38. Shadow of the Colossus (2005)
What it’s about: Shadow of the Colossus follows the story of Wander, who wishes to resurrect his dead lover by traveling to the Forbidden Land and destroying the colossi, sixteen massive, giant-like creatures.
Why we like it: Despite its minimalistic storytelling and sparse open world, Shadow of the Colossus carries tons of emotion with revolutionary gameplay.
It’s just you, your horse, and gigantic colossi that you’ll need to find, climb, and then slay. There’s no feeling like riding through the bleak wilderness in anticipation of the next towering foe, which is a puzzle and a boss fight rolled into one. Its slow-burning story makes you question your decisions through nothing more than atmosphere, culminating in a tragic ending that’ll stick with you for a long time.
