Best Games of the 21st Century

2000: Majora's Mask

I've known about this game since I played melee back in elementary school. The whole concept of the moon was SO creepy, and this was probably the first Zelda game I've EVER heard about. So playing the game for the first time after seeing so many let's plays of it was such an experience. The world feels SO alive, and everything about it is so creepy and immersive. My favorite characters have to be Anju and Kafei, they're basically the heart and soul of this game. And the challenge to do the perfect cycle is so fun to do. By far my favorite song in the game has to be Final Hours. What an absolute masterpiece at creating such a haunting atmosphere.

2001: Super Smash Bros Melee

This game was basically my introduction to nintendo as a whole. Super Mario Bros may have been my first video game, but this game introduced me to so many characters at once that have stuck with me for so many years. I remember dancing to the iconic intro cutscene as a kid and loving the music and overall vibes of the game. There's just something special about this game that stays with me after so many years, even if I do get frustrated with it from time to time.

2002: Super Mario Sunshine

Mario Sunshine is a game I have so many memories of just exploring the whole gorgeous world. Everything feels so beautiful and strange to explore, especially the secret levels. Though I do low key hate playing the game, I can't really deny how much I ADORE the world. This game is so weird, man. No other Mario game afterwards really comes close to replicating its liminal feeling.

2003: Wind Waker

This is one of those games that I NEED to actually play all the way through. This was a game I was DYING to play as a kid and never got to play in full. The style of this game is GORGEOUS and the characters look so interesting and unique. I've been obsessed with the Forsaken Fortress since I was a kid, and I NEED to go back and play this soon.

2004: Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door

All of us know that this game is a masterpiece. This was the game that inspired me to make my own stories. The music is incomparable. I wanted to put Sims 2 here SO bad, but you really can't beat the game that has such a huge cult following and has left such a huge impression on my childhood.

2005: Chibi-Robo! Plug into Adventure!

This game is SO deeply underrated, it's CRIMINAL. It's Chulip meets Toy Story and SO much more. This game genuinely has AMAZING sound design, characters, story, and atmosphere. This is one of those games that can be both goofy as hell and sad and chilling. This game is WAY too underrated, I NEED to see more people play it.

2006: Over the Hedge

This game was my very first Gamecube game, and what would get me into gaming as a whole. Ironically, I played most dreamworks games before actually watching the movies themselves lol. That being said, this game is probably frustrating to play, but the nostalgic feeling I get from playing this game is incomparable. The sound effects, the graphics, the intro, it brings me back to simpler times so much. And the forest music is an absolute MASTERPIECE.

2007: MySims

God I love this game. I remember staying up ALL night just to play this game it was UNREAL. The vibes of this game are so liminal and weird, but the characters are so cool and charming. What an ICONIC cast. Everyone hates on this game too much for being cute, man.

2008: Super Smash Bros Brawl

The MEMORIES I get of playing this game! Subspace Emmissary was a MASTERPIECE, and playing this game with my cousin is one of the best experiences I've ever had. God I miss those days.

2009: 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors

This game really grabbed me by the heart and soul. This cast was AMAZING and I love every single character in this game. The music is ICONIC, the different endings are SO WILD, and the ending is a MASTERPIECE. Holy SHIT this game was my OBSESSION when I first watched Lucah play it. This game needs more love.

2010: Trauma Team

Trauma Team is ICONIC. This game is SO wacky and wild and gets so genuinely heartbreaking at times like omg. The characters are SO good especially Naomi. This game deserves MORE from Atlus!!!

2011: Skyward Sword

The MEMORIES I have with this game are WILD holy shit. I ADORE the dungeons in this game and everything about it is just so underrated omg. The style was really something that so many people underrated and I will never forgive people for shitting on this game.

2012: Pokemon Black 2

This game was the pokemon game I remember having SO much fun with. I was so torn between this and nintendoland just cuz of the nostalgia with nintendoland but MAN this game is one of the absolute best world and gameplay wise.

2013: Pikmin 3

Pikmin 3 was SO long awaited for so many years and I just remember playing this game throughout all of spring break. I love the gameplay and characters SO much man, even if Pikmin 1 has the better atmosphere (sadly it didn't get its time to shine cuz of melee). But seriously this game is such a good time.

2014: Pokemon Omega Ruby

I don't care what Chugga says, I LOVE this game and had SO much fun with this, similarly with Black 2. I was gonna put Sims 4 here, but honestly I had so much fun with this game I just had to keep it here. I really miss having the 2d art and the whole expereince and character designs were so good man. I wanna play Alpha Sapphire now cuz of my crush on Archie too.

2015: Undertale

I was OBSESSED with this game as a high schooler. Out of all the Earthbound inspired RPGs, this game REALLY captures the mix between extremely lighthearted and magical and DEEPLY disturbing that really drew me into Earthbound. This game is MAGICAL, even with all the tumblr discourse, though honestly it really makes the game all the more charming.

2016: Abzu

Abzu is nothing short of MAGICAL. This game is SO gorgeous and immersive, it really captured the emotions that Journey put out and made it EVEN BETTER. The immense ammount of detail and life put into this game is absolutely astounding.

2017: A Hat in Time

A Hat in Time is SUCH a charming game with such amazing characters and worlds. This is one of those games that I need to actually play through myself cuz it's really such a well loved game that I NEED see for myself. The modding community is also one of the coolest communities I've ever seen.

2018: Clue

This game did NOT have to go as hard as it did. The AMAZING maps and character art is SO kickass! I just wanna play this game with all of my friends.

2019: Bug Fables

Bug Fables is the game that hands-down has the BEST world building and atmosphere that I've EVER seen. The characters are amazing and the gameplay is such a nuanced evolution of Thousand Year Door that really establishes Bug Fables as a masterpiece that holds its own. My favorite character is Kabbu, he is literally a RAINBOW Scarab Beetle. What an ICON.

2020: Animal Crossing New Horizons

This was the game that truly took over the pandemic. It was the game that EVERYONE needed. Despite complains about stuff missing from previous games, I still love this game based purely on the fact that I can have a goatee lol. Also being able to furnish your island is a GAME CHANGER.

2021: Miitopia

Miitopia is ICONIC. I have put WAY too many hours into this game and am OBSESSED with the whole cast that I put into the game. This game really took a hold of my life for over a year, man. Holy shit.

2022: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

This game made the list PURELY because the final boss is ABSOLUTELY ICONIC. Holy shit the music and atmosphere is unlike ANY other. I NEED to go and play this game so bad holy fuck.