1. Final Fantasy VI

FF6 is the best game of all time! It's the first final fantasy to feature a large cast of characters, but they're all developed and with many unique roles. The whole cast feels like a large family as a whole and individual relationships between the characters are and they have wonderfully sweet moments together as well. The plot is amazing, exploring the complexities of Terra's character, what it means to be a person, or feeling like an outcast is done really well. I also enjoy the moments with Celes, and she struggles she goes through, and how her relationship develops with Locke, and he even has his own personal moments surrounding his grief. Cyan is also one of my favorite characters, his tragic story and the whole phantom train and his past memories haunting him make him a wonderfully written character. One of the main pulls is the plot twist before the second half, it is so novel and creates one of the most memorable antagonists (and their theme of course) of all time. The OST is also phenomenal all the way down, there's nothing at all to find negative about it.

2. Pokemon Soul Silver

My favorite Pokemon game. It's all in the details about this one. Being able to walk with your pokemon, and take pictures of your team creates an amazing bond with your pokemon that other games don't really offer. The games look beautiful, the rival is one of the best, and the music is also phenomenal and memorable. The whole added region of Kanto, while a bit scuffed at times, is a great post-game. While there are some weird level disparages in the mid game, playing a hack of the game (is that cheating to be on this list then?), such as one of drayanos makes everything I love about this game so much better.

3. Nier Replicant

Yoko Taro makes incredibly compelling stories, and of course Replicant is no different. The main theme and central point of this game is so powerful, as well as a sublime cast of characters, each are great and the dynamic between them is both hilarious, touching, and evokes strong emotion. The concept of the story and the setting are beautiful, dealing with loss and grief, anger, and does a great job at making you question if what you're doing is truly the right thing to do sometimes. It asks hard questions that have you think about what you value, and what is right. Of course, the music is also phenomenal, even better than automata's (especially the final boss theme of Replicant, it's truly amazing).

4. Dark Souls III

Dark Souls III is my favorite Dark Souls title, it is the perfect conclusion to the trilogy. While the magic system I like less compared to DS1 and DS2, and its overall world design isnt as good as those games either, it really shines with the ability to take what was established in the earlier games and create a stunning atmosphere and perfect ending. The NPCs, bosses, and music is all so memorable, and the Ringed City might be one of the best experiences ever in a game.

5. Yume 2kki

Yume 2kki is a very special game to me. Yes, I do like it more than Yume Nikki (sorry). The community effort to make a game like this is deeply inspiring, and their passion is palpable. Yume 2kki is a really sentimental and personal game, where I can just get lost in my thoughts, or share moments together with people as we travel to the many, many beautiful locations in silence. Sometimes, I'll meet someone, we'll talk, and then we go our seperate ways and don't see each other again. It's a very odd feeling, but I think it's rather beautiful. Of course, I enjoy having friends I speak to often and enjoy this game with them as well... but the fleeting tenderness of those encounters are something I'll cherish.

6. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Maybe the best feeling combat in a game I've played, it's just so unbelievably satisfying. It demends precision, but not necessarily perfection (unless you do challenges, but even then it isn't too bad unless you choose to do no hit or something, I guess). To be honest, at first this game throttled me, but once it clicks the combat is so engaging and so simple, no items, no stats to level, you are the only thing between you and success, and when you succeed you feel so divine. I keep coming back to play it with variouss challenges and it's still so rewarding every time.

7. Okami

Classic rpg, great and unique artsyle, enveloped in folklore. Really just a lot of things I love in a game. The drawing mechanic can be a bit clunky in the modern day, but it still holds up so well. Areas are beautiful, especially Kamui, and the story can be surprisingly touching at times. Also, I really like Waka's character! funny character who creates a lot of memorable lines, and Ammy is cute too. I'm really excited for the sequel that they announced, I really hope it'll be good!

8. Lunar: Silver Star Story

Very classic, underrated JRPG. This game helped me realize what I like in a story game, you get to use the whole cast thats present in the story the whole time, whether its 1 or 5 members, so it feels like everyone is truly a part of the story. The animated cutscenes were pretty novel for its time, and the love between the two main characters really sells it for me. Also Luna's boat song is a huge part of my childhood, so I just immediately fell in love with the game.

9. Final Fantasy IV

It's so hard to choose if I like Final Fantasy IV or Final Fantasy V more, but I think IV wins for me due to how great the cast is. The whole group is so memorable, and while I don't think the villain and overall story is as good as VI (this is a very high bar to set), it certainly has its moments. Just from where you go in the story is unique in iteself, going from hell to the moon must have been unfathomable back when it came out!! While not as perfect as FF6, it's defintely one of the most memroable games I've played. As usual with these titles, the music is also phenomenal.

