Asking Big Questions #005: “What is your favorite game for every year you’ve been alive?”
3 min read
“I sit beside the fire and think
Of all that I have seen
Of meadow flowers and butterflies
In summers that have beenOf yellow leaves and gossamer
In autumns that there were
With morning mist and silver sun
And wind upon my hairI sit beside the fire and think
Of how the world will be
When winter comes without a spring
That I shall ever seeFor still there are so many things
That I have never seen
In every wood in every spring
There is a different greenI sit beside the fire and think
Of people long ago
And people that will see a world
That I shall never knowBut all the while I sit and think
Of times there were before
I listen for returning feet
And voices at the door”
―J.R.R. Tolkien
Turn back time with me, NPCs!
So this is very much last minute, impulsive, and spontaneous but I thought I’d turn it into an amiable community invitation. Our fifth Asking Big Questions post doesn’t aim for profundity so much as it’s just plain fun. Simply put, can you name your favorite game for every year you’ve been alive? So for example, I was born in 1985, so I had to name a favorite game from that year (easy enough), and then I named another favorite released in 1986 and ’87 and so on. Note, this is not a Game of the Year list.
What began as a Twitteresque aside turned into something that I actually found pretty introspective. See a lot of my childhood, a good chunk of it from about age 6 to age 16 (a third of my life) is a blur. During this time my parents got divorced and I hopped from school to school and house to house. I remember feeling aimless and one of the few constants in my life was my NES and later my SNES. I played Super Nintendo by gas lantern light off a generator in the woods. That same system crossed two oceans with me: the Pacific when I jumped from island to island in Hawaii as a kid and the Atlantic when I went overseas to the UK for college later in life. I still have that ancient, yellowed SNES and maybe someday it’ll cross a third ocean with me… I found a lot of favorite games during this era but specific memories of where I was and what I was doing during these years came back to me in thinking about the games I played during that time. I’d consider that pretty valuable, personally.
So anyhow, you can view my favorites from 1985 up to 2017 by clicking the image-link to Twitter below! If you’d like to participate, you can share your favorites for every year you’ve been alive in the comments below or you can even create a separate post if you like! Just be sure to link back to this one so we get to see your picks!
I went by original release dates (as in JP over NA), not the year I first played these games.
Have fun! Also don’t forget TWRM has an archive by year!
Courtesy of @evry1knowsdave and @Pariah_Layne
My favorite game for every year I've been alive, the thread! I was born in the best year.
#1. Super Mario Bros. (1985)
[There's a review for that]https://t.co/sgQ24zKIKG pic.twitter.com/5Zh5y2vHGn— the Well-Red Mage (@theWellRedMage) January 20, 2018
In your service,
-The Well-Red Mage
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I will start my list from the earliest game I can remember playing on the original console it was released on:
1989: Super Mario Land (Game Boy),
1990: Commander Keen (PC),
1991: Sonic the Hedgehog (Mega Drive),
1992: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Mega Drive),
1993: Syndicate (PC),
1994: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Mega Drive),
1995: Donkey Kong Land (Game Boy),
1996: Tomb Raider (Sega Saturn),
1997: Saturn Bomberman (Sega Saturn),
1998: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64),
1999: Pokémon Blue (Game Boy),
2000: Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (Nintendo 64),
2001: Metal Gear Solid 2 (PlayStation 2),
2002: Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (GameCube),
2003: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (GameCube),
2004: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PlayStation 2),
2005: Star Wars: Battlefront II (PlayStation 2),
2006: Tomb Raider: Legend (PlayStation 2),
2007: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii),
2008: Okami (Wii),
2009: Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (Wii),
2010: Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii),
2011: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii).
Unfortunately, my list ends early and I am not sure about the dates.
Thanks for sharing the list! A Sega kid, eh? 🙂
Only the Mega Drive. Actually, I have noticed that, for many of the lists, the favourite games during the nineties were usually cheerful Nintendo games, but the liked games during the noughties were gritty shooters and horror games. Then more cheerful games were chosen in the later years.
