In today’s post, I talk about a few notable games that didn’t quite make my list.

Compiling a top 25 games list is quite difficult, especially when you have to decide in the end which games to include and exclude from the final list. Thus, I’d like to start my top 25 list with a few honorable mentions, games that I have fond memories of yet didn’t quite make it to the top 25.

Also as a side note, being the musical person as I am, I decided to add a YouTube video for each entry with a track from the game's OST. I believe video game music to be as memorable as the game itself and integral to the game experience, so feel free to play a small portion of each song while you read each entry.

Developer: United Front Games

Publisher: Square Enix

Release Date: August 13, 2012

Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

I just finished Sleeping Dogs a couple of days ago, and boy is it a fantastic game. In terms of presentation, Sleeping Dogs hits it out of the park with its gorgeous visuals, full voice acting, interesting locales, and off-the-wall humor. It's intelligent, engrossing, and a fantastic open-world adventure that tells a great story that never fails to impress. Sure, there are a few problems that prevent it from being the best that it could be (among them a shoddy camera and somewhat clunky combat), but that aside it's one of the more memorable games I've played all year, and it absolutely deserves a place on my honorable mentions. Also, I might be biased since I absolutely love listening to my oriental relatives speak English, but that’s a conversation for another time…

Developer: BioWare

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

To be honest, if I were to rank the Mass Effect Trilogy as a full package, I’d easily put it in my top 10. However, I decided that it wasn’t really fair to throw a compilation game into the mix, especially when none of the individual titles would have made it in my top 25 anyways (though Mass Effect 3 is close at #28). But I’m not going to lie and say that the Mass Effect series isn’t one of my favorite video game trilogies ever made, because it is. Every game is memorable in its own way, and it’s hard not to recommend the full package to anyone who loves third-person shooters. Bioware created a universe so full of life that it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with it. While the story did take a strange turn near the end, I really enjoyed the whole trilogy from start to finish, which is why I think Mass Effect Trilogy deserves at least an honorable mention on my list.

You can read my review for Mass Effect 3: Special Edition here.

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Publisher: Nintendo

Release Date: June 9, 2013

Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS

It’s no secret that I love Animal Crossing, and the latest 3DS entry to the series is no exception. Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a game that you don’t really appreciate until you actually sit down and think about it. The concept in ingenious; you basically start off in some random town and have the freedom to do whatever you want. Each day offers something different to do, and most importantly, each day is unique to each player. What happens is that over time, your town becomes tailored to you, whether you know it or not. Soon, you get addicted to it; you want to know what’s happening in your town, how different it has become since you left just ten hours ago, what your villagers have to say – it all becomes a cycle, really. Looking at it from a technical standpoint, it really is amazing how much stuff they can fit in that tiny cartridge.

You can read my review for Animal Crossing: New Leaf here.

Well that’s it for today. Tune in tomorrow for the beginning of the real top 25 list!

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