Video Games

This is an incomplete, mostly accurate list of the many video games I own. It doesn’t compare to any of those colossal collections you see up for sale on eBay, but it’s still a pretty satisfying pile of games. Without these games–especially those 16-bit era games–I’d likely be a much different person now, for better or worse. I shudder to imagine a version of myself that enjoys leaving the house for any length of time.

My highest recommended games are in bold. Asterisks (*) are next to the consoles where a large fraction of game ownership is actually shared within the family; after all, it’s not like I was buying up NES games when I was an infant.

Nintendo Entertainment System Games*
Game Boy Games*
Game Boy Color Games

Super Nintendo Games*
Turbo Grafx-16 Games*
Sega Genesis / Sega CD Games*
Sega Game Gear Games*

Nintendo 64 Games*
PlayStation 1 Games
Sega Saturn Games*
Dreamcast Games

Game Boy Advance Games
Nintendo DS Games
PlayStation Portable Games

Nintendo GameCube Games*
PlayStation 2 Games
Xbox Games

Wii Games
PlayStation 3 Games
Xbox 360 Games

Wii U Games
Nintendo 3DS Games
PlayStation Vita Games

Nintendo Switch Games
PlayStation 4 Games
Xbox One Games

Nintendo Entertainment System – Game Boy – Game Boy Color

Nintendo Entertainment System Game Boy Game Boy Color
Battletoads Battletoads Crystalis
Bionic Commando Castlevania: The Adventure The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
Blaster Master The Final Fantasy Legend The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Castlevania Final Fantasy Legend III The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest Godzilla Lufia: The Legend Returns
Double Dragon Killer Instinct Pokémon Gold
Double Dragon II: The Revenge The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening Pokémon Trading Card Game
Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones Mega Man: Dr. Wily’s Revenge Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Duel Stories
Dr. Mario Metroid II: Return of Samus
Dragon Warrior Pokémon Red Version
Dragon Warrior II Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
Dragon Warrior III Super Mario Land
Dragon Warrior IV Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Final Fantasy The Sword of Hope
Gauntlet Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fall of the Foot Clan
Gauntlet II Tetris
Godzilla: Monster of Monsters
King’s Knight
The Legend of Zelda
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Metal Gear
Metroid
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom
River City Ransom
Shadowgate
StarTropics
Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet
Super Mario Bros. 2
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game
Tetris
Tetris 2
Ultima: Exodus
WCW Wrestling
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II

Super Nintendo – TurboGrafx-16 – Sega Genesis / Sega CD – Sega Game Gear

Super Nintendo TurboGrafx-16 Sega Genesis
ActRaiser Bonk’s Adventure Batman Returns
Alien 3 (We own a few more, but heck if I remember which.) Beyond Oasis
Boxing Legends of the Ring Mega Bomberman
Brain Lord Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World
Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Playoffs Phantasy Star IV
Chavez Sonic & Knuckles
Chrono Trigger Sonic the Hedgehog
Daffy Duck: The Marvin Missions Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Donkey Kong Country Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!  Sega CD
Doom The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin
Dragon Quest V (NTSC-J Japan Super Famicom release) Lunar: The Silver Star
Dragon Quest VI (NTSC-J Japan Super Famicom release) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Earthbound Sonic the Hedgehog CD
Final Fantasy II Sewer Shark
Final Fantasy III Vay
Final Fantasy IV (NTSC-J Japan Super Famicom release)
Final Fantasy V (NTSC-J Japan Super Famicom release) Sega Game Gear
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Mortal Kombat
Final Fight Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya
George Foreman’s KO Boxing Sonic Chaos
Gradius III Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble
Illusion of Gaia Star Wars
Killer Instinct
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Live A Live (NTSC-J Japan Super Famicom release)
Lufia & the Fortress of Doom
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
Madden NFL ’94
Mario Paint
Mega Man Soccer  
Mega Man X (cartridge autographed by Keiji Inafune!)  
Mega Man X2
Mega Man X3
Mega Man 7
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mortal Kombat II
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Phalanx
Robotrek
Rockman & Forte (NTSC-J Japan Super Famicom release)
Secret of Evermore
Secret of Mana
SimCity
Soul Blazer
Star Fox
Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II Turbo
Super Bomberman 2
Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario RPG
Super Mario World
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
Super Metroid
Super R-Type
Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Super Street Fighter II
Tecmo Super Bowl
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
Terranigma (PAL UK release)
WWF RAW
WWF Royal Rumble
X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse
Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Nintendo 64 – PlayStation 1 – Sega Saturn – Dreamcast

