1. Silent Hill 2

Not many games, certainly not my favorites, would qualify as "perfect," but Silent Hill 2 just gets everything right in terms of tone-reflecting design. When I think about it objectively, I feel like I could talk for hours on the bizarre visuals. But at that same time, I was feeling more helpless and frantic than I had ever felt while playing a game.

#2. Jak II

A game I loved as a kid that held up much better than I had anticipated. Gorgeous surroundings, precise controls, and a challenge that consistently pushed me just a little bit beyond my comfort zone.

3. Shadow of the Colossus

"Elegance through simplicity" and other such phrases are aptly embodied by the Shadow of the Colossus team. A beautiful atmosphere and a few light plot elements set the stage for some simple yet incredibly engaging gameplay.

4. Dark Souls

Dark Souls finds a way to take aspects of games that I find objectionable—what I would even refer to as "bad game mechanics"—and transform them into an engaging and captivating experience. An incredible feat of vision and the epitome of Demon Souls' modern, fresh design approach.

5. Psychonauts

Schafer and associates employed their combined skills in writing and design to craft a gameworld brimming with creativity and individuality with Psychonauts. This game exudes both flair and humor in equal measure.