Favorite games of all time (since the late 90s)

Nothing can quite describe the feeling of immersion for the first time in a beloved universe being able to make truly personal choices while traversing a brilliant story with unforgettable characters by my side.

This game changed the 3D landscape by taking it from a clunky medium to instant perfection. To this day, platformers still mirror what made Mario 64 great.

Everything I'd hoped for in ME1 was realized here. Improved battle mechanics, incredible character connections and a perfectly balanced story, pace, action, and writing.

This was the best gaming surprise I could ask for -- beautiful graphics for 1999, addictive gameplay, and a remarkably interweaving and escalating plot.

Despite a slow and unbalanced start, Infinite wraps up as philosophically, psychologically, and emotionally incomparable and mind-blowing.

Fluid, crisp, fast-paced, diverse, and never ever got old playing with groups of friends.

An emotional, personal experience like no other. The less you know the better.

The purely definitive fighting game in every respect. Littered with an insane roster, balanced before the era of patch updates, this was gold for many years.

Timeless, gorgeous, fantastic music, and one of the few games that nearly every person alive can ridiculously enjoy.

Still emotionally resonating, years later. Extraordinary graphics, voice acting, gameplay, and difficulty. Unforgettable sequences and arcs, impeccable writing.

The biggest 'gotcha' of gaming. Despite its slow and annoying start, the philosophical and visionary-like story development of this game trumps any negatives.

The most perfect arcade shooter, online maps and arenas, ever made.

The developers hit us with sequence after sequence of memorable and dopamine-filled brilliance, with an exquisite villain and emotionally-gripping characters.

Games in this series were always insanely entertaining. This one for me had the most intrigue, with the many unlockable characters and immaculate level design.

The art/level design, battle system, voice acting, characters, pace of the story, action-filled sequences, and collectibles were just so excellently done.

Batman has the best superhero movie, the best superhero cartoon, and now the best superhero game? So many homages, such great gameplay, so fluid, so right.

Guerilla Games escaped the shadow of their Killzone series and created a visually glorious game with incredibly fun, unique, and layered gameplay, story, and writing.