10. Final Fantasy V

Final Fantasy V, much like IV, is very good, just not as memorable as VI to me! The real thing holding back V to me is the job system, I much prefer when each character has a class that is able to build upon their identity and values, but the story is just so moving at times, (most of) the characters themselves aren't as memorable as in VI and IV, at least the main cast. Characters like Gilgamesh (cripes!) are such a fun addition to the story, and the villain of the story is also memorable in their own way.

11. Celeste

The most fun platformer that I've played. It isn't too hard in its own right, so the barrier to entry is very low for most people who just want to complete the main story, which is very evocative and provides a strong message about and persevering and overcoming hardships that really resonated with me. This is tied into the main concept of the game, climbing the mountain represents overcoming these obstacles, and you get to see Madeline grow as a character throughout her journey. For the gameplay, the extra challenges is where it really shines. Its unique mechanics and tech creates a very high skill ceiling thats fun to reach.The graphics, while simple pixel, also fit the game so well, and the colors chosen, as well as general art direction make it beautiful to play as well.

12. Undertale

What is there not to love about this game? First and foremost, like everything else in this list, the music is phenomenal! So many memorable tracks you probably know half of the main songs without even playing the game. But beyond this, the story and gameplay is really well handled, allowing for a lot of player expression and tons of secrets and endings depending on how you are throughout the game. To be honest, it's even kind of nier like in the way you need to do multiple runs in order to obtain the true ending, which I do love to see. The combat is fun, the characters are endearing, and Toby Fox put in a FF6 reference so bonus points for that (lol). I find the main concept of this game to be understanding what you truly want, or maybe even a cliche the importance of friendship and kindness. You are truly capable of being evil in this game, and for really no reason, but an important message is that you don't need a reason to be cruel, but you also don't need a reason to be kind.

13. Bloodborne

The last souls-like game I got to experience for the first time, but it certainly didn't let down. It being so unique in and of itself makes it incredibly memorable, the combat is a bit faster paced than dark souls which helps keep it engaging. Many memorable bosses, and boss themes especially, and the dlc has some of the best bosses in the whole soulsborne-sekiro-etc. sphere of games. I enjoy that it rewards and encourages aggression over a passive playstyle, and the parrying in this game is also pretty fun to get the hang of, even if I only found myself using it against a handful of bossses.

14. Monster Hunter: World

Just a very fun game, who doesn't love the Shadow of the Colossus feel of beating large monsters with weapons?? I started being a fan of monster hunter when World came out, so I'm no OG to it, but I've had the pleasure of playing through some of the older games, such as Frontiers Z. In every game I've played, I'm a hunting horn main through and through! Its definitely the most fun weapon to me, even if it is seen as a support weapon it can put in work (especially in wilds, cause wth you can get so much damage) when you play strategically, and managing buffs is also just very fun. I like World the most, Wilds is kinda too easy... but I put so much time into World, it's a special game to me.

15. Milk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milk

Milk (as I don't feel like typing the whole name) has a special place in my heart. I adore the main character, and honestly I feel some similarities to her, not too many but there will always be some. It's hard to face things with strong mental fortitude, but she never gives up! Which is inspiring. The arts, while simple, are very well made and stunning to look at. The musis is, however, something that I will always cherish. For one reason or another, I have very fond and weirdly vivid memories of listening to the tracks, just recalling random events in my life. If anything, this great game has certainly stuck with me.

16. Final Fantasy IX

Another Final Fantasy game, but the messages in this ones story are what really stick with me. It's a story about not letting your past define you, about finding your own purpose, about being your true self for yourself. Most of this cast is memorable, and each feel unique, and most of the character dynamics are very nice. Everyone feels a part of their own adventure, but also interconnected with one another, I just wish some of the more minor party members had more chances to speak. However, this game is one of my favorites for its powerful message about finding yourself, believing in who you are, and following your heart.

17. Irisu Synrdome!

Very unique puzzle game, and very addictive. I've put in so many hours just trying to get a high score on both modes, it is just so fun even if it can feel like rng sometimes... The story is pretty solid, for a puzzle game especially, and Irisu is a lovely character. Something amazing this game does it its unique use of "meta" content, such as putting lore in the game files and letting your decipher it yourself. Some other games have done stuff like this of course, but as far as I know Irisu Syndrome! was way ahead of the curve! The ending scene is also super cool to see, as well as surprising. Of course, this OST is one of the nicest I've ever heard too.

18. Katawa Shoujo

Maybe the best romance visual novel? It has five very emotional paths, that each does an amazing job at humanizing the main cast and for some can help you realize what really matters is the quality of ones heart. Admittedly, ike most visual novel protagonists, the main character can be REALLY dumb at times, but each path in the game makes such a touching story. I'm a sucker for love, so seeing the sentimental moments really gets to me. My favorite route is Rin, but her neutral ending almost brings me to tears every time, it feels so so personal to me. The same can be said about her good ending, her route is my favorite, everything about it is so real. Really a special game that I feel made me a better person.

