Old Gamer’s Almanac

Journey (2012)

Thatgamecompany has put out a few hits over the years, but perhaps their most celebrated is 2012's Journey. A single player puzzle platformer with an esoteric multiplayer hook: you are randomly partnered with someone online and you cannot speak to them. It makes for a magical experience, despite it's short length. So as we race for these last games to try and top the list, how will yet another INDIE DARLING stack up?
Music by nightcorey. https://soundcloud.com/nightcorey
Consider contributing to our show on Patreon. Email us your thoughts on the ongoing list at oldgamersalmanac(at)gmail(dot)com. Or come talk to us on our Discord.
The List So Far:
Disco Elysium
Celeste
Super Mario Brothers 3
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
Katamari Damacy
Halo: Combat Evolved
Ocarina of Time
Quake
Papers, Please
Hyper Light Drifter
Raw Danger!
Crusader Kings 3
Hitman (2016)
Jet Set Radio
Halo 3
Mass Effect 3
Soulcalibur
Mass Effect 2
Out Run
Portal
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Centipede
Inside
Mario Kart 64
Inscryption
Kirby Super Star
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Forza Horizon 5
Metroid Dread
Donkey Kong Country 3
Final Fantasy 7
Pikmin
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Kingdom Hearts
Mass Effect
Journey to Silius
Solar Ash
Mirror's Edge
Halo 2
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Twisted Metal 2
Killer Instinct
Goldeneye
War of the Monsters
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Sonic Adventure

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

Does everyone remember Ocarina of Time always being referred to as the best game of all time? What happened? Did we actually just start making games better, or did everyone forget about it? Is it forgettable? Is it's forgettable-ness Nintendo's own doing? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?! Anyways, it's time to make Ocarina's ranking Definitive. (TM)
Mentioned in Episode:
Ship of Harkinian (I'm not gonna link it but that's how it's spelled)
Jacob Geller - Every Zelda is the Darkest Zelda
Music by nightcorey. https://soundcloud.com/nightcorey
Consider contributing to our show on Patreon. Email us your thoughts on the ongoing list at oldgamersalmanac(at)gmail(dot)com. Or come talk to us on our Discord.
 
The List So Far:
Disco Elysium
Celeste
Super Mario Brothers 3
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
Katamari Damacy
Halo: Combat Evolved
Quake
Papers, Please
Hyper Light Drifter
Raw Danger!
Crusader Kings 3
Hitman (2016)
Jet Set Radio
Halo 3
Mass Effect 3
Soulcalibur
Mass Effect 2
Out Run
Portal
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Centipede
Inside
Mario Kart 64
Inscryption
Kirby Super Star
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Forza Horizon 5
Metroid Dread
Donkey Kong Country 3
Final Fantasy 7
Pikmin
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Kingdom Hearts
Mass Effect
Journey to Silius
Solar Ash
Mirror's Edge
Halo 2
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Twisted Metal 2
Killer Instinct
Goldeneye
War of the Monsters
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Sonic Adventure

Portal (2007)

It's actually wild that we've had nearly 50 games and haven't talked about a single Valve game yet. Portal is perhaps a strange one to start with, but it is also quick to knock out in an afternoon which makes it perfect with the onslaught of other games we have as we race for 50 games on the list. It was a part of a massive compilation of games and stood out as a marvel of game design. How does it hold up this many years and a sequel later?
 
Music by nightcorey. https://soundcloud.com/nightcorey
Consider contributing to our show on Patreon. Email us your thoughts on the ongoing list at oldgamersalmanac(at)gmail(dot)com. Or come talk to us on our Discord.
 
The List So Far:
Disco Elysium
Celeste
Super Mario Brothers 3
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
Katamari Damacy
Halo: Combat Evolved
Quake
Papers, Please
Hyper Light Drifter
Raw Danger!
Crusader Kings 3
Hitman (2016)
Jet Set Radio
Halo 3
Mass Effect 3
Soulcalibur
Mass Effect 2
Out Run
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Centipede
Inside
Mario Kart 64
Inscryption
Kirby Super Star
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Forza Horizon 5
Metroid Dread
Donkey Kong Country 3
Final Fantasy 7
Pikmin
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Kingdom Hearts
Mass Effect
Journey to Silius
Solar Ash
Mirror's Edge
Halo 2
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Twisted Metal 2
Killer Instinct
Goldeneye
War of the Monsters
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Sonic Adventure

Disco Elysium (2019)

We've been trying to get this game onto the list since we started this show and it is finally time. Disco Elysium came out of nowhere and was an instant classic. If everything goes according to plan, this game should be remembered forever, and it starts here with the most definitive list out there.
Music by nightcorey. https://soundcloud.com/nightcorey
Consider contributing to our show on Patreon. Email us your thoughts on the ongoing list at oldgamersalmanac(at)gmail(dot)com. Or come talk to us on our Discord.
The List So Far:
Celeste
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Super Mario Brothers 3
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
Katamari Damacy
Halo: Combat Evolved
Quake
Papers, Please
Hyper Light Drifter
Raw Danger!
Crusader Kings 3
Hitman (2016)
Jet Set Radio
Halo 3
Mass Effect 3
Soulcalibur
Mass Effect 2
Out Run
Centipede
Inside
Mario Kart 64
Inscryption
Kirby Super Star
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Forza Horizon 5
Metroid Dread
Donkey Kong Country 3
Final Fantasy 7
Pikmin
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Kingdom Hearts
Mass Effect
Journey to Silius
Solar Ash
Mirror's Edge
Halo 2
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Twisted Metal 2
Killer Instinct
Goldeneye
War of the Monsters
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Sonic Adventure

