My Top 10 Games NOT Featured on the GameFAQs.com Game of the Decade List

Hey all, and welcome to another video game listing. So yesterday I counted down my 10 Favourite  Games Featured on the GAmeFAQs.com Game of the Decade List. You can read that by clicking here. I also did that same listing 10 years ago with the previous decade, you can read that by clicking here.

So GameFAQs nominated their users to choose their favourite games of the decade and narrowed it down to their Top 128. That's a lot of games to be fair. But for me, there were some omissions that deserved some love. This is not taking away anything from the 128 games on the list, these are wonderful games, but I just felt that some other games needed highlighting too. So without any further delay, here are my Top 10 Games of the Decade NOT featured on that list.

#10: Armello

Available On: PC, Playstation 4, XBox One, Nintendo Switch

Original Release: 2015

My Rating: ****1/4 stars

My friend and sister both got me into Armello and I must say it's been a heck of a treat, playing this game. Armello does the perfect job in combining board games with online game play, the way the game plays out you genuinely wouldn't put it past the idea that the game was a board game before a video game. The truth is it's not, it's purely an online game. It had mixed to positive reviews on release but has since developed a strong cult fan base. If you want to try a different strategy RPG style board game, definitely give this a try. It's definitely best played online.

#9: Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy

Available On: PC, Playstation 4, XBox One, Nintendo Switch

Original Release: 2017

My Rating: ****1/4 stars

I've reviewed this game for this website, you can view it here.

I was disappointed when I discovered that neither Crash Bandicoot Trilogy Remaster or Spyro Trilogy Remaster made the GameFAQs list, disappointed and a little surprised. A lot of GameFAQs users are actually a similar age to me (*coughs* early thirties *coughs*) so nostalgia does have a place in some of these placements. Both trilogies were solid remasters and done very well, and for me, Crash Bandicoot just edges it. I think Activision had a difficult job on their hands, ensuring that the games they were remastering were treated will the utmost care, because it wasn't their games when they were released in the late nineties. But they did it complete justice; the gameplay felt fresh yet almost identical to the original, and the addition of certain levels as free DLC and doing the Relic challenges on all three games were lovely touches.

#8: Rogue Legacy

Available On: PC, Playstation 3, PS Vita, Playstation 4, XBox One, Nintendo Switch

Original Release: 2013

My Rating: ****1/4 stars

The first time I heard about this game was actually by my son, he must have been four at the time - genuinely. He said that his Mum plays it at her house and I should give it a go. And honestly, it's a tremendous game. It's a rogue metroidvania game where you try and rescue the king in a randomly generated castle dungeon. You are likely to die many times playing through the game, and every time you do, your child tries to redeem your death, taking your abilities and coin forward to the next generation. It's very child friendly, at moments very funny and has a surprisingly deeper plot than it lets on at the beginning. It's well worth your time if you want to play a platformer that you may not have heard of before.

#7: Doki Doki Literature Club!

Available On: PC

Original Release: 2017

My Rating: ****1/4 stars

I implore you, if you have a PC and a Steam account, download this game. It's free. And whatever you do, don't check out for spoilers, and ride it out. It will take you 2 to 4 hours maximum.

You may start playing the game thinking, what is this? A dating sim? Why am I still playing it? It's cheesy, cringey, fluffy nonsense. Keep playing it. Ride it out. Trust me. The game takes a turn. And when it does, you won't look back. This is one of the scariest games I've ever played. And it's FREE. Download it and play it, please, I beg you. I don't want to say more than that. You won't regret it.

