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There are games we play once, enjoy, and never think about again. And then there are the ones that live rent-free in your head, making you reinstall them every few months just to chase a feeling.
These games are the ones I can’t seem to let go of, no matter how many times I’ve finished them, broken them, or introduced them to friends. Some are massive, some are tiny, and some are just pure muscle memory at this point. But all of them? Permanent fixtures in my library — and my heart.
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7 Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy
Hundreds of hours, and hundreds of ways to take out the target
I recently revisited the World of Assassination trilogy after building a gaming PC for my partner. I introduced the games as these huge sandboxes where you could decide exactly how to go about killing your targets — multiple approaches, hundreds of conversations, and countless absurd ways to get the job done however you liked. It may not have clicked instantly for her like it did for me, but it reminded me just how endlessly replayable these games really are.
I played the rebooted Hitman and its sequel back in 2019 and 2020, and I absolutely rinsed them. Even last month, I kept finding new routes, new tools, and new ways to mess with the hilariously incompetent AI. Across three games and the online escalation/target system, this trilogy is inarguably one of the greatest modern trilogies in gaming. After over 100 hours across them all, I know that the next time I even hear Agent 47’s name, I’m jumping back in without hesitation.
Hitman 3
Released January 20, 2021
ESRB M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s) IO Interactive
Publisher(s) IO Interactive
Engine Glacier 2 engine
Franchise Hitman
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6 Dying Light — Enhanced Edition
Good night, good luck, good times
Across nine years, three desktops, one horribly incapable HP laptop, and a PS4 Slim — I’ve played Dying Light at least seven times. Back when it released in 2014, the first-person parkour space wasn’t as saturated as it is now, and my first run, even with a laptop barely pushing 30fps, was a blast. Then, The Following dropped, giving me 50 more hours to spend in Harran’s countryside, and I was all in.
Then came Spacewar — the fix-all solution to play with a friend who loved Harran as much as I did. Competing for the best Bozak Horde run with him is still one of my favorite gaming memories, even as recently as January 2025. I know it’s a single-player game, but I just can’t get enough. Each replay gives me a new blueprint, a new friend to run it with, or just a new reason to dropkick a zombie off a rooftop. Plus, I definitely feel compelled every now and then to revisit Harran and drop in on my friend Gazi. I don't imagine I will be playing The Beast as many times, but Kyle Crane making a return to the franchise certainly helps its chances.
Dying Light: Definitive Edition
Released October 19, 2021
ESRB m
Developer(s) Techland
Publisher(s) Techland
Engine Chrome Engine 6
Franchise Dying Light
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5 Elden Ring
Those larval tears aren’t going to use themselves
It took me years to even touch anything with the Soulsborne label, and it only happened because a friend pestered me for two years straight. I gave in and booted up Elden Ring, but dropped it after Gatefront Ruins. Still, earlier this year, I gave it another shot — and it completely pulled me in, thanks to fantastic core gameplay and a wonderful open-world.
I clocked 120 hours without even starting Shadow of the Erdtree, then restarted the whole thing with an Intelligence-Dex build instead of my original Faith-Strength run. I did the exact same thing again for the DLC. Altogether, I’ve spent over 300 hours across multiple characters, and I already know I’m going to do it all over again — this time with a pure Strength-Dex build and zero magic. The fact that I haven’t even touched PvP or co-op yet? That just means this game’s going to stay in my rotation for years to come.
Elden Ring
Released February 25, 2022
ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s) From Software
Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software
Engine Proprietary
Multiplayer Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
Cross Save no
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4 Fortnite
This game will probably outlast me
After 800 hours across eight years, I can safely say I could play Fortnite forever. It’s rare for a game to keep evolving and still stay relevant — especially with this kind of quality and player retention. If I had to place a bet, I’d say Fortnite will keep going strong, mainly because it’s become the best billboard for whatever’s trending in pop culture.
From a GTA-style Brick Life mode, to a creative mode that lets your imagination run wild, to Zero Build, OG, and Ranked — Fortnite has it all. Add in player-made content that spans every genre imaginable, and now even Rocket Racing for when you just want to chill and drive without bullets flying? It’s basically gaming’s most flexible sandbox. Whether I’m dropping into a cash cup or trying out a bizarre horror map someone built on Creative, this game just refuses to stop being fun.
Fortnite
Released September 26, 2017
ESRB T for Teen - Violence
Developer(s) Epic Games
Publisher(s) Epic Games
Engine Unreal Engine 5
Multiplayer Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
Cross Save yes
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3 Downwell
One of the best roguelikes I’ve ever accidentally played
A roguelike I only discovered because I accidentally bought a PS+ subscription — and got an earful for it — Downwell is still sitting in my library seven years later. The game is stupidly simple in its premise, but it nails the execution — fall down a well, collect crystals, buy upgrades, beat a boss, repeat.
Every single time I boot it up, I end up doing multiple runs back to back. Depending on the upgrades I pick, each run feels slightly different, and even after all this time, it hasn’t lost that tight gameplay loop that keeps me going down again. It’s one of those games that doesn’t ask for much — but always gives you a reason to stay.
Downwell
Released October 15, 2015
ESRB e
Publisher(s) Devolver Digital
Engine GameMaker
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2 Tetris
The greatest single-player game ever made?
Is this really a surprise? I’ve been playing Tetris all my life. Sure, I stopped for about a decade, but it keeps finding its way back into my day-to-day. Whether I’m stuck in a boring meeting, halfway through a Netflix episode I’m not really watching, or just on a call needing something to do with my hands — Tetris is there to help me chase a new high score.
I can play it on the official site trying to hit 300k, or on a Game Boy knockoff during a flight. Last time I flew, the guys next to me literally took turns trying to beat my score — we didn’t even notice when the plane landed. That’s Tetris for you — timeless, simple, and always ready when you need it.
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1 Trackmania
There’s always a record to beat
As long as I’m subscribed to Wirtual on YouTube, I’ll be playing Trackmania. I may never win a daily tournament, but I’ll keep loading up solo campaign levels and community-made tracks that demand every last drop of reflex and patience I’ve got.
There’s something about Trackmania’s purity — the absolute focus on precision, momentum, and mastery — that makes it endlessly satisfying. Every single track is a puzzle, every gold medal a personal victory, and every failed attempt just another reason to retry.
It doesn’t care about XP grinds or flashy unlocks. It just wants to test your skills and slap a timer on the screen. And I love that. The second I hit “Restart,” it’s like my brain is locked in and nothing else matters. Trackmania is my reset button — and I don’t plan on letting go of it anytime soon.
TrackMania
Released July 1, 2020
ESRB E For Everyone // In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s) Ubisoft Nadeo
Publisher(s) Ubisoft
Engine Maniaplanet
Multiplayer Online Multiplayer
Number of Players 1
Steam Deck Compatibility Playable
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These games are never leaving my library
Gaming has changed a lot over the years. We’ve seen trends rise and die, genres fade in and out, and consoles come and go. But for me, these seven games have stood their ground, among countless others that I've played over the years. Each one offers something I always find myself craving again.
Some bring comfort, while the others bring chaos. All of them remind me why I love video games in the first place. And I know I’ll be playing them long after the next big thing has come and gone.
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