When I think of "a game you have to play at least once", I am drawn to the idea of experiences. Now, there's nothing wrong with "comfort food" gameplay you find yourself digging into again and again like so much meat and potatoes. The Borderlands series, Ratchet & Clank, Diablo, Pokémon; I have gone back for seconds on numerous occasions and still find them enjoyable. But while they make for good meals that can fill you up and satisfy basic cravings, they're not necessarily something that will truly fulfill you. I believe that only by stepping outside of your comfort-zone can you find something that hits just the right spot. One that amazes and delights you with flavors you never considered pairing together. At the meal's end you'll wonder at what you just went through, fondly reminiscence about it for days, and tell tales of the taste with your friends and family. A wholly unique undertaking of the senses that cannot be replicated, even if you were to eat the same thing a second time. An experience.
...the food metaphor is just about stretched to its limit, but hopefully you get the idea. This is my list of five games that, even if you were to play them only once, they would (hopefully) still leave an impact. I hope you're hungry!
Hollow Knight
Original Release Date: February 24th, 2017.
Current Platforms: PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linux, macOS.
Nothing short of beautiful, Hollow Knight should be played at least once by everyone. The foreboding and mysterious atmosphere permeates everything: the hand-drawn art, the stunning music, and the gameplay are all wonderfully executed and a sight to behold. You want to keep going to explore this world and discover its secrets. It can be somewhat on the challenging side for a 2D Metroidvania, but don't let that hold you back! It all adds together to create what I would consider a masterpiece, and while you might have to earn your way through it, your reward is a rich collection of treasured moments.
With four(!) free(!!) content updates, Team Cherry has delivered an adventure that can last you a long time and will stay with you even longer. Hollow Knight has become one of my favorite games of all time. We can only hope that the sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, will be just as amazing.
ELDEN RING
Original Release Date: February 25th, 2022.
Current Platforms: PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Windows.
King of The Game Awards in 2022, ELDEN RING has a unique place in my catalog, having essentially peer-pressured myself into buying the game. The fear of missing out became simply too great, as I was pulled into its whirlpool; tales from other players and the Carbot cartoons on YouTube proved too much for my willpower. I had never played a "Souls" game before ELDEN RING, though, so there was an underlying fear of drowning in sorrow from a difficulty that was simply too much for me. And while the game is challenging for sure, it is still fun and rewarding. There's nothing quite like finally overcoming a boss that's been slapping you around for the last hour; knowing that you were capable fills you with confidence...at least, until the next threat knocks you down!
With a huge variety of potential builds you can create, six endings to find, and a New Game+ feature that goes seemingly as far as you can take it, this RPG can steal hundreds of hours away from you. All I'm saying is give it a chance - if you can get past the fear of losing and embrace the Die - Learn - Repeat-until-you-win mindset, ELDEN RING can be an amazing time.
Ghost of Tsushima
Original Release Date: July 17th, 2020.
Current Platforms: PlayStation 4 or 5.
A love-letter to Japanese samurai films, this stunning and brutal game deserves your attention. You play as Jin Sakai, severely outnumbered as he seeks to repel the Mongol hordes invading the island. Engaged in a war both physical and ideological, will you hold onto your honor code and fight nobly, or do whatever you must as the "Ghost" to drive a superior force away from your people's land? Many side-stories and even singular moments play to this question, creating a narrative that sticks with you after the credits roll on this action-adventure title.
With a fantastic story and some of the most striking environments I've ever seen, the world of Ghost of Tsushima relishes in its inspiration, earning its place among the black-and-white films of yesteryear. Combat can be swift and merciless, and there is no greater high than performing a flawless encounter against several enemies at once: you truly feel like a samurai master. Whether you're taking in the tales of this beautiful land or squaring off in a tragic duel to the death, everything is steeped in culture and history. In the great debate of "can video games be art?", Ghost of Tsushima delivers a solid answer: Yes they can. Play the game with subtitles while listening to the Japanese audio, for the ultimate cinematic feel!
Hades
Original Release Date: September 17th, 2020.