Nintendo 64
PlayStation 1
Sega Saturn
Banjo-Kazooie Beyond the Beyond Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean
Banjo-Tooie Breath of Fire III Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter
Donkey Kong 64 Crash Bandicoot Saturn Bomberman
GoldenEye 007 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back Shining Force III
Hybrid Heaven Digimon World Shining the Holy Ark
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask Dragon Warrior VII Sonic R
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Final Fantasy Anthology Street Fighter Collection
Mario Kart 64 Final Fantasy Chronicles Street Fighter: The Movie
Mario Party Final Fantasy IX Virtua Cop
Mario Party 2 Final Fantasy Origins Virtua Fighter Kids
Mario Party 3 Final Fantasy Tactics
Mortal Kombat 4 Final Fantasy VII Dreamcast
Mortal Kombat Trilogy Final Fantasy VIII Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon Gundam Battle Assault Phantasy Star Online
Paper Mario Gundam Battle Assault 2 Sonic Adventure
Perfect Dark Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete Sonic Adventure 2
Pilot Wings 64 Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete
Pokémon Stadium Mega Man 8
Rampage World Tour Mega Man Legends
Robotron 64 Mega Man X4
Shadowgate 64: Trial of the Four Towers Mega Man X5
Star Fox 64 Mega Man X6
Star Wars: Episode I: Racer Metal Gear Solid
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Missile Command
Super Mario 64 RPG Maker
Super Smash Bros. SaGa Frontier
WCW vs. nWo: World Tour Sim City 2000
WCW/nWo Revenge Spider-Man
WWF No Mercy Spider-Man 2: Enter: Electro
WWF War Zone Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf
Yoshi’s Story Wild Arms
Xenogears

Game Boy Advance – Nintendo DS – PlayStation Portable

Game Boy Advance Nintendo DS PlayStation Portable
Advance Wars Advance Wars: Days of Ruin Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising Advance Wars: Dual Strike Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Astro Boy: Omega Factor Animal Crossing: Wild World Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty’s Revenge Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled Dissidia Final Fantasy
Breath of Fire II Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow Blue Dragon Plus Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon Bomberman Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Half-Minute Hero
ChuChu Rocket! Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
CIMA: The Enemy Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Lumines
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku Chrono Trigger Lunar: Silver Star Harmony
Final Fantasy VI Advance Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans Mega Man Maverick Hunter X
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen Mega Man Powered Up
Fire Pro Wrestling Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies Metal Gear Acid
Golden Sun Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride Metal Gear Acid 2
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords Final Fantasy III Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Final Fantasy IV PaRappa the Rapper
Lufia: The Ruins of Lore Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable
Mario Kart: Super Circuit Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Mario vs. Donkey Kong The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Mega Man & Bass The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge Lunar: Dragon Song
Mega Man Battle Network Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS
Mega Man Battle Network 2 Mega Man Star Force: Leo
Mega Man Battle Network 3: White Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker × Saurian
Mega Man Battle Network 4: Red Sun Mega Man Star Force 3: Red Joker
Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Gregar Mega Man Zero Collection
Mega Man Zero Mega Man ZX
Mega Man Zero 2 Mega Man ZX Advent
Mega Man Zero 3 Meteos
Mega Man Zero 4 Nintendogs: Dachshund and Friends
Metroid Fusion Phantasy Star 0
Metroid: Zero Mission Pokémon Diamond Version
Phantasy Star Collection Sands of Destruction
Pokémon Ruby Scribblenauts
Sonic Advance Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Sonic Advance 2 Sonic Rush
Sonic Advance 3 Super Scribblenauts
Sonic Battle WarioWare: Touched!
Street Fighter Alpha III The World Ends with You
Super Mario Advance Yoshi Touch & Go
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Yoshi’s Island DS
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival
Sword of Mana
Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!

Nintendo GameCube – PlayStation 2 – Xbox

GameCube PlayStation 2 Xbox
Donkey Kong Konga Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana Blinx: The Time Sweeper
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Castlevania: Curse of Darkness Deus Ex: Invisible War
Ikaruga Castlevania: Lament of Innocence The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Killer7 Devil May Cry Fable
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Dragon Quest VIII Half-Life 2
Luigi’s Mansion Final Fantasy X Halo
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Final Fantasy XI Halo 2
Mario Party 4 Final Fantasy XII Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
Mega Man Anniversary Collection Gradius V NFL Fever 2004
Mega Man X Collection Grand Theft Auto III Ninja Gaiden
Mega Man X: Command Mission Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Robotech: Battlecry
Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Silent Hill 4: The Room
Metroid Prime Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Kingdom Hearts Star Wars Battlefront
Resident Evil Kingdom Hearts II Star Wars Battlefront 2
Resident Evil 4 Mega Man X7 Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Resident Evil Zero Mega Man X8 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
The Simpsons: Road Rage Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Sonic Heroes Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection Street Fighter Anniversary Collection
Sonic Mega Collection Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo TimeSplitters 2
Super Mario Sunshine Onimusha TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Super Smash Bros. Melee Red Faction Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3
Viewtiful Joe RPG Maker II Ultimate Spider-Man
WWE WrestleMania X8 R-Type Final
X-Men Legends Shadow of the Colossus
X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Silent Hill 3
Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht
Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

