This year will be the first one without the usual Giant Bomb GOATY's guest lists that brought so much joy to the world. Have you ever wonder what Keita Takahashi Top Games of 2019 were? You could know! I found All Our Asias in Nina Freeman's GOATY 2018's list and the game by Melos Han -Tani was one of the reasons I started making my own. 

It's a bit sad this year we're not getting one so to appeal the sadness I though about starting one myself. It's the first time in a while I've been close to a PC  for most part of the year so I played many things. Here are some of my highlights of 2022:

1 - Finally playing El Shaddai
Since first released 11 years ago in PS3/XBOX360, I always wanted to play this biblical third action adventure. After the PC port, I finally could! And it was as beautiful as I remembered, I just wish we had more games like this.

2 - Playing No Straight Roads

This games tickled my interest with the premise of mixing music and action. It's such a beautiful world. I don't know how I felt about the motivations of the main characters but the ending just answers all the questions I had and wraps it up in a way that makes me want to recommend it to anyone interested. 

3 - Finally understanding moon

Around 12 years ago, I found this mystical post in neogaf talking about PSX's game moon. It was such a high praise, that any game that could make a person feel this way, I felt I had to play it. 5 - 6 years ago my partner decided to play it in Japanese following a gamefaqs's guide. I don't know how they managed to have the patience to do it, as it's not a really easy game but they did and I was blessed by following their journey. The ending resonated with me in a way that I understood the passion of that post. Finally being able to understand each dialogue has only made my appreciation for moon grow even bigger. Since then, I've been following Yoshiro Kimura and his studio Onion Games. Did you know they have a youtube channel with some content in english? I love hearing him talk about Chulip. He sure has the best game philosophy. 

4 - Is that a Tsai Ming - liang reference?! in Queer Man Peering Into A Rock Pool.jpg

Another game by the wonderful duo Fuzzy Ghost and another heart warming experience. I know it's not the first time a game is referencing a movie, I loved the inclusion of Takashi Miike in last year No More Heroes 3 but this time, it hit really close home. Wait, so that means gaming and cinema can connect? Of course they do, you dummie! Cinema or anything and everything you want to connect it with, gaming is endless. This game make me realise that, and I'm so thankful for it.

5 - Being part of Queer Games Bundle for the 2nd year

One of the most exciting times of the year is when the Queer Games Bundle comes around. It's the biggest opportunity to take a peek and get to know hundred of new games. It's a joy to be able to be a part of it and thanks to the swampbabes discord it's the first time I've ever felt close to being a part of a community.

6 - Freeing Demons in Xxxatharxyx [It's Going To Be Alright]

Each month Indiepocalypse comissions a new game for his bundle-zine collection. This year I felt in love with the one made by L.O.V.E. Games. It's soo difficult but just in the right spot so you don't give up. A weird action gay RPG adventure game where you free demons, breed with them and give birth to a demon that will enact your vengeance. A truly dark story that doesn't forget to throw a bit of hope in it. 

7 - Why did I not know about this game before?? Boreal Tenebrae: Act I

An adventure game with graphics that looks like they came straight from a PSX version of Tekkonkinkreet? Sign me in! A series of murders on an industrial town that wanted to start an union? WHY this game wasn't on every GOATY of 2020? It still baffles me. It's such a masterpiece in moody scenes, the art is beautiful and the story is really intriguing. I'm not the one with words but I feel if you like to write/talk about games this is the perfect game to have endless conversations with. 

8 - Watching my partner play Germs: Nerawareta Machi

Germs is one of the rare cases of a Japanese game where the first fan - translation is in Spanish instead of the ever present English. I don't know where to begin with this game. The world is HUGE and I really mean it. Actually memorising the bus lane stations around the city is really useful as you can get lost easily. When a mutant kills you, instead of dying, you turn into one of them. A now this HUGE city has a different interaction with you. An enormous, super ambitious project that seems endless. Every time I took a peek there was something great happening. 

"If they hurt you, come here not to the hospital"

"I'm at 3 places at the same time..."

9 - I really want a game featuring this ¿Fornite?! skin

My cousin got me playing Fornite. And what can I say, it's really fun. But what I didn't expected was to find a skin I wanted to know their story . Does they get their powers from their discman? I need to know.

10 - Best IRL Moment goes to Taylor McCue:

Taylor McCue won the IDFA for Digital Storytelling with her game He Fucked The Girl Out of Me and her accepting speech was the best ever. It just went through my body and moved every part of it. We always will be cheering for you! It starts at 1:19:43.

Games I'm looking forward to play next year:

I think I'll start with NEO:The World Ends With You.  I loved the antisocial & hater Neku in the first one and I'm looking forward to have some more stylish moments. I also want to finish killer7. It's one of the most scary games I've played. I can't do long sessions at the time before it gets too much for me but next year I promise I'm finishing it! Another wish would be to finally be able to play the game I'm working on, but meanwhile, *shameful plug* you can play HITME 2 and find out how all our family met.

Hope you start the new year with a big hug!

Big big hugs,

xiri