Current Platforms: PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, Windows, macOS.
Following from the above titles, Hades is a gorgeous game with a lot to offer if you can get past the initial concerns of difficulty. It is a "roguelike", meaning that each playthrough will be a different experience, and dying forces you to restart from the beginning. Hades tells the tale of the demigod Zagreus, an oft-overlooked character of Greek mythology and son of the titular Hades, seeking to escape the underworld and be reunited with his mother. Along the way he is aided by several gods of Olympus, who endow him with powerful Boons that only last for that run.
Hades spent a couple years cooking in the oven, sharing its initial build with players and expanding from there via the invaluable feedback. Supergiant Games did not squander this opportunity, resulting in the rare Early Access title that went on to massive success. The results are apparent: everything from the art direction, soundtrack, and the gameplay to even the smallest details like the conversations between characters is remarkably polished and well executed. The cast is full of charisma, and simply talking to the people in the hub area is a joy. Given that the game expects you to defeat the final boss 10(!) times to see the true ending, you'll be seeing this hub quite often as you die, die, die again; watching your relationships with these individuals grow over time keeps you coming back for more. And with a frankly-absurd amount of stuff to unlock, you'll be running through Hell for hours on end!
Patapon 2 Remastered
Original Release Date: January 30th, 2020.
Current Platforms: PlayStation 4 or 5.
Pata Pata Pata Pon! A curious but intriguing mix of rhythm and tactical-army gameplay, Patapon needs to be seen (and heard) by anyone and everyone. With charming art and a fun, catchy soundtrack, this series has always been about maximizing the good vibes. When the Patapons and former-enemies the Zigotons complete the construction of their ship, they sail across the sea to find Earthend and the legendary "IT". The ship capsizes, leaving the tribes decimated and forced to regroup on the shores of a mysterious land controlled by a new foe: the mask-wearing Karmen.
Patapon 2 is basically "Patapon, done right this time", with more levels, more unit types, more enemies and bosses, and more mini-games to elevate the series to the next level. Command your army against a wide variety of encounters, collecting resources to evolve the Patapons and ready them for the next challenge. While the series ended with Patapon 3, the original creators are coming back to make a spiritual successor in Ratatan, which recently completed its Kickstarter campaign with overwhelming success. I look forward to a new age of playing to the beat!
Honorable Mentions
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete - An underappreciated JRPG from the PS1 that had an appreciable impact on my early life, as noted in my retrospective review of the game. Sadly unavailable on modern systems without an emulator.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn - The king of strategy-RPGs, with decisions that actually affect the story, and a ton of interesting characters to unlock. The engaging battles can take like an hour apiece, but you'll be engrossed the whole time.
Okami HD - You'll think the dialogue noises are either charming or downright obnoxious, but if you can get past that this extremely beautiful action-adventure will blow you away. It literally looks like a Japanese watercolor painting come to life.
And there you have it: a delectable five-course meal full of beauty, charm, and difficulty for some reason lol. I will never get to recreate the feeling of playing them for the first time, but perhaps in talking about these wonderful games I can help share such an experience with all of you.
Anything look appetizing? What do you suggest should be on the menu? Is this metaphor getting out of hand (rhetorical question)? Let us know in the comments below!
"Current Platform" availability is correct as of October 2023.
Comments
As much as I enjoyed Hollow Knight and Elden Ring, the bosses were actually the part I enjoyed least. To me, they feel more like an obstacle that gets in the way of exploring more of the world, which is the part I really enjoy. Fortunately, in Elden Ring most bosses you can take on at any time you like, but the few that do gate progression were pain (Beast Clergyman, Elden Beast).
Personally, I prefer the more classic metroidvania bosses where you have to study the boss to figure out a good strategy, but once you have it figured out, executing that strategy is not that hard. This is not the case in for example Hollow Knight, where attacks are telegraphed so short before they strike that you not only have to know how to react, but have to do it as a reflex, because if you think about it consciously, you are too late.
