Games I've Beaten in 2019

So last year I gave a rundown of all the games I had beaten in 2018. And this year I’m doing it again! However, since I’ve finished a whopping 32 games and I’m doing this at the last minute I’ll have to make things a bit snappier than before. So no pretty pictures for each entry and just my general thoughts. Yeah it’s more or less just a dry list, but I like writing these things so…yeah.

House of the Dead 2 (Wii)

I first played this on the Dreamcast back in the day and loved it. Then I got hold of the PC version and beat it pretty much every day for a while. Now I blasted through it on the Wii with my girlfriend. You can tell I like this game a lot. One of the best light gun games as far as I’m concerned.

Blood (PC)

A classic I’ve missed out on for the longest time, Blood is visceral, fun and still hella creepy. Build engine shooters are something special, and Blood is one of the best.

Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis (PC)

It’s Holmes vs. Lupin in yet another Frogwares point and click adventure. Not much to say about this one, I enjoyed it about as much as the others.

Machinarium (PC)

Cute and charming, with some interesting puzzles. Highly recommended if the art style speaks to you. Really wish there was a sequel to this one so I could spend more time with the characters and the world.

Pitfall: The Big Adventure (Wii)

Never heard of this one? Can’t say I blame you. Originally released on the PS2 as Pitfall: The Lost Expedition, nobody ever really seemed to care about it. But then I found a very cheap used copy at Gamestop, decided to pick it up on a whim and got pleasantly surprised. Visually it’s Uncharted meets Leisure Suit Larry, but gameplay wise it’s actually a metroidvania 3D platformer. It’s nothing special, but I had enough fun with it to play it all the way through.

Shining Resonance Refrain (PS4)

Oh boy, this one pushed me to the limit multiple times. The story and writing is standard anime, as are the big tiddies. The mechanics aren’t anything special either, but…I dunno, something kept me coming back. The audiovisual presentation definitely had something to do with that, as the game looks good and sounds even better. It’s not a top tier RPG by any means, but you could do a lot worse too.

Wonderboy 3: The Dragon’s Trap (Switch)

I’ve only ever played the original on Game Gear at a friends house, on a copy that would lock up after a few minutes of play. So finally getting to experience this masterpiece was a treat. If you’re into this type of game and haven’t played it, do so immediately. Bonus points for the lovingly crafted physical Switch edition.

Testament of Sherlock Holmes (PC)

The final of the traditional point and click Holmes adventures by Frogwares. By now you know I like these games, so what really can I say…it’s good.

Spy Fox in Dry Cereal (PC)

An edutainment classic I’ve actually never played. In fact I’ve never played any Humongous Entertainment games, since I didn’t have a PC for the longest time (just an Amiga). It’s very charming and still fun as an adult, will definitely check out the other games I got in the bundle.

Red Steel 2 (Wii)

Found a cheap copy so I got it. I like the world it takes place in and the motion controls actually added to the gameplay, although the game did drag a bit towards the end. Beat it more out of principle than fun.

GoldenEye (Wii)

I felt like playing a shooter and was in kind of a James Bond phase. And when I realized that I hardly remembered anything from this remake, I decided to fire it up again. It’s fun, but doesn’t come close to the greatness that was the original GoldenEye on the N64. Still a good game and I remember enjoying the online multiplayer.

The Last Door Season 1 (PC)

I didn’t know anything about this one, but it was cheap on GOG and sounded cool, so I got it. It had a surprisingly great atmosphere considering the chunky graphics and the puzzles were neat too. Unfortunately the story fell apart near the end, so that I’m not interesting in checking out Season 2. Take a look if the game intrigues you though, you might like it more than I did.

Ganbare Goemon: Tōkai Dōchū Ōedo Tengu ri Kaeshi no Maki (DS)

I picked this one up while I was in Japan. I’ve always loved the Goemon series and this game does the series proud. The game has beautiful visuals, catchy music and a fun story with quirky characters…in short, it’s a Goemon game. But it gets bonus points for one of the most beautiful Impact battles ever, where you only see the combatants silhouetted against a sunset. Good stuff.

Ninja Gaiden (NES)

Since I grew up as a Sega kid I’ve never played this classic, but my newly acquired Switch Online membership gave me an easy way to experience the frustration and desperation that the final stages bring. Amazing game though.

