocked there wasn't another major thread like this on the site. It's just one very simple question: what is your favorite game of all time? Along with an explanation hopefully. (A fun story about why you love it so much, a mini review, or at the very least I expect a good pun) I really look forward to reading what everyone has to say!

Metroid Prime. Because...it was the most impressive, acclaimed, cool Nintendo game when I was 12. shrugs

I'm sure there's other reasons. It certainly plays 10X better than first person Metroid on Gamecube controller made by people who have never made a game before in 2002 has any right to. The only other explanation I have for why Prime over anything else is that I think it does my favorite mix of gameplay and atmosphere. Like BOTW is close, peak era Valve is close, but Prime is simultaneously a fun Nintendo game at it highest level (especially for what it is, at its time) while also an atmospheric sci-fi experience.

World of Warcraft easily. I just love the setting, the lore and just the scope of the game. I can and have literally spent hours just exploring the world. It's hard for me to explain why I enjoy the game so much and why even now 20 years later I can enjoy it. I guess it's the ever evolving story and world.

Maybe not a major one, but threads like this appear fairly often. Below are a sample of them but there are likely many more:

• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/nintendo-switch/what_are_... (favorite 5 games, last active in 2024)
• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/nintendo-switch/your_pers... (favorite 5, last active 2022)
• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/other_gaming/your_favorit... (favorite game, last active 2021)
• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/general_discussion/top_5_... (favorite 5, last active 2021)
• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/general_discussion/what_a... (favorite 10, last active 2021)
• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/other_gaming/favorite_gam... (favorite game, locked in 2018)
• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/retro/what_are_your_top_1... (favorite 10, locked 2012)
• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/general_discussion/what_i... (favorite game, locked 2011)
• https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/general_discussion/what_i... (favorite 5, locked 2011)

My favorite games definitely change over time but Tetris and Mario World have pretty consistently stayed in my top 5-ish. There are times when my number 1 favorite is a specific modern console game or MMO but most tend to fade away and get replaced by other games (for some I get burned out and a game goes straight from number 1 to not on my top 10).

@FishyS as long as it's fun, why not

I'm having really hard time deciding between GTA Vice City and Okami. Both are extremely well made, unforgettable experiences. So different, yet so similar in how seamlessly they incorporate gameplay into their respective worlds

Take one look at my profile and you'll probably figure it out.
Although Kirby and the Amazing Mirror is definitely up there in second.

Good question... mine is a toss-up between these Mario platformers.

• Super Mario World
• Super Mario Galaxy
• Super Mario 3D World
• Super Mario Odyssey

The mainline Super Mario series is my favorite game series of all time, and those four are the cream of the crop for me. I love Super Mario Galaxy 2 as well, I just like the first one a tiny bit more.

And to have some fun, I'll do some honorable mentions in no particular order.

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild + Tears of the Kingdom
• Super Metroid
• Yoshi's Island
• Sonic Mania
• Mega Man X
• Donkey Kong Country 2
• Kirby 64

Breath of the Wild is my favorite game, and the following are some of my other favorites:
DKC2
Animal Well
Super Mario Odyssey
World of Goo

@MarioVillager92 I'd definitely have to agree with mainline Mario being my favorite series as well. Especially the 3d ones. They're just impeccably designed.

Of all time? Probably a toss up between Ocarina of Time and Sekiro.

OoT is/was such a cherished childhood memory for me.... I remember getting it for Christmas as a kid, at a time when physical media scarcity could result in an empty Christmas stocking! (my dad really pulled through for me) I recently played on Steamdeck the native port by the 'Ship of Harkinian' team, and it is really excellent - full camera control on right stick, HD texture packs, everything re-mappable. Just wonderful.

As an adult now, Sekiro is my favorite game - and I still think it is FromSoft's finest hour. The lack of builds, summoning, cheese potential mean you truly have to 'get good' and learn to play the game as the developers want it played. Thrilling beyond belief when you finally crack a difficult boss

Of all-time? Warframe

I was big into Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Universe. Between the two of those I invested roughly 3,500 hours. I'm around 2k hours above that with Warframe, over 5,500 hours. Having never played PSO2 and not really caring much for PSO2:NG, WF hits...much like how PSU used to hit for me. But WF has the added benefit of getting a regular cycle of new content.

If you would prefer an answer that isn't a live service, I would have to go with Panzer Dragoon Saga. Criminally underappreciated and desperate for a remake of sorts. I wouldn't even object to a Forever Entertainment-developed PDS. Even though FE aren't...great, Sega have worked with them in the past.

my favorite game of all time is definitely Batman: Arkham Asylum! I've loved it since I was a teenager, and I always return to it every couple of years for another playthrough.

@Bigmanfan Ah yeah for sure, I love a lot of the 3D Mario games. The only one I don't love is Sunshine, though I do know even that has its high points too.

It’s hard for me to narrow it down to just one game, there’s so many good ones, but I think I know the answer. First some runner ups,

Donkey Kong Country 2 (snes) - This game is the definition of nostalgia for me, but it also happens to be a fantastic platformer that still holds up today

Super Metroid (snes) - Another incredible snes game that I think is pretty much timeless

Chrono Trigger (snes) - best rpg ever

Ocarina of Time (N64) - Don’t know what to say about this one that hasn’t already been said. Just a truly magical experience from start to finish. Except the water temple;)

street fighter alpha 3 (PS) - I love street fighter in general but I’m going with this as I had the most intense matches with my friends

And my number 1,

Resident Evil Remake (GC) - This game is perfect to me. The visuals and spooky atmosphere absolutely knocked my socks off at the time. It reinforced my life long love of the horror genre, and also inspired me to get into urban exploration, and creating paintings of the places I’d explore.

@MarioVillager92 I agree entirely. I really tried to love it, but the level design was painful at points.

@Havenn I love Arkham Assylum as well! I think it gets a really bad rap for "not aging well", which I couldn't disagree more with. It's one of the rare AAA games that doesn't feel like it overstays its welcome. And the vibes are immaculate.

@Bigmanfan I'm glad you enjoy Asylum too!
for me, the game's rich atmosphere and gothic storytelling make it a timeless experience. and I think you're absolutely right that it's the perfect length - I often feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff to do in the sequel, Arkham City!

It’s hard to pick a single favourite game. What comes to mind is:

Splatoon 3
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Kid Icarus Uprising
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Super Mario Odyssey

These five games are all masterpieces in my eyes

Also Fire Emblem Three Houses. I can’t believe I forgot that!

for most of my life it was super mario world. the first real game I ever played that wasnt an educational game (the playroom on dos) at my daycare. finally got it on snes then gba which I maxed out the points and 100% all 3 files.

now its mk8dx. the random rng keeps me coming back more. I always go for 720 points on hardest settings in vs mode which Ive racked up like 20 now. even one for mirror and one for 200cc. its cool how yoshi is the meta being a big smw fan and he was the first character I picked in mk64, my first mario kart game on christmas.