For me, it’s Black Myth: Wukong. Back when the game launched in the tail end of Summer in 2024, I, like many others who were very hyped and intrigued by it, bought it on release. Of course, it was your typical Soulslike experience, with hard bosses that were all unique and required different strategies to defeat, etc, etc. The game was still really fun.

However, the game came out during a time in my life where I was…at my happiest. I went out and enjoyed the outdoors. I spent time with the people I care for most. And most importantly, that I felt…alive. More than I have ever been in so long. I did things that I normally wouldn’t want to do. I was way more social, despite being a hermit in my room most days.

The message I got from Wukong, was that change, while daunting and even intimidating, necessitates your growth in more ways than one. You might have some struggles that made you break and made you feel hopeless and miserable. But you will always, and I do mean, ALWAYS, see the other side of it. And that you will be deserving of happiness and good fortune.

What about you guys?

N64 super smash brothers. Those summers were bliss.

The original Life is Strange, for me. I played it in May 2017, right after my first year of university ended. University was a bit of a transition for me so the whole plot about Max adjusting to life at Blackwell Academy resonated with me. The opening scene where she's just walking alone down the hallway, listening to music really struck a chord since I was pretty insular at the time and didn't make too many friends my first year (that fortunately changed)

Then Max meets Chloe, her friend she hasn't met in years. \~2 months after I played the game, I wound up having a class with someone I hadn't seen since elementary school.

Fallout 76 for me. The Covid lockdown had just begun and I was unable to work for months because of it. I would wake up and eat some breakfast then go play. I would basically live in that world stopping only to eat and use the restroom, and sleep at the end of the day. I spent so much time in that world because I couldn't do much else. Not the best game but I will forever link the lockdown and Fallout 76.

Dragon Quest Builders 1&2 - I picked the first one up randomly (neither of us have played DQ before) on one of my first dates with my now husband. We chatted when playing through it together, then realised a second one had just been released. So we chatted the whole time through playing that one too, esp in early Covid. We've just started replaying the games again, but this time while living together, and it's been so fun remembering the first time we played them!

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario World

Super Mario RPG

FFX

Halo 1/2/3

Cool sentiment for the post, but it feels strange to me to pick such a recent game. Surely you're still in that era?

Like, Crash Bandicoot (specifically 2) is associated with my childhood as one of the, if not THE, first games I have memories of playing. Played it all the time with my brother and playing either the PS1 original or PS4 remake takes me back to that time.

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario World

Super Mario RPG

FFX

Halo 1/2/3

Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution were an entire summer of my childhood with daily parties of friends around the block.

I still get PTSD flashbacks from Through the Fire and Flames and Xephyr

Halo ce and 2. 16 person lan parties every Thursday, with a midnight run to the sub shop. Best of times

Summer of 2016, didn't have stable internet so for most of the summer it was offline Rocket League with the occasional J-Stars Victory VS+ and whatever anime I had downloaded on my VITA. Woke up quite early around 5-6am when the sky was already bright and breakfasts being a hot cup of chicken noodle soup from a packet and dipping my secret stash of BBQ Pringles in the soup 😊

Final Fantasy 15.

I played it back when my wife and I were still dating. She had just moved 10 hours away, so every weekend we drove out to see each other. All of the little convince stores and roadside stops in FFXV always make me think of those long 10 hour drives.

I've also always had the same friend group of 3 other guys, and we stayed at each other's houses every weekend between elementary school and high school, so all of the hangout and camping scenes brought me right back to my childhood.

I know it's not everybody's favourite Final Fantasy game, but it feels special to me and gives my feelings that no other game ever has before or since.

Thumbs raw by morning