#6: Limbo

Available On: PC, XBox 360, XBox One, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch

Original Release: 2010

My Rating: ****1/4 stars

I've reviewed this game for this website, you can view it here.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Inside had made the Top 128 when nominations game in from GameFAQs users, but shocked when I realised that Limbo didn't make the cut. Out of the two experiences, I would have thought a lot of fans would have chosen Limbo, it's the original, it has a stronger art design and it made a much bigger impact upon release. Both games are incredible of course. If you want to play a game that looks absolutely stunning, full of puzzles and traps, lots of great atmospheric ambience then give this game a go. It's available very cheap nowadays. Again it's not the longest game in the world and can be finished in a few hours, but it's truly a wonderful experience with a plot that has been the topic of many a discussion to what the game truly is about and how it can be interpreted in many ways.

#5: Outlast

Available On: PC, Playstation 4, XBox One, Nintendo Switch

Original Release: 2013

My Rating: ****1/4 stars

When it comes to games on this list that truly surprised me that didn't make the cut, Outlast is definitely up there. While Resident Evil 7 made the list, there are true claims to be made that Resi 7 may not have existed the way it did if it wasn't for the likes of Outlast and PT having the impact they did. PT isn't a game but a demo of course, but Outlast was released and scared the absolute bejeezus out of people. It's truly a terrifying game that needs to be played. It showed horror fans a revitalised way of playing scary games, with the use of darkness, gritty graphics, and feeling truly defenceless. Outlast's camera and battery finding system really was a stroke of genius. Of course Outlast II upped the ante, but for me, the Outlast is the better experience, but both are worth a visit for horror fans.

#4: Until Dawn

Available On: Playstation 4

Original Release: 2015

My Rating: ****1/4 stars

When it comes to a polished horror experience, look no further than Until Dawn. This game mixes novel narration with horror to perfection. Again, I'm very surprised it didn't make the cut because many fans were surprised by how solid this game was. Until Dawn is probably the best "horror cliche" movie turned into video game ever made. What Heavy Rain did for murder and spy drama movies, Until Dawn does with horror movies. It takes its sweet time introducing you to these friends with different personalities and gives you the opportunity to see them all survive or die in the game. It has many great sequences and plenty of gory deaths on offer. Until Dawn is a must play for horror fans in a very different way to how Outlast was above.

#3: Final Fantasy XIII

Available On: PC, Playstation 3, XBox 360

Original Release: 2010

My Rating: ****1/2 stars

I've reviewed this game for this website, you can view it here.

I know this entry will divide people, it divides more Final Fantasy fans than any other entry in the series. I was surprised to see Final Fantasy XV in the 128 games cut but not XIII. For me it's a solid Final Fantasy experience. Is it perfect? No. Is it linear? Yes. But I love the battle system and the story, when you break it down is incredible. The stagger system that's getting so much love in Final Fantasy VII Remake stemmed from the very same stagger system that FF13 introduced. A lot of fans are torn on this game, in the same way why they were torn on XII - for me XIII is a much better game than XII. I'll leave it at that.

#2: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

Available On: PC, PS Vita, Playstation 4, Nintendo DS

Original Release: 2010

My Rating: ****1/2 stars

I was pleasantly surprised when I read that Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward made the 128 games shortlist. I never expected any of the Zero Escape games to make the list because they have such a cult following. For me, the original game was the best of the trilogy and is a must when it comes to a starting point in this trilogy. If you want to try something different, definitely give the Zero Escape games a go. These games are Japanese visual novels with puzzle gameplay, but have some of the strongest narrative I've ever seen in a video game. In this game nine people are kidnapped and placed on a boat to play a game. The nine people all have numbered bracelets and must try and find ways to survive and escape the ship. Why are they on the boat? What do they have in common? Who kidnapped them and why? It's a great game that is terribly underrated. Do yourself a favour too and don't spoil the game for yourself, play through the games blind in order, starting with this one. The twists and turns throughout the gameplay will keep you guessing throughout the whole game in terms of what is going on.

