Five Of My Favorite Games To Play For The Nostalgia

[@Killbomb]

Glad you made it past those difficult times and are here to provide us with quality content on a regular basis!

[@evanbuhr534]

Damn, Mortismal Gaming lore dump hits you right in the feels. I'm happy your life turned out so well and you get to pass on your wisdom to your son.

[@MealsBeast]

Mate I cant believe how young you are, I thought you were a bit older considering you played diablo 2 and baldurs gate, I remember you talking a bit about your story when you were young, which sounds like a very hard time, Its amazing that you have come this far, and presumably getting your feet on the ground that quickly as a young man, I think your story would be very inspiring

[@FernandoIncetta]

Haha so true! I was SURE he was older than me.

[@nomercy8989]

Dragon Age Inquisition in nostalgia feels so weird to me. I know it's almost 10 years old now but I still think of it as a rather recent game.

[@ouroldhouse3674]

Same

[@ZarinuLoren]

Waaait a second. Almost ten years? Then years?! Where did the time go? I fell like I played it yesterday for the first time, and it was almost ten years ago wtf. 😱

[@codexaeterna]

I've noticed this happens more often as you get older. The years just fly by at a frightening pace.

[@LuckbeaSladey]

I don’t think something needs to be old to equate to nostalgia. I think of it more of something tied to a time in your life that you can’t get back. You might be only a couple years out from it and still feel nostalgic when that thing (eg video game, song, etc) brings you back to that place and time.

[@sjsharp2007]

Yeah the DA and Mass Effect games have generall ybeen m ycomfort games as well.I'm often playin them. Completed the Adamant mis0sion yesterday on my latest playthrough of DAI. As I'm currentl yspendin gsome quality time with some of m ycomfort gasmes atm. Mainl ybecause there's not an ygames I'm excited for coming atm dso I' m mainly focusin on my backlog or my comfort games and showing them some love.

[@Dr_Congo_WoW]

Really appreciated the specific way you opened up about past experiences in this video. It's harder to have those kind of conversations from men specifically and whether you're really aware of it or not, you definitely provide a positive message in that regard Im a fair bit younger than you are but Ive definitely held Xcom 2 among my big nostalgia replays, and the mass effect trilogy. Besides that maybe KOTOR 1/2 as a double replay.

[@StoneAgeWarfare]

Recently replayed XCOM and wow. It was like time travel back to 2012. Not in a bad way, either.

[@Dr_Congo_WoW]

@@StoneAgeWarfare It's definitely a perspective shifter just in the way it looks, let alone how it plays. But I reckon that's part of the charm. That first sectopod is a kick in the head

[@jeremyf1901]

Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have found your channel. Happy birthday on the big 30!

[@Celestiusify]

Dragon age Origins and Skyrim have been my solace for my teenage years where i had skin disease and was repulsed by everyone, now i'm healed and all but thanks to these games i managed to keep my sanity until i afforded enough money to cure it.

[@breonix23]

You already said that you want this channel to maintain its focus on games but after hearing of the excerpts of your life across all of your videos, I would be so happy to get to know you better personally in your videos. That being said, if you choose to keep things as they are, you will still have my patronage. Your work ethic and videos are great and I'll never stop rooting for you.

[@lanagievski1540]

For me, a big one to mention would be Kentucky Route Zero. It was the first game I played after leaving my abusive family in early 2020. I was 25 I left with my car, a mattress, my 10 year old computer, a switch, and a mobile phone with a charger. I owned nothing else. I moved into an apartment unit in a completely different area. Covid hit just a week later. I was completely isolated. No family, no friends, and in a completely new area. I needed a distraction. I needed something to help with all that was going on. That’s when I purchased Kentucky Route Zero. I immersed myself in it, taking all the time I needed. It really impacted me. It helped me get through those first few weeks of uncertainty and discomfort I wasn’t sure I was going to survive.

