The Gamer's Bucket List. Chris Watters

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      Copyright © 2016 by Chris Watters.

      Published by Mango Media Inc.

      Front Cover Image: Elina Diaz

      Back Cover Image: Roberto Nuñez

      Cover Design: Elina Diaz and Roberto Nuñez

      Interior Design, Theme and Layout: Roberto Nuñez and Hugo Villabona.

      Original infographics and designs by Roberto Nuñez.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

      ISBN 978-1-63353-130-7

      From pixelated pioneer adventures to stunning space odysseys, the boundaries of the video game world are expanding every day. Grand epics and gritty mysteries. Fierce competition and friendly cooperation. Powerful emotions and uproarious laughter. Video games are fantastically diverse and wonderfully creative, but not all games are created equal. With so many games out there on so many different consoles, computers, and devices, how do you decide which games are worth playing? Backed by years of writing about games professionally and decades spent playing them, Chris Watters lays out a list of 50 games to entertain and enlighten you. Whether you’re trying to learn more about the world of gaming or strengthening your claim to true gaming fluency, these are the games you’ll want to play, and why you’ll want to play them.

      “Thank you to Craig and the entire Screw Attack team for all their help. It was an honor having you guys provide the foreword to this book.”

      Chris Watters, Author

      Foreword

      “Stuttering” Craig Skistimas

      ScrewAttack Founder

      Whether you’re a professional gamer or a mom who enjoys a few minutes with the latest free-to-play money sucker, it’s crazy to think how much video games impact our lives on a day-to-day basis. For me, I’m lucky enough to have made working in the video game industry my life. I’ve seen video games evolve at an amazing pace, to the point that they are accessible anywhere at any given time. It’s truly a wonderful thing.

      There’s a thought that to be an “expert” in something you have to know everything about a subject. Let me tell you this: there is no way to know everything about every video game. Too many come out in any given year and just like other forms of media, everyone tends to gravitate towards the genres that they prefer. Having a guide to fill you in on the games that you should check out would be really useful, wouldn’t it? Right? Right. And so here you are, ready to discover and celebrate some of the best games ever made.

      At ScrewAttack, we’d like to think we appreciate all games - even the bad ones. Ok, MOST of the bad ones. Sure, we have our favorite genres and games that we love to play, but one thing I’ve learned is that you can’t pigeonhole yourself into only liking one type of game. Being diverse and well-rounded in your gaming selection is crucial. It’s almost like video games are a metaphor for life or something! With that said, you may find some of your favorite games in this book; others, you may have never even heard of. The games that Chris chronicles in this book may not have been the most popular in terms of sales, but they’re all important for establishing a picture of where video games are today, and giving you an idea of what is in store for the future. Whether this book ends up on a bookshelf, a coffee table, or a toilet, I hope you enjoy taking your time and learning what makes these games so great. Happy reading from your friends at ScrewAttack.

      “A comprehensive starter’s guide to the wonderful world of video games. Watters’s punchy prose is a delight; his brief, informal summaries perfectly capture the best of what the art form has to offer. The perfect book for anyone who’s never played Minecraft, but is too ashamed to admit it.”

      Laura Parker, contributing writer, The Economist

      “We are all going to die. You can’t avoid it. But you can chose how you go. Outside, in the sunshine, like some sort of animal, or inside your darkened living room, playing games? If you want to get through the 50 excellent games in this book, then the choice is clear.”

      Tim Schafer, President and CEO of Double Fine Productions

      “With thousands of games released each and every year, trying to figure out what you need to play is daunting. In The Gamer’s Bucket List, Chris gives anyone with a passing interest a comprehensive list of the games they need to play paired with the wit and passion that has made him an industry veteran. Although Patapon 3’s absence from the list is disturbing.”

      Greg Miller, Co-Founder of KindaFunny.com

      Dedication

      To the family who brought games into my life and taught me moderation, to the friends who left doors ajar and couch seats open so I could play with them, to the coworkers who matched wits and wrangled words and made video magic with me and to the partner who supports me and inspires me and threatens to beat me at Tetris (and does).

      Contents

       Introduction

       Spelunky

       Assassin’s Creed II

       Dead Space

       The Last of Us Remastered

       Portal 2

       Mass Effect 2

       Gone Home

       Journey

       Red Dead Redemption

       Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

       Nidhogg

       Psychonauts

       Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

       Super Meat Boy

       Rock Band 3

       The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

       Super Mario World

       Half-Life 2

       God of War III

       StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty