Looking back from the vantage point of 2026, the gaming landscape of the past few years feels like a surreal, technicolor dream. For me, gaming wasn't just a hobby; it was a life raft, a portal, and a communal campfire all rolled into one. While the world outside my door was a chaotic symphony of uncertainty, the worlds inside my screen were vibrant, expansive, and filled with stories that felt more real than reality itself. My journey wasn't about chasing high scores or completing checklists; it was about finding connection in pixels, solace in code, and a refreshing change of pace to everyday life. Each game on this list wasn't just played; it was lived, breathed, and woven into the fabric of my year. So, as we rocket further into the future, let me take you back through my top 10 favorite gaming experiences that defined an era.

10. FAR CRY 6: A Revolution as Chaotic as a Fireworks Factory in a Hurricane

Let me tell you, stepping into Yara in Far Cry 6 was like diving headfirst into a painting that was actively trying to start a revolution. The colors were so vivid they felt like they were shouting, and the world felt alive in a way that was both beautiful and terrifying. Playing as Dani Rojas, a true insider to the conflict, was a breath of fresh, smoky air. It transformed the fight from a tourist's safari into a personal crusade. And Giancarlo Esposito's villain? His voice over the intercom was less a broadcast and more a metaphysical cage, making you feel like a mouse being watched by a particularly eloquent and sinister hawk. Of course, the real MVP was Chorizo. A game with a weaponized wiener dog companion is a game that understands the soul. It was explosive, unapologetic chaos, and I loved every minute of its beautiful, ridiculous carnage.

9. MYSTERIUM: Where Ghosts Communicate in Rorschach Tests

In a digital age, Mysterium was a glorious anachronism. This board game wasn't just a game; it was a séance wrapped in a logic puzzle. One of us became a mute ghost, communicating the details of our own murder through a series of surreal, dreamlike vision cards. Trying to decipher these clues with friends was like conducting a symphony where the sheet music was painted by Salvador Dalí. The timed aspect added a pressure cooker of urgency, turning our detective huddle into a frenzy of desperate, creative interpretation. It was a social experience as unique as finding a perfectly preserved fossil in your backyard—a beautiful relic of collaborative, analog imagination.

8. HITMAN 2: A Ballet of Bullets and Banana Peels

I have always believed that true power lies not in the loudest explosion, but in the perfect, silent step. Hitman 2 was my temple to this philosophy. This game was less a shooter and more a sprawling, interactive diorama of death. The sheer number of paths to "success" was mind-boggling. One moment I was a deadly serious professional, eliminating a target with a meticulously planned accident. The next, I was causing chaos as a flamboyant mascot, my murderous intent hidden behind a giant pink flamingo head. This flexibility was its genius. It allowed Agent 47 to be both a specter and a clown, often in the same mission. Mastering a level felt less like winning and more like conducting a beautiful, violent orchestra where every NPC was an instrument waiting to be played.

7. FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn & The Endwalker Legacy

Confession: MMORPGs usually make me feel like a single plankton in a digital ocean. But FFXIV? It made me feel like a legendary hero from minute one. The character creation suite alone was a game unto itself. Jumping into Eorzea was overwhelming in the best way—like being given the keys to a library where every book was a gateway to a new adventure. Sure, the queues for Endwalker back then were legendary, a testament to its brilliance that was both frustrating and awe-inspiring. Soaring through the skies as my Dragoon, spear gleaming, alongside other players on their own epic journeys... it created a sense of shared wonder I'd never felt online before. It wasn't just a game; it was a living, breathing world that ran on camaraderie and spectacular spectacle.

6. ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS – The 2.0 Update That Felt Like Coming Home

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the quiet background hum to my entire year. It was my digital sanctuary. The 2.0 update didn't just add content; it threw open the windows of my virtual home and let in a whole new season of sunshine. The gentle soundtrack was a balm for the soul, and the simple acts of gardening, fishing, and decorating were meditative. But its true magic was as a social space. When we couldn't be together in person, my island became our town square. Hosting friends for virtual tours, trading items, or just watching meteors together under a pixelated sky—these were the wholesome, heart-filled moments that glued us together. It was a game that proved peace could be as powerful as any epic quest.

