Seniors recommend top video games

Last year was a major one for gaming. Balatro, an indie game developed by a single creator, earned a Game of the Year nomination. A remake of Silent Hill 2, widely regarded as one of the greatest horror games ever, also made its return. As the new year begins, it’s easy to grow nostalgic about the gaming experiences of the past year. With that in mind, several students shared about the games they played and what titles they recommend trying out.

Senior Aidan Fobian has played Silent Hill 2 (Original), Gungrave, Bloodborne and Persona 3 Reload. Regarding which game stood out the most, he highlighted Silent Hill 2 (Original). “I haven’t played the remake, but the original is one of the most groundbreaking stories told on the PS2. Its world is dark and uncertain, its story is never what it seems and it all sets up these themes without having to spell them out. The game lets you explore and learn the dark truth for yourself.”

For game recommendations beyond his recent experiences, Fobian chose Xenoblade Chronicles 1, calling it his favorite game of all time. He praised its rich, lived-in world, philosophical themes on identity and understanding, and emotionally impactful soundtrack.

Next, senior Dallas Hoeppner said the most recent game he played was Hitman 3, but the standout experience of his year was Red Dead Redemption 2.

“The story is phenomenal. The gameplay is slow but fluid, making the character feel like a real person with weight. Arthur Morgan, the main character, is incredibly relatable despite the story being set in the dying days of the Old West.”

When asked for game recommendations, Hoeppner suggested Helldivers 2 for its satirical political parody, Watch Dogs (specifically the first one for its narrative impact) and Elden Ring, praising it as one of the best RPGs ever made.

Finally, senior Nicholas Adelmund said his most recent playthrough was Baldur’s Gate 3, which he described as his favorite gaming experience of the year. “The massive scope of the game and the depth of the characters really stood out. I felt like every decision I made would eventually matter, even small actions from early on.”

For a recommendation from last year, Adelmund chose Slay the Princess, a visually striking and narratively unique visual novel. He particularly enjoyed the evolving voice acting and the hand-drawn art style, despite the game releasing near the end of 2023.

For all-time recommendations, Adelmund named Baldur’s Gate 3, Slay the Princess and Elden Ring, each for different reasons—BG3 for its immense choice-based gameplay, Slay the Princess for its art and writing and Elden Ring for its open-world design and atmospheric storytelling.

Looking back, 2024 was a fantastic year for gaming, and 2025 is shaping up well too, with rumors of a Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon. If you haven’t yet, consider trying out one of the games these students recommended—you might just discover your next favorite game.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.