[@FunkyPunk1995]

Hey mortum. Long time viewer with similar upbringing here. Growing up my mother had severe addiction issues and i was unable to stay with my father. Moved around a lot, never had many games of my own, and if i did, they were always at least a generation behind. While i high school, i was briefly homeless and moved around a bit, and stayed with friends and such. Before i get to the games, id like to share that i got engaged this year and my fiance and i have been living in our own place for 3 years now after living with various family members before. I also have a job as a therapist for children which i truly love. Video games were a huge escape for me as a kid. Im a huge rpg fan, with and intense love for crpgs specifically. But more so than that, i am a bethesda superfan. I started with morrowind that ran on the old family pc, and when i finally got oblivion after a friend’s parents bought it for me as payment for helping them paint their house while i stayed with them for a while, it wouldnt run on our pc at home. Luckily i had a great uncle who took up pcs as a hobby in his old age, and he helped me get one together that we built together after i did various od jobs around town. I saved up 200 i think and he spotted me the rest, i think because he knew we were very poor (he didnt have much either) anyways, that game was a huge time sink for me at 13. Following that, fallout 3 consumed my life. I begged my mom to buy it for me the year it came out and every day she promised wed get it this coming weekend, but it never happened. I would walk to my grandparents after school because they had internet and we did not and i would go to ign dot com and youtube and look up as much as i could. My grandma ended up getting it for me that christmas. It ran on that pc i built for oblivion but it was averaging around 20 fps with dips to the single digits in some areas such as downtown dc or the jefferson memorial. But it was still the coolest and best game i had ever played. In high school skyrim was a great new game. But when I became homeless, i went back to new vegas and that was a phenomenal escape for me and definitely kept me sane. Diablo 3 was one that i loved playing with my friends in high school (the ones who’s parents got me oblivion) and now my fiance and I are playing diablo 4 together. Lastly, the first pillars of eternity cane out RIGHT when i came out of a 5 year relationship, found out i was cheated on, and was still homeless. The atmosphere in that game really brought me in, and every time i replay it, coming out of the opening area and traveling to and arriving at gilded vale gives me chills. Along with the main menu song. It just reminds me of this feeling of “everything will be okay” and “youre in eora now”. Idk why, but that game just really made me feel like i was somewhere else and i needed that. Lastly, outward reminds me of playing it in split screen with my fiance and it’s probably the most recent game to bring a nostalgic feeling. The summer when we dumped hours into that game together will always be one of my favorite memories and as silly as this sounds, i think it was when we both figured out that we really did want to spend the rest of our lives together. We never wanted those nights playing to end. I love the comfort video games can bring. Thanks for your video man.

[@geoff2k]

Thanks for sharing so much about the games that make you nostalgic. I can't imagine what you have been through, and I am so glad that you are able to make this awesome content for your viewers!

[@MortismalGaming]

Thank you! That's very kind of you

[@bresk1]

Respect for pulling through and making it in life man and that also shows the power of games, they can be a huge waste of time if you don't want to do anything in life or they can comfort and entertain you in hard times so you can go back out there.

[@BearSonOfBear]

Also got out of the military recently myself and have been chasing nostalgic gaming experiences. This list was a trip back in time. Nice one Mort.

[@SicilianFiraga]

KOTOR, TSL, the Mass Effect Trilogy and DA Origins and 2 were the games that got me through a real rough span of years when I was a teenager and I honestly still count all of them amongst my favorites. I'll forever be greatful to have those distractions and escapes when I needed them most

[@theskillet21593]

It was a real pleasure hearing your story about why you play the games you play. I turned 30 recently and have been in the nostalgic mood as well, and have really been enjoying showing my son some of the games I used to play at his age. They really weren’t lying when they said you will blink and they’ll be 8, 10, 20, etc. Anyways, thanks for sharing, and I love your content!

[@FemThem]

It was pretty astounding to me how similar my life path was to yours. Makes me really love the video game community even more. You and your channel have really helped me through several games and opened me up to a few others I wouldn't have otherwise considered. Your content has had a positive impact on me, and I'm sure many others as well. Thanks for sharing!