If you only want to enjoy elden ring in terms of map design and screw the bosses, you can always just summon a pal, or just use mimic, who pretty much trivialize bosses (with one notable exception).
People tend to complain that fromsoft games are too difficult, or theres no easy option but truth is there's always an easy option for those who dont care for its difficulty. Summon a dude and the game usually gets beaten for you.
Really? That's pretty unfortunate :( I've always been drawn to boss fights, in part because they tend to have the most exceptional music. My YouTube favorites playlist is filled with music from various series; listening to it helps me channel the experience again. Some of the feelings might have been frustration at the time, but damn it if it doesn't feel good to overcome them :) The Mantis Lords in Hollow Knight were a particularly strong "this is so fucking cool" moment, in my opinion, even if it did result in several deaths lol
Awesome article, thanks for sharing!
You've got me interested in trying out Hollow Knight, I'll add that to my wishlist. Elden Ring and Ghost of Tsushima are both games that I've tried and did not finish for very different reasons. While Elden Ring is just not my type of game, I completely agree with your assessment of Ghost of Tsushima: it's so so deep and rich, I've lost the atmosphere. Unfortunately, that doesn't really work out if you can't play it for at least one or two hours on a regular basis which I wasn't able to at the time. I've honestly never heard of Patapon before but I'll give it a look. Thanks again!
For me, these games have made the most lasting impression so far: Zelda Ocarina of Time, The Portal series, The Witcher 3.
When it comes to atmosphere I can also recommend Stray. It isn't a very long game (30ish hours if I remember correctly), but very well made and every cat lover should have a look at it.
Another nice thing about HK and Patapon is that they're on the cheaper side, too, so it's not too much trouble to give them a try :) Hollow Knight's only $15; with the incredible experience it delivers, I would easily have paid more than that! Be sure to let me know what you think of them!
Sucks to hear you couldn't devote enough time to Ghost of Tsushima - maybe this is a call-to-action, the universe telling you to pick it back up again hehe
Haven't played Stray so I can't comment on that, but Zelda is my username-sake, while Portal and The Witcher 3 are amazing games as well. My aunt bought me Wild Hunt for the Switch on a whim - I had never experienced The Witcher before that (in any medium) - but I was engrossed from the jump. Honestly considered including it in the article.
Glad you enjoy it! We're planning to have more of these types of articles from various members of the staff, so keep an eye out for those.
Not sure where you got that number for Stray, much as I enjoyed it, you can't really stretch it past 6 hours. Also, since when is 30 hours considered short?!
I'm sorry, I must have mixed something up here. Maybe I've finished it in 3 hours and it cost 30 € on release? It definitely felt too short.
About that 30 hours remark... I'm spoilt by the witcher 3 :D
Looking forward to those articles you've mentioned!
If you never played a souls game until elden ring you should definitely try the original dark souls 1. The controls are janky, the hit boxes are cruel, and graphically its about 15 years too late. But damn it, there's something about dark souls that's just refreshingly different even as its sequels continue to succeed further and further.
Fromsoftware has changed tact from when they first made dark souls. This is perhaps the first and only souls game from them that's completely no holds barred lore first over gameplay. You dont get to teleport from bonfires until the late game, multiple layers of weapon upgrades, and titanite is rare and needs to be grinded out. Loads of rings, but only two slots means youre essentially switching out all the time. Of all of fromsoft's games, none has reached the dizzying heights of dark souls's level of attention in design. Most people tend to hype out later fromsoft game bosses. But its only in dark souls that the hype is about its surroundings and world design.
I'd recommend you try it. You might even be tempted to switch out elden ring for dark souls in this article :)
Having thoroughly-enjoyed Elden Ring, Dark Souls is one of those "maybe I'll have to go back and play the rest" series that comes to mind, like the earlier Witcher games as I alluded to in my comment with anchorm4n. However, I can't seem to finish most games lately for whatever (dumb) reason, and I have a backlog of stuff that's waiting in the wings. Thus, a "maybe" game seems so far down the list that it might as well never happen, you know what I mean? Kinda sucks, but it is what it is.