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Gaming Writers’ Picks: Our Favorite Video Game of All Time

It’s safe to say that the PopHorror gaming team really loves video games of all kinds. FPS, RPG, survival horror, action-adventure; we love them all. And since we’ve already picked the scariest games and our favorite Final Fantasy games, we all thought long and hard to pick out each of our own favorite game of all time to share with you.

Persona 5

Favorite game
Image courtesy of Altus

It’s tough to nail down a game that I can say is my favorite. For a really long time, I would have said Fallout 3 was my favorite video game of all time, but after finishing Persona 5, I think that one has taken the title of my favorite game ever. I love RPGs and I love dungeon crawlers. Add a phenomenal cast of characters with great personalities, and I’m sold. Throw on a Cowboy Bebop-esque art style, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a game. I have tattoos from both Fallout and Persona 5, but Persona 5 wins this time. — Matt Stumpf

Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Favorite game
Image courtesy of Bethesda

My favorite video game of all time would have to be The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. There are many reasons why Morrowind is my favorite game. It was one of the first massive open world games I was introduced to. This game rewards you for exploration, and that is what I truly love about it. The other thing I love about this game is the world. From the mushroom trees to the weird, alien-like creatures, Morrowind is a breath of fresh air. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Bethesda game without its weird glitches, but that is also part of its charm. If you have not played this game before, then I highly recommend it… even if it’s just to see where Oblivion and Skyrim came from. — Scott Crawford

Uncharted 4

Favorite game
Image courtesy of Naughty Dog

My favorite video game: that is a nearly impossible question to answer. That’s like choosing your favorite child. But, if we’re honest, we all have one. While I love the Resident Evil franchise and Fallout 4 nearly won out, I’d have to say Uncharted 4 takes the win. I hold all of the Uncharted games close to my heart. I wear the Sir Francis Drake ring replica around my neck, my son is named after one of the characters (not on purpose, but it was a hell of a coincidence) and the story, to me, is by far my favorite of any franchise. I was a huge archeology nerd as a child and stories and legends like pirates, El Dorado and Atlantis always fascinated me.

The fact that Nathan and his cohorts steal artifacts because they love it and not just for the money makes it all the better, and the brotherly connection of Uncharted 4 deepens the story and makes it not just about finding the pirates’ treasure, but about family and friends and realizing what is most important. They wrapped up the Drake story in a pretty little bow, and I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. I have the utmost respect for Naughty Dog and the quality of the product they produce. I cannot WAIT to see what The Last of Us 2 has to offer. — D.D. Crowley

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

Favorite game
Image courtesy of Ensemble Studios and Microsoft

When I was asked to talk about my favorite video game of all time, a few candidates came to mind: Wing Commander, Diablo, Interstate ’76, and Mike Tyson’s Punch Out! just to name a few. When it comes down to it, though, I’ve logged more hours playing Age Of Empires II: The Age Of Kings than any other game.

The original Age of Empires was great and it hooked me, but the sequel is better in every conceivable way. It helped that I had a group of friends to play multiplayer with regularly. To me, it’s one of the greatest games of all time. I even bought the ultimate edition on STEAM a year or so back so I could relive the glory. Talking about it gives me the urge to play right now! — Kenn Hoekstra

Red Dead Redemption

Favorite game
Image courtesy of Rockstar

I have to start this off with a confession… I don’t play many video games. Yes, I know. I should turn my Nerd Card in immediately. But I will say that when I do ignore the world and pick up a controller, it will always be a game I really like. When I sat down and thought back on all of the games I’ve played in the *cough* ahem *cough* years I’ve been on the earth, I realized that my favorite video game would have to be Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption. As you probably know, the game came out in 2010 for PS3 and XBox 360, and was actually a sequel to the 2004 game, Red Dead Revolver. It’s an open-world game, making it as much about the people and missions you discover while riding around the dusty streets of the declining Old West as it is about the main quests.

You play as John Marston, a tough as nails gunslinger who is forced by the FBI to take out the members of his old gang in order to have his own criminal charges dropped, an Old West version of turning state’s evidence. The tragic story of John was memorable enough, but along with the continued exposition of both his past and future, you could make decisions to talk and react to things in a way that would either make the people around you want to hug you or hang you right there in the streets. Between the main storyline, the side quests and the arbitrary skirmishes that popped up at random times, there were always plenty of ways to either boost or drain your morality meter. Both high and low morality/fame could give you advantages or disadvantages, depending on who you encountered and what you wanted to accomplish. In this way, you could play through Red Dead Redemption more than once, switching up your responses and actions, giving you a new gameplay every time.

The look of the land itself was perfect. I loved seeing things like cars and oil derricks creeping in on this untamed setting as the world of the cowpoke, the gambler and the train robber was encroached upon by the East and its moderning of society. The visuals were gorgeous, and everywhere you traveled in the game, there was always something interesting to look at.

Another thing I love about Red Dead Redemption is Dead Eye, which slowed the gameplay down and allowed you to specify your aim, so you could make sure to get that head shot that you oh so surely crave.

The online multiplayer mode was a good time if you wanted to change things up, either battling it out with other players or banning together and kicking the shit out of the weaker singletons. Sometimes you just need to get away from nice guy Marston and kick some Old West ass.

I can’t close this without mentioning how I (and the rest of the world) have been waiting quite impatiently for the Red Dead Redemption 2 prequel, which is supposedly going to be released this October. I’ll believe it when I see it. Until then, I’ll just keep galloping around my own virtual Wild West and pretend John Marston’s last fight hadn’t actually happened.– Tracy Allen

While it’s so hard to pick a favorite video game, we did end up choose some really good ones. What is your favorite game of all time? Let us know in the comments!

About Dev Crowley

D.D. Crowley has been writing since she could scrawl misspelled words on paper to make a story. Thankfully her writing has improved. An avid horror, paranormal, sci-fi and video game lover, she gets to write about all her favorite nerdy fandoms. Some of her favorites are found footage movies, the original 'Halloween' and 'Resident Evil' (the games not the movies, don't ever ask her about the movies... you have been warned).

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