80. Wildermyth (Worldwalker Games, 2021)
A game that combines 4X-style resource gathering and territory expansion with turn-based combat and character building similar to the newer XCOM games. Wildermyth is also notable for the fact that it procedurally generates not just a map to explore, events and encounters, but a full-blown narrative, generating unique characters, relationships and story beats, and having you build the lore and history of the entire game world through your actions (even having later campaigns take place in that same world you've built up). Great stuff, and just more proof that indie studios, not soulless AAA wheelhouses, are where gaming's true talent lies.
79. Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura (Troika Games, 2001)
The first game of the tragically short-lived studio Troika, whose games were ambitious and filled with great writing but were always hampered by their severely limited budgets and development times. (Debuting at a time when PC gaming was struggling to maintain sales probably did them no favors either). Arcanum was certainly a notable one, with a relatively unique fantasy setting (set during an industrial revolution) and your choices actually having a tangible effect on the story - what you say and do will open some paths or close others, and the different outcomes you can get are pretty vastly different from one another, which definitely sets it apart. It was a pain in the ass to get running in its day and featured some prominent faults - plenty of bugs, mediocre combat and bad party AI - but thankfully, some heroic fan patches in the years since have made its stronger elements available to a wider audience.
78. Heretic II (Raven Software, 1998)
77. Mechwarrior 2: 31st Century Combat (Activision, 1995)
Giant walking mecha are pretty impractical in any realistic combat scenario, but that's what the realm of fiction is for, right? Mechwarrior 2 is part of a long-running series, but still considered the best by most fans, and it isn't hard to see why - it's pretty mindblowing stuff for 1995. Not only did it put you in a detailed 3D world, but it gave you granular control over your mech - from between-mission loadout customization to being able to control virtually element of it while in the field (and you will quickly have to master aiming in one direction and moving in another to get far, trust me). A surprisingly good running story, some nicely atmospheric and intense music and varied mission objectives, as well as getting to command your own squads later on, make it a really fun experience.
76. Sam & Max Hit the Road (LucasArts, 1993)
75. Shadowgate (Zojoi, 2014)
An updated remake of the classic point-and-click adventure game from the 1980s, Shadowgate's 2014 iteration was downright inspired. The game's narrative was significantly expanded over its predecessor, new puzzles and obstacles were added, and elements of the original were changed up a lot, meaning that the old solutions to puzzles no longer work (and, in fact, will frequently result in your death). The game also features multiple difficulty levels that further shuffle puzzles and clues as well as lend some replay value to a genre largely lacking in it. And of course, the remixed music and updated visuals effectively portray a grim atmosphere that only makes the game's story even more compelling. Bring on the remake of Beyond Shadowgate!
72. Arx Fatalis (Arkane Studios, 2004)
73. Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters (Toys for Bob, 1992)
72. D/Generation (Robert Cook, 1991)
An action-puzzle game with nicely-detailed isometric graphics and smooth controls, D/Generation also had atmosphere in spades thanks to its bleak cyberpunk setting, a surprisingly good storyline (revealed through NPC dialog and computer files) and a huge variety of traps waiting to nail you. At first they're relatively self-explanatory - electrified floor tiles, turrets, land mines, et cetera, but they quickly get more and more devious as you go. Probably the worst are the shapeshifting enemies, which can disguise themselves as hostages or even just as mundane objects in the environment, quickly making the game a much more tense endeavor. One can also find the occasional bomb to blow down doors and skip some puzzles, though as these tend to be rare, they should be used sparingly. The game never got a lot of attention in its day, though it has acquired enough of a cult following over the years to get a re-release on the Nintendo Switch (as well as a 3D remake, released at nearly the same time). No matter what platform you visit it on, though, D/Generation is a game worth your while.
71. Half-Life (Valve, 1998)
First person shooters were the new hotness in the '90s, and it seemed like every one was upping the ante, trying to maintain a fun, fast-paced style but working in more story elements and realistic environments to play in. Half-Life was certainly no exception, and for 1998 it was nothing short of mindblowing. Set in a research laboratory overrun by hostile aliens (and later soldiers trying to cover up the incident that unleashed them), the environments you trekked through had a ton of personality and danger in themselves. From tram tracks to vats of toxic waste to all sorts of hazardous industrial equipment, there was just as much of a puzzle element in safely navigating them as there was in defeating the enemies.