River City Ransom (NES)

My girlfriend was at my place to celebrate my birthday, and we decided to fire this one up on a whim. I’ve heard about the game but didn’t know much more than that it was a beat ‘em up, which we enjoy playing together. We enjoyed playing this one so much that we finished it in one sitting. It’s good.

Dragon Quest IV (DS)

This one is an absolute classic, I’m not even sure what to say. A colorful cast of characters that all get their own story chapter, solid gameplay, charming visuals, great music…if you’re a fan of oldschool JRPGs you’ve probably played this one already but if not, do it!

Resident Evil Revelations 2 (PS4)

The first Revelations came as a surprise to me, as I enjoyed that game way more than I had expected. It was a nice mix of old school survival horror RE and new school shooty bang bang RE. The sequel leaned more in the latter direction, but it was still a lot of fun. It was great seeing Barry again and Moira grew on me as a character. Too bad none of the plot points will probably ever be picked up again…oh well.

Broken Age (PC)

I can see why Kickstarter backers were disappointed with this one, but damn did I enjoy myself. An interesting world with cool characters, tricky puzzles and an unexpected (if slightly undercooked) story. I enjoyed it a lot. Could you help me kill Mog Chothra?

The Blackwell Games (PC)

Oh wow, this series took me by surprise. GOG had a cheap bundle and the premise sounded kind of intriguing, so my girlfriend and I just went for it. Now it’s one of my favorite series of point and click adventures. The intriguing overarching story is peppered with many personal ones, the puzzles are logical but tough, the characters are amazing and you can tell that the whole series was created with a lot of passion. Definitely check these games out, you will not regret it.

Shogo: Mobile Armor Division (PC)

Eh, it’s okay. The random critical hit system is bullshit (enemies can randomly kill you with one hit) and it doesn’t help that enemies are precogs armed with hitscan guns. But the whole thing was inoffensive and short enough for me to finish it. The wonky anime aesthetic is also something you need to see, but a clip on Youtube will suffice. Can’t say I really recommend this one.

Resident Evil 7 (PS4)

I’ve avoided playing this one for the longest time, despite being a huge RE fan. I’m not sure why…maybe it was because it looked too similar to the other first person horror games that flooded the market around that time. I regret not picking it up earlier, because RE7 is a lot better than its contemporaries and a true return to horror form for the franchise. Too bad Capcom now seems to be focused on remakes…

Ib (PC)

I’ve got Nitrorad to thank for this one. I started watching his video on it and was quickly intrigued…intrigued enough to download the game and play it through in one sitting. It’s surprisingly creepy and creative, and I’ve enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It’s free and in English, so check it out if you like Japanese-style horror!

Titanfall 2 (PS4)

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. The movement, the campaign, the shooting, the Titans. Amazing. Too bad the series got replaced by Apex Legends, which isn’t bad but not nearly as awesome.

Final Fight (Arcade)

It’s Final Fight, man. It’s awesome. But Streets of Rage is better, no question about it.

The King of Dragons (Arcade)

This is a weird one. No combos, no move variety, a level-up system that seems pointless. A buttload of stages that sometimes only take a few seconds. It’s weird. But fun.

Unavowed (PC)

Set in the same universe as the Blackwell games, this one cranks everything up. Multiple origin stories, kickass graphics, multiple solutions to puzzles depending on the party members you’ve brought with you…yeah, you got party members. If you like urban fantasy, this one is a must play I’d say. Ended up buying the soundtrack too.

Dark Souls 3 (PS4)

It didn’t grab me as much as the first two games did, but it’s still Dark Souls and it’s really, really pretty. Kinda glad it’s over though, this exact formula has grown a bit stale for me. Which will probably make many of you look up in confusion from your third NG+++++++ playthrough.

White Knight Chronicles (PS3)

Despite getting middling to negative reviews, White Knight Chronicles always floated around the back of my mind. I’m not sure why…it didn’t sound that interesting and the combat system sounded crap, and yet I was still sure I’d end up playing it one day. Well, once I ran across a cheap copy I did…and was somewhat pleasantly surprised. While I can see where the criticisms come from, none of them were enough to ultimately put me off the game for good. I own the sequel as well and I look forward to playing it!

And that’s it! 32 games…I’m kind of impressed with myself. Unfortunately I also kept buying games this year, so my backlog hasn’t really become any smaller…oh well.

What games have you beaten this year? Which one was your favorite?