These video games have had an influence on me. Whether it be which type of games I played going forward or on my life in general. Whether it’s for their amazing music, graphics, outstanding gameplay or just overall fun and variety. Coming up with a list of thirty games is no easy task. With only looking at games with the most impact on my life makes it a bit easier. Below is a brief rundown on when I first crossed path with the game and why they made the list.

This is another RPG but slightly different. This had a unique art style with a unique 2D isometric view. On top of that it had a unique soundtrack. The RPGs before this either had some type of electronic or instrumental classic music. This one had a jazz instrumental soundtrack which is relaxing and different. The battle system was unique with its Master/Apprentice system along with its likeable characters. This game with its world building hooked me enough to later purchase its predecessors when they were re-released later for the Game Boy Advance.

This game expanded and refined the system and gameplay from Symphony of the Night. Since this was on the Game Boy Advance it was portable, so it was a nice bonus to an already great game. It also added a tarot system which provided additional items to collect and use during battle.

This game got me into the Castlevania series. It combined the item locked progression of A Link to the Past with RPG elements like equipping weapons and armor and traditional leveling up system. All this in a nice-looking side scrolling platforming action adventure game. You play inside a castle trying to bring down Dracula. But just when you think its over the game provides extra content in trying it all over again but this time the castle has been literally turned upside down.

Part of my core four RPGs. The last of the four I played. One of my favorite games overall of all time. One of the first games to stand out for me due to its music from beginning to end barring some exceptions. This music is so great I have not only the original soundtrack on Spotify I have many cover songs of this game's soundtrack. A lot of replayability due to its multiple endings. This game was created by a dream team of game developers. The creators of the Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Dragonball franchises, along with other legends and legends in the making joined forces to create one of the greatest games of all time. Nothing has been created like it since. Except for its horrible mobile port this is the only game on the list I bought each iteration that has been released. Although the best version is the one released for the Nintendo DS.

First beat ‘em up played. Catchy music. Like many games on the NES console it was brutally hard. If you wanted any chance of getting to the later levels and even the final boss, you had to play with another player. What made the game great was the basis of verbal communication required when playing co-op. You had to since you could hit and do damage to the other player if they were too close.

First and only true MMORPG I ever got into. This was my natural progression from traditional console RPGS which were my bread and butter until then. Although console RPGs had a ton more content than other genres, they all had one thing in common. They eventually end. Yes, you can go back and replay certain sections or try finding new secrets or areas, but you eventually exhaust everything in the game. Not with Everquest. This was a thriving online world carrying on even when you were not playing. There were players playing in real time at all hours. You can explore and try things on your own. Or you can join up with others exploring dungeons or fighting monsters. Although I played the bulk of my time during my high school years, I still have my original characters on my original account. I still have the game on my home computer and have jumped on occasionally to check out new features or take advantage of a limited time offer.

Third of the four core RPGs. First traditional mainline Final Fantasy I played. Before this I played Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. It had a simple plot, simple characters with a linear storyline. And then part six drops. Before I continue though you might wonder why I call it part six if the link says part three? Back then SquareSoft, the company behind the Final Fantasy series did not release all them in the US. So, what the US got at the time was called Final Fantasy III. In Japan it was called Final Fantasy VI. Anyway, convoluted history aside this game did not disappoint. It had a massive cast. Sixteen characters between main cast and secret optional characters. And that is not including the multiple guest characters. All with unique battle skills/abilities. A magic system in a similar vein and a more simplified pre-cursor to the Materia system found in Final Fantasy VII. One of the few RPGs turning the genre upside down with having a linear progression during its first half and after a short sequence of events half a fully open second half of the game. You can if you want to explore and rejoin with the rest of the party or taking the few you have and attempting to take down the final boss if you dare.

I have mentioned previously a core four of RPGs. All four of those games are on this list. The common theme between them was they all were on the SNES. They solidified my love for the genre. I had not played an RPG up until those four. They did not disappoint. Final Fantasy 7 however, is not part of the group although it was my first RPG right afterwards. It is significant due to its popularity causing my older brother in buying a PlayStation 1 just for this game. This game moved consoles. This introduced the PlayStation family of consoles to our world and it hasn't left. Ever since then we have in some iteration a Nintendo and PlayStation console side-by-side. Although we did have a Sega Genesis in the 16-bit era this was our first foray for a long time with buying a non-Nintendo console. It was also the first console we bought from a company with no previous experience in the video game industry. Back to the game though. The story and graphics at the time were mind blowing. This was the first RPG done with 3D graphics. It had cinematic CGI cutscenes. An amazing soundtrack with a great cast of lovable and memorable characters. A surprising amount of mini-games and variety. A battle system with a depth only limited by your imagination. Another game with massive replayability. This game has so many secrets I only found after watching someone else play it. This after playing it many times over albeit over twenty years ago. I write this shortly after the release of this game's remake released. Currently I am unable to purchase the game or its console. However, sooner rather than later the time will come for history to repeat itself and buy a new console, in this case the PlayStation 4 Pro, to be able to play one single game, which is Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Any other games purchased for it will be a bittersweet bonus.

