So starting off, this one is a unique case, as I already played Nier Automata back in 2019. I only got the first ending, so I didn't TRULY experience it. So after playing it FULLY and getting all endings, I can say this game is a work of art. It touches on multiple levels of humanity that I've never seen a game do before. It makes for an unforgettable experience that you can only really achieve through video games. I would put this higher, but since I technically did play this before, number ten is a fitting spot.

I've always been intrigued by the Monkey Ball franchise, but always pushed it off. After the reveal of a remake of the first three Monkey Ball games, I had to get on that, and I'm happy I wasn't disappointed. Banana Mania is the easiest Monkey Ball to get into, with its popping music, vibrant colors, and characters that you will love as soon as you see them. I recommend this game if you ever want a nice way to have short bursts of fun. Be careful though, this is a hard game too, and will leave you with battle scars.

Similarly to Monkey Ball, I've have my eyes on Guilty Gear for a while, but was always so intimidated by its mechanics. Thankfully, Strive comes along and makes its barriers of entry very minimal. It's gameplay is so addicting, and has such well designed characters on a visual and mechanical level, you'll want to try each character out based on the looks alone, and you can't stop playing once you get in the groove. Can't recommend it enough.

Of course this was gonna be on here. My game of the year last year getting DLC? With more Remake combat? And with a deeper dive into the world of FFVII? AND teasing the future of the Remake story?? Yes. Even though it is a story expansion and not a full game, it still left a huge impression on me, and I cannot WAIT to see more of FFVII Remake.

It Takes Two is areguably one of the most imaginative and creative games to have come out in recent years. With the creative use of split screen and co-op, there is so much in store for such a bite-sized adventure. With it winning Game of the Year 2021 too, you cannot miss out on one of the most charming games I've played recently.

Monster Hunter Rise is the perfect game to play and chill with company. With smooth and stylish combat, a great soundtrack, there is a reason why this is the game I sank the most time into this year. And with Sunbreak coming on the horizon, there's no better time to let your life be taken away than now! To read more about my thoughts on Monster Hunter Rise, you can click on the image or here.

So I have this personal rule with these lists where if I play more than one game in a series during the year, I can only have one make the cut, so yes, I picked Kiwami 2 over 0. To me, Kiwami 2 REALLY stood out. I feel that this is the most Yakuza game out of them all (although I've only played up to 3, so this may be proven wrong in the future). It has the soap opera of Yakuza, the silliness, the humor, the music. It is THE Yakuza game in my opinion.

Of course THIS would make it on the list too. One of my favorite games ever getting a sequel that's a warriors style too? I ate this up so quickly and went back for seconds not even 3 months after my initial playthrough. This is a worthy sequel to Persona 5, with its music, story, characters, gameplay, everything is here for the average Persona fan to enjoy, and I loved every second of it.

Dragon Quest 11 S is easily one of the best games I have ever played. It has everything you can think of when you think of "greatest games." As this is my first Dragon Quest, this one left me so satisfied. I cannot stress this enough how memerable, impactful, charming, fun; all sorts of adjectives that describe this game. But why isn't this my Game of the Year? Well this one didn't have a certain mold to break.

Before I get to my Game of the Year, I need to go off about my new least favorite game of all time. I absolutely hate this game so much. I had so much hope for this game when it was first revealed in Summer of 2020, until the demo came out. Although the demo disappointed me extensively, I still had some hopes that they'd fix it before release. They didn't. I hate this game. This quickly became my most hated game of all time right as soon as the credits started rolling. Everything (with its music being the exception) is so technically, mechanically, at its core, what it boils down to, centrally, extensively, absolutely, wholeheartedly, specifically, and physically flawed in every sense known to mankind. I hate this game.

Metroid Dread, a game with 19 years of history, finally comes out, and it was worth the wait. It shattered all expectations and blew me away. It's incredibly polished, well thought, impactful, all of it. It breaks the mold with action adventure games. People who haven't played this yet may be seeing this as overhyping it, but respectfully, for longtime Metroid fans, this is a love letter for not just the series, but also as a thank you to those who have waited for Samus's journey to continue. I cannot wait to see the future of where the Metroid franchise will go.