This gets trickier with games, because an experienced game designer can, for instance, look at the UI design and graphics programming of a Ubisoft open world slopfest, and say those parts were masterfully done (even if the overall game isn't so fun). And, even the best of video games have bits of them that weren't as good.

What about it ?

The writing, the characters, the dialogues, the story, everything is new and perfectly done. It is pure art and something like 98% of the 3+ millions players would disagree with you.

But you must be part of that 2%, meh to each their own ‍️

Has seriously no one mentioned The Last of Us? That’s crazy.

I think the second should be included.

As well as red dead redemption 2.

The storytelling is just top tier. Better than literally almost all media made today.

Absolute embodiment of less is more. Controls are simple but intuitive, you can beat it in one session, there's no major payoff in the end. It's just a game about the journey and the friends made along the way.

I still remember having my mind blown that the other figure I met after the tutorial level was not just an NPC, when I noticed their movements were too deliberate and they were solving some puzzles for me.

I made it all the way to the end of the game with that person. Never knew who they even were until their name showed up at the very end. What a cathartic experience. I've also never been able to achieve anything similar since then.

Antichamber

and maybe Portal

Bastion is amazing.

A short hike! Very pleased to see this one mentioned. What a game. The best kids game IMO

Quick, go through their post history and see if they’ve mentioned any Neil Breen films

ENA: Dream BBQ

objective

MEDIA APPRECIATION DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY, GOOD NIGHT!

No shit that’s awesome!

I am here to question Elden Ring's quality

Outer wilds

Clair Obscur has been the best game I've played in a long while, absolute masterpiece

Mega Man X

I added the buddy I ran through the game with and he's still on my friend list decade or so later, amazing experience

Doom (93) I guess ?

Also HL and HL2

Steins;Gate my man cultured AF

Super Hexagon

It's about as simple as a 'modern' game can be (I read there was even a port of it to Commodore 64.) but it's a finely tuned machine. When you lose - and you will, a lot - it feels like mostly your own fault and not the game's.

The difficulty levels very accurately start at Hard for the easiest one. There are 6 total levels, the next 5 difficulties are Harder, Hardest, Hardester, Hardestest, and Hardestestest.

With much time and luck I can beat the first level (unlocking the 4th). On a lost save I had unlocked the 5th level by completing the 2nd, and have only ever seen the 6th in videos from other people. I would have to beat the 3rd to see it myself, and that's not happening.

The criteria to beat a level is "last for 60 seconds".

The Spyro the dragon trilogy for me is just an absolute masterpiece.

Final Fantasy VII, IX and X are three master pieces

Metroid prime and fusion

Fatal Frame trilogy on the PlayStation 2, Forbidden Siren, Silent Hill 2, Resident Evil 2 are amongst the best of the best