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Updated 3/18/2024
One of the hardest things to do is answer the question “What is your favorite video game of all time”? I’ve played so many great games (and bad ones) that I find it difficult to narrow my answer down to a few, let alone one. In this post, I will highlight some of my favorite retro games of all time.
1. Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (2003, GameCube)
This game has been a staple in my family for years. As a kid, I loved the commercial with the cute song. This, of course, made me really want the game. My brother bought it for me and I was overjoyed. You play as Billy, a young boy who must hatch eggs to save the world from The Crows. I had way too much fun rolling, spinning, and throwing the giant eggs across the stages. The gameplay and music make it a fun game. If you’re looking for a lighthearted game, you should check this one out.
2. Kirby’s Epic Yarn (2010, Wii)
This Kirby entry is probably my favorite of all time (Kirby and the Crystal Shards 64 is a close second). What’s cool about it is that I find that people who aren’t traditional games enjoy this game. Kirby has been transformed into yarn and must help save Patch Land from the evil Yin Yarn. What I love about Kirby’s Epic Yarn is environment. Patch Land is made entirely of yarn, buttons, and other types of crafting items. Because Kirby is made of yarn, he cannot fly or use his inhaling powers like previous games. Instead he must turn into objects to navigate each level of Patch Land. the gameplay is unique and aesthetically pleasing. I play this game often. I even own the DS version so that I can play on the go.
3. Pokémon Stadium (2000, Nintendo 64)
I’ll admit that I’m not a fan of the original Pokémon games so at the game, I had never played one. But that all changed when Pokémon Stadium was released. For the first time ever, we could battle Pokémon in 3D. I loved playing the main game and the mini-games too. I did not own a copy as a kid but I rented it often. I now have my own copy and I play it quite often. It still has the same charm that it did over 20 years ago. I truly love this game.
4. Animal Crossing (2002)
The one that started them all. I am pretty sure that spent at least 8 million hours on this game. The “Real World” style commercials that aired really drew me in. I found them hilarious. I had just gotten a Gamecube for Christmas and I was excited about playing this game. What I did not know is that it would become one of my favorite games of all time. The premise is simple: you’re a human who moves into a town of animals and you have to survive. At that time, there was no way that I could have predicted the success of this game. Now in 2021, we have the megahit Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
5. Mario Kart : Double Dash (2003)
In my opinion, this is the best Mario Kart game. I know that some people did not like the novelty of using two drivers but for me, it was fun. It was easy to switch between characters and I enjoyed being able to do so. Co-op mode was also available so you and a friend could drive a kart together. One could drive and the other would be in charge of items. I am surprised that this concept hasn’t been revisited in subsequent Mario Kart games. I thought it was interesting and fresh. In fact, it was the 2nd highest selling GameCube game with 3.8+ million units sold in the United States alone. Maybe it will make a return one day.