Hi everyone! Peter here with a list of my top five video game series of all time! There are in no particular order as the order changes frequently, but these are always somewhere in the top five. I hope you enjoy the post!
Dragon Age
The first game series I’m talking about is the Dragon Age series. I first played Dragon Age when I was about 14/15. I played Origins, and originally got stuck in the fade in the Circle Tower and gave up. I was an inpatient teenager! But I came back to it and managed to get passed the Fade and carried on saving Ferelden with my Grey Warden Olorin.
After completing Origins, and playing the heck out of Awakening expansion, I played Dragon Age II. I seriously enjoyed this game as well, even if I couldn’t quite believe a mage Hawke could throw around magic with impunity! But it was the next game that solidified my love for the series.
Dragon Age Inquisition was on release, my favourite game of all time. I loved the world, I loved the characters (especially Solas and Cassandra) and my favourite character (Morrigan) returning was just the icing on the cake. I loved the reveal at the end with Solas (I was thick and didn’t figure it out sooner) and the DLC that was released later down the line, especially Tresspasser, was simply sublime. All in all 10/10, no notes.
Veilguard was released recently with mixed to negative reaction. They butchered some lore, and expanded on other bits. Overall I enjoyed the game, but was it as good as a ten year wait warranted? Probably not. But it has not dimmed my love for the universe as a whole and the series as a whole. If you’re into high fantasy worlds, give Dragon Age a go!
Mass Effect
Dragon Age’s older and space faring cousin, Mass Effect is another one of my favourite series. I remember the year I played the first Mass Effect game. 2009 and I was in secondary school. I loved it immediately. I loved the choices in the game (I was largely used to linear games at this point) and I loved the aliens and the take on humans being the ‘babies’ of the universe.
Mass Effect 2 was a masterpiece. Not my favourite game in the world (not even my favourite Mass Effect game) but I feel objectively one of the best games of all time, certainly one the best RPGs of all time. The pacing, the story and the stakes were just magnificent. My only complaint was being forced to work for Cerberus, and not being able to do more to oppose them. Still, I suppose nothing is perfect.
Mass Effect 3 was the perfect ending (we don’t talk about the actual ending) to the series. If you thought the stakes were high in Mass Effect 2, they’re even higher in 3 with the game starting with the fall of Earth. Reapers slowly take over the entire galaxy and the ending battle is magnificence in gaming form. And the Citadel DLC is my favourite DLC of all time of any game. I just wish I could get me some of the awesome Alliance armour the other marines are wearing.
I can’t talk much about Mass Effect Andromeda. I’ve tried to complete it twice but failed both times. First time on PS4 I just lost interest. Second time on PC my save files got corrupted and I couldn’t bear to start again. Maybe third time lucky….
Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creed is home to one of my favourite games of all time, Assassin Creed Brotherhod. But my introduction to the series was the first one. I am a historical nut, so the first game being set in the Third Crusade instantly drew me to it. I loved the game and have played every main series game since.
Obviously the series has had ups and downs. I loved AC II, Brotherhood and III. I’m less keen on Revelations (though Ezio does get the perfect ending and that scene with Altair at the end of game is just chefs kiss. I’m also (controversially) less keen on Black Flag. It feels like a pirate simulator, not Assassin’s Creed (a similar complaint to which I have about Valhalla being a Viking simulator, not Assassin’s Creed). Thats not to say they aren’t great games, they’re just not for me.
I love the universe as a whole as well. The Isu being on Earth and creating the human race is brilliant. I only wish Juno wasn’t killed off screen in the extended media. A lot of people don’t like the modern day, but I do like it as well. I might explore more of the extended media in the near future.
Pokemon
From the anime, to the manga to the games, I love Pokemon. The first video game I remember played is Pokemon Red on my new Gameboy Colour I got for Christmas. I chose Charmander, couldn’t beat Brock (I was young enough I only trained my starter) and simply started again with Bulbasaur. I never beat Pokemon Red, with Gold being the first Pokemon game I beat. I am proud to say since then I have beaten the Elite 4 and Champion of every region.
I’m not one to say Pokemon has got worse with age. Yes its got easier, but not necessarily worse. My favourite game was Pokemon X, my least favorite Pokemon Sword. I’m desperately hoping for a Gen 5 remake as well! I thought Scarlet and Violet were solid entrants to the series, if not spectacular. Overall I look forward to the future of Pokemon and can’t wait for the next installments.
Grand Theft Auto
I was a late comer to the Grand Theft Auto series. Due to violence and reputation of the game my mother wouldn’t let me buy it until I was 18. SO the first GTA game I ever brought and played fully was GTA IV. I loved it. It was worth the wait. The two DLC’s were great as well and I think are often underlooked when talking about the series.
I’ve also played the hell out of GTA V and GTA Online. Both have provided hours of entertainment and I have not been as excited for a game as I am about GTA VI for a long time!
