Thanksgiving has finally come! This is a time for reflection and looking back on the things you are most thankful for. For me, that comes in the form of some of the games I have played throughout this year.
This year has had its highs and lows. These games have gotten me through some of the lows and have made the highs that much sweeter. If you’re looking for a game to touch your heart and affect you, look no further than these.
This list is not an exhaustive list of every game I played this year, or even games that were released or found this year. This is a list of games that made me smile year-round. It has no particular order, no first place, and there were plenty of other games I found and enjoyed this year. Instead, these are the games I couldn’t stand staying silent about. May they be as helpful for you as they were for me.
Signalis
I heard Signalis was a game about a gay robot, and I started playing it without a second thought. While that is what Signalis is about, I could never have expected what this game had in store for me going in blind.
Signalis is a love story, a horror game, and an eldritch masterpiece with secrets you’ll never uncover. This game is a classic survival horror game, focused on solving puzzles, unlocking doors, and venturing ever further into a foreboding gauntlet. Danger lurks around every corner, but you’ll keep going. You have to remember your promise.
Signalis is a game I would not have picked up if I hadn’t gone in blind. Horror is decidedly not my favorite genre, but Signalis delivers. However, this is one of the most important games I’ve played all year. This game is a cult classic that I’ll likely spend years trying to convince my friends to play. Signalis is a cosmic love story that found a place in my heart and won’t leave. Not that I want it to.
I’m thankful I went into this game blind, and I’m thankful I took a chance on it. Signalis has pulled me into a fan base that I won’t soon be leaving behind. One day, I intend to return to it. I have a promise to keep.
Until Then
Most people don’t understand why I like Until Then. Honestly, they have a point. This game left me an emotional wreck, on the verge of tears, so heartsick and emotional that I couldn’t allow myself to think about it for two days after I finished it.
Until Then is a game I played just for me. I am so incredibly thankful that I found it. It is special to me in a way that is hard to talk about. Even though I will likely never touch it again, Until Then created an unforgettable experience that I treasure with all my heart.
Until Then is a beautiful and emotional tale of love, loss, and growth. I fell in love with the characters, the story, and the way everything was woven together. Until Then is not a gentle story. The ending of Until Then is one of the most devastating and perfect conclusions of a story I have ever seen. Despite this, I couldn’t put it down, and once I was invested, I couldn’t bring myself to let go until I had seen everything to the end.
Until Then is a tale about people who have gone through some of the most harrowing and traumatic experiences of their lives. As someone who has gone through my fair share of hardships, it was oddly healing to see these stories play out. You’ll have to fight and struggle and sacrifice for your happy ending.
This game is not for everyone, but it was for me. I’m so thankful I found it.
Persona 3: Reload
The Persona series is very important to me, and Persona 3, in particular, holds a unique place in my life. After playing Persona 5, I became interested in the rest of the Persona games. Persona 3 seemed right up my alley, but I wasn’t able to play it for several years. Instead, I watched the four-part movie series and tried to soak in whatever I could from this game’s vibe.
This year, I finally got to experience Persona 3 for myself with Persona 3: Reload. I spent over two hundred hours in one playthrough of this game, almost twice my investment in Persona 5. Persona 3: Reload spoke to me quietly, in a way Persona 5 didn’t. Though I still love both games, Persona 3: Reload means a lot to me.
Persona 3: Reload will ever stand out from the rest of my experience with the Persona series. This is the first Persona game in which I actually made an effort to hit 100% completion. It is the first Persona game where I have managed to beat the Reaper, repeatedly. Persona 3: Reload is also the first Persona game where I’ve tried my hand at maxing out Personas, making my favorites. More than that, Persona 3: Reload captures the slow creep toward the end of the world, the plight of the main character, and the bittersweet sadness of irrevocable change in a subtle and careful way that spoke straight to my soul.
Persona 3: Reload was there for me during one of the biggest changes in my life to date. It was the perfect game in a dark time, and it supported me and helped me process and grieve. I wouldn’t trade a single second of the two hundred hours I spent with it for anything.
Slay the Princess
Released at the end of last year, Slay the Princess has been a constant companion for me throughout this year. It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of my favorite games of all time. Playing this game is so incredibly special that I literally can’t play it all the time. I feel as if playing it too much would make it lose some of the magic. Despite this, I know that Slay the Princess is a game I will play off and on throughout the rest of my life.
Slay the Princess is a game that begins with a simple moral dilemma and evolves into something much bigger than anything you expect. From the very start, the Princess is such a fascinating character that only gets more complex and more interesting as the game progresses. The hand-drawn art of Black Tabby Studios and the voice of Nichole Goodnight are a perfect combination that brings a strange and beautiful love story to life.
There is so much in this game to discover and so many choices to make. I’ve met every Princess there is to encounter and made compelling decisions. Sometimes, I’ve been kind and gentle. Other times, I’ve been cruel. However, every time, I’ve fallen more in love with this game and have made every decision with purpose. I’m incredibly thankful to have this game in my life and thankful for one lonely night when I clicked on a game demo walkthrough that started this journey.
Pokémon: Infinite Fusion
I’ve only recently discovered Pokémon: Infinite Fusion, but I’m glad I did. This game pulled me out of a recent slump and got me invested in video games again.
This game has a wonderful outpouring of creativity that is empowering and infectious. The core mechanic of this fan-made game allows you to fuse Pokémon together, creating some of the coolest and most bizarre designs I’ve ever seen. I’ve spent hours combing through the Fusion dex to see what my favorite Pokémon looks like fused with another. A similar amount of time has been spent in game, fusing and unfusing Pokémon to make the perfect combinations.
Pokémon: Infinite Fusion perfectly captures the feeling of living in a world I’ve adored since childhood. Though I was initially concerned about downloading it, I am so thankful that I did. This game has revitalized a part of my creative and jovial spirit, and I can’t sing its praises enough.
Giving Thanks for a Great Year in Gaming
It has been a good year in gaming for me. Though many exciting games were released, a year in gaming is not just about the things that are new, but how the games you play delighted you. This year, I am incredibly grateful to have found so many wonderful games. These five games are the ones that not only delighted me but helped me during tough times. I’m thankful for all the work and effort everyone involved in these projects put in, and I feel incredibly grateful to have experienced all of them.
I hope you also have your own games that you’re thankful for this year. Most of all, I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!
