10. Diddy Kong Racing (1997)

While, admittedly, my inclusion of this title is based partially on nostalgia (along with a couple of other entries on this list), having just finished playing through all of these games again, I was surprised to find that Diddy Kong Racing still holds up extremely well. While, on the surface, the game comes across as just another Mario Kart-esque racer, it has this sense of adventure to it that no other entry in this genre has been able to provide since. On top of that, the game has one of the catchiest soundtracks out there!

9. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2003)

A breath of fresh to the established Zelda formula (even having come off of Majora’s Mask), The Wind Waker is a one-of-a-kind gaming experience. Yes, the Triforce scavenger hunt that pops up towards the end of the quest is tedious to say the least, but with a story that deftly handles with themes of loss and moving on towards the future, a fluid, engaging combat system, a musical score that comes shining through at just the right moments, and a visual style that is sure to hold up for console generations to come, it’s a small price to pay.

8. BioShock (2007)

If there’s one thing that this title does better than just about every other game on this list, it’s in having a world that I found myself just wanting to get lost in. Whether it’s an audio diary accompanied by the body of a deceased Splicer, or just a simple advertisement hanging from the wall, virtually every inch of this failed utopia has something interesting to investigate. Everything, from the art deco aesthetic, to the twisted, bizarre ecology of the underwater city of Rapture, to the ambitious tale of discovery and betrayal, makes BioShock one of the relatively few examples of fine art within this medium.

7. Star Fox 64 (1997)

Ranging from about forty-five minutes to an hour long depending on which route the player took, Star Fox 64 is a shining example of a “short but sweet” playing experience. The action is quick and engaging, the levels carefully constructed, and the dialogue memorable as all hell. It’s the one game on this list that I could play through every day and never get sick of it.

6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

While it seems as though every Top 10 list that you come across has some spot reserved for Ocarina of Time, it’s not without good reason. The game set the standard for console adventure titles, with a revolutionary lock-on targeting system, a lengthy quest, a bittersweet story, and – again, as with Wind Waker – a musical score that will forever be engrained in my noggin.

5. Mass Effect 2 (2010)

Game developers take notice: this is how to do a sequel correctly. This is a title that trumps its predecessor in literally every way possible, and then some. Virtually all of the characters feel fleshed out, the side quests are fully realized missions that – unlike in most other RPGs that I’ve played – I actually wanted to take part in, and the moral dilemmas carry a much heavier weight to them, making me feel as though the fate the galaxy rests solely in my hands. On top of all that, however, Mass Effect 2 shows just how cinematic video games can be, with one of the most stirring finales that I’ve ever experienced within any medium.

4. Banjo-Kazooie (1998)

This is a game that, along with the other Nintendo 64 titles on this last, has been a favorite of mine ever since I was a kid. Thanks to Super Mario 64, the platform genre eventually began to go downhill, thanks to whole array of uninspired clones. There were a few gems to come out of this, however, with perhaps the finest being Banjo-Kazooie. It has everything that I could want from a game of this genre, from its unique move-set brought on by having one of the strangest duos in gaming history, to its catchy soundtrack, to its insanely memorable worlds. But what really makes Banjo-Kazooie special, for me, is its goofy, self-aware personality that almost no other game has managed to capture since. Almost no other game…

3. Halo Trilogy (2001-2007)

Yeah, I know that I’m technically cheating on this spot by including three games, but the saga of Master Chief is one that just feels like such a singular piece that I couldn’t pick one entry over the others. While the combat itself is more engaging than that of any other game that I’ve played, what I really love about this trilogy is the universe in which this conflict takes place. As with Mass Effect 2 and BioShock, the world of Halo is one that actually feels alive, with its artfully crafted backstory and memorable characters. In short, saving the galaxy has never been so much fun.

2. Conker’s Bad Fur Day (2001)

Without trying to cut my thoughts on this one short, Bad Fur Day is a game whose awesomeness is hard to describe. Try to imagine a version of Banjo-Kazooie that continually swaps genres - where the adult humor isn’t being hidden, and what you’ve essentially got is Conker’s Bad Fur Day. Filled to the brim with classic movie parodies, it’s one of the funniest pieces of entertainment that I’ve ever had the privilege of experiencing.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)

Just like with Conker (but for different reasons), it’s difficult to go into words and describe how much this game means to me, even after having finished it again earlier today. It doesn’t do the game justice by simply calling it “the definitive Zelda experience” (even if it isn’t the most challenging). Gameplay is, of course, ultimately the most important factor in a video game. Otherwise, I’d not to be able to enjoy the rest of the experience nearly as much. However, what’s made several of the titles on this list (Twilight Princess included) so memorable is how their stories, while working in tandem with all of the other aspects of the game, have effected me emotionally. Yes, the game has the exhilarating combat, as well as the devilish puzzles and intense boss battles, but it’s the beautifully melancholy story (and who I consider to be the star of the game, Midna, in particular) that makes the game truly special. Simply put, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess encapsulates just about everything that I love about gaming, and it’s a tale that I’ll never forget.

Honorable Mentions:
- Pokemon Red/Blue
- Donkey Kong Country Trilogy
- Star Fox Adventures
- Portal
- Banjo-Tooie
- Super Smash Bros. Series
- Super Mario 64
- Super Mario Sunshine
- Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2
- Donkey Kong 64
- Kameo: Elements of Power
- Mass Effect
- Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga
- Paper Mario