Last week, I went through 25 games I would like to play this year, out of 100 total. This is the next leg of that journey! Take a look at that article if you are confused about the premise, as it gives quite a bit of helpful information that I won’t be going into again. If you would like to see the full list to perhaps use for your own gaming, here is a copy:
26 – A game that came out in 2020
Choice: Bugsnax
Priority: Medium
I know very little about Bugsnax, but it has great reviews and a charming art style! I have been interested in trying it out for quite a while, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Thus, it enters the list this year as a potential game to play!
27 – A game that came out in 2021
Choice: Jurassic World Evolution 2
Priority: High
I love tycoons, and I love dinosaurs. So this game has a lot for me! Ever since the first Jurassic World Evolution came out I have been interested in trying out this franchise, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I simply haven’t been in a tycooning mood, so this game (and others of its kind) has fallen to the wayside. It might not grace my screen this year, but it is a good one to have on the list!
28 – A game that came out in 2022
Choice: Goat Simulator 3
Priority: High
I unapologetically love Goat Simulator. When it came out, I logged a truly disgusting number of hours in it hanging out and playing with friends. Now, I don’t have people who I would play this game with, making it drop on my list significantly. That said, the bizarre and goofy antics that made Goat Simulator so fun are present again in this game, and I would love to sink my teeth into this sequel!
29 – A game that came out in 2023
Choice: Disney Dreamlight Valley
Priority: Medium
I’ve heard surprisingly good things about Disney’s take on the Animal Crossing genre, and I tried it for myself when it came out. I wasn’t blown away – the beginning was a bit slow, but I really want to return to it and see what all the fuss is about! That is why it is on this list – to go and see whether this game holds up to its reviews.
30 – A game that came out in 2024
Choice: Persona 3 – ReLoad
Priority: High
This game is currently locked behind finishing my run of Persona 5. Which I have been playing for around 3 years. Once I finish Persona 5 (which will show up later on this list for sure), I want to continue with Persona 3 ReLoad, and then play Persona 4 Gold (unless there is a remake of 4 by the time I get there). I am really looking forward to continuing to play the games in this franchise – I was blown away by 5, and am excited to finish the game!
31 – An N64 Game
Choice: The Legend of Zelda – Ocarina of Time
Priority: Medium
This game is another frequent flyer on this list. I have played through the first 1-2 hours of this game, but have never really gone deeply into it. Part of the reason is that I don’t have the Nintendo Online Expansion Pass, and thus cannot play it on any of my main consoles. In order to play this game, I either need to emulate it on PC (which I don’t love doing – it’s a lot of setup to get it situated with a controller) or play it on my WiiU, which can be a bit of a pain to set up. Perhaps this year I’ll finally get this one out and play through it – seeing why it’s so well known as one of the best games of all time.
32 – A game set in another country
Choice: Sherlock Holmes – Chapter One
Priority: Medium
I love the Sherlock Holmes games – I think they are clever and well-done. I have heard mixed reviews about this one, but it has been high on my to-play list because I like Frogwares a lot and trust them to release a game that is interesting and enjoyable while being a satisfying mystery. This game has been on multiple lists in the past, but I have not gotten around to it yet!
33 – A game that takes place in a historic time period
Choice: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Priority: Highest
The reviews of this game are amazing!! I have it loaded onto my Xbox already, and am planning to dive in either this month or next month. If I do, I will certainly write up a Mainstream Review of it!
34 – An edutainment game
Choice: ClueFinders 3rd Grade
Priority: High
This one is another deep cut – I loved this game as a kid. We didn’t have any more ClueFinders, but this one was a fun puzzle game. I replayed it a few years ago, and it definitely didn’t hold up for an adult play, but it certainly still would be enjoyable for kids! Expect an article on this one after I play through it (I am planning on doing this one this year!)
35 – Last Year’s GOTY
Choice: Astro Bot
Priority: Highest
This game was on my radar the moment it was announced. Astro’s Playroom was an absolute joy to play – not only did it effectively show of the new hardware of the PS5, but the characters were charming, the puzzles were satisfying, and the platforming had a Mario-esque feel. Hearing that there was a full-scale release for this franchise was super exciting, and hearing that it was incredible AND won Game of the Year was amazing!! I will be very disappointed if I don’t get to this one this year.
36 – A game deep in your Steam backlog
Choice: FTL – Faster than Light
Priority: Low
FTL is indeed a game deep in my backlog on Steam. I’ve owned this game for years, and I tried to play it when I first got it (must have been over 7 years ago at this point) and couldn’t get the hang of it. Will I try this one out again this year? I don’t know. But it fits the category, and maybe I will give it a shot!
37 – A game high on your “always wanted to try” list
Choice: Monster Hunter Rise
Priority: High
I have wanted to try a Monster Hunter game forever. It is one of those franchises that I think would be perfect for me but I’ve never actually tried. Rise feels like a perfect entry for the series, and I own it along with its expansion on Switch. I am constantly installing and uninstalling games on my Switch, as space is prime real estate, but I have this one primed and ready to go! Now to find the time…
38 – A collectathon
Choice: LEGO Star Wars – The Complete Saga
Priority: High
This game is a masterpiece. I’ve played some of Skywalker Saga, and I enjoy it. But something about The Complete Saga sets it apart. I would love to give this game a replay this year!