2nd game played of the core four RPGs and my first Final Fantasy game. It has a great soundtrack which does not get boring even with all the battles you must go through. Unfortunately, not a lot of replayability due to some glitches and a very linear plot with the little alternate routes available are not only few and far between they are simply shortcuts letting you finish the game quicker. However, it does have more interactivity outside of battle than most RPGs at the time. The main character can jump freely and use their main weapon outside of battle. (IE: Use your axe to cut down trees, use your bombs to blow up some walls, etc.). Unfortunately, since this game is a spin off, little if anything of this title has been mentioned in other games part of the franchise, spin off or not.

Nice beat em up with multiple paths. Although it was technically not my game, it was a birthday gift from my mother to my younger brother. We played it together on his birthday and defeated it a few hours later. This solidified my decision to investigate other genres which eventually lead me into RPGs. I wanted to keep playing video games but those with more story, content and length since video game purchases were few and far between.

The first and only FPS game I got into. Whether playing it solo trying to get all the objectives of each mission completed or in group local co-op play were some of the most fun times I had growing up. No other FPS was able to catch my attention since. The most remixes of the original Bond theme you can possibly think of were in this game. And for a movie-based video game it had enough fresh content to keep you occupied for a while along with a bunch of unlockable content. There was an updated version of the multiplayer created by modders with polished graphics and online play to give this game a second life among more hardcore fans.

Got me into the open world sandbox genre. A game where you play as a criminal was different to me. Most others until that point has me playing as a hero or someone thrust into a heroic role and doing the right thing. Here the right thing is choosing between beating up gang members to death and taking their money or murdering other criminals for their bounty. Or if you want more structure meet up with less than savory members of the Liberty City underworld completing missions for them. It can involve almost anything. From killing a star witness in a federal case to dropping off escorts at a party for police officers. It created a whole new genre with other games trying to dethrone it there is only still one true king. Despite the other franchises this is the only series in the genre that I come back to. Albeit my last true foray was San Andreas and GTA IV I am itching to play GTA V. Possibly delving into its online mode being my first foray into a true online game in a long while.

This RPG is a remake of an original game from the Sega Saturn. A short-lived console produced this game and its sequel, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue. This was the first time I heard of and able to purchase the collector's edition version of a game. This included an individual CD with the game's soundtrack. This was when I started really delving into the music aspect of video games. It has a great but simple storyline with likeable characters in a believable world. It was also the first game I played with voice acting. This also was the first RPG to have a song with vocals. Something that would not happen again until many years later.

An action adventure game focusing on stealth. This game was basically an interactive movie that the franchise would eventually become known for. Great cast of voice actors and engaging, deep, thought provoking story. Different endings and difficulty levels added to the replayability factor. The gameplay was satisfying and treating each area of the game as its own type of puzzle providing for a unique experience.

This is the only sports game on the list for good reason. This took the traditional 5 on 5 professional sport of basketball and turned it into a 2 on 2 arcade game for the SNES. You do not play as unknowns instead you pick from various duos from all the NBA teams and a few special teams. What stood out was the ability to make special shots by standing on certain icons that randomly appear on the hardwood. Or pick up other icons making you shoot better or move faster.

First portable RPG I played. I became more sociable in school with my classmates. Although, hard to believe for those who know me now but back then I was awkward and shy. This opened me up to be more talkative since we had a common topic. We would not only trade Pokémon we would talk about newly discovered strategies or talk about rumors of the current game and new games of the franchise coming out soon. Although I fell off Pokémon after Pokémon Gold and did not become active again until Pokémon Go for a little bit. This game laid the foundation for making games more sociable and more acceptable in society in general. Up until then it was more played solo or in small groups and never spoken of as publicly as it is now.

My first legitimate PC game. It was a racing game. It had several different modes along with a variety of high-end luxury vehicles like Lamborghini, Porsche, and Ferrari to drive around. It also had a mode where you could be chased by the cops and lose your race if you were caught by them. It was a great game that helped me get into PC gaming in general.

