A Gamer’s Heart: 12 Games That Never Left Me

12. Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon

The game that hooked me with music as much as gameplay.

This one felt different from the jump. It had charm, color, and a weird energy I was drawn to—but what really made it stick was the soundtrack. I loved the music in this game, and I still do. There’s one track in particular—the Surrender Robot theme, “Dharmanyo”—that I still listen to even now. Sometimes I’d play the game just to hear certain songs again. It was fun, offbeat, and full of personality. One of those games that quietly became a favorite, and still holds a space in my memory that nothing else touches.

11. Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures (SNES)

The game that made me want to live inside it.

I have such fond memories of playing this game. It wasn’t just the action—it was the world-building. Pac-Man 2 was so different from what people expect when they hear "Pac-Man." It had personality, a world you could explore, and this quirky, offbeat energy. It made me want to visit wherever Pac-Man lived, just to walk around and be part of that strange little universe. It was colorful, weird, and unlike anything else at the time—and I loved that about it.

10. San Francisco Rush

The game that taught me how to just play.

What I loved most about this game wasn’t the racing—it was the freedom. San Francisco Rush (or just Rush later on) had a practice mode, and that’s where I lived. I’d fly the car through the air, crash it on purpose, just drive around doing whatever. Me and my people used to play it like that all the time—not even trying to win, just seeing what we could do. It was fun in a weird, chaotic way. And honestly? I liked it that way.

9. Street Fighter II

The game that made fighting feel fun.

If Mortal Kombat was dark and gritty, Street Fighter was its more colorful, upbeat cousin. It still packed a punch—still violent, still tough—but with a poppy, almost arcade-style energy that made it feel a little lighter. It was just as fun, just as hard, and its characters were just as iconic. Street Fighter had style, speed, and attitude—and it hit just as hard, in its own way.

8. Super Mario World (SNES)

The game that started my love for Mario.

This was the first Mario game I actually understood—the one where I didn’t just play, I fell in love. I couldn’t really get into the older Mario games on the NES, but when this one came along on the Super Nintendo, everything clicked. I used to watch my grandpa play it, along with Mario Bros. 3, but this is the one that stuck with me most. The world-building, the colors, the graphics—I just liked everything about it better. And honestly? I was better at it.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

The game that showed me how strange and haunting a world could be.

I always knew about the Zelda series, but I didn’t really get pulled in until the Nintendo 64 era. Between Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, this one was my favorite—by far. It was weirder, darker, and had a mood that stuck with me. I loved the Race Against the Clock mechanic, the way the moon kept getting more intense and scary-looking, and how off it all felt. It wasn’t the “normal” Zelda game, and that’s exactly why I loved it.

6. Tomb Raider

The game that introduced me to power in a different form.

I remember playing the first Tomb Raider with my sister—it was hers, and I’d never seen anything like it. An action game with a female lead? That was new to me. And Lara—however you said her name back then—was iconic. She was strong, fearless, stylish. My favorite in the series is probably Angel of Darkness—I was always drawn to that kind of darker, moodier atmosphere—but the original is the one that started it all. It was bold, cinematic, and different. It stood out, and still does.

5. Sonic the Hedgehog

The game that gave me my first favorite character.

Before Mario ever had my loyalty, there was Sonic. He was fast, fun, and cool—the first video game character I really connected with. This game wasn’t easy, especially as a kid, but that made it even more fun. The speed, the rings, the chaos—it had energy. And of course, playing against Dr. Robotnik felt epic at the time. Sonic was my entry point into what games could feel like when they had style and personality.

4. Diddy Kong Racing

The game I probably played more than any other as a kid.

I don’t think I played any game more as a kid than this one. I was obsessed. Whether I was trying to beat it again, replaying races I already knew by heart, or just picking it up for fun—I couldn’t leave it alone. The tracks, the music, the characters—it was addictive in the best way. I remember the feeling of trying to unlock everything, win everything, and just lose myself in it. Diddy Kong Racing was the game of my childhood.

3. Resident Evil 2

The game that felt like a horror movie I could control.

I already loved horror by this point, but this game took it to another level. It had that spooky, moody, almost claustrophobic energy I live for—but it never felt overstuffed. Just the right number of characters, just the right size setting, and a plot that kept you locked in. It didn’t need to go big—it went smart. The atmosphere was everything. It felt self-contained, like the perfect little haunted world, and I was obsessed.

2. Mortal Kombat

The game that started it all.

This might’ve been the first video game I ever played. My first console was a Sega Genesis—it actually belonged to my brother first, and then he passed it down to me. For a long time, Mortal Kombat was the only game I had, so I played it constantly. Before Sonic, before anything else, this was it. It’s more than just fights and fatalities—it’s the foundation. There’s a lot of emotion tied to this game because it marks the beginning of my gaming life.

1. Super Mario 64

The game that blew my mind wide open.

This was probably the first game that made me go, “Whoa, this is something else.” It was colorful, open, and full of possibility. Running around the castle, jumping into paintings—it felt like freedom. It wasn’t just about beating levels; it was about exploring, trying things, messing around, getting lost. This game didn’t just entertain me—it helped shape how I see creativity and control. It felt like a whole new world at my fingertips.

🎮 Closing Thoughts

These aren’t just video games—they’re little pieces of my history. I didn’t choose them to be impressive or trendy. I chose them because they stuck.

They made me laugh, scream, wonder, escape, and feel.

Some made me fall in love with characters. Others made me fall in love with myself a little more.

And honestly? I’m not done being shaped yet.