Staff Picks, September 2025: Welcome to Our Video Game Museum

September 12th is National Video Games Day! (and if you’re reading this on September 12, wow, you’re our biggest fan ♥︎). It’s a great day to honor some amazing games and spread love for gaming culture. If you need one more excuse to play games today, take this freebie.

Today did get us thinking, though… which games have had the biggest impact on us? If someone walked into a(nother) museum ran by Blathers, and it was full of video games that have been released over the years, what would be the prized game that would be behind a glass case and lasers? That’s exactly what we’re asking our friends Veronica, Scott, Tyler, and Anni this month!

What game would you add to your personal video game history museum exhibit (in a glass case, of course)? 

Super Mario 64. I didn't even own a Nintendo 64 growing up, but my best friend/neighbor did, and I would go over to her house every day and we’d play for hours. It was unlike any game I had played before, the 3D graphics were insane to me at the time, and the controls made the gameplay SO fun. The music, the jumping into the paintings to get to different worlds, the overall story—all so iconic. It also forged the path to one of my favorite Nintendo games of all time (Super Mario Sunshine).

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What are some games you’ve been playing recently? 

Ever since Silksong was announced, I broke out my Switch and have been playing Hollow Knight again. One of my favorite games of all time, I’m so close to getting 100%—hoping to do that before September 4, when Silksong will take up all of my gaming hours. Also, Balatro has been taking up way too much of my time… I’m at 149/150 jokers at the moment, and that one last one has been haunting my dreams.

(Editor’s Note: Veronica wrote her section before Silksong released. Now that it’s out, no one has heard from her in over a week…)

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What game would you add to your personal video game history museum exhibit (in a glass case, of course)? 

Without a doubt, it would be The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This was my first real Zelda experience—the Game Boy and SNES versions don't count since I was too young to truly appreciate their brilliance at the time. The hold this game has had on me is immeasurable.

I've 100% it multiple times throughout my life, and it remains my number one comfort game, even though that spider in the Shadow Temple still jumpscares me every single time without fail. I still own my original cartridge to this day and will never part with it. My battle-worn copy of the official strategy guide—taped and retaped together countless times over the years—would sit perfectly alongside the game cartridge in my personal video game history museum exhibit.

What are some games you’ve been playing recently? 

Final Fantasy XIV continues to take up an obscene amount of time in my life. My partner recently got into it, and it renewed my love and obsession with the game. Otherwise, I’ve been slowly playing through the Elder Scrolls Oblivion remake and am excited to pick up Lost Soul Aside.

What game would you add to your personal video game history museum exhibit (in a glass case, of course)? 

Kingdom Hearts. I’m a nostalgia junkie, and this game summons all those feelings for me immediately. I can clearly remember being a kid and seeing the first trailer, then doing everything I could to get my hands on a PS2 and that game. When I finally got it (and the strategy guide, of course), I played for hours and hours straight. I got stuck in the first area because it was so dark, but I didn’t realize the brightness on my TV was incredibly low. 😂

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Combining two of my huge interests at the time, Disney and Final Fantasy, felt like the most revolutionary thing to ever happen to me. xD Looking back, it still does feel pretty monumental to have such a big collab like that! It’s not my favorite in the series (that goes to Kingdom Hearts II), but it’s the one that started it all. 

While I can’t say everyone needs to play all of the games (there are a lot), I do think everyone should do themselves a favor and play the first one. May your heart be your guiding key! 

What are some games you’ve been playing recently? 

Hollow Knight. With Silksong impending, I decided to give it another try — I’ve started and stopped it twice before. I’ve been sticking with it this time around, and after getting some of the movement abilities, it’s really clicking! Metroidvanias are a top genre for me, so I had to dive into what many claim as the GOAT. 

(Editor’s Note: Tyler also wrote his section in the time before Silksong. I talked to him the other day, but he just told me “SHAW!”) 

‍The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III. This is a multi-game JRPG series in an interconnected world, and each arc focuses on a different country and set of characters. Eventually, they all intersect in Avengers-style moments. The story and world-building are incredible, there are tons of great characters, and the level of detail is wild (every NPC, even random townsfolk, has brand new dialogue after each story event). Please play this series!!! I need people to talk about it with! 😂

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You’re new here! Welcome! Who are ya??

Hi! I’m Anni, a Sr. Social Media Manager at Discord. I grew up playing in the golden age of Flash games (shoutout Miniclip), and gaming has been a huge part of my life since. While DotA 2 is my primary game, I love playing most genres and meeting new friends in these gaming communities. 

What game would you add to your personal video game history museum exhibit (in a glass case, of course)? 

Professor Layton and the Curious Village. The $30 spend that changed my gaming world. When my parents set a strict birthday gift budget, it ruled out the latest Pokémon game that was my top (and only) choice. I reluctantly picked up Professor Layton after barely glancing over the other options at the store. This random decision ended up as one of my favorite game series ever. The thrill of solving uniquely tough puzzles while uncovering a mystery storyline opened my eyes to the power of story-rich gaming. Professor Layton fundamentally shaped my love for exploring new titles and ignited the thrill of unexpectedly finding something you adore.

What are some games you’ve been playing recently? 

Here are some that I picked up in the Steam Summer Sale 2025!

Night in the Woods. Night in the Woods is a story-rich adventure RPG that follows Mae, a college dropout returning to her small hometown. Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, this game tackles heavy life topics through incredibly genuine scenarios and dialogue that make you pause and reflect on your own past. What makes it special is how authentically it captures the teenage experience—those difficult moments and lessons that only come through age and experience. It's a game that made me feel like I was navigating the complexities of growing up all over again.

Dredge. Dredge takes the beloved fishing minigame concept and transforms it into a horror-adventure RPG experience. You play as a fisherman hired by the town mayor with goals that seem simple enough: catch fish, make money, and explore the waters. There's a comprehensive catalog tracking every species you reel in, and upgrading your boat with those profits becomes essential for survival. The horror piece comes in the form of psychological stress: staying out too long in the dark drives you insane and forces breaks to sleep and reset. At roughly 10 hours of gameplay, it’s a great option to pick up and play over a long weekend. I quickly became obsessed and bought all the DLCs after the main playthrough. 

I am now mentally planning the ultimate heist to steal all these games from their museums. 

Which games would go in your hypothetical video games museum? Better yet, would you make a whole exhibit out of a game or genre?

Let us know over on our Twitter account! (“Twitter” probably belongs in a museum, too).