Wii – PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360

Wii PlayStation 3 Xbox 360
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors 3D Dot Game Heroes Blue Dragon
The Last Story Batman: Arkham Asylum Call of Duty 2
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Batman: Arkham City Dance Central
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess BioShock Infinite Dead Rising
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption BioShock: Ultimate Rapture Edition Dead Rising 2
Metroid: Other M Castlevania: Lord of Shadows Grand Theft Auto IV
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Catherine Halo 3
No More Heroes Dragon Age: Origins Lost Odyssey
Rayman Raving Rabbids Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Dragon Age II Mass Effect
Super Mario All-Stars: Limited Edition The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Mass Effect 2
Super Mario Galaxy Final Fantasy XIII Resident Evil 5
Super Paper Mario Final Fantasy XIII-2 The Simpsons Game
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Grand Theft Auto V Sonic Free Riders
Xenoblade Chronicles The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Infamous
The Last of Us
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
LittleBigPlanet
Mass Effect 3
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection
ModNation Racers
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Persona 4 Arena
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Portal 2
Resonance of Fate
Sonic Generations
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Zone of the Enders HD Collection

Wii U – Nintendo 3DS – PlayStation Vita

Wii U Nintendo 3DS PlayStation Vita
Bayonetta 2 (with Bayonetta) Bravely Default Lumines: Electronic Symphony
Child of Light (digital) Kid Icarus: Uprising Persona 4 Golden
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (digital) Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Persona 4: Dancing All Night
Mario Kart 8 The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Soul Sacrifice
New Super Mario Bros. U The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Tearaway
Nintendo Land Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Sonic Lost World Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon
Star Fox Zero (with Star Fox Guard) Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D
Super Mario 3D World Metroid: Samus Returns
Super Mario Maker Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Pilotwings Resort
The Wonderful 101 Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology
Xenoblade Chronicles X Rayman 3D
Resident Evil: Revelations
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Star Fox 64 3D
Super Mario 3D Land
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

Nintendo Switch – PlayStation 4 – Xbox One

Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Xbox One
(Will be filled out at the end of its life span) 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Cuphead (digital)
Alien: Isolation Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Axiom Verge (digital) Ori and the Blind Forest (digital)
Berserk and the Band of the Hawk Rare Replay
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (digital) Sunset Overdrive
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Catherine: Full Body
Cosmic Star Heroine (digital)
Cyberpunk 2077
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
Death Stranding
Doom VFR
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy XV
I Am Setsuna (digital)
Killzone: Shadow Fall
Kingdom Hearts III
Knack
Knack 2
The Last Guardian
The Last of Us Part II
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Mighty No. 9
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Outlast (digital)
Persona 5
Persona Endless Night Collection
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 3
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Star Wars: Squadrons
Tetris Effect
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Until Dawn
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (digital)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition
The Witness (digital)
World of Final Fantasy

3 comments

  • Reading over this list, I was struck by how similar our tastes are in games! Of course, I was born in ’88, so we’re almost the same age, and I love JRPGs just as you do– but still, I agreed with almost all your choices for best games on each system!

    Loves Mega Man X and X2, but not X3? Check. Irrationally a fan of Final Fantasy Mystic Quest? Check. Loves Banjo-Kazooie, but not Banjo-Tooie? Yup! Metroid Prime, but not Metroid Prime 2? Absolutely agree!

    I’m not a fan of Half-Life 2 either, which most people seem to be, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it not be one of your favorites either.

    I too love Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma, which is how I found your site in the first place today.

    The biggest differences were that I loved Aria of Sorrow and Dawn of Sorrow (but agree that Harmony of Dissonance and Portrait of Ruin are less appealing), and I love the Elder Scrolls series. Otherwise, your list is totally on point, and I agree with almost every choice!

    Here’s a question for you: What’s your opinion of Mega Man X6? For me, it’s the worst game I’ve ever played.

    Like

    • Haha Taste is a fickle thing! Thanks for dropping by. I don’t know if I’m actually capable of hating a Mega Man game, (Although, I had the chance to try the Mega Man Universe demo at New York Comic 2010, and the controls just did not feel like Mega Man at all. I sadly understand why it was canceled.) so I don’t have any intense dislike of Mega Man X6. It has a couple pretty cool boss battles at least. The game makes way too many baffling rookie design mistakes though, like making it impossible to proceed if you bring the wrong character or making it easy to run out of souls to feed Zero to power him up. It’s not a great game by any stretch, and whether X6 or X7 is worse is a matter of personal preference. I wrote Nintendo Enthusiast’s reviews of the two X Legacy Collections, if you’d be interested to read more of my rambling on the subject. Regardless, more than anything, I’d really love for Capcom to make a Mega Man X9.

      Like

      • Read the two reviews– I liked them! I wasn’t as fond of X4, but I need to give it another shot– I’ve only played it once.

        I also found X1 to be harder than X3– as a kid, I beat the latter first (the final Sigma form in X1 was too hard for 6 year old David, at least until he got some power ups and turned into 9 year old David).

        I too would love a Mega Man X9!

        Like

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