Soulcalibur (1999)

We teased this episode recently, and someone told us Soulcalibur is the Eddie Gordo of fighting games. Matt doesn't know what that means, but it probably means he's a dumb guy for this being the fighting game that he likes. It's cool! We get it! But come listen to us be wrong about the entire genre for an hour anyways!
Mentioned In Episode:
DF Retro: Soul Calibur - Beyond Arcade Perfect
Polygon Voldo
Music by nightcorey. https://soundcloud.com/nightcorey
Consider contributing to our show on Patreon. Email us your thoughts on the ongoing list at oldgamersalmanac(at)gmail(dot)com. Or come talk to us on our Discord.
The List So Far
Celeste
Super Mario Brothers 3
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
Katamari Damacy
Halo: Combat Evolved
Quake
Papers, Please
Hyper Light Drifter
Raw Danger!
Crusader Kings 3
Hitman (2016)
Jet Set Radio
Halo 3
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 2
Out Run
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Centipede
Inside
Mario Kart 64
Inscryption
Kirby Super Star
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Forza Horizon 5
Metroid Dread
Donkey Kong Country 3
Final Fantasy 7
Pikmin
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Kingdom Hearts
Mass Effect
Journey to Silius
Solar Ash
Mirror's Edge
Halo 2
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Twisted Metal 2
Killer Instinct
Goldeneye
War of the Monsters
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Sonic Adventure

Inside (2016)

It's indie time! Do you like children? Do you like puzzle-platformers? Are both of these things cute and unassuming in your mind. Well buckle up, because you're about to watch a virtual child die many gruesome deaths and it's unsettling and unnecessary! Here's our chat about Playdead's Inside.
Mentioned in episode:What's going on at the end of Inside?
Music by nightcorey. https://soundcloud.com/nightcorey
Consider contributing to our show on Patreon. Email us your thoughts on the ongoing list at oldgamersalmanac(at)gmail(dot)com. Or come talk to us on our Discord.
The List So Far
Celeste
Super Mario Brothers 3
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei
Katamari Damacy
Halo: Combat Evolved
Quake
Papers, Please
Hyper Light Drifter
Raw Danger!
Crusader Kings 3
Hitman (2016)
Jet Set Radio
Halo 3
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 2
Out Run
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Centipede
Mario Kart 64
Inscryption
Kirby Super Star
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Forza Horizon 5
Metroid Dread
Donkey Kong Country 3
Final Fantasy 7
Pikmin
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Kingdom Hearts
Mass Effect
Journey to Silius
Solar Ash
Mirror's Edge
Halo 2
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Twisted Metal 2
Killer Instinct
Goldeneye
War of the Monsters
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Sonic Adventure

Panzer Dragoon II: Zwei (1996)

It's SEGA time! And this time it's the oft ignored Sega Saturn! Called by some "the greatest game ever made," what makes Panzer Dragoon Zwei so special? I dunno! It just...feels right. You've gotta experience it to believe it.
Mentioned in the episode:
https://www.panzerdragoonlegacy.com/
Music by nightcorey. https://soundcloud.com/nightcorey
Consider contributing to our show on Patreon. Email us your thoughts on the ongoing list at oldgamersalmanac(at)gmail(dot)com. Or come talk to us on our Discord.
 
The List So Far:
Celeste
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Super Mario Brothers 3
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Katamari Damacy
Halo: Combat Evolved
Quake
Papers, Please
Hyper Light Drifter
Raw Danger!
Crusader Kings 3
Hitman (2016)
Jet Set Radio
Halo 3
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 2
Out Run
Centipede
Mario Kart 64
Inscryption
Kirby Super Star
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Forza Horizon 5
Metroid Dread
Donkey Kong Country 3
Final Fantasy 7
Pikmin
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Kingdom Hearts
Mass Effect
Journey to Silius
Solar Ash
Mirror's Edge
Halo 2
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Twisted Metal 2
Killer Instinct
Goldeneye
War of the Monsters
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Sonic Adventure

Mario Kart 64 (1997) [w/ EJ]

Hunter is in town which means it's time again to hang out with E.J. and play some couch multiplayer! We're trying to hit stone-cold classic right now, so that means it's time for Mario Kart 64! But it's hard to talk about Mario Kart without talking about ALL Mario Kart games, so stick around for a sub-ranking of all Mario Kart Games.
Mentioned in the Episode:
Summoning Salt's Choco Mountain: The History of Mario Kart 64's Most Infamous Track
Music by nightcorey. https://soundcloud.com/nightcorey
Consider contributing to our show on Patreon. Email us your thoughts on the ongoing list at oldgamersalmanac(at)gmail(dot)com. Or come talk to us on our Discord.
The List So Far:
Celeste
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Super Mario Brothers 3
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Katamari Damacy
Halo: Combat Evolved
Quake
Papers, Please
Hyper Light Drifter
Raw Danger!
Crusader Kings 3
Hitman (2016)
Jet Set Radio
Halo 3
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 2
Out Run
Centipede
Inscryption
Kirby Super Star
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Forza Horizon 5
Metroid Dread
Donkey Kong Country 3
Final Fantasy 7
Pikmin
Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
Kingdom Hearts
Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Mass Effect
Journey to Silius
Solar Ash
Mirror's Edge
Halo 2
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Twisted Metal 2
Killer Instinct
Goldeneye
War of the Monsters
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Sonic Adventure