[@MelancholicKnight_]

I appreciate this video and your openness to share, I appreciate you and your videos even more now! Since you're sharing, figure others should as well. I'm a bit younger than you, about to be in my mid 20s, Oblivion is my main comfort game, I got it a year or two after it came out on PS3, and even though that port was the buggiest thing ever it was my favorite thing. I have scoured every inch of that open world, done the quests numberless times, and even when I was younger would just go on to my character who had done everything and walk around like he was retired, maybe he'd go to one dungeon but return home by night, talk to some NPCs and rest. For a lonely young boy this was a lot for me, and I do associate it with a lot of negative memories. Playing it to distract myself from very loud fights at home. The day my mom got in a car accident, and the day my father died in one as well (two separate incidents) all happened when I was playing Oblivion, you may think that makes it negative, but not really, it was an escape, and while it is traumatic to remember getting the news, I had Oblivion to fall in to when I was ready. It was almost like cosmically something told me to get those games ready to comfort me. I also remember annoying my mom to get me Skyrim on release date so so much since I was such a big Oblivion fan, to this day both me and her remember it's release and she still will tease me every now and then with "11/11/11 Mom!" I recently finally beat Morrowind for the first time and while it may be my "favorite" now, Oblivion will always be home. Dragon Age: Origins was also a great consolation for a lonely young boy and the companions in that game were just fantastic, they felt real, I loved the dialogue, commentary, making them my friends, doing their quests, and I mean as a LOTR mega-fan as most nerds of the 2000s were (and still are) it definitely was a dream fulfillment of a LOTR style story of fighting big evil and making a fellowship. A tangent about how I even learned about Origins. I broke my wrist skateboarding and trying to do a handstand in the neighborhood to impress the other kids (and a girl) and failed horribly. I was decent at skateboarding but really couldn't pull off a handstand skating consistently. Broke the wrist went off to the ER. In the pharmacy getting the meds I spied a Gaming magazine and asked my mom to get it for me. That magazine changed my taste in gaming forever. A several page spread on Dragon Age: Origins with beautiful artwork for all of the Origins, talking about how different each one was and what story happened in each origin and how it could influence dialogue and player choice and I was just completely enthralled. Even showed it to my mom and I remember her commenting on how cool it was the Origins changed stuff. Got the game later that year. (There was also an ad for Assassin's Creed 2 that was super memorable where you had to rip the page to turn it and it decapitated a man and said "Congratulations on your first kill." covered in blood splatter and then went on to talk about the game, super memorable ad and I love AC2 to this day. And if you wanna see it you can find it pretty easy googling it, it still looks neat). Dragon Age: Origins has still influenced my taste in dark political fantasy, and while I LOVE DA2 and Inquisition, having replayed them earlier this year, Origins still holds the candle to me due to that dark political theme and the Origin system that was my draw to it in the first place. But all of them have held what I love most, the companions and friendships.

[@gamerboy6787]

Recent sub here. Found your channel totally by chance when the algos pushed one of your vids onto my "recommended" section. Been subbed since. I really appreciate you sharing details about your personal life (when you certainly didn't have to), and revisiting what is undoubtedly some unpleasant memories from your past. It's a good reminder that every YTer and content creator we follow, are human beings.

[@DRDEm28]

Wow, what a situation and a rough adolescence! I'm happy you have overcome those problems and have a nice and stablished life! Thanks for your videos and your work! Keep it up and enjoy your grind!

[@nickochioneantony9288]

Hey Mortim, just wanna reflect on what you said about your early life... I guess many people are born unlucky that they have such a miserable childhood, I for one experience this as well, although not in your situation. But nonetheless, what you become is totally up to you, and I am really in awe of what you become, your work ethic is inspiring, how you build your channel is inspiring, and I guess in some way, you give people hope... I for one still in my mid 20s, and still searching for life, and I guess I'll be glad to think if I make the effort to become my ideal self, I can reach it, just like you did, thanks Mortim!

[@filnisius2153]

I'm a little bit older then you, and while I did not experience the those negative events in your life, I can really understand the topic of this video. In my country at least, being into video games in the 90s was generally a pretty bad thing, no one wanted to be with you and the rest just openly bullied you and it was seen as okay, because I'm a nerd, and nerds are suppose to be bullied. That was the mentality at the time. So, I didn't really had many friends, and one of the few things I could really rely on was videogames. They don't attack you, judge you or insult you. So they became my "comfort blanket" and a way to forget about the bullying and other negative things from school. Some of these games that I remember very fondly and still play from time to time is Tomb Raider 1,2 and 3. The two Oddworld games and Age of Empires.

