35. Luigi's Mansion (2018)
I was pleasantly surprised along with everyone else when Nintendo announced this remake of their 2001 GameCube launch title, and this time my surprise was not coupled with any apprehension. I knew that the 3DS was the perfect platform for this game, and with Grezzo at the helm, that it would be solid.
And boy was I right to feel that way! Man, Grezzo knocked this out of the park, as they always seem to do. Every single bit of the original experience was captured and presented here, along with the usual improvements that I expect with a remake on a newer console.
Being able to see the mini-map at any time on the lower screen is a fantastic help. The vacuum physics are also improved upon, even from Dark Moon, whose whole "use the X and B buttons to aim up and down" thing never completely caught on with me. This is, I think, the only 3DS game in my library that makes use of the C-Stick! You know, that little grey nub in the top right that you probably just thought was there to keep the top lid separated from the bottom when the unit is closed. That's an actual analog input!
While you hold down the R button, the C-Stick moves the Poltergust-5000 around and about, which feels natural once you do it a few times.
All the portrait ghosts are exactly as you remember them, presented in beautiful updated forms that really show off their character.
I've already played through the entire game twice, and I know I will again soon. Being able to walk around with this classic is just fantastic!
Now, time to find a friend who owns it so I can try the co-op mode with Gooigi...
That's right, this game is Gooigi's first appearance, so while so many people were geeking about him after the Luigi's Mansion 3 announcement, the rest of us were wondering why they hadn't picked this up yet!
34. Baba Is You
One of the most original and interesting puzzle games in years, Baba Is You combines lateral thinking and physics in a very cool way.
You play (at first, at least) as Baba, a small sheep-like creature, whose only ability is to hop around and move things that can be moved. Using this one mechanic, you must organize each level's objects and adjectives in such a way that will allow Baba to achieve the "win" status. It seems like a simple idea, but do not be deceived.
The game doesn't take too long to force you into rethinking not just the moves you're trying to make, but the very nature of the physics of this world. It's just a very fascinating experience that feels very rewarding when you're successful.
33. Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain blew me away when I played it on my PS3 back in 2010. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
You play as four different characters: a young father who suffers a tragedy, and three investigators of various stripes who are working - all from different yet occasionally intersecting angles - on the case that's affected him.
All of the input is done via on-screen button prompts, which may arise either during manual exploration, or suddenly during a cutscene.
It's as close to a true interactive movie experience as I've ever had. I was very pleased (and honestly pretty surprised) to see it get a PC release this summer.
It's well written and acted, and you'll want to play through it several times to try for its various possible endings (some of which are serious downers, so I don't recommend playing this one during winter).
32. Papers, Please
We've all played dystopian games before, but you've never played one like Papers, Please.
You play as a border agent in a fictional Iron Curtain country in the early 1980s. Each day, you're given the regulations for who may enter.
As you may suspect, these regulations change frequently and without warning, so you have to stay on top of things if you want to make your salary and be able to provide for your family (which is done via a salary allocation screen at the end of each in-game day).
The game presents you with numerous moral dilemmas, throwing the consequences of your actions at you in quite cold fashion.
Like Heavy Rain, this one has multiple endings, but it's also quite a bit shorter, so multiple playthroughs are pretty much a given.
31. Stardew Valley
I just don't think there is any happier place, real or fictional, than Stardew Valley.
This is the kind of game that can sort of be whatever you want it to be. You can spend your time farming, foraging, or fishing.
You can help rebuild the decrepit Community Center, or go digging for precious ore in the mines.
Or you can do what I did and only do any of those above things for as long as it takes to make enough money to buy enough pizzas to make Sam the hot skater boy fall in love with you and marry you.
No matter what path you take, Stardew Valley will soothe your soul and give you respite in a beautiful place with a tiny corner of the virtual earth for you to mold as you please.
