Lunar's Top 100 Games - Episode IV
Games #70-61
Friends, gamers, countrymen, we're here for Episode IV of my top 100 games of all time! This is the first episode releasing exclusively on Tuhat, and I appreciate y'all following me here! Go take a look at Emory and Glen's articles going live on Substack right now as well!
The Games
70. Gone Home
This title's popularity was oddly contentious, because people want to shout that it's not a "real game" because you play as a woman, and there's no violence? Gamers are an odd bunch.
In Gone Home, you play as Katie, who has is returning to her family home after a stint abroad. She finds the home empty, and searches the home for clues as to why nobody is there. The gameplay consists of searching around the house finding assorted notes containing pieces of the story which led to Katie's family being gone.
The story you piece together is excellent, and more of the house opens up to explore as you find parts of the lore. There is a point where the story is mostly told, but when you play Gone Home, I encourage you to find the whole story, it is worth it!
69. Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter World is the peak of the Monster Hunter series for me. All of the games preceding it were fun, as were the games following it, but World is the one that captured my heart.
Hunting monsters as never felt so good, and you create a character to explore the "New World," which is unfortunately written with an incredibly colonial mindset. There are people already living there. But, as this expeditionary hunter, you get to choose a weapon and start learning how to use it against monsters. The learning curve of Monster Hunter is steep, but once you bond with a weapon it begins to feel like second nature.
Monster Hunter World has a huge emphasis on online multiplayer, so I'd get some friends together and go for some hunts, it is an incredibly fun time.
68. SUPERHOT
Part first person shooter, part puzzle game, SUPERHOT is something unique. Time only moves when you do, allowing you to plan your attacks, and watch as bullets fly in slow motion. The VR version feels especially incredible, but does not have the breadth of the PC release.
It's hard to say much more about SUPERHOT without spoiling the story, which is exceptional albeit sparse, but it left me wanting more. Mind Control Delete is a fun roguelite follow up, but it does not compare to the original. Play SUPERHOT! It's short and cheap and an incredible work of art.
67. Mirror's Edge
Speaking of unique first person games, Mirror's Edge is a gorgeous game about parkour, family, and the criminal underworld.
The point of view character, Faith, is a part of an underground group called "runners" who are parkour specialists. In a "post crime" society, everything is a stark white. Objects highlight in bright colors when they can be interacted with, which adds a great contrast to the world.
An interesting story and great parkour mechanics make Mirror's Edge a great experience, worth playing. It only takes a few hours, but they're great hours. Except for the shooting sections, they certainly knocked the game a few pegs down on my list. Skip the sequel/reboot though...
66. Warcraft III
My introduction to the iconic world of Azeroth, Warcraft III is the only strategy game that you will find on my list. A fantastic and tragic story, especially when you add the Frozen Throne expansion, it compelled me to play a genre that I otherwise would not consider.
A real time strategy game that focuses on a smaller number of units, lead by a series of different "Hero Characters" it just felt easier for me to understand than any other strategy game I've ever tried. In the campaign, it plays more like a top-down RPG with base building, than something like Starcraft.
The RTS multiplayer never appealed to me, but the modding scene and custom games kept me playing for hours. DotA was a big one, I spent many hours playing that with friends. The "Reforged" remake didn't land properly, but it's still an incredible game worth playing! Especially if you're a World of Warcraft fan.
65. Resident Evil 4
Leon Kennedy's second game, but by far his most popular one, Resident Evil 4 just got everything right. I'll confess though, I enjoyed the Wii version the most. Something about pointing guns as Leon just felt right.
He has been tasked with finding Ashley Graham, the U.S. President's daughter, who has been abducted by the Ganados cult in a fictional region of Spain called Valdelobos. You quickly run into the cultists, and horror ensues. Leon starts shooting them in the head, but they sure don't stay down. Turns out being infected with a parasite makes you a bit tough to kill.
I haven't played the remake yet, but it is fairly high on my list. I had a playthrough of the VR version right before the remake came out. It wasn't my favorite way to play, but I enjoyed it a lot. If I were to play it for the first time today, I would probably play the remake, Ashley's AI has reportedly been significantly improved.
64. Limbo
Another indie darling, Limbo is haunting and beautiful. I've played through it at least 4 times over the years since its release (it's not particularly long).
A side scrolling horror themed puzzle-platformer, you take the role of a small boy, seemingly lost in the woods. The puzzles start fairly simple, and get significantly more devious in the second half of the game. The atmosphere really carries the game, though, as you really do feel the sense of melancholy and "Limbo" come through.
I don't want to spoil the game, as the atmosphere and story are the main selling points, but I will say that it was one of the most popular Xbox Live Arcade games for a reason.
63. Assassin's Creed II
People will be mad Assassin's Creed made it so high on this list, and they'll be even angrier that there's another one even higher up.
Assassin's Creed revolves around the idea that people can access their latent "genetic memory" and embody their ancestors in some form of virtual reality. The first 5 games in the series have you playing as Desmond, playing the role of all sorts of different ancestors. II is the first of three games in the "Ezio Saga" where you play as the initially lecherous yet charming Ezio.
Ezio travels around renaissance Italy, making friends (and enemies) with some of the era's most famous celebrities (Leonardo DaVinci is like, his BFF). Oh, and you kill people, and jump into haystacks.
I think Assassin's Creed II holds up today, but I understand that the Ubisoft Open World formula has been done to death. And if you were only going to play one Assassin's Creed game, I'd save it for the next one on this list. Anyone want to guess in the Discord? (hyperlink)
62. Vampire Survivors
My wife says Vampire Survivors is the best game in this set of 10, and while I love the next game, she may be objectively correct.
Vampire Survivors defined a new roguelite genre, you play as a variety of (clearly Castlevania inspired) characters, with all kinds of weapons and abilities (also clearly Castlevania inspired), and you attack automatically as you walk around. As you kill enemies you get experience, and unlock more weapons or abilities, or level up the ones you already have. It sounds simple, but it ramps up quickly, and is truly addicting.
This game launched a million clones, but the OG is still the one I would recommend most. But who am I kidding? You've definitely already played this one.
61. Bayonetta
I'm a big fan of the character action genre, and Bayonetta is something special. Stylish action has never looked this good.
Created by Hideki Kamiya, one of the creators of Devil May Cry, Bayonetta stars a tall witch, who is all legs, and has horrifying magical hair based powers. Her outfit? Hair. Her powers? Hair. And she kicks the heck out of demons and angels with these powers. The story is surprisingly compelling, and Bayonetta is genuinely one of the most fun games I've ever played. Getting a new weapon to mix and match around is fun every time.
If you're a Devil May Cry fan who has never tried Bayonetta, you owe it to yourself to try.
Outro
Another week down, I think we're getting into an excellent flow! It's a holiday weekend, so I appreciate you finding time to read this nonsense.
Over on the Lunar's Landing Discord, we're having a lot of fun chatting, as well as we've just started July's Lunar League games! Please join us in playing MegaMan X and Shadow Hearts for July!
As always, thank you for reading, if you want to support me I have a Patreon! All Patreon members get one exclusive article per month, and higher tiers come with a few other perks. But honestly, the biggest perk in my mind is just helping to support me, and I love you all for even considering it.