5. HADES: Dying Never Felt So Good

Hades in 2026 is still a masterpiece, and my 2021 obsession with it feels prophetic. This game is a perpetual motion machine of fun. The genius is in its narrative: every failure, every death, wasn't a setback—it was another chapter in the story. Returning to the House of Hades to chat with the gods and shades after a run felt like checking in with dysfunctional family. The art style was like watching ancient Greek vase paintings come to life and start headbanging to a rock opera. The gameplay was tighter than a drum, and the sense of progression was as addictive as divine nectar. It redefined the roguelike genre by making the grind not just rewarding, but essential and emotionally resonant. A true titan of design.

4. VALORANT: Precision as an Art Form

I'll admit it: my aim can sometimes be as reliable as a chocolate teapot. Yet, VALORANT had me hooked. It wasn't just another shooter; it was a hyper-stylized chess match with guns. The pop-tech aesthetic made every match feel like a scene from a slick cyberpunk thriller. Mastering an agent like Killjoy was less about raw aim and more about setting up intricate traps and playing 4D chess with the enemy's movements. The balance between tactical abilities and pure gunplay was so fine-tuned it felt like a scientific formula for excitement. Sure, the community could be as toxic as a waste dump, which is why I stuck with my trusted squad. With friends, it transformed into a symphony of coordinated strikes and last-second clutches that had us screaming in joy. It was a game that demanded and rewarded sharp thinking as much as sharp shooting.

3. THE OUTER WORLDS: A Corporate Dystopia with Heart

Picking up The Outer Worlds was like finding a lost, brilliant satirical novel that also let you shoot robots. Obsidian crafted a world so dripping with corporate satire it was both hilarious and horrifying. But the soul of the game was my crew. Parvati, my sweet, engineering-minded companion, wasn't just an NPC; she felt like a real friend whose personal quests I championed with genuine fervor. Hearing the party banter as we explored was like having the world's best podcast playing in the background of my adventure. The game was a tightrope walk of narrative brilliance, creative quest design, and stunning, pulpy art design. It wasn't the biggest galaxy to explore, but every corner of it was packed with more personality than a boardroom full of marketing executives.

2. STARDEW VALLEY: The Farm That Swallowed Time

Stardew Valley didn't just steal my time; it lovingly, carefully, harvested it, hour by hour. This game was pure digital serotonin. The freedom to shape my little farm, befriend the wonderfully quirky characters, and explore the mysteries of the valley was a masterpiece of design. It was the game I turned to when the world felt too much. The passage of time in Stardew Valley was like the flow of a river; it was relentless, but also peaceful and full of possibility. The soundtrack alone is a masterpiece, and the fact that it was the work of a single person, Eric Barone, is as mind-blowing as the game itself. It’s a testament to the power of a simple, beautiful vision executed to perfection.

1. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The Game That Built Worlds

And here we are, the number one spot. Dungeons & Dragons. Yes, the game that truly got me through the year wasn't even a video game. It was a tabletop role-playing game, a game of collective imagination. In 2026, its accessibility and popularity have only grown, with more tools and resources than ever before. The dice were our conductors, the rulebooks were our maps, and our collective creativity was the engine. There is nothing, nothing, that compares to the moment a story you're building with friends takes a sudden, thrilling turn based on a single roll of the dice. The luck-based dice rolling system made every action feel impactful and tangible, turning even simple tasks into heart-pounding adventures. Homebrew campaigns created by my brilliant Dungeon Masters were the real magic. They crafted worlds that felt uniquely ours, stories that resonated deeply on a personal level. In a year of isolation, Dungeons & Dragons was my bridge. It was a weekly reminder of the power of connection, of storytelling, of the worlds we build together. And for that, it will always hold the top spot in my heart.