RiffRaff's 10 Best of the Decade List!

It has been an amazing decade for games, especially in the second half. I could have made this a top 100 list, but time is not on my side. Anyhoo, here are my arbitrary rules. I'll give a top 3 for each year and then from those nominations I'll compile my list. 

Hope you enjoy!!!!!

2010

1. Bayonetta
2. Civilization 5
3. Amnesia: The Dark Descent

2011

1. Portal 2
2. Dark Souls
3. Zelda: Skyward Sword

2012

1. Spec Ops
2. Dishonored
3. X-Com: Enemy Unknown

2013

1. Bioshock: Infinite
2. Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
3. Metal Gear Rising: Revengence

2014

1. Bayonetta 2
2. Blackwell: Epiphany
3. Shovel Knight

2015

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
2. Pillars of Eternity
3. Bloodborne

2016

1. Dark Souls 3
2. Persona 5
3. Inside

2017

Because this was such an amazing year for games I couldn't just choose 3, so I bumped this one up to 4 :)

1. Zelda: Breath of the Wild
2. Divinity: Original Sin 2
3. Hollow Knight
4. Dragon Quest XI

2018

1. God of War 2K18
2. Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire
3. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

2019

1. Disco Elysium
2. Sekiro
3. Death Stranding

So there you have it. And now to countdown to my number one of the decade!

10. God of War 2K18

I would have never thought that Kratos would become one of the most likable and most complex characters in video game history. But those mad wizards at Sony Santa Monica pulled it of and made one hell of an experience. From hard hitting combat to a narrative that's impossible to turn away from and a healthy dose of Norse mythology every moment of this game had me glued to my chair. Been through it 3 times now and each time it's as great as the first!

9. Dark Souls 

I went into this game absolutely in the dark. All I heard is it was a pretty good action RPG and it was pretty challenging. Holy fuck I was not prepared to die! I got my ass kicked so hard but the perfect controls and amazing atmosphere sucked me back for more punishment with each death. And then when I 'got gud' the next area would fuck me up all over again. Loved it!

8. Dark Souls 3

Probably a controversial placement here, but I slightly prefer DkS3 over the first one. Why? Because it's more fast paced combat-wise and I like the pretty graphics (not saying DkS1 looks bad at all ;) ). Otherwise, I love DkS3 for all the same reasons I love the first.

7. Divinity: Original Sin 2

Besides a great story that begs for multiple runs, super interesting characters, tight and strategic turnbased combat, some of the best voice acting in RPGs ever, and amazing world building, you can have sex with a lizard man. And honestly, isn't that reason enough to play :)

6. Bloodborne

How does one make Dark Souls better? Well, steep it in Lovecraftian lore (Fishing Hamlet OMFG YES!!!), jack the gameplay speed up to 11 and introduce mechanics to make you play more aggressively. With the exception of the optional Chalice Dungeons (fuck those things), everything about BB is action RPG perfection. Orphan of Kos is the best boss fight of all video games ever. Change my mind!

5. Portal 2

Cave Johnson. 'Nuff said.

4. Pillars of Eternity and PoE2: Deadfire

So I guess I'm cheating here, but whatever, my list. PoE and PoE2 send my half-elf ranger Alorah on an amazing adventure. And since both these games are directly connected I feel it fit to group them together. 

Anyhoo, this is some of the best cRPGing I've ever experienced. Amazingly written prose, engrossing narrative(s), unforgettable party members (Xoti is best girl and Edèr is best boy!), gameplay just like those wonderful Infinity Engine games but updated for the times, beautiful areas to explore, lots of choices that make an impact on the game's world, and some of the deepest lore ever in an RPG.

3. Disco Elysium

This is Role-Playing to the max! I really feel like I'm playing the character I want to play and the DM is actually going along with my degenerate descisions! In my first hour of play I accidentally hung myself trying to get my tie off of a ceiling fan and beat up a foul-mouth 11 year-old drug addict.

It's at the same time one of the funniest games I've ever played and also the saddest and also the most empathetic and the the most introspective. It's everything I've ever wanted from an RPG. I really hope this game ushers in a wave of non-fantasy/sci-fi, combat-less rpgs. It's a nice change of pace :)

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Sure, the controls can be a bit janky, the combat a tad stilted, menus rather clunky, framerate a bit choppy. But man, despite its hiccups The Witcher 3 has so much heart! I'm currently doing my 4th run (btw, the Switch version is ace!) and I'm loving it as much as my first. Such a memorable tale that never gets old!

1. Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild

It's really hard for me to explain exactly why I love this game so much. But everytime I pop it in I get lost in Hyrule so hard. It's just so relaxing to play and the fact I can literally go almost everywhere on the map unhindered makes meandering about that much more enjoyable.

I love the Ghibli inspired art direction, I love the minimalist story, I love doing things at my own pace, I love the quietness and ambient sounds, I love the soft piano music, and I love those adorable Korocks (in fact, I even got a few tattooed on my ;) ). I love this game to bits and will be playing it over and over for years to come.

So, that's it! Hope you enjoyed!!! Have a happy and healthy 2020 and may it be filled with lots of love and life and video games!!!!

LOOK WHO CAME:

RiffRaff    

Boxman214   114

CelicaCrazed   106

Gajknight   97

Marcel Hoang   81

LaTerry   43

PatBateman17   28

The Actual Charlton Heston   24

Sir Shenanigans   21

Neronium   12

house4lyfe   8

Meursault   8

whybmonotacrab   4

C-bastion   1