I noticed that trend as well and I think that had to do with the popularity and the rise of Sony and Microsoft, then the decline and resurgence of Nintendo.
I, personally, remember these sort of games from the noughties because I had reached an age where I could play more violent games. I did think there were still some good Nintendo games released at the time, such as Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Super Mario Sunshine and the Metroid Prime trilogy. I have also heard that there were some popular games released on the Nintendo DS. It seems strange that more people did not choose those games.
2001 – Super Smash Bros. Melee
2002 – Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4, Super Mario Sunshine and Timesplitters 2 real close though — what a year!)
2003 – Gotcha Force (Simpsons: Hit & Run is damn fun too)
2004 – Halo 2
2005 – Mario Kart DS
2006 – Pokémon Pearl
2007 – Halo 3
2008 – Super Smash Bros. Brawl
2009 – Ratchet & Clank: a Crack in Time (my second favourite game of all time)
2010 – Sonic Colours
2011 – Rayman Origins (my favourite game of all time)
2012 – Animal Crossing: New Leaf
2013 – Rayman Legends
2014 – Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (my third favourite game of all time)
2015 – Rocket League
2016 – Ratchet & Clank
2017 – Sonic Mania
There ya go.
Reuben
Boom! Happy to see Melee start this list and Sonic Mania end it. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve got 94, 97, 99, and 00 set. Then whenever the Mario’s came out (so long as they don’t coincide with Final Fantasy releases). For the rest, well that’s part of the adventure!
*double checks that FF1 and Super Mario Bros. 3 didn’t release the same year… let’s out a sigh of relief* lol!
I actually didn’t play an FF until FFVI! So it would be safe anyway lol. So long as FFIV and Mario 3 weren’t the same year, we’re good 🙂
Oh phew yeah you’re good then haha!
This was fun and hard narrowing down a couple of days ago! Here’s my list for those who didn’t see it on Twitter:
1982-River Raid
1983-Mario Bros.
1984-H.E.R.O.
1985-Super Mario Bros.
1986-The Legend of Zelda
1987-Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
1988-Super Mario Bros. 3
1989-Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
1990-Super Mario World
1991-The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
1992-Contra III: The Alien Wars
1993-Mortal Kombat II
1994-Super Metroid
1995-Chrono Trigger
1996-Super Mario 64
1997-Star Fox 64
1998-Banjo-Kazooie
1999-Pokemon Gold & Silver
2000-The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
2001-Dragon Warrior III (GBC)
2002-Metroid Prime
2003-Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
2004-Metroid: Zero Mission
2005-Shadow of the Colossus
2006-Final Fantasy V Advance
2007-Super Mario Galaxy
2008-Mega Man 9
2009-Plants vs. Zombies
2010-Bayonetta
2011-Mortal Kombat
2012-Mutant Mudds
2013-The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
2014-Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
2015-Super Mario Maker
2016-Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
2017-Metroid: Samus Returns
Awesome! Hahaha so I learned that when I see these lists, I look right away at ’90 and ’95. You didn’t disappoint. 😀
Oh, this is a good one! I shall endeavour to participate when time allows, although…I’m not sure I can count back as many years as I’d need to go. Ha! 🙂
Haha nice! Hey it’s doable as long as you weren’t born in the 50’s or something lol
I’ll look forward to your answer with ineffable anticipation!
You’re all younger than me. Get off my lawn.
Like you, I’ve gone with the first release date of international releases (usually JP). Also I have cheated on a few years. And I will probably change my mind on any of these at a moment’s notice. But these were my immediate, gut responses when confronted with a list of games from each year!
1981: Caverns of Mars
1982: River Raid
1983: M.U.L.E.
1984: Boulder Dash
1985: Mercenary
1986: oh jeez, this one is difficult. Uhhh… uhhhhhh…. Out Run! No, Arkanoid! No, Zelda. Out Run. Definitely Out Run.