#1: Detroit: Become Human

Available On: PC, Playstation 4

Original Release: 2018

My Rating: ****1/2 stars

When it comes to defining gaming moments of the decade, Detroit Become Human is very high on my list. I was very happy to see Heavy Rain make the 128 cut, but disappointed when I discovered this game didn't. Is it better than Heavy Rain? Many fans don't think so, but I do. What I love so much about this game is that it creates a bleak but equally possible future for humanity and robots. Robots have taken jobs and will continue to do so. There will be a time in the future when robots will be able to do things to make our lives even easier. Will robots ever become sentient? Many think so. The choices available in this game for its three robots really tests you as a person. Do you want them to be slaves to humans? Should they be sentient? There's that and so much more in this game. I cried during moments of this game in ways I haven't done for a long long time. I have no shame in that. It moved me in so many ways and I'm so thankful to have had this game in my life and it truly was one of the best gaming experiences of this decade, and deserves much more attention.

I hope you enjoyed the list. What for you are the best games of the last 10 years? Comments below are greatly appreciated. Until next time, take care and see you soon!

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Game Review: LIMBO

10 days to go...


A phenomenal experience, LIMBO creeps me out more than any game I've played in years.

LIMBO is an independent game released last July, and is currently exclusively available on the XBox Live Arcade, by Danish game developers Playdead Studios, which consisted of 8 official people. As of the writing of this review they have only this game published. It's a puzzle game, but trust me, this isn't your everyday puzzle game.

Doing the bleep test in LIMBO is different than in school, you have two teachers and if you don't beat your old score you get "the stick".

In LIMBO, you play as this little boy, who's name you don't know, who is looking for his sister in a place named LIMBO, which in Catholic terms, is on the edge of Hell. You don't know why he is looking for his sister, but that he is. The game is set in monochromatic black and white tones; there are no other colours in the game. The only things you can do are move, jump, and pull, push, and turn on switches. But that's all you need to do, the game mechanics work a treat with the setup.

Before I move any further, this game is an 18+ game, it truly is, not because it's gory, it's not, but it is graphic. The little unnamed boy, he dies, a lot. In many horrendous ways. It's arguably controversial, little boys don't die often in video games, especially the deaths available in this game. So if that freaks you out, then I'd not recommend you play it. However, if that doesn't bother you, let's move on.

George was the master of the one foot off the box stance in gym, he could even do it with birds pecking at him.

LIMBO is essentially a puzzle game, you must use the few options mentioned above to make your way through the playing field. The landscape changes as the game moves on, from a forest to a native village, to an industrial site. These landscapes are all fantastically detailed despite it being in black and white. Moving through this game is basically doing puzzle after puzzle, and the object of the puzzle is usually surviving the scenario. This can be something as simple as pulling a crate to a high up ledge for leverage, to jumping over large bear traps that will decapitate you. The puzzles get more and more complex, often depending on the critical timing of turning on a switch to using gravity or magnetic force fields. Don't worry about the deaths though; this sombre game is, quite depressingly, about dying. You almost have to die to understand what you have to do, and the game is gracious enough to place you very close to the scenario you tried to progress through. There is an XBox Live achievement for dying less than 5 times in one game, and trust me, that's difficult (I've not done it).

I mentioned the native village before, there are natives in this game, however, for an unexplained reason (nothing is explained in this game) they are out to kill you. They provide the unnamed boy with further difficulty in his quest to find his sister. Apart from the natives, the only other live species in the game are gigantic spiders, that are awfully creepy and lethal, small mind controlling worms, some birds, a wasp and some unnamed hamster-esque creatures. Apart from these it's you and your obstacles. It's a very lonely game but that doesn't mean it lacks for it. This is a game about survival and progression, and your thoughts and decisions will evolve around that.

Man, these spiders are just creepy. I can't even joke.

Speaking of loneliness, to emphasise this, there is no music. Nothing. All you hear in this game is the environment, which typically is usually your movements and what you're moving. As you progress, the natives don't speak, but the animals/creatures have their signature sounds. As you progress you will hear ambience, which further adds to the mood, but still no music. This makes the mood of the game even more prominent.