19. Terraria

Fun, I guess nostalgic game. Many memories of playing this when I was young with so many different people. I've played through it countless times. I usually enjoy games with a heavy story opposed to sandbox-type games, but Terraria is so fun to build your own personal world and make it just for you and maybe whoever you're playing with. Summoner was my favorite class, once it was added. Before that, it was probably the mage, but all the classes are pretty fun to use. The bosses are funu to prepare for and feel super rewarding when you beat them on a high difficulty, and for being chaotic at times it is a cozy game for me.

20. Dark Souls II

Underrated game!! This is the most bold dark souls title, and not enough people give it credit for how good it truly is. The addition of hexes and powerstancing make combat much more engaging, and the fact they actually make NG+ more engaging by adding enemies instead of just inflating hp is something that really should have been carried to DS3. While its different, most of the changes DS2 made are honestly for the better. The only drawback is maybe the soul memory limiting multiplayer, but ADP is not much of an issue to me since they give you plenty of souls to level up. Everything you do, from moving to attacking, feels deliberate and weighted in this game, it certainly feels the most real and methodical out of any of the titles, and with all the unique things it does it's hard to not love. Also majula is the best hub world, such a pretty place and it helps you get so immersed.

21. Portal 2

A classic game. I like this one over the first portal, I enjoy seeing GlaDOS's character develop and its cute to see her coming around to Chell. Wheatley is also a nice comedic relief character, but GLaDOS really shines in 2. The puzzles are also I feel just better than in the original, due to the added layers the extra mechanics like gel add. I still love portal 1 btw! I just think Portal 2 takes everything established in the first and improves it. "Want You Gone" is a pretty good song too, even if I prefer "Still Alive." One incredibly fun thing to do is also the co-op mode in this game, I swear I've played through all of it in one sitting with like three different people, it's so addictive. Doing the multiplayer achievements that steam has was also so fun with a friend.

22. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

A truly great RPG. Many games can be called immersive, but none as much as Skyrim to me. Everyone knows the main story isn't all too fantastic (it's just alright, not bad or anything but kind of drawn out at the end I feel), but the whole province of Skyrim is filled to the brim with details, things to see and do. Never has it been so nice to just walk around in a game and take everything in as you pretend you're really there. The game is already filled with content without mods, but the modding scene for this game also does it wonders. Every bit of immersion can be increased tenfold, and before you know it you're truly living in Tamriel.

23. Omori

On my first playthrough of this game, I was obsessed and I went to uncover every little detail. I played this first a very vulnerable point in my life, so its message of self acceptanence and themes of loss and depression resonated with me deeply. The cast, both people from headspace and the real world, all have so much care put into them. The real world characters in paricular each dealing with loss in their own ways, but are each equally flawed. Characters from headspace reflect Sunny's inner feelings, insecurities, doubts, etc. while each having unique and memorable personalities. The music is also just so so good, the duet almost brings me to tears, especially the first time. I also really love the relationship between Hero and Mari it makes me smile they love each other so much. My favorite part of this game is the black space, where there are so many details and places to explore the true depths and repressed thoughts of Sunny's psyche. Especially the long long ladder leading down into his most supressed thought: "I'm sorry." Everything about that area, and the rest of the game to be honest, has a meaning, I truly feel like nothing placed in the game wasn't done with a purposeful intent that relates to the plot in some way. Also the red space in this game might be one of the only things in a game that has legitimately disturbed me, it's just so good at making me take in absolutely everything it has to offer.

24. Dark Souls

Dark Souls I is a very good game, and for being a product of its time it is very endearing. It's clunky, janky, and unapologetically so at times. Have you ever seen DS1 PVP? You can cross pitch backstab someone from the next area over even if they're facing your way, and thats beautiful. As for the single player experience, the world design is far and away the best in the series, with its interconnectedness being something I wish was kept (especially in DS3). It has memorable NPCs, all time beloved characters such as Solaire and Seigmeyer, and it is inspiring to see them journey and travel through the cold and unforgiving world alongside you, it helps you feel less alone in a world that can be cripplingly bleak. It is a rather slow game compared to modern souls-like titles, and the ending is a little rushed (cough lost izalith cough), but it has a really strong first half and the second half isn't anything that will let you down.

25. Hello Charlotte Series

Can be cute at times, confusing at times, but also moving at times. I really love this series because I enjoy Charlotte (the original, not Q84 or any fake Charlottes) as a character, and each game in the trilogy gets better. The last game, seeing Charles personal struggles and his relationship with Vincent and Anri can be touching. Honestly, the first time I played chapter three it was really confusing to me for somem reason!! But I think now that I've processed the story, it is truly a special experience to play through the games.