1987: Phantasy Star
1988: Super Mario Bros. 2
1989: Tetris
1990: Wing Commander
1991: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
1992: Ultima Underworld
1993: Star Fox. Also Ridge Racer. And Doom. And Gabriel Knight. Screw you, 1993.
1994: Wing Commander III
1995: Yoshi’s Island
1996: SimCopter
1997: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Also Final Fantasy VII.
1998: Every game ever, this was the best year ever in gaming. I have to pick one? FF Tactics.
1999: Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
2000: The Sims
2001: Silent Hill 2
2002: Shantae
2003: Silent Hill 3
2004: City of Heroes
2005: Timesplitters: Future Perfect
2006: Final Fantasy XII
2007: Ar Tonelico
2008: Persona 3 FES
2009: Ar Tonelico 2
2010: Hyperdimension Neptunia
2011: Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, The Fruit of Grisaia
2012: Katawa Shoujo, Senran Kagura Burst
2013: Dungeon Travelers 2
2014: Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart
2015: Crazy amount of good stuff this year. Megadimension Neptunia V-II, Gal*Gun Double Peace, MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death, The Witcher 3
2016: Persona 5
2017: Nier Automata, Gravity Rush 2
I have to agree with your take on ’98, old timer 😉 Just kidding. You only got 4 years on me!
I like this idea! May have to turn this into a longer post and link back..
Side note, did you google for lists of games released each year? Cause I can’t remember off the top of my head which year most games came out!
Wikipedia has got some good articles on “[year] in video gaming” that include notable releases. Not a complete list for each year by any means, but might get the synapses firin’.
That’s how I narrowed down my list.
Hey you should totally do it and trigger some nostalgia…! XD
On that side note, I used a few sources: Wikipedia, Google images, and our very own Archive by Year! It includes a lot of my favorites, so there’s that.
So I just finished.. after ~4 hours. This got TOUGH. Particularly in the early 2000s when the sheer volume of games releasing every month was nearly in the hundreds! Once the PS2, Xbox, and DS came out (around the same time Steam and PC gaming in general blew up), the games just started pouring in at an alarming rate. What a wild ride!
Wow! You definitely put some thought into it!
Ooh, I think I’ll do my own post for this one and link to your blog. This seems like a fun, relaxing sort of post to work on!
It was fun and quite relaxing, minus having to choose between your favorite children in your best years! The 90’s for me were super tough in that regard.
I have a feeling I am going to encounter a very similar problem. I’m getting ready to start on it now so I suppose I will find out!
I’m going with North American release dates..
1989- Mega Man 2 (NES)
1990- Super Mario Bros 3 (NES)
1991- Super Mario World (SNES)
1992- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
1993- Kirby’s Adventure (NES)
1994- Super Metroid (SNES)
1995- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES)
1996- Diablo (PC)
1997- Mega Man X4 (PS)
1998- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
1999- Super Smash Bros (N64)
2000- Diablo II (PC)
2001- Super Smash Bros Melee (GCN)
2002- Metroid Prime (GCN)
2003- Viewtiful Joe (GCN)
2004- Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GCN)
2005- Resident Evil 4 (GCN)
2006- Kingdom Hearts II (PS2)
2007- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
2008- Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii)
2009- Metroid Prime Trilogy (Wii)
2010- Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
2011- The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
2012- Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (3DS)
2013- Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)
2014- Super Smash Bros For Wii U
2015- Yoshi’s Wooly World (Wii U)
2016- Interestingly, I have not played a game made in this year.
2017- Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (PS4) ((Only game I have played in this year))
2018- I don’t own any game that has come out this year so far.
I really struggled with 2016 for some reason, too. I don’t remember it being a “bad” year, but I really had difficulty finding something that came out that year!
I have plenty of games from that year, but my backlog of games is so vast that I haven’t gotten around to any of them yet. Same with 2017. One day…One day…
2017 was such a great year…!
I took refuge in indies and remasters during some of those years.
Hey thanks so much for sharing! Any particular years that were the hardest for you? Also we share some similarities, it seems! Super internet air five!