[@gw8562]

I spent way too much time in junior high playing the Bard's Tale games on my Commodore 64. That was a rough time for me and there was definitely an element of escapism to it. Those games were very simple in terms of narrative by today's standards, so I had to provide a lot of that myself, imagining what my characters would be saying to each other and how they would be reacting to the situations they found themselves in.

[@GladeLord]

That scene with the butterflies when you enter the Shivering Isles is for some reason one of my best memories from gaming as a teenager. Glad you made it past all those tough years, and congrats on the growth of the channel!

[@jeremyf1901]

The original Mortal Kombat arcade brings the most nostalgia to me. My grandfather would visit and take me to get ice cream. He would always give me a few quarters to play. He was such a positive loving person.

[@ivanbritz]

Hey Mort, thanks for sharing and for providing us with such careful content. Best of health and prosperity for you and your family and game on!

[@Mr3Machine]

Glad to hear things are so much better in your life than what you have mentioned in this video. Great channel and gz on hitting the big 3-0!

[@michaelb2westgaedu]

Excellent topic. Diablo I will always be a comfort game for me as it did a number of things. It helped me build my relationship to my mostly absentee Dad, as he got interested in it and wanted to have a copy and play (so when I visited his house, I got to play it as well). It also helped me overcome a lot of personal awkwardness playing with folks online (back in the dial up days), and led to tinkering with PC hardware, which has become a lifelong interest.

[@ManwithoutfearJDK]

Happy Birthday Mortym. I've had to revisit my own difficult past of late and I empathize with how tough it can be. I'm a bit older, but I have my nostalgia safe-places too. They're wonderful. And it can be great when, as you get older, you find they ways in which they still hold up well.

[@bookbagfox]

I can relate a lot to your nostalgia for Oblivion. I was bullied constantly for a few years in school and being able to escape into this other, open world really helped me feel less trapped in my situation. Thank you for sharing these stories. It takes a lot of guts, and I'm glad you're doing a lot better now.

[@Pigracer]

You're a goddamn gem and well done for getting through all the tough times. Happy birthday for your 30 banger.

[@Hybban]

That was very moving. Thank you for sharing all of that.

[@nicholasbrooks3997]

This is a great piece. I love how video games can be SUCH a rock and or comfort for us during some times. Whether its playing a game alone in our rooms or the great memories with friends or family, its wonderful to see a bit of why games are so important to you. Thanks for the insight Mort, and welcome to the start of getting old (I'm 34 this July haha) and as someone who grew up without his old man as well.. I really hope that little Mort makes videos one day about how gaming with papa was really great for him. Thanks again for this one, really.. My hard-drive crashed and I lost all of my footage (I didn't back it up, I'm just sort of learning, as I've said, your channel really gave me that push to get started) and I don't think that I'll ever really post something so personal when I do get to upload, but.. your doing so once again just pushes me to keep going. You do a great work, and it helps more than I think you know sometimes. Take care of yourself (and your family, proud of you man) and please keep up the great work.

[@Jeffmetal42]

I appreciate the transparency you have with us, the viewers. I can't imagine some of that stuff is easy to talk about. Glad to see you powered through those rough times and found your niche and are successful at it. 🤘🤘

[@matehajas2814]

Wow, the deepest game review I ever listened to. Thanks for sharing, and I hope for you and for your kid the best! 😊

[@duanepitts3120]

As a superfan of your stuff. I think a heart filled video about you, might get 10 miles with us as an audience. I think your story sounds beautiful even the rough patches. And I think there are many people out there who would like to hear the rags to riches, story you could tell. AND I think many could due to hear not all is bad in the world, and there is hope. Give them that hope.

