Why Every Gamer Needs Forever Games

What Are Forever Games?

The idea of forever games isn’t exactly new, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about lately and it’s the term that came to mind when thinking about a specific type of game. However, rather than lists of specific games that can be generalized as “forever games,” games that are objectively good throughout time, the way I’m thinking about the term is subjective and means that every individual has their own, personalized, list. Their forever games are unique to them.

In this sense of the idea a forever game is a game that, no matter how old it is, you know you can go to at any time and have a good time. These are games that, despite hundreds or even thousands of hours of play time, you still enjoy for one reason or another.

The Why

Lately, I haven’t been gaming as much as I used to. Life, changes in moods and habits (and just not wanting to sit in a chair that long) have pushed me to other hobbies–like photography–more often. And, sometimes, when I do sit down to play a game, nothing sounds fun.

You see, I have a backlog of games I’ve been “meaning” to play (the quotes here imply that the effort has been quite… Minimal). A couple of years ago, I made a list of the ones I really do want to play, and have been playing through them in order by release date, oldest to newest. This has been working out pretty well, but sometimes I sit down and that next game on the list is the last thing I want to play.

This is when I reach for a forever game.

How It Plays Out

In these moments, a forever game can provide a “home base” where I know I can have an enjoyable experience without having to choose from a bunch of options or put in a ton of money, time, and effort buying and setting up a new game. The bonus is that, because these games are always fun for me, it doesn’t matter if it’s been a day or a year since I last played it!

So, for example, if I’m a bit tired of the slog of a game on my list, I boot up Skyrim and I’m instantly taken back to that world of exploration and immersion.

My List

As I said earlier, everyone’s list should be unique to them, but here is my list and a quick note on each as to why it works for me.

1. Skyrim

Skyrim isn’t just the perfect forever game for me on it’s own, but doubly so due to the vast library of mods available for it. This is a game that offers a huge amount of re-playability with its unique, dynamic world and large variability in play-style and character customization. It really lets you get into its world and escape for a while.

It helps that the aesthetic is a personal favorite of mine, as well.

2. The Witcher 3

In a similar vein, The Witcher 3 is a single player, open world RPG with a beautiful fantasy aesthetic and good variety in how you can play the game. But, for me, what really brings me back to this game is the side quests. The main storyline and its quests are great, don’t get me wrong, but there’s just such a huge amount of content outside of it available to players (especially with the expansion DLCs). And, those side quests are often fully fleshed out stories in their own right, often with unique dialogue and cut scenes that add layers upon layers to an already rich world lore.

This one is great to open, complete just one or two side quests, and that’s a good night’s worth of gaming for me.

3. Fallout 3

This one’s probably not a shock with Skyrim as number one on my list, but Fallout 3 has a huge amount of variety and re-playability, as well. And, of course, it shares a similar vast library of available mods.

If I want Bethesda game-play with a more modern aesthetic and weapon choices, this is the game I go to.

4. Divinity: Original Sin II

This game is the definition of re-playability, and the main storyline is just long enough to provide a few weeks of game-play without feeling too repetitive to play once or twice a year. With a huge number of ways to customize your character and play-styles to explore, this game offers a unique experience every time I play, and it’s a heck of a lot of fun.

Speaking of Larian Studios games, I’m sure Baldur’s Gate III will make its way onto my list in time, but I have yet to play through the whole game once, let alone multiple times.

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

I’m sure I’m not the only one, but this is one of those game where I’m actively avoiding progression in the game. There’s so much map to explore, so much to do day-to-day, that a couple of hours of just doing chores, exploring the landscape, and maybe some hunting or foraging offer a surprisingly relaxing and enjoyable experience. I’m always pleasantly surprised by how little I can do in this game and still feel like I’ve gotten a lot of gaming in.

Your Turn

What are your “forever games,” and do you also find that you can go back to those games any time… That they never get old?