LogFAQs > #971064564

#50. The Messenger

This game starts as a ninja gaiden clone but turns into a metroidvania halfway through as it morphs to 16 bit. The gameplay mechanics are really strong and the level design is challenging enough to make you master those mechanics. This game can be hard to put down because it's so fun to just traverse the world. Those challenging jumps feel good.

#49. Inside

I always put this game and Brothers in the same box. Inside's narrative punch at the end has to be seen to be believed, and you'll never forget the feeling once you go inside. This game feels like a silent horror film and the level of production is pretty incredible. There's a lot of hand crafted work to make that ending soar.

#48. Dragon Quest XI

DQ11 is lovely. It's basically DQ8 in HD, but the story doesn't hit quite as hard (though it's good) and the music is kind of dreadful thanks to its composer being like 90 years old. There's lots of cool mechanics though and some of the scenes it sets up are shocking (in a good way). There's also a lot of reused assets as you essentially revisit each location 3 different times, and that's kind of a bummer. That's the side effect of designing those darn HD towns, I guess. Anyway, I love DQ games and this is maybe the only true HD game in the series.

#47. Ace Attorney

You know how some people swear by the Star Wars OT and everything else is kinda watered down in comparison? That's me with the original AA trilogy. This game is exceedingly simple compared to where the series eventually goes but just seeing those charming characters connect for the first time is enough for me. This game basically ends two different times and both of them are really strong climaxes.

#46. Haiku, the Robot

An amazing metroidvania from a single creator that was kickstarted. My derogatory shorthand for this game is "Hollow Knight but good" -- it has all the tropes that Hollow Knight brought into the 'vania conversation but done in ways that I appreciate. The bosses are tough but manageable and the inventory management/powerup system is fun to play with. It's just a good damn metroidvania and I will always love those.