Based on previous articles I’ve written, it’s obvious that I suffer from things such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. These stem from childhood, and the things I dealt with back then. Reading used to be my escape, though nowadays, I find it hard to focus on words. When I received my first computer in the summer of 2006, video games soon took over as my escape from life. Granted I still read a bit more back then and could finish three books in a weekend. Now I am lucky to finish a book in a year. To this day, the attention needed to read or even watch TV or movies is a bit much. Video games are interactive, and I think that’s why they can hold my attention so much better. Here is a list of games that helped me through childhood, and some semi-recent ones that help me today.

   1. Chrono Trigger

This game is still my top favorite game of all time. Released on March 11, 1995, for the SNES, this game was my first actual video game. I mean, I had played Super Mario and Paperboy, but this game was the first one I played with a story. At the time, I was only 4. I do not remember if I was 4 or 5 when I managed to beat the game with minimal help. Over the years there were a couple of other versions released, such as the PS1 version and later on, the DS version. Between these three systems, I have probably beaten the game at least 50 times, if not more.

I do want to give a special shoutout to its sequel, Chrono Cross. While I’ve never beaten the game myself, I have watched my best friend play through it numerous times, though that wasn’t until later.

   2. Final Fantasy XIV

The first Final Fantasy game I played was VII. I’ve also played a bit of VIII, IX, X, X-2, and XV. Of these, the only ones I’ve beaten are X-2 and XV. These days, you’ll find me playing XIV. The recent expansion Shadowbringers is quickly becoming one of my top favorites. The story is a dark fantasy, which is one of my favorite genres. I love how twisted it has been, and I’ve made some great friends through this game. It is a massive multiplayer online (MMO) game, so I can play with people all across the world.

   3. The Elder Scrolls

Admittedly, I never played the original two, Arena and Daggerfall. However, around 2007, I started to play the third installment, Morrowind. I had previously played it on Xbox, though at the time I had zero ideas of what to do, so I never made it far. The PC game of the year version I owned in 2007 helped me learn the game better, for some reason. The fourth installment, Oblivion, and fifth installment, Skyrim, also had their fair share of playtime. Oblivion actually helped me stay alive in late 2007 when I felt like my life was falling apart. I would listen to music loudly in my bedroom, and just immerse myself into this colorful but slightly dark world. Skyrim released in 2011 and is probably first or second in playtime compared to Oblivion. I know Bethesda has had its fair share of troubles lately, and the furnace tears because of it. But if it weren’t for these games, I’m not so sure I’d be here today.

   4. Fable: The Lost Chapters

Remember me mentioning my first computer? That thing only had 30 gigabytes of space. I don’t know how much RAM it had, but I do know the video card was horrible. This was actually my first PC game, and I am surprised my mom let me have it since it was rated M for Mature. When I first started this game, the graphics were all kinds of screwed up. The ground was white like it was covered in snow; the sky and water were various shades of yellow. It looked horrible. Imagine my surprise when I would sneak onto my mom’s slightly better computer to play it, and the ground actually had plantlife! I loved this game because you could choose to play a good character or an evil one. 

   5. Horizon Zero Dawn

This game isn’t considered part of my childhood, considering it was released in early 2017. However, I need to mention it because it is such a good game. You follow the main character, Aloy, a sort of outcast in her tribe. The game does a wonderful job of mixing a world of nature-like people with a world of ancient technology. I still haven’t beaten the game, but the story and world are rich, and the protagonist is well-written. 

There are other games I want to mention, but this is already long as it is. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is one of the games I’d love to talk about. I have never beaten it myself, but again it was a game I watched my best friend play. Aside from Twilight Princess, this is one of the darker installments of the Legend of Zelda series, and I love it. It was my second delve into a more horror-based genre, Parasite Eve for the PlayStation one being the first horror game I played.