These 15 Games Hit So Hard I'd Wipe My Memory to Play Again

15 Games I'd Pay to Replay for the First Time

Because some gaming memories deserve a hard reset

Look, I’ve played a lot of games. Like… a lot. My backlog has its own backlog. But every once in a while, a game comes along that completely wrecks me in the best possible way. I’m talking about those rare titles that don’t just entertain—they haunt, inspire, and change you a little bit.

And honestly? If I had the option to Men in Black memory-wipe myself just to re-experience these games from scratch? I'd do it. I'd even pay for it. Gladly.

This list is personal. It’s full of heart, surprises, emotional gut-punches, and a few games that genuinely changed how I look at storytelling in gaming. So no, it’s not just the “best” games of all time. These are the ones that made me feel something—and that feeling? It only hits once.

Let’s jump into it.

1. Shadow of the Colossus

I didn’t know what I was getting into. It was just me, a horse, and a giant empty world that felt... heavy. Lonely. Sacred. Then the first colossus showed up and I realized this wasn’t going to be a typical action-adventure. The scale, the silence, the weird clunky controls—everything felt perfectly off. By the time the final twist hit, I was ruined. Replaying it? Still great. But nothing beats the first time.

2. The Last of Us (PS3 Original)

Those first 20 minutes? Yeah. Still not over it. The Last of Us didn’t just tell a story—it hit like a truck. Every detail mattered: Joel’s sighs, Ellie’s jokes, the quiet moments between gunfire. It wasn't about zombies. It was about people. And that ending? The credits rolled and I just sat there, broken. You only get to feel that unraveling once. I’d give anything to feel it again.

3. Subnautica

I expected a fun little underwater survival game. What I got was abject terror. The ocean in Subnautica isn’t just deep—it’s unknowably massive. And it’s alive. That moment you hear a roar in the distance and realize something's watching you? Chef’s kiss. I was never so scared of going deeper—and never so obsessed with finding out what’s down there. That curiosity, mixed with dread? Magic you can’t replicate.

4. Ghost of Tsushima

I’ve played plenty of open-world games, but this one hit differently. Ghost of Tsushima is pure visual poetry. You’re slicing through Mongols one minute and composing haiku in a field of golden leaves the next. But it’s not just pretty—it’s emotionally complex. Jin’s conflict between tradition and necessity still sticks with me. The world felt alive in a way few games ever pull off. And the first time I rode through a storm to duel someone under cherry blossoms? Unforgettable.

5. Titanfall 2 (Campaign)

Not gonna lie—I wasn’t expecting much. Then I played the campaign, and... wow. It’s short, sure, but every level is a banger. One minute I’m parkouring through enemy bases, the next I’m time-traveling mid-fight. And BT? That robot wrecked me emotionally. Somehow, this game nailed fun and feels at the same time. I would kill to play “Effect and Cause” again with zero knowledge of what's coming.

6. Assassin's Creed II

The leap from the first Assassin’s Creed to this was wild. Ezio went from cocky noble to master assassin in a story that felt like you were growing with him. Italy never looked so good, and the soundtrack still lives rent-free in my brain. But what really hit me was how personal it all felt. It wasn’t just a revenge tale—it was his legacy, and ours too. I finished it and instantly wanted to replay the whole franchise just to soak it all in again.

7. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

This one snuck up on me. I thought it was a simple indie fairy tale. What I got was a masterclass in emotional storytelling—without a single line of real dialogue. Controlling both brothers at once seemed gimmicky… until it wasn’t. When the story flipped, and you had to adjust, it meant something. It hit because of the mechanics. It’s short, but it lingers like nothing else.

8. Journey

No dialogue. No combat. Just you, the sand, and a mountain in the distance. And somehow, it was one of the most emotional games I’ve ever played. That random stranger who traveled with me for an hour? I still think about them. Didn’t know their name. Didn’t need to. We shared something. It felt spiritual. Mystical. Playing it again is still lovely, but the first time? It was lightning in a bottle.

9. Red Dead Redemption 2

Arthur Morgan’s journey broke me. It’s not just the story—it’s the quiet moments. Riding through the foggy woods. Listening to campfire stories. Watching the gang slowly fall apart. The first time, I didn’t know how it would all end—and that ignorance made every moment sharper. I still explore the world as John, but nothing compares to that first ride as Arthur, watching everything unravel.

10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

This game ruined RPGs for me. Nothing else compared. The writing, the world, the sheer weight of every decision—it felt real. Velen wasn’t just a place; it was a mood. And don’t even get me started on the Bloody Baron. That quest hit me like a brick. The world was so immersive that I stopped playing other games just to live in Geralt’s boots a bit longer. I wish I could erase it and fall into it all over again.

11. Outer Wilds

There is nothing like the first time you realize what’s happening in Outer Wilds. At first, you're just vibing around the solar system, crashing into things and poking ruins. Then—boom. Something clicks. The mystery, the design, the layers. It unfolds at your pace, and every discovery feels earned. It’s a rare game that trusts you to figure things out. And once you do? You’ll wish you could go back and un-figure it all.

12. Okami

An artsy wolf game? That’s what I thought too. What I didn’t expect was one of the most magical journeys I’ve ever taken. The brushstroke art style, the mythology, the music—it felt like stepping into a legend. I played it again on PS3, but that first time on PS2? That was something else. Repainting the world, restoring nature, and battling demons with celestial grace—it was joyful. And I’ll never forget it.

13. Spiritfarer

I almost didn’t play this one. “Management game about death” didn’t exactly scream “fun weekend.” But it’s not about death—it’s about saying goodbye. You build relationships, upgrade your boat, and slowly guide spirits to the afterlife. And when one of them leaves? It hurts. In a gentle, beautiful way. The game doesn’t club you over the head with grief. It invites you to sit with it. And that first time it hits? Oh man. Right in the heart.

14. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

I’d been with Nate since the first game. Explosions, treasure hunts, quips—it was all there. But Uncharted 4 felt like goodbye. It wasn’t just another swashbuckling romp. It had weight. By the end, I wasn’t just watching the end of an adventure—I was letting go of a character I grew up with. And that final sequence? I don’t even want to spoil it. It’s that good. It’s the kind of ending you only feel once.

15. NieR: Automata

This game didn’t just twist my emotions—it straight-up rewired my brain. I came for the sleek combat and android drama. I stayed for the philosophical rabbit hole that asked questions about existence, purpose, and what it means to feel. The music, the world, the sheer boldness of the narrative—it floored me. And when it asked me to make a choice at the very end? I sat there stunned. Sure, you can replay it 26 times for all the endings. But that first ending? It changed me.

So yeah, these are the 15 games I’d pay cold hard cash to experience again for the first time. Not just to play—but to feel, to be surprised, to lose myself in all over again.

Gaming’s not just about what’s on the screen. It’s about what stays with you after the controller’s been set down.

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