26. dragon quest xi s: echoes of an elusive age - definitive edition
a game of absolute, supreme importance to me, moreso than anything else on this list. on countless occasions this year did i keep myself going only so i could get back to dragon quest.
in the end it was not enough, but in its efforts, this game grounded me. i felt its care and the intentionality in its design. dragon quest 11 is made with love in a way i think few pieces, in any medium, can really claim to be. video games have been a comfort to me my entire life, but maybe none more than this game. i hope i can bring it with me.