Actually, there were quite a few years I had trouble picking a favorite. You don’t really see it at the time, but looking at all the games to come out that year in a list, I realized how fortunate we were as gamers for those particular years.
1994, 2002, 2009 stick out in my mind at being truly amazing years, though I think we as gamers have been blessed every year and will continue to be in the future.
I’m compiling my list now, and I’ll be writing-up a long form response when I get the time. But the big question is… what college was it?
That information has since been turned into an X-File and later redacted.
I plan on doing this later in the year. I started some research and it gets really iffy on release documentation say late 70s and early 80s. It’s going to be fun project when I get around to it though.
I dared someone to try this knowing they were born some time in the 60s, so count your blessings 😀 Have fun with it, too!
I’ve seen the idea for this on a couple of message boards before, but trying to do it proved a bit too much for me. It’s a pretty great thing to put together though!
It can be a toughie! I struggled on a couple years when I could only name a remaster.
I like the idea of doing this, but a problem arises when you start revisiting more games from a given year. Now, I would consider Planescape: Torment the best game of 1999, yet I wouldn’t play it until 2010 (plus, I wouldn’t have appreciated it as a kid, anyway). Though I have some sure footing when it comes to grading the games I review, I tend not to declare a Game of the Year because it’s a title that’s subject to change to an even greater extent than where I would place a game on my scale.
Yeah it’s fun! You can avoid that problem simply by thinking of this as “favorite” games, not “best” games. “Best” and “favorite” tend to get mixed up when we talk about games but this isn’t a GOTY question at all. It’s just a favorites question, which is much easier to answer. My favorites aren’t always my GOTYs and many years I haven’t played enough games to make that claim for a game.
Like I mentioned, I went by year of release, not year I played the game so even though I didn’t play Pokemon Red the year it came out in Japan, it was still my favorite game for that year by release date. Same thing for titles I played retrospectively. Obviously, nobody plays any games in their first year of life but nevertheless my favorite pick from 1985 was SMB. I likewise never played Legend of Zelda when I was two haha! 🙂
Yeah, although for me, those two concepts usually go hand in hand. Planescape: Torment is both my favorite game from that year as well as the game I feel is the best 1999 (or the nineties in general) had to offer. I can appreciate that others can separate the two ideas, but I personally don’t.
Interesting! So the question that popped into my head is you feel you’ve played enough games from each year you’ve been alive in order to make the indication for a GOTY each year? On the note of best/favorite, I’m thinking of Last of Us as an example not of a “best” game from its year but one that I was impressed with in terms of its presentation, though my gripes with it prevent it from being my favorite. I recall you had mechanical complaints with that game, iirc.
I think the thing is that I tend to review games as a cohesive whole. In the case of The Last of Us specifically, the reason I gave it a 3/10 was because as amazingly good as the presentation was, the gameplay was, at best, average and the cast was roundly unlikable. In other words, it’s what happens when one adheres to a style-over-substance philosophy only to not have a particularly good style. Therefore, even on the merits of being a grand technical achievement (which is dubious to begin with), I wouldn’t declare it Game of the Year or my favorite game from 2013 (that would be Fire Emblem: Awakening).
Neither would I! 😁
Furthermore, now that I’ve seen Citizen Kane (and actually liked it, to my surprise), I can adamantly say that calling The Last of Us “gaming’s Citizen Kane moment” is an exceptionally poor analogy. I’m convinced whoever wrote that never saw the movie and only based that off of the opinion shared by many people rather than basing it off of their own subjective experiences.
To your surprise? Is that from general skepticism about general consensus?
Perhaps what I mean by that is I thought it would be like approaching a pioneering game in that I would appreciate its place in history more than actually experiencing it. As it stands, I genuinely enjoyed it, and I can say the reason it still has a following is because it has aged really well.
Film critics have a good batting average compared to video game critics, so I tend not to take their consensuses with a grain of salt – at least not nearly to the same extent. Sure, there have been instances wherein they heavily promoted something wildly mediocre or were asleep at the switch when a masterpiece arose, but they tend to be more reliable than video game critics.
I can agree with that.