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32/ Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter - Trails is always peak and I'm not afraid to admit my bias. But man... seeing some of the best scenes remade in 3D with such care really made the entire experience that much more emotional. Liberl really does have a special place in my heart.

100

31/ Onimusha: Way of the Sword - I was hoping to play the OGs before the new game but couldn't find the time. However, this one was a treat. Brought back the good times of playing Sekiro. Kyoto open world was a bit meh. But all bosses were fantastic and satisfying to learn their movesets.

100

30/ Super Mario Odyssey - I don't play platformers these days but I will always make an excuse for 3D Mario. Very deserving of the hype. I got almost all moons in the game so I did everything it had to offer.

100

29/ The Mermaid Mask - This one has been a joy from start to finish. Love the voice acting and the style. The ending also felt very satisfying with some surprising elements!

100

28/ Pine: A Story of Loss - It has a really pleasant artstyle and the ending is quite touching. Unfortunately, it just did not hit me as hard as for some. Not the game's fault, though! I just found it tough to relate to the main character.

100

27/ Routine - Sometimes I just get in the mood for a shorter atmospheric horror and this one has it in spades. Great locales to explore and wonderful imagery. Not too big on stealth elements but it's worth a playthrough.

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#My9Games tried real hard to find games that fit the theme of "shaping me"; definitely a good variety of games/genres I got into as a kid or teen with a good chunk of these representing genres I still enjoy

List of "The 9 Games that shaped who I am".

This includes, from top left:
Higurashi When They Cry,
Alan Wake,
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective,
Rayman 2: The Great Escape,
The Legend of Heores: Trails in the Sky FC,
Steins;Gate,
The Sims 2,
Sam & Max Season One,
Resident Evil 0.

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Parked my playthrough of #RhythmHeavenGroove at a good spot. Got all perfects and a couple streaks + Night Mode. I wish the remixes were all themed and I don't know if all minigames warranted a 2nd variant. Anyway here's my very rough ranking of all single-player stages:

000

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

26/ Rhythm Paradise Groove - The most content rich title in the series for sure. I did have a couple gripes but I had so much fun going for all perfects (and some frustrations along the way too). Hopefully we'll get the next one much sooner!

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

25/ Tangle Tower - Just in time to play the sequel. Really fun writing and great voice acting. Really enjoyed my short time with it. The hint system was clear enough at giving direction without spoiling the fun and I there was no moon logic at all

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

24/ Final Fantasy VII Remake - Maybe not the best choice for my first ever FF but I had a good time; really liked the cast and the combat was great. The story didn't quite captivate me to start Rebirth right away but I plan on continuing the trilogy for sure!

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

23/ Schrödinger's Call - I was quite taken in by the beautiful artwork and music and stayed for a very human tale of love, its different forms, and its manifestations mere nanoseconds before the moons falls on their world.

130

22/ Zelda: Twilight Princess - This was the first time I replayed the game since the Wii. I enjoyed the beginning sections more this time around but to me the game doesn't start until Midna's Lament. Still a great atmosphere and fun dungeons

100

21/ Alone in the Dark (2024) - This is a video game alright. Generic but the environments were pretty. 1 play through felt enough for me. The ending seemed tad out of place and final boss was bullshit but the rest was actually fairly okay!

20/ Forbidden Solitaire - Not usually a fan of card games but had to make an exemption for this gem. Fantastic visuals with creepy vibes throughout. Perfect for a spooky/cozy evening. FMV photos/videos are a nice touch

141

19/ No Means Nothing - It's difficult to describe how uncomfortable this experience made me feel at times. The final sequence had me at the edge of my seat. It's a short game but one that will stay with me for a while

100

18/ Resident Evil 3 (1999) - Still the best version of RE3. Nemesis actually follows you around Racoon City and it has some great (and difficult) puzzles. I find it funny how difficult I found it on my first playthrough. It's a fantastic time with great visuals.

100

17/ Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - Took me a while to get to this entry and I found it just okay. It's effectively slightly worse Ys VIII with more traversal options (which were cool!). The story managed to hook me in the latter half

100

16/ Super Mario Galaxy 2 - A classic platformer from my childhood and possibly my favourite Mario game. Went for a full 100% and low-key forgot how time consuming it can feel sometimes. Managed to get the last star in just couple hours so that's a new record lol

100

15/ Neva - The art direction and presentation in this experience is absolutely stunning. To me, this was about the cycle of life and death with the changing seasons and the way the game ends. The platforming got even slightly challenging at times!

100

14/ Resident Evil 2 (1998) - I got very fond memories of playing the OG on Gamecube. This version hold up very well and the different scenarios make for a fantastic excuse to replay the game every couple years.

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

13/ Resident Evil (1996) - Always a good time to chill out for a day with the original RE. Remake is better, sure, but there's plenty of charm to be found in this version too.

100

12/ Fatal Frame II Crimson Butterfly Remake - Finally got all endings and can say that this is the most hopeful and empathetic version of the game. New combat clicked, side stories were great at adding more lore and it's the prettiest Fatal Frame to date for sure!

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

10 & 11/ Fatal Frame 2 (PS2 & Wii) - To prepare for the remake I wanted to play through the classic versions again. Wii Edition was my first Project Zero game and how I got into the franchise. Always a good time regardless of which version you choose!

120

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

9/ Resident Evil Requiem - What a great mix between action horror with Leon and survival horror with Grace. Very enjoyable throughout and encounters can be very stressful. I want to do more playthroughs to determine how I feel about it compared to other RE's

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

8/ Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse - A completely different vibe from the original but I think this presented a stronger cast and narrative. Plenty scares in initial hours with tone fairly consistent throughout. I hope there's gonna be a third entry!

