I’d like to think that I don’t have an addiction to video games and that I’m in total control of how often I play them.
Then again, some games make my self control go right out the window. These are the games I play all night long, losing track of time to quickly realize the sun is rising.
I can’t stop playing these incredible games, but then again, I don’t want to stop.
Civilization
You can take your pick with any entry in the Civilization franchise. Personally, Civilization VI is my favorite, but surely others will point out that Civilization V is the high point in the franchise.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the Civ games. Except for the newest release, 2025’s Civilization VII. Maybe one day it’ll become the game it should be, but that day isn’t here yet.
Age of Empires 2
Once upon a time, the real-time strategy genre ruled the world of PC gaming. While there were plenty of fantastic games released over the years, Age of Empires 2 has the most staying power.
It’s a formula that works so well, offering an excellent balance of strategy, depth, and accessibility, combined with the familiarity of historical figures.
The Sims
I thought Sim City was an addictive series, but it’s got nothing on The Sims.
For over two decades, fans have been living their best virtual lives, raising families, and experiencing things we’ll never get the chance to in real life. With the way the world is today, it’s nice to be able to take a step back and get lost in The Sims.
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Minecraft
Some people don’t want to build virtual families. Instead, they want to craft virtual worlds.
That’s what Minecraft is all about: delivering the ultimate sandbox experience that lets you shape the world as you see fit. While it may not be as popular as it was in the 2010s, when everyone was sharing their Minecraft creations, there’s still a very devoted fan base playing the game today.
Destiny
I honestly feel sorry for Destiny players: they cannot stop playing a game they hate.
On the one hand, there’s truly nothing like a Bungie shooter. They feel so incredibly satisfying to play. On the other hand, I often wonder why Bungie hates its playerbase so much. Yet they just keep coming back for more, no matter how many times the game scorns them.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian Studios.
No matter how many times we’ve beaten the campaign, or hundreds, if not thousands, of hours we’ve spent with Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s always a reason to come back.
That’s the beauty of the epic RPG. There are so many different possibilities that no two playthroughs are ever the same.
World of Warcraft
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve spent several thousand hours of my life playing World of Warcraft over the past 20 years, so why stop now?
Whether it’s the modern retail version of the game or the classic re-releases, there’s something about WoW that always makes me come back. Yes, the gameplay remains fun and engaging after all these years, but honestly, it’s the friends I’ve made along the way that make it for me.
RollerCoaster Tycoon
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m rocking a big RollerCoaster Tycoon mouse pad on my work desk.
As someone who proposed to his wife at an amusement park, it makes sense that I revisit the retro theme park builder on an annual basis.
I can’t remember who first introduced me to the game back in 1999, but I’ve been hooked ever since.
Counter-Strike
It’s not often that you get a chance to say you’ve been playing a Valve game that pre-dates Steam, but that’s a testament to Counter-Strike‘s staying power.
Even after all these years, it remains the undisputed king of the competitive FPS genre.
Dead by Daylight
Behaviour Interactive Inc.
Speaking of popular competitive shooters, you can’t talk about the genre without discussing Dead by Daylight.
It’s not the only asymmetrical multiplayer (unbalanced teams, i.e., one player against four) game in existence, but it’s undoubtedly the most popular. The biggest reason is that the game embraces the best of horror films and pop culture, featuring playable characters such as Pyramid Head, Michael Myers, The Xenomorph, and more.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
With the upcoming release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 +4, I’ve been spending more time recently with the THPS 1 + 2 remaster.
What started as some quick skate sessions has quickly turned into spending hours upon hours replaying the same level over and over. I’m not progressing through the career; I’m just skating for the sake of skating while jamming to the iconic soundtrack.
Mario Kart
For a while, it looked like no game would overtake Mario Kart 8 as the undisputed king of kart racers.
Then came Nintendo‘s most recent entry in the franchise, Mario Kart World, launching along with the Nintendo Switch 2.
The more I play the game, the more I find something new to fall in love with. I’ve probably spent nearly 10,000 hours playing Mario Kart (probably exaggerating here, but it’s been over two decades), and I don’t plan to stop.
Magic: The Gathering
Okay, I know for a fact that I’ve spent over 10,000 hours of my life playing Magic.
I fell in love with the game in third grade in the late ’90s, and even though I’ve taken the occasional break over the years, I keep coming back.
Whether playing competitively in tournaments or casually with friends, no game scratches the itch quite like this.
Hearthstone
Magic isn’t the only card game in town.
Part of what makes Hearthstone so popular is its ability to play it virtually anywhere, whether on your desktop, laptop, or even mobile device. I’m not afraid to admit that I would sneak in games while working in the office back in the day. It was always worth it.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware, Inc.
You can honestly take your pick out of all of FromSoftware’s Soulslike games.
We’re giving the edge here to Elden Ring, due to its impressive open world and variety of builds. There’s so much depth and content here that you can’t help but keep coming back for more.
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