It’s been a long time since I faced such moments perhaps due to games taking longer to make and becoming a more mature medium. Also games as a whole are more consistent at just being good instead of being built around moments. But here’s my list
- Raphael’s Boss music in Baldurs Gate 3
- GoW 2018, Kratos uncovering the floorboards and recovering those things
- Dropping the monkey paw at the end of Obra Dinn
- The plane moment in Indiana Jones
Honourable mentions
- The open world reveal in ff7 rebirth didn’t hit as hard as we knew it would come, but still brought a smile to my face. The other big twist at the end of the game was more confusing than epic
- Unchartered 4 surprisingly still fits in the list from 2016. The boat chase and truck trying to kill you was awesome
Basically everything in Disco Elysium, there were so many moments that made my jaw drop.
The first ‘ending’ to Void Stranger.
Horizon Zero Dawn had some jaw dropping moments of storytelling.
Prey 2018, when you break through the glass. The whole game was good, but that first bit was stellar.
Ashtray Labyrinth in Control
I’m thinking we’re sticking with games older than this year, as the dust hasn’t settled yet so to speak? Because honestly otherwise some recent entries would qualify for me. I’m thinking of you, Blue Prince and Clair Obscur.
I have a lower opinion of BG3 than most (it’s fine), but I absolutely agree that the Raphael boss fight and music was an absolute gaming highlight, and worth the price of admission alone.
Alan Wake 2 in its entirety would qualify for me, but if one moment has to be singled out then the We Sing chapter was something else. Honorable mention for
spoiler
Saga’s corrupted mind place
near the end, that was incredibly memorable.
Finally, and the real standout for me was the Final Dream in Disco Elysium. The most emotional, most impactful and heartbreaking and memorable moment I’ve had in gaming. And the most impressive seeing as Kurvitz (who wrote the scene) managed to distill the pathos and denouement of the entire game into three words to close the dream:
spoiler
See you tomorrow.
Hard agree for that entire scene from Disco Elysium, that, the spoiler at the end that helps you to find the scope, and the payphone.
Calling…
Calling…
Calling…
Still calling…
Yeah the payphone is also up there, and honestly, opening the secret compartment in the ledger too. Which when you think about it, all those best moments are so missable. Completely psychotic by the devs.
The whole of the True Ending of Hollow Knight, from before even reaching the final final boss
I think my favorite moment in Hollow Knight was finding the City of Tears. I just sat on the bench next to Quirrel for a while, listening to the somber music and to the rain pattering against the windows.
Oh yeah, did the same, you just couldn’t avoid it, it’s the thing you just GOTTA do…
And here you go
