games.exe

At some point, I’m going to create a shrine dedicated to the SSX series, because it is the coolest snowboarding game franchise out there. SSX Tricky features a cool soundtrack and cool characters, and the gameplay is simply explosive—it is the game that best captures the aesthetic of the 2000s.

It is simply my digital safe space. You play as a student who lives with his uncle in the countryside for a while—and that rural setting is truly what defines the game. The characters are all wonderful, and the game isn't afraid to tackle themes that are still considered taboo in Japan—such as the queer themes involving two of the characters. Even though the subject of queerness is handled very cautiously within the game, it is nonetheless a step in the right direction.

I got it for my sixth birthday, and I played it endlessly in my Opel Corsa—xD—so that I’d eventually have enough money to get a Golf GTI. This game just screams Y2K; it’s simply a fantastic mix of hip-hop, nu-metal, and techno. There’s nothing better than racing your tuned-up car through the night in Bayview.