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

7/ Metroid Zero Mission - I absolutely suck at platforming in 2D but it was a nice palate cleanser after Prime 4. Only got like 57% of the items though so Mother Brain wrecked me. Maybe this is the year when I play other Metroid titles? 🤔

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

6/ Zelda: Majora's Mask - First time actually beating the game after watching various playthroughs/speedruns/randos and it quickly won me over with the vibe and characters. A Zelda tapping into that horror aesthetic again would be great!

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

5/ Slay the Princess - I love how distinct each version of Princess and Hero felt and how the dynamic between them changes depending on your choices. This is a love story.

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

#Trails beyond the Horizon quickly jumped to my no. 1 spot of favourite Trails finales ever. The lore drops, the final boss fight and the absolutely BOLD cliffhanger. It truly feels like we're reaching the climax of the series.

030

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

4/ Trails beyond the Horizon - I AM NOT OKAY WTF WAS THAT ENDING. Absolute peak Trails!

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

3/ No Sleep for Kaname Date - It was fun getting to interact with the cast more but it's a bit nothing burger of an experience: not bad, not fantastic. Tbf, the game is self aware of its status. Escape game sections were cool but a bit too hand-holdy compared to Zero Escape.

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

2/ Dragon Quest I HD-2D Remake - Despite dropping the remake of DQ3 last year I decide to give the series another chance and finally came to the conclusion that it's just not for me. I beat it only thanks to a guide and didn't enjoy the experience: combat, music, writing, or exploration

111

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

1/ The Rise of the Golden Idol - I think I enjoyed the first game slightly more than the sequel. Some puzzles I got immediatelly and some were real head scratchers. The puzzles were well designed and logical, I'm just thick.

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I played more games but didn't include them in the thread so here's a Tierlist of ALL games I played this year to sum it up. Top 3: 1. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter 2. Last Defense Academy 3. Expedition 33 I'll try to be more diligent next year haha

Final Game Tierlist of 2025. Games are ranked from left to right.

Initial Game Tierlist of 2025. Games are placed in no particular order within the rows.

000

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

#SteamReplay almost 30% of play-time spent on Trails lol. Last Defense Academy would've been here if I played in on Steam and not on Switch

010

19/ Control - (77/100) - enjoyable action game from Remedy, though the story didn't quite interest me as the world-building of the Oldest House. Art direction is on point as ever!

100

18/ Heartworm - (68/100) - kinda forgettable overall. Feels like a lost potential more than anything. Needed more time in the oven.

100

17/ Silent Hill f - (82/100) - Beautifully told story but the game suffers a bit from too many forced encounters near the end. However, it's a great return to form for Silent Hill.

100

16/ Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter - (90/100) - Sky FC but redone from scratch with fully 3D environment and great animations. The ending is as heartbreaking as always. Offers evrything the best the "future" installements have to offer.

100

15/ Pikmin 2 - (70/100) - I can never fully vibe with this game. Even if it is more strategic that the first. But the procedurally generated caves seem to troll you more than provide a real challenge. And getting 100 purple Pikmin is a chore.

100

14/ Duck Detective: the Ghost of Glamping - (75/100) - A good improvement on puzzle logic from the original. Quirky cast of characters and a grand good time. Voice acting is always top-notch.

100

13/ Pikmin - (80/100) - Very biased towards Pikmin 1 but it's simple, challenging, requires some strategy to fit within the time limit. Switch version doesn't control as well as on the Wii. Still cute as heck.

100

12/ The Roottrees are Dead - (72/100) - A very good take on fill in the blanks genre of puzzle/adventure game. Presentation is a bit simplistic but it is very difficult and satisfying when you get something right. Good hint system and internal logic so it is very solvable.

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

11/ Post Trauma - (68/100) - A bit clunky in combat and puzzles but there's a certain charm to it and the awkward main character. Tries to do something unique so I applaud the effort.

100

10/ Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy - (89/100) - Kodaka, I kneel. This is arguably the best thing to come out of Kodaka's crazy head but the narrative and characters are worth experiencing. I did get all 100 endings and while some were a miss with me, this game deserves recognition.

100

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

I! Need! The! Full! Release! Of! Bits & Bops! RIGHT! NOW! With the new demo perfected I really cannot wait for the full release. Hopefully 2025 is the year!

020

matwarrior @matwarrior.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

9/ Look Outside - (78/100) - Beautifully grotesque pixel art joy of a ride that hopefully gets completed content in the future to be truly amazing. Will definitely revisit after a couple major updates.

Score: 78/100
Notes: The vibe is absolutely immaculate with this one. The pixel art body horror are truly grotesque and mesmerising to look at. The soundtrack is great and alwyas moody or getting you into the exploration and excitement/anxiety of battles. The battles are very simple RPG Maker base with weapon durability added to the mix. The highlight of the game is the whole asthetic and quirky characters, some still human, some trying to figure out how to continue living their life having Looked Outside. There is a narrative presented which has you collect 4 different depictions of the Visitor but you also have the freedom to completely ignore it and just try to survive until the Visitor passes by. The major dissapointment was the fact that the game still had areas/mechanics which are undercooked. I will definitely revisit it after some major updates to get a different ending explore new content. What is already in the game is great, but it was weird for certain aspects of the game to either barely matter or be barely functional. Hopefully more good things are to come from this gem in the making!