LIMBO does lack in a few things, but they are subtleties really. There has been criticism about the ending for LIMBO, without spoiling it, it's a very abrupt ending. You will just go, "oh, that's it?" My personal take on the ending, is that despite its abruptness, it's open for interpretation, much like the game itself, and makes you think about what happens. My main beef with LIMBO is that it's quite short, from start to finish it's a few hours long, you might on your first run take about 4 or 5 hours, which isn't too bad for a downloadable game, but once you know what to do in this game it dramatically shortens the game. You can finish this game in two hours, maybe even one, if you know what to do. The game depends on its first playthrough, which is disappointing as it does lack replayability in this instance.

That being said, it's that first playthrough that stands out. It's a fantastic puzzle game, a brilliant open-ended story, and one phenomenal experience. LIMBO creeps me out more than any game I've played in years. It's a truly magnificent piece of art, one I'd recommend anyone open to dark stories to play, or even watch. LIMBO is available for a relatively steep price of 1200 gamerpoints. Don't let the price sway you however; you will be counting every gamerpoint well spent after playing this game. Don't believe me? Download the free demo, you won't be disappointed.

Rating: ****1/4

My Top 10 Favourite Levels on Platformer Games

Hey everyone,


I got motivated to write this very quickly, it was just a thought bubble in my head last night that developed over the 24 hours that has gone. Don't worry, the Noughtie series is still very close to my head and probably around 85% ready, but I still have a few more articles I want to write before I do that. I just have so many things I want to do and not enough time to do it in! Anyway...


This is my personal favourite levels from some of the best platformers to grace our television screens. I'm sure you know what a platformer is, but just in case you didn't, a platformer game is a game that generally requires jumping from platform to platform. The most popular platformer is undoubtedly Mario, Nintendo set the seeds over and over again on how to make a perfect platformer. That being said, my favourite platformer of all time is Sonic, and if I were to be completely honest, at least 5 of the Top 10 in this would be from the Sonic series. But I've set a limit to one level per major series, some are just individual games anyway. Without further ado, here's #10...


#10 The Volcano's Base - Wario Land 3 (Game Boy Color)
This level starts off the Top 10 because it's great as it's the first time you can really use the roll function in the game to great effect. Wario has many powerups in the game but the basic roll is very effective too, if done properly as this level requires you to master. At first it's difficult, but you try and try again, and eventually you'll be able to roll and jump your way to many coins and hidden areas. It's also home to the first boss too, although he's quite easy.

Keep rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin'.

#9 Magic Carpet Level - World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck (Megadrive)
There are no names for the levels in this game but the first time you get yourself on the magic carpet in this game is a wonderful feeling. This game is full of imagination as well as great two player action, but this level stands out as my favourite.

#8 Cloud Spires - Spyro: Year of the Dragon (Playstation)
It's hard to pinpoint one level once again on any of the three original Spyro games, they're beautiful levels really, but my best effort is Cloud Spires in the third and best instalment. There's a lot to do in this level despite it being one of the first in the game, there's lots of clouds and angelic elements, it just looks wonderful and is a blast to play in too, with all the gliding opportunities.

#7 Street (Stage 3) - Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Megadrive)
I don't know why, but this game lacks the popularity it deserves, maybe it was the court cases, maybe it was the fact that gamers didn't like the idea of an MJ game, but it was great. The best level is definitely the Street level, with "Beat It" playing in the background. The third stage in particular, is fun to play, the highlight being the boss battle, when you have to take on a hoard of vicious dogs, with the ringleader white dog, and you can use MJ's special powers to make them all dance with you. Great stuff.

How did this game not get popular?!

#6 Tokyo (Stage 2) - The Revenge of Shinobi (Megadrive)
Maybe I've included too many Megadrive/Genesis games, but I truly believe it gave us the best platformers, this being one of the best. This level is just so much fun, taking on other ninjas, particularly the ones dressed like nuns, testing your mettle. The funky music in the background definitely helps, and the skyscrapers you have the opportunity to walk under or over. This is truly a brilliant level.

