In the first part of this list, I talked about how video games have basically been part of my entire life. From being a kid who thought you had to put pennies into a Nintendo like an arcade machine, to sleepovers playing Mario Party and GoldenEye on the Nintendo 64, to college nights playing sports games with roommates — video games have always been a big part of my friendships and my life in general.
Part 1 covered the first half of my top ten, including games like Metal Gear Solid 4, Arkham City, Ocarina of Time, Kingdom Hearts II, and Vice City.
Now we get to the second half of the list. These are the remaining five games that had a massive impact on me — the ones that really shaped my love of gaming, storytelling, and RPGs in particular.
Again, this list isn’t ranked in order. These are just the games that meant the most to me.
#5 – Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX is my personal favorite game in the entire Final Fantasy franchise.
I know a lot of people would probably expect Final Fantasy VII to take that spot, because that’s the game that usually gets called the crown jewel of the series. And don’t get me wrong — we’ll get to that one later — but for me Final Fantasy IX is the one that truly captures everything that makes Final Fantasy special.
The cast of characters in this game is incredible. Zidane, Vivi, Steiner, Garnet, Freya, Amarant, Quina, and Eiko all bring something unique to the story. It really feels like a full party of characters that grow together over the course of the adventure.
And Vivi might honestly be one of the best written characters in video game history.
His storyline about identity, mortality, and trying to understand his place in the world is surprisingly deep and emotional. For a character that looks like a little black mage with glowing eyes, his story hits really hard.
The world itself is also fantastic. Locations like Burmecia and Cleyra are incredibly memorable. Burmecia especially always stood out to me because of how dark that section of the game feels when you arrive there and realize what happened to the kingdom.
The overall tone of the story feels very Shakespearean in a lot of ways. It’s about love, identity, life, death, and what it means to exist in the first place.
And the music in this game is absolutely beautiful.
If Final Fantasy IX ever gets the full remake treatment like Final Fantasy VII is getting right now, I will be first in line to play it.
#4 – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
This game absolutely floored me.
In fact, it was the first game I ever reviewed on my blog because after I finished it I literally couldn’t stop thinking about it.
On the surface it’s a turn-based RPG, but the combat system adds interactive mechanics where you’re timing attacks, dodging, and parrying during fights. It keeps every battle engaging instead of just selecting commands from a menu.
There’s one fight in particular on a bridge against a duelist that I’ll never forget. The entire fight turns into this intense back-and-forth exchange of attacks and counters. I remember literally yelling at my TV during that fight because it was so intense.
That’s when you know a game really has you locked in.
And the music in this game might honestly be the best overall soundtrack I’ve ever heard in a video game. Every track feels emotional and powerful, and it adds so much to the atmosphere of the world.
Then there’s the ending of Act 1.
That moment completely shocked me. I had to actually pause the game and walk away for a minute because I couldn’t believe what had just happened.
That kind of moment — where a game surprises you so much you need a second to process it — doesn’t happen very often.
That’s why Expedition 33 immediately became one of my all-time favorites.
#3 – The Last of Us Part II
This is probably the most controversial game on my list.
A lot of people absolutely love this game, and a lot of people absolutely hate it. But personally, I think it’s one of the most powerful and bold stories ever told in a video game.
The decision to kill Joel early in the game shocked a lot of people. Unfortunately that moment got leaked online before the game even released, which meant a lot of players already knew it was coming.
I was one of those people.
And honestly, that kind of sucked because if I had experienced that moment completely blind, my jaw would have been on the floor.
Still, even knowing it was coming didn’t stop that moment from hitting hard.
What makes the story really interesting though is the decision to make you play as Abby. At first you absolutely hate her because of what she did. But the game slowly forces you to see the story from her perspective.
You start to understand her motivations. You see the world through her eyes. And suddenly things become a lot more complicated.
It’s a risky storytelling decision, but I think it works incredibly well.
On top of that, the gameplay is phenomenal. The stealth mechanics, the combat, and the level design are some of the best in the industry.
And the Rat King boss fight might honestly be one of the most terrifying boss fights I’ve ever experienced in a video game.
#2 – Kingdom Hearts
The original Kingdom Hearts was one of the most magical gaming experiences I’ve ever had.
On paper the concept sounds ridiculous: combine Disney characters with Final Fantasy characters in a single RPG.
But somehow it works.
Traveling through Disney worlds like Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and others while following the story of Sora, Riku, and Kairi created something really special.
The friendships in this game are a huge part of why it works. Sora, Donald, and Goofy become one of the most lovable trios in gaming.
And the music in this game is incredible.
“Simple and Clean” became instantly iconic, and the entire soundtrack adds so much emotion to the story.
What I love most about the first Kingdom Hearts though is the sense of adventure. Everything feels new and exciting the first time you play it.
It really captured that feeling of going on a journey with your friends and discovering these different worlds together.
#1 – Final Fantasy VII
(Original + Remake Project)
Final Fantasy VII is the game that made me fall in love with RPGs.
I’m specifically talking about the original PlayStation version here, but I’m also including the remake project — Remake and Rebirth — because I kind of see them all as part of the same experience now.
When I first played Final Fantasy VII as a kid, it completely blew my mind.
First of all, the game came on multiple discs. I remember seeing that and thinking, “Wait… this game is so big it needs more than one disc?” That alone felt insane at the time.
Then you actually start playing the game and you meet this incredible cast of characters: Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, Red XIII, Yuffie, Cait Sith, Vincent, and Cid.
It’s honestly one of the best RPG parties ever assembled.
Then you have Sephiroth, who is still one of the greatest villains in video game history. The buildup to that character throughout the game is incredible.
And of course there’s the moment everyone talks about: the death of Aerith.
Even people who don’t play video games know about that scene.
It’s still one of the most shocking and emotional moments in gaming history.
Then there are the optional super bosses like Emerald Weapon and Ruby Weapon. Discovering those fights as a kid felt like uncovering secret legends hidden inside the game.
I remember trying to beat those bosses and getting absolutely destroyed.
And now we have the remake project, which has been fascinating to watch unfold. Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth are doing some really bold things with the story, and while they’re different from the original, I appreciate that they’re taking risks.
I’m really hoping they stick the landing with the final part of the trilogy.
But regardless of what happens there, the original Final Fantasy VII will always hold a special place for me.
It’s the game that made me fall in love with RPGs.
And honestly, it’s one of the games that made me fall in love with video games in general.
Final Thoughts
Looking back on this list, it’s honestly crazy how many memories are tied to these games.
Some of them remind me of being a kid playing games with my brother. Others remind me of sleepovers with friends. Others remind me of sitting alone late at night completely absorbed in a story.
That’s the magic of video games.
They aren’t just something you play.
They’re experiences you remember for the rest of your life.