39 – A game that breaks the fourth wall
Choice: Disgaea 7
Priority: High
Disgaea 7 is a ton of fun. The fanservice is a bit frustrating, but the gameplay and grind to get your characters massively overpowered is super enjoyable! I played a ton of Disgaea 5, and would like to finish 7’s campaign and start the postgame this year!
40 – A game with multiple endings
Choice: Slay the Princess
Priority: High
This is an interesting one. It has a pretty hefty M rating, and is not for the faint of heart. It was on sale pretty deeply, and it has incredible reviews, so I tried it out this year. I was honestly blown away by what I played – I thought it was going to be bleak and horrifying, but the dialogue is very well-written and Stanley Parable-style entertaining, and it wasn’t quite as grotesque as it was built up to be. But maybe that is simply because I did not open any of the worst endings. This game is one I want to certainly do another run-through.
41 – A GBA game
Choice: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Priority: Medium
A ton of old games are on this list in particular, including FFTA. I will be honest, I don’t expect to get to this game this year. But it is very near and dear to my heart, and I really want to replay it at some point! If not this year, than perhaps next year. It is a tactical RPG from the GBA era, and it was a ton of fun with some impressively deep mechanics.
42 – A game where you control multiple units
Choice: Worms W.M.D.
Priority: Medium
I thoroughly enjoy the Worms series, and Worms W.M.D. is the one I keep going back to. I own it on Switch, and there is a ton jam-packed into this game. I want to do another playthrough of Worms in the upcoming year, or at least pull it out and do a couple runs.
43 – A game over 15 years old
Choice: Rayman 2
Priority: Highest
Rayman 2 is another childhood favorite. I recently got the PS2 version running on my PS3, and started playing it again. I am very much enjoying the replay, and the feel of the PS3 controller is perfect for playing this game, as I played it the most on the PS1. I would love to see a remaster of this game for modern consoles, or a new 3D Rayman game!
44 – A game that takes place in space
Choice: No Man’s Sky
Priority: Medium
No Man’s Sky is one of my favorite games of all time. I was in the crowd that purchased the original game, and was severely underwhelmed. However, when the updates started rolling in, I considered this game fixed very early on. Nowadays, it is a completely new game with a ton of things to do, making it one of the most fun space sandboxes on the market. I absolutely recommend this game to anyone who enjoys sandbox-style games like Minecraft and Terraria, and will likely pick it up again and continue my already extensive playthrough this year! I wrote an article on this game a while back – check it out!
45 – A game known for challenging gameplay
Choice: Elden Ring
Priority: Highest
It’s no secret that I am not very good at video games. I like them, I enjoy playing them, but as far as skill goes, I am… questionable to say the least. I do improve as I play, but there are certain games that I just don’t play because no matter how hard I try I won’t get good enough to beat them. Elden Ring proved me wrong, at least in some senses. This is a FromSoft game, with all that implies – its Dark Souls-style gameplay is brutal and punishing (though I have heard it is not close to the hardest Soulslikes out there). I love this game. It is a ton of fun, and I have been able to get very, very far in it! The gameplay is immaculate, the visuals are incredible, and the feeling you get when beating a tough boss is hard to beat. I enjoy this game greatly, but definitely have not beaten it yet! I would love to return and continue this massive, sprawling campaign and try and face down the big boss (and perhaps tackle the insanely well-done DLC).
46 – A 90s/00s PC exclusive
Choice: Secret Agent Barbie
Priority: High
I’m outing myself a bit here, but I don’t mind. I grew up in a household with sisters, so the Barbie franchise was prevalent in our household. At the time, the animated Barbie movies that were releasing were excellent for young girls, with positive messages and engaging stories. Do they still hold up? I honestly am not sure – I’d have to rewatch them in order to say! I honestly don’t think this game is going to hold up very well, but I loved it as a kid and am planning to replay it as an adult! It should be a blast to return to.
47 – A game with a female main character
Choice: Nancy Drew – Danger by Design
Priority: N/A – Situational
I have been playing through all of the Nancy Drew games from #1 all the way to the most recent releases with my wife and brother-in-law. We are pretty close to being done with this one, but still need to finish it! Danger by Design has not been one of our favorites, but that’s a tale for another time (I am planning on writing a series of articles about this game at some point).
48 – An FPS
Choice: Deathloop
Priority: Medium
I enjoyed the 3-4 hours of Deathloop I played, but fell off. I’d like to come back and tackle it again (though maybe not this year – we’ll see). It was a pretty satisfying FPS with some cool stealth mechanics and roguelike features, as well as some great dialogue and writing.
49 – An arcade-style game
Choice: Centipede 3D
Priority: Highest
I seriously frontloaded the second article of this series with games from my childhood. I debated how much I wanted to say about Centipede, as I have already started my playthrough, and am planning on writing a Deep Cuts article about it relatively soon! I will say this – I am having an absolute blast with this game, and can’t wait to keep playing!
50 – A game that does not take itself seriously
Choice: LEGO Racers
Priority: High
Another game from my childhood that will get an article for sure! LEGO Racers was the first LEGO game I played, and it still remains one of my favorites. I am looking forward to revisiting and replaying it, and seeing how it holds up in a world with a ton of great racing games available on the market!
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! Volume II of The List. There are two more to go to get through the 100 games I have set aside, and though I do not think I will be playing all of them, I can’t wait to give some of these a whirl, both trying out some new games and revisiting some old favorites!
A Thinker in Space 
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