[@cuknet6797]

Excellent video, all your videos are of great quality. Thank you very much for sharing your life experiences with us.😊

[@tobiastheblueman]

Hey, man, I appreciate the vulnerability you showed in this video. I, too, had a, let's say, not-so-positive experience growing up & also found myself homeless thanks to the spiral my own mother fell into psychologically. I'll be turning 32 next month & everything you've said in this I can relate to in spades (save for having a son), so it's no surprise that I, too, found comfort in video games during those traumatic decades. Glad to see you made it out & are all the better for it, my dude! I'll continue supporting you in your endeavors as you've always been a great content creator & a very honest, transparent person in general, which I admire a lot. Keep on keeping on, my friend, & may YOU wander in wisdom 😊

[@essouna]

Wow dude i hope your life is now up to your expectations...i never thought videogames could be a comfort place for kids struggling with life...i have worked for Ubisoft for 9 years and i never thought videogames could have this role in someone's life...thank you for sharing with us

[@meowmeowmcpurrington2480]

You underestimate video games, I live in a very boring country and the only fun I have is from games itself, there are many games I love but with where I live right now I probably would've killed myself without games existing. It's not necessarily being addicted to them, but for where I live there is nothing to do and even if there are places I would love to go I have to be in a car and I'm car sick (not to mention cars are boring with bad views half the time, it's not like you're on a bicycle where you see a lot more stuff). The best thing to do in this country is to stay in your house because it's lifeless, dehumanising, bland, and just straight out boring otherwise.

[@essouna]

@@meowmeowmcpurrington2480 thanks for this. I probably do underestimate the importance of videogames

[@x73v]

For me the gamees that got me through a really rough time in my life were the Mass effect series and the Persona series, theyll always hold a place in my heart as it felt like the decisions i made in that game mattered and meant something when in my world at the time it felt like it didn’t

[@FabioBittar]

Hey mate, I'm very sorry to hear you had it tough as a kid. Your channel is one of my favorites.

[@GrailSeeker]

Happy to hear you made it past those difficult times and see your channel keep growing. Wish you all the best.

[@laskeeze]

Sorry you had to go through such hard times when you were growing up. I hope (and it sounds like) things are much better now :D Oblivion is my favorite game of all time and I also have nostalgia for it since I played it with my step-brother a ton when it came out / when we first became family.

[@deeber3960]

Thanks for this video. My bit of nostalgia: I’ll always remember playing Elite when it first came out, decades ago. I was in a small town at the time, so when playing Elite at night, my actual environment was cold, dark, and completely silent ... just like space.

[@MrTaikobo]

First off, I'm super glad you made it this far despite all the dark times you endured. Video games do help with all the craziness. It may not be a way to solve them, but they provide comfort and fun that's needed. In the nostalgia theme, I think I turn to Persona 3 FES, Demon's Souls and Legend of Zeld OoT and Majora's Mask. LoZ was a franchise I used to play with my big brother and I often go back to either of the two, because I remember watching my brother play them on the old crt TV and how we'd try to solve puzzles together as kids. Demon's Souls was my first Souls game and taught me that, despite how often you get your ass kicked, you can keep trying until you succeed. Persona 3 FES...it came to me at a time when I was suicidal. I couldn't get a job out of college, I was dealing with stuff at home, and I was at a point where I hated myself. That game helped me cope, seeing how the characters in the game interact and try to find meaning in their lives. That, for me, hit home.

[@Sonmz]

What a story! You've had a tough life! My list may be quite a strange one: Gabriel Knight 1, Diablo 1, Fallout 1&2, Dungeon Master 2, Might&Magic(5-7), Quest for Glory(1-4).

[@tate8156]

Best part is this video for me was learning some Mortismal lore. I’ve been watching your videos for years and you’re easily one of my fav creators. Glad to hear life is going your way man.

[@ZarinuLoren]

I love Fable. It was the first game I played, and I loved every second of it. I spend hours there, tried to get everything, find all the secrets. The only thing I didn't really like was the main character getting older with leveling while everyone around him stayed the same, so I tried to keep him as youg as it was possible lol.

[@davidjamesmclean6325]

As a father of three kids and someone who also had a tough time growing up and also being let down by those who should have taken care of me when I needed them. This video hits hard. I am glad you managed to spin all the bullshit life threw at you and spin it into gold with this channel. So many people attack gamers for wasting their lives playing video games. They don't get that escapism is important for people's mental health and well-being. Games offer a healthy outlