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Our Favourite Games Every Year We’ve Been Alive

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You might have seen this doing the rounds on social media: your favourite video game for every year you were born.

It’s a lot of fun to do, so we did it!

Here are some of our lists. Feel free to drop your own in the comments below!

Alex Walker, Editor

“Building a list from 1987 was surprisingly pretty easy, but then I’m coming at it as someone who grew up with PC and didn’t really get hugely into consoles or handhelds besides the Game Boy/DS.

“I kept things pretty simple: either I picked games I had the most vivid memories of, ones that changed my life the most, or games that I spent the most time with. That’s why I’ve got Advance Wars on the list (even though I didn’t play it until a couple of years after release). DOOM came out in 1993, but I rolled with Myst because that game formed part of my relationship with my mother; it brought us together over video games, and was the start of us playing puzzle games decades later. (I nearly listed Riven for the same reason, but ended up going with GTA 1 because it’s still my favourite of the series, and I remember having an argument with my brother in the car about the meaning of the word “gameplay” back when we were kids.)”

Hayley Williams, Social Media & Community Editor

“I know I haven’t been alive as long as anyone else here, but this was still a challenge. Most years had either too many games I loved, or none at all. Some games that were hugely influential for me, like my first ever FPS Bioshock, were beaten out by other incredible games in the same year. The hardest has to be 2007 — how did so many huge, franchise-birthing games come out in a single year? And then there are downright terrible years like 2005. Minish Cap wasn’t a particularly defining game in my life, but apparently that’s all there was. Some years were no brainers, of course. Yes, I’m referring to 2002. And 2012.”

Mark Serrels, Managing Editor

“I had so much fun doing this list, mainly because it gave me a chance to remember those old Spectrum games I grew up playing. Those games played such a large part of my early childhood.

“I found it really tough to leave some games out — Monkey Island 2 is the one that springs to mind, and Metal Gear Solid 2 — but for some reason 1999 was the toughest year. In hindsight it feels like I totally just skipped video games that year! Like Hayley, 2002 was a no brainer. As was 1991 and 2011. Easiest years for me by far.”

Rae Johnston, Gizmodo Journalist

“There are definitely “better” or “more important” games than these, but I decided to simply choose the games I invested the most time in, or had the biggest impact on my life (some are a little embarrassing, I’ll admit!) One thing about the process of compiling this list – it made me realise how much of my life I’ve spent in an arcade!”

Also, just as an added bonus — and because he gave me the idea to do it in the first place — here’s David Wildgoose’s list. Long time readers might remember the Goose as Kotaku Australia Editor before I started. Jesus that was a long time ago. Also, David is older than me. That feels nice. We have a lot of games in common because he has good taste.

Now it’s your turn! Let’s see them!

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