Starting the list off with a game that is very meaningful to me. Indie games already have a sense of personal touches and stories that many Triple AAA studios can't achieve; this is why indies are the backbone of the industry. AfterLove EP focusing on a musucian's hardships about loss, burnout, and trying to find a place to belong is a very real one, and this game demonstrates it in a charming and deep way. This is certainly a "games for impact" type of game, and I really connected with it. So much so that I took a two month hiatus from the game, only because I didn't want it to end. It felt that special to me as a musician myself who relates to a lot of themes from this game, musical and narrative!

You know I think it's funny going from a very grounded explanation of AfterLove EP to a very silly over-the-top arcade game LOL. To celebrate a new Katamari game in 14 years, I played all the other games leading up to Once Upon a Katamari, a retrospective if you will. These games took over my brain for months, and I wish I had played these games sooner. Out of all of the games, however, I do think Once Upon a Katamari is my favorite. The time travel setting is a really fun one, the music sounds like no other game and I really appreciate that, and I like how bold this new entry feels, bringing the beloved series back in full action. Once Upon a Katamari has me yearning for the franchise to stay, and not stick to spin-offs for the next 14 years!

In a year full of kart racers, Kirby Air Riders is my choice to include it on this list! A new entry to a GameCube game with a huge cult following releasing in the Switch 2's first year was a surprising thing to see for SURE. But they knocked it out of the park with this one. For me, what makes this stand out over the rest is its simplicity. The core gameplay of controlling a machine feels so good, and with so many machines to pick from, and tracks and modes to play that suit different builds, you have a variety that leaves you wanting more. The whole game's presentation, music, replayability, unlock system, customizability, everything is so INFECTIOUS, I love it. 

Age of Imprisonment was a game that humbled me. When it first got announced, I was in that group of people that was feeling that Breath of the Wild fatigue, seeing the same story, characters, art direction, all of those vibes we've been fed for a while now. When it came out, I did decide to pick it up, and oh man this game came at the right place and at the right time. Part of the reason this hit so hard was how they added the Tears of the Kingdom mechanics into a Warriors style. The way you execute the Zonai devices to counteract enemy buffs, and being able to team up with other teammates too, it just makes it so FUN to do. Because of these changes that make this entry distinct, it is so easy to lose any sense of time while playing this. Also side note: 60fps on Switch 2 does this game wonders too. 

Now I did say that every game on this list is a game that came out this year, and this could be seen as an exception, but to me it isn't! Xenoblade X is already one of my favorite Wii U games, but the multiple quality of life updates, and updated graphics, AND the crazy new epilogue makes this a warranted spot on this list. It takes a game that I already liked a lot, despite its issues, and made it even better, and made me like it even more than I already did! The epilogue especially gets a shout out, because I really had no clue what to expect going into it. It shattered expectations I didn't even have, and that left a big impression on me!

Now this may be a bit of a hot take: I think Split Fiction is Hazelight's best co-op game. I think the dynamic of level design between sci-fi and fantasy is so fascinating, where each chapter offers something new and something fresh to the overall game. The climax of the game is a highlight for me, it's one of my favorite moments of this year. This is such a pleasant game, heightened through a shared experience too. This is one of those games where seeing is believing, and this is a firm recommendation from me.

You know for a sequel, you know what to expect most of the time, and that is still true for Death Stranding 2: deliver cargo from point A to point B. But the key difference is that this elevates the first game's experience into a shocking, action-packed, technical masterpiece unlike other sequels. Death Stranding 2 made a familiar experience into something feeling brand new and unique, and that left such a deep impact for me. For those who may have had a hard time with the first one, I can assure you this next iteration is a monumental pillar in gaming. The opening alone had me shook, because I wasn't even sure if what I was seeing was even a game!

The actual game of the year isn't my game of the year?! Don't get me wrong, I still had an experience that left me in tears, hyped up, excited, shocked... basically every emotion really. My favorite aspect of Expedition 33 is probably just how much of a love letter it is to the RPG genre. You can feel the passion these developers had in crafting this game, just wanting to make a game that they wanted to make, while also maintaining their favorite aspects of their favorite RPGs. This game will carry a legacy for not just the genre, but for the entire industry too, and it really does deserve it. Very few games show the confidence and passion the devs had for this project like Expedition 33.

This is probably the most hidden gem of the year. From the creators of Zero Escape and Danganronpa comes a game that is so dense in its story and characters, it can be seen as TOO much sometimes. But they did it! They made a game with 100 distinct endings for you to discover through multiple narrative choices and branches that is unlike any game I've played. I was so engrossed in this game for most of the year, that I had to cut myself off from this, because if I didn't, I'd be playing it for another year or two. If you're in the majority of people who's never heard of this game, I highly recommend it, because this is a kind of game that may never be able to be made again. 

Now this could have gone to Silksong, or Shinobi, or Fantasy Life i, but I never actually finished these games, so that's why these are notable omissions.  But when it comes to Symphony of the Night, I can finally see why this is hyped up to be one of the best games ever made. It is what gave the genre "Metroidvania" its name after all. A game that leaves freedom of exploration and choice to the player, and does it in a way that makes sense. Never once did I feel lost or stuck in this game, but also never once did I feel this game hold my hand. Everything this game does is perfect, and I wanted to give it the spotlight in this list. 

Now there are plenty of things this game could have done to avoid the controversies and issues people had with it. A clear pack-in title that you are required to pay for. Lackluster minigames that leave you wondering why you paid for this. BRUTAL score requirements for completionists like myself that will leave you begging the devs to change the programming (Find the Strongest Rumble 3 took years off my life). The reason this is my dishonorable mention is just the pile of nitpicks that could make this a really neat game. Unfortunately, my time with Welcome Tour left me wishing the only thing I spent was my time, and not $9.99...

In a year full of whimsy, leave it to Nintendo to release the most memorable experience for me this year. Taking some of the DNA from Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza took what I loved from Odyssey and made it better. One aspect specifically is Odyssey's "instant gratification." I've always seen that as Odyssey's core essence, that immediate feeling after getting a moon, it's a reminder of finding the joy in the little mundane things. Bananza takes that and makes it even better. Collectibles everywhere give you a sense of discovery and progress. Plenty of areas to explore and feel immersed in. Even just the feeling of mashing the punch buttons to destroy everything, that is what makes these 3D collectathons so special. Finding joy and fun in the little things, which explains why Donkey Kong Bananza is my game of the year!