This was cute and my partner @windup-scholar tagged me so here’s a rough idea of my favorites though I had to stretch the word a bit to fill this out. Link for those wanting to try it.
1.) Lots of replay or desire to 100%:
Not surprising to say a game you call your favorite is likely one you’ve put a lot of time into be it through replays or the long process of clearing out achievements and trophies. Main thing is all of these are games I kept coming back to because playing it was compelling or exhilarating or just that right amount of challenging to make you crave more. MegaMan Zero 3 being the first game I 100% and bought a physical guide book for while Hulk and Absolver had me seeking my own sort of perfection.
2.) Memorable story and world building:
While not all of my entries fit this category a majority of them do even if it isn’t my primary reason for liking the game. It does a lot to make me stay and just want to explore, do mundane bullshit in game, quote it endlessly or craft an OC these days. @windup-scholar is to blame for that last part. Destiny and Cyberpunk definitely count as big easy examples but considering all the Installation 00 I’ve watched Halo can’t not be up there.
3.) Special connection to someone:
A fair number of these games either have a lot of memories being played with a friend or being played with my dad. Thanks to OCs even some of the single player ones have acquired a sort of shared experience. It may not be a necessary aspect, and for Slay the Princess I’m glad it was just me and the game, but it can help things keep a place in my mind for years on end. MW2 was the first game my best friend and I played together and almost every shooter after solidified it. Honorable mention to Gears of War the series me and my Dad put a lot of time into right next to Halo. And of course Dark Souls 3 (which im bundling under Elden Ring with the rest of the Souls series) and FFXIV are ones important to me and my partner.
Well if ya made it to the end congrats and thanks. I won’t tag anyone since I’m not all that active here but if you got the itch to try making your own go for it! I’ll be around.