Some memorable moments in no particular order:

• Outer Wilds when you reach the Sun Station
• Descending into the Lost River biome in Subnautica
• Alan Wake 2: The Musical

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.

Ashtray Labyrinth in Control

Prey 2018, when you break through the glass. The whole game was good, but that first bit was stellar.

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 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:

I loved Obra Dinn and yet when you said that I drew a complete blank. What I remember of Obra Dinn is figuring out the metapuzzle. And maybe the Kraken.

I think the problem with “gaming moments” is you need a kind of universally communal experience of a game. The reason the Mexico ride in Red Dead became the prototype for THAT is it was maybe the last time we were all playing the same thing at the same time and reading the same things so we could all talk about the same bit at the same time.

The first time I fought a bile titan in helldivers 2 blew my mind.

Not sure if “best” is the right word, but Joel’s death scene was so impactful, even when I knew he had it coming and had to happen.

Also, over a decade ago but imGamous 2 evil ending when you last encounter Zeke. Oof, what a gut punch!

• Witcher 3 opening scene in Kaer Morhen.
• Dark Souls 3 Irithyll of the Boreal Valley and

The whole of the True Ending of Hollow Knight, from before even reaching the final final boss

My first thought was “oh nice it would be cool to discover some new Leeeroy Jenkins!”. Then I entered the thread and saw that’s not at all what was meant.

Not For Broadcast, Day 296: The Heatwave.

It starts off with a slight shift in tone from the earlier broadcasts, you feel the tension ramping up, and then you know exactly what’s coming, but it’s still a fucking gut punch no matter what choice you make.

Honestly, that entire game has so many of these moments, but that’s probably the one that’s stuck with me most.

(The Lockdown episode also had a lot of “what the fuck is even happening” moments pretty much every time something new happened, so I want to just give that an honorable mention. I often find myself singing “Mr. Bear (What’s That Over There?)” for literally no reason whatsoever.)

Final Fantasy VII Remake, when the proper Jenova theme played. Props to the hours of auditory misdirect leading up to it.

“We wouldn’t just play it, of course. That song is too silly for a dramatic scene. But here is a subdued motif to remind you of it.”

“Well we have to play it now because there’s a new Jenova fight but you’re getting the respectable cinematic version.”

“Now the fight’s really getting going, you’re getting the upper hand so time to boost the epicness and heroicness during the climax. Isn’t this song so cool now that we fixed it?”

Then the synthesizer finally kicks in and it’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard.

The song and dance number Micheal and George do in honor of Henry stealing a lute for them, and also doing their chores in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

https://youtu.be/PYLhmnz3BYg

Disclaimer : I really haven’t been able to play nearly as many games as I should have.

Doki doki literature club.

Inscryption

Thronglets (mobile).

For all pretty much the same reason. I get tingly when games interact with you as the player rather than you the avatar. It has to be done right though. Games are always looking at the camera and addressing the player, but they’re only giving instructions or flavour. These three are the best I can remember at making you feel part of the story simply by being the player.