He worked very hard to get his 999 shurikens.

#5 Chapter 6 - LIMBO (XBox 360 Arcade)
LIMBO is just one very long level with no pauses, but if you load the game up you can start from certain "chapters". In chapter 6 of the game a moment really stands out for me and I thought it deserved inclusion, despite the game not being out very long. A large spider tries to get the better of you, but you dodge a huge rock and it knocks the spider out. All that remains is his body and one leg. But oh no, he's still alive! His one leg tries to get you one last time, but if you dodge that, he gets it stuck in the ground! Haha! Sucker! But oh dear, you're trapped! There's a platform to your right, but it's too far away and spikes are below. So what does our young hero do? He goes to the spider, now dead or just trapped, he yanks off his ENTIRE leg, spider juices flowing, leaving just the spider's main core, and he rolls this body into the pit of spikes, even more spider juices splatting everywhere, so you can climb on the body and over to the other platform! It's gross stuff, but hey, who said platformers are only for kids?

The spiders in LIMBO are really scary.

#4 Egypt - Quackshot (Megadrive)
Quackshot was a game that required you to travel over the world and getting items from one part can unlock sections of others. That's why when you see a scribbled note saying "1. Sun 2. Moon 3. Star" that you have for ages. You think "Wha?! What is this for?!" Then, when you get to Egypt, it all makes sense. You enter a tomb and all of a sudden the door shuts behind you, and the ceiling is closing down! You panic, and all of a sudden, you see three placards on the floor, appropriately they're the three shapes mentioned on your note! So you quickly step on them in order, and your life is saved. The rest of the level is great too, you have a mining cart ride amongst other things, but the sheer horror of failing to solve this puzzle haunted me for hours. Until I checked that note!

I can't find a screenshot of the level so an angry duck will have to do.

#3 Space Zone (Stage 2) - Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins (Game Boy)
I love this level so much. It's truly a magnificent feeling, going through space as Mario in your little space outfit... avoiding all the evil nasties... and all the horrible walls... getting as many coins as possible... sorry I reminisced too much! It's actually one of the hardest levels in the game, especially the end bit before the boss. The best thing about the level though, is the music, it's definitely my favourite song in the game, and it's exclusively used in this level too.

#2 Un-Bearable - Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (Playstation)
This is the level that inspired me to write this list. It's just the best Crash level ever. In Crash 1 and Crash 2, to have these levels that start with you going downwards - most levels make you go upwards. These levels tend to be you running away from a large spheric rock, dodging everything along the way. They're great levels. But just over half way through Crash 2, you have a humongous polar bear coming after you! It's a harder level too, with even more obstacles than before. However, that's not the end, oh no. The end, is this super-fast version of the bear! How am I meant to run away from that?! Well, the solution is, you hitch a ride on a baby polar bear cub and run off! It's just so much fun, so much mayhem and it's one of the best levels in gaming history.

Run little polar cub run!!

#1 Hydrocity Zone Act 2 - Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Megadrive)
Here we are, my favourite level of all time. This level is just flawless. The first act was fun enough, but the second one, full on with a remix of the original song, is just full brim of loop de loops, above water, under water, running ON water, running through gushes of pressurised water. It barely stops. It's just truly a magnificent ride that you barely control, you mainly watch, and it just epitomises what was good about the old Sonic games. You really have to see it to believe it, it's the best platforming level of all time.

Sonic may look scared but trust me, he's having fun.

There you have it, it may be Megadrive/Genesis game happy, but as I said, I really believe the Megadrive had the best platformers. I was going to include the first level from Super Mario Bros, just for how memorable and popular it is, but I wanted to explore other games, besides a Mario game has been featured. Thanks for reading.