What video games do you keep coming back to?

Alexander Salkin

There's no shortage of modern games that look great and are overall well made. But sometimes an old favorite keeps coming back into your rotation. Maybe it doesn't look the best and there's some outdated design to it, but it's like comfort food. Or maybe you find that despite the higher end production of modern games, there's something not clicking about them? What's your poison?

For me, it's Left 4 Dead. I get out after a long late solitary shift at work and it helps me decompress. I enjoy the cooperative nature of the PvE modes and the game director AI that keeps the horde encounters dynamic, so it feels fresh. I'm also big into the voicework as the characters chatter in a way that makes them feel a fun mix of real and absurdist in a dooming scenario. So while they all play the same, their personalities are distinctive and yet fitting. I like the approach the game has to being a roving survivor and scavenger, and not some ridiculous tough talking gorilla/cool guy with a tude who isn't in any real danger. The special infected monsters all feel specific and tactical, with none of them stepping entirely on the role of the others.

Kismet

@Alexander-Salkin I find myself always cycling back to GW2 at least once a year where I play it steadily for several months and then stop until something reminds me of it again.

Another one I find is BOTW and now TOTK will likely be the same, I also really enjoy Banjo Kazooie on the N64 even though it looks really bad on large tv now its just a classic for me.

merlin

Elder scrolls online. I never actually beat it and I think that’s why it draws me back in. I end up making really cool weapons, buying a house and next thing I know I’m looking to build a room for my cat smuggler pet while the world is being devoured by molag bal

mianngu

@Alexander-Salkin

World of Warcraft. It's my comfort game. I know how to play and at this point, there is so much nostalgia that I don't even need the next expansion. I'll just run around in the Burning Crusade a bit, nab some new pets and roll 3 more alts then abandon them at level 40. I say that and then they came out with a playable dragon race. I'm a sucker for a dragon.

Ezra

@Alexander-Salkin
Pokemon games, like the old ones with the first 150, though sometimes I might do the games like sliver/crystal. Lets Go Eevee can be included in that considering it is just a shiny version of the the OG games lol. I always find myself downloading an emulator to play though.

I think if I had more time, I would find myself going back to Prince of Persia games for the PS2, or just several PS2 games in general.

Mariano

@Alexander-Salkin Depends on what we're calling "old favorites", but the top 3 would definitely have to be:

2009-2013 Maplestory: There's private servers hosting versions that just trigger the perfect amount of nostalgia
Pokemon FRLG: I can play the Gen III remakes of Kanto over and over and still get enjoyment out of it. If I wanna switch it up, I try doing teams I've never done, or do single-Pokemon runs or monotype. If I had a bit more investment in tracking stuff, I'd do Nuzlocke runs more often too.
Minecraft: It's still being updated, but I play the way I used to ten years ago and just pretend the new stuff isn't there

These games make me enjoy myself, plus there's no energy investment from trying to figure out what's happening, so they can be something for my hands and eyes to do while I listen to music or podcasts.

SwampCreature

I replay Final Fantasy VII at least once a year, every year. It's like re-reading a favorite book. I also play Tetris and Dr. Mario when I just need to turn off my brain for a minute.