This is a list of 20 games, that influenced me the most. The idea is based on a popular social media challenge. The order of the games has no meaning. I love all the games on this list.
It was very hard to choose the games for this list. Because the games that influenced me the most are not necessarily the best or my most loved games.
1. Half Life
The one game I dare not to doubt is Half Life, because it defies any question.
It’s one of the best game ever made and was highly influential for me. Few games ever drew me in like Half Life could.
It raised the bar for all eternity.
2. Battlefield Bad Company 2
I was torn between Battlefield 1942 and Bad Company 2. But BC2, in the end, had a bigger impact on me. This game blew my mind. It was complete different from all the other shooters I played up until that day. You could destroy everything. You could level the whole map. The game was funny, and didn’t took itself too serious.
But what’s most important… it was incredible fun. I will die on the hill defending this game as the best Battlefield game ever made!
3. Disco Elysium
Probably the newest.. and the best game of the whole list for me.
This game hit me like a truck and highly influenced me. How first time game devs could make a game that shook the industry to the ground, is a miracle to me.
I love everything about this game. So, I hope, some day I can work on such a game….
4. Skyrim
I thought long about which RPG I’d name here… Witcher 3, Kotor, Neverwinter Nights.. all great games.. but Skyrim hit me differently.
Its 3rd and 1st person perspective felt new. Skyrim might not have the best story, but the world is so immersive, that I could not stop playing. (And don’t forget the awesome mod support!)
5. Runescape
I started playing this game in 2003, when I was 11. I found it on some old website for minigames. “Miniclip” was is called. This game teached me English. And I was stuck playing it for 10 years.
Runescape was ahead of its time with its unique mix of agency and idle game. I’d still be playing, if investors wouldn’t have ruined it for me.
I met friends in this game, I still know up to this day. No other MMO has ever come close to this unique experience.
Runescape has spoiled me for any other MMO until today.
6. Tomb Raider
To be honest… I played this game much too early! I had to be around 7ish. It was probably my first 3D action game…. and it scared the shit out of me back in the daysđ
But I will never forget the immersion and atmosphere of this game, sliding down some ruins, getting jumped by monkey and the heart-poundingly feeling, fleeing from tigers. The audio was phenomenal, the controls a little wonky, but what an awesome game!
Ps. The butler still haunts my dreams…..
7. Fallout 3
Roaming the wasteland, eating radioactive food, getting killed by Deathclaws, claiming the first Powerarmour, cheesing the way around NPCs…. and experiences awesome quests.
8. Zelda – Link’s Awakening
My very first Zelda game. Back then on the big old Gameboy. The whole game in the nostalgic green color of the display.
this game was magic to me. I played it everywhere, thanks to the gameboy.
Great game mechanics, great story, awesome 8bit soundtrack.
When I think of Zelda, I think of this game.
9. Super Mario Land
Very similar to Zelda, this Mario game was probably my first one.
So simple, yet so perfect. The music, the clever game mechanics. Incredible game.
10. Demon’s Souls
My first Souls game. Back then it still was a true insider tip.
Never before I’ve seen such a game. Snappy direct controls, dread on each corner, an atmosphere so thick, you could cut it.
Nothing beats that feeling of the first play through. also it was a completely new and fresh gameplay experience. Nowadays I am so used to and over satisfied with the souls experience, it’s no comparison.
every second of this game was exciting.
11. Diablo
Stay a while and listen:
for me this is still the best diablo. I love the sound, the ambient and the clunky animations. It has so much nostalgia and still is a great game! If I remember correctly, you can even play it in browser nowadays for free.
12. Super Mario 64
This is probably my favourite Mario game. And I still consider it as one of the best games ever made.
I never owned a N64 myself (unfortunately) but could play at my cousins place. And would take every opportunity to do so haha.
This game blew my mind. The controls are as perfect and snappy as in any 2D Mario.
13. XIII
I LOVE this game. It’s probably the single player shooter with the best story I know and also the one I played the most often!
I played the single- and multiplayer so often, I could basically do it blindfolded.
The comic style and the absolutely thrilling story is so alluring. It’s like binge watching a good show.
This game ends on a cliffhanger and it’s a shame it never got a sequel. What a gem!
14. Squad
I guess it’s an ok game……
No honestly… I used to be a Battlefield fan (like with BFBC 2), but after finding Squad, I cannot go back. This game spoiled ever other online shooter for me.
I know the fanbase is… difficult and always complains, but this is the best online shooter out there. No other game compares. And it comes from a small studio…. and updates the game since release nearly 10 years ago for free.
15. Rimworld
As a lover of immersive sims and strategy, Rimworld hits all the rights spots.
You can do anything you like and sink in hundreds of hours of game time creating a neolithic animal farm or a super sci fi human trafficking society. or you play as a naked cannibal on an ice field…
This game has the best modding community I’ve ever seen. There is literally anything you can imagine.
16. Anno 1602
As a lover of immersive sims and strategy, Rimworld hits all the rights spots.
You can do anything you like and sink in hundreds of hours of game time creating a neolithic animal farm or a super sci fi human trafficking society. or you play as a naked cannibal on an ice field…
This game has the best modding community I’ve ever seen. There is literally anything you can imagine.
17. Age of Empires 2
Normally I like turn based strategy, but AOE 2 is a great childhood memory. I learned so much about history just playing the campaign. It was much more appealing than in school haha.
I love this game. playing endless games, creating empires… or an army of blue corvette cars that destroy everything on sight…. the game had great cheats haha
18. Burnout 3 : Takedown
This game is pure MAYHAM!
It’s my favorite racer of all time. It’s huge fun! Crashing all sort of cars in numerous ways. The crazy atmosphere, the narrator, the great music. And speed speed speed.
I love this game! It has sooo much content… I never completed it lol.
19. GTA San Andreas
San Andreas was such a game changer for me. Never before I’ve seen such a game.
Infinite freedom, awesome story, sandbox mayhem.
That’s the great great strength of GTA… they have awesome story, but even aside from it you can have fun just toying with the mechanics or living the live.
San Andreas is still my favorite GTA. I loved every minute of this game…..
I especially enjoyed the bunnyhop cheat with the bmx…. and i wished for one for my birthday… and got it!
20. Pokémon Blue/Red
No 90s kid with a gameboy could hide from Pokemon. And neither did I or my sister.
I’d even have to count the yellow edition in tbh, but in the end its all the same.
I can still hear this game in all its glorious sound effects and music. This much it got hammered in my head. For hundreds of hours, did i play this game…. (and so did everybody else around my pretty much)
I guess the fewest kids back then, where not influenced by Pokemon, one way or the other.
See the original posts here: https://phanpy.social/#/mastodon.gamedev.place/s/113905641624765104