Gaming

Not a fantastic game, but the first Walking Dead Telltale series really hit me in the feels and so has stayed with me. The Witcher 3 definitely affected me, but it's hard to seperate that feeling from the books.

I'd say Kerbal Space Program, Factorio and Rimworld because whenever I play those it's like coming home, but since I'm always playing at least one of them, it feels a bit like cheating.

The feeling of the Tribes games is always there in my mind. I occasionally go back but the freedom of movement in that game is just so liberating. I never know why they aren't more celebrated. (Titanfall 2 comes close, but still not quite the same).

Battlezone 2 is IMHO another unsung classic. I loved the mix of RTS and FPS. Another one from before the mechanics of FPS and the general feel of motion had standardised (to a fault) which I think helps it keep it's hooks in me.

Outer Wilds and Omori. Both beautiful games and if I had to choose one to play through for the first time again, I couldn't.

Thief. The first three, at least. (*)

Splinter Cell as well.

Basically, Splinter Cell got me into what became my favorite genre: stealth.

Then I went and played Thief because stealth, and just everything about those games furthered my love for not only stealth, but it was my gateway to immersive sims as well.

Also, the level "Robbing the Cradle" in Deadly Shadows will always stick with me. As someone who hates survival horror, that level was both fucking incredible and also a nightmare that I had to use a walkthrough to get through quickly.

KOTOR got me into RPGs, and New Vegas came around and has stuck with me ever since.

And Skyrim I guess, since I've played it way too many times.

Should probably add Prey (2017) as well. Incredible game. For that matter, Dishonored. Both have a permanent place in my mind. And when I say Dishonored, I mean the first two, although I also enjoyed Death of the Outsider.

(*) I actually enjoyed Thief 2014 for what it was. Not nearly on the level as the originals, but it was still okay, if a sadly forgettable entry which kind of put the nail in the coffin for future releases.

Persona 5 Royal. I normally don’t like JRPGs but there is something special about this one game. The design, the music and the gameplay never failed to put a smile on my face

Ar Tonelico. I was very into world building in high school. And this game hits the closest to my imagination at that time. I just can't forget that feeling years after. Regardless of the weird visual novel-y parts of it

world of goo. still my favorite experience in almost 40 years of pc gaming.

Well I would answer Outer Wilds (in particular, with the DLC), but since you already said it, ummm....

Probably Hollow Knight. I remember just loving the exploration in that game, and the difficulty made everything feel well earned. I haven't played Elden Ring yet, but it sounds like people had a similar reaction to that, but in 3D.

Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2. My favorite game series of all time. Honorable mention to Red Dead 2 and God of War Ragnarok. I’m a slut for cinematic games.

Chrono Trigger, for so many reasons. The soundtrack is outstanding. The use of time travel, with little moments where you affect the world in 1000 AD by making changes in 600 AD, is very satisfying. It has a New Game + feature with multiple endings to explore. The gameplay, particularly double and triple techs, was great too. Because of that gameplay, the choices you make for who you put on your team have meaning. Last but not least, the story gives every character you recruit some personal moments and a reason why they're hanging around with you.

I honestly think that Chrono Trigger is a game that nailed every essential element, and is the closest I've come to playing a perfect video game.

Shadow of the Colossus

Night In The Woods deeply affected me first with the ending, and then again with the whole scenario that unraveled outside of the game. Few things make me feel melancholy like thinking of that game.

Ace Attorney. The first 3 and Edgeworth spinoffs are legit masterpieces.

Immediately reading the title, Outer Wilds was the first to come to mind. There's nothing quite like it, and I wish I could relive the feeling of playing it for the first time again.

The Last of Us (both parts). Just started a new play through of Part I. It truly is a masterpiece in storytelling

Your dog dying in fable (I think fable 2?) :( They make this lovable companion who is your best mate and he just... Dies, still messes me up

Shovel Knight stuck with me more than I think the developers even expected. Maybe because I went through a rather distressing breakup at the time.

Yeah yeah, I know I probably read more into it than they put into it, but I did and it stuck with me.

Loom

It's been, what, 30 years? I still think about that game pretty frequently.

Spyro, Explorers of Sky, and Yoshi Island to name a few.

For me it was Metal Gear Solid 3 and 4, as well as Devil May Cry 3.

I used to have a pretty hard time thinking about what were my favorite games and the ones that changed my tastes and probably perspectives.

I realized that every time get asked this question the first games that come to mind are always these 3.

Bloodborne has the most haunting atmosphere of any game I played and I haven't stopped thinking about it since I first played.

Fallout 3. Especially the morale dilemma's I could never bring myself to blow up Nuke town.

The original spyro playstation games