The first game I played from a non-Nintendo console. It was a different platformer compared to Mario games since it was based more on speed than precise jumping. And just like the first Mario game it has great music. This character's live action movie was the first movie we took our son to who thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

The only shoot em up game on this list. This game had many branching paths and secrets to be found. A lot of replayability here and tons of voice acting.

The only collection of games on the list. This consisted of several games: Super Mario Bros., Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2, and Super Mario Bros 3. Lost Level is the original Mario Bros. 2 released only in Japan. Mario Bros 2 is the American version. Except for Super Mario Bros I never played any of the games in this collection. And getting four classic fun games for the price of one is an awesome deal.

First video game I ever played. No instructions except a simple controller with five buttons. Stage 1-2 Underground theme and stage 1-1 Main theme have stuck around so much with me my toddler hums it randomly from time to time. I did not beat it for the first time until many years later, but it still had a profound impact on me. I would not be able to make this list if it were not for this simple platformer.

First of the core four RPGs I played and my gateway game into the RPG genre which I have never truly left. This took the beloved world of Super Mario and added RPG elements. The battle system is and still unique to the genre with timed attacks. It is the first time the main villain of the series, Bowser, as a playable character. The music was a great blend of remixed Mario classics and new songs that fit the world. Like many SquareSoft games at the time, there were many secrets to be found. With this game coming out during the infancy of the internet many rumors were scattered about online. Some were true and others were not. This game was impactful to me due to it giving me a game lasting a long while before beating it initially. Even after its initial completion I would start a new file and experiment with trying a different section or battle slightly different or investigating one of its many rumors.

Its music was catchy and the first Mario game I beat from beginning to end. So much replayability due to the branching paths and all the secrets. Even up to this day there are some stages I have not seen on a playthrough. Yoshi quickly became a new favorite character as it became for others.

The first fighting game I got into. Before then, I had played Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter games here and there but never got into the genre due to the moves being too complex. For Smash Bros however, the move set was simple enough to pick up easily yet complex enough to have something to improve on. This was the only fighting game series I ever got into until I started playing casually recently Injustice and Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3.

Although I have played many games in my lifetime the majority on this list came out many years ago. To put this into perspective there is a seventeen-year gap between when the last games on this list dropped and Smash Ultimate. This was one was impactful because it brought in all the characters and stages from the previous games and more. Currently, they are still releasing new characters for this game. What really made this game meaningful to me is it is the first video game I played together with my son. He was barely three, but he has gone from "playing" with us using a disconnected controller for another console to now playing alongside my brothers and me.

Although initially released in Japan this was my first dive into fan translated/modded games. To put it in perspective I played this back in '98. This released in Japan in 95/96. This would not be officially released in the States until 2003. Great RPG with a nice cast. Introduced a more engaging battle system having to move characters during battle besides just attacking, defending, and using items. A lot of content and enough varied good playable characters that it was the first time I had internal debates on who to include in my party.

My first foray into the Zelda series. It scratched my itch of exploration with little story but two large worlds to explore. Replayability was high with this one since you were only restricted to your items and your imagination. A nice soundtrack accompanied with an action-oriented fighting system. Even to this day I play a modified version where modders figured out how to change the location of all the items in the game but still allowing you to complete it. Along with new modes, playable sprites, and modified music they have breathed new life into this 16-bit classic.

First game I got hyped for. I had gotten into the series via A link to the Past (Another game on this list). This game was the first 3D action adventure game that got me hooked into true 3D gaming which was relatively new at the time. Massive replayability and secrets abound. This laid the foundation for the future of the franchise and its future has not looked better brighter. If you can pick up the 3DS version of this game which has polished, updated graphics.

First racing game I played. Only four cars to choose from but each had different speeds which affected its fuel consumption. Although it was made up racetracks each took place in a different part of the world. Brazil, France, England, Japan, USA, and more places to visit going fast. The music of the first track is catchy and like most games on the list the overall soundtrack albeit small was of a good quality. With its fuel consumption mechanic came pit stops which added a layer of strategy to a racing game which was not really seen by me until then.

The only card game on the list. This is a card game with a twist. It is based off the popular anime series and collectible card game. It was unique for including physical items in a non-collector or limited-edition version of the game. Every copy included three cards which could be used in the physical game. In addition, each card had a code on it which upon entering an in-game menu allows you to use it in the game. The game was based off the cards and rules at the time of the real-life card game. This provided a safe easy way to practice and playtest strategies and combos without sinking a ton of money into the actual card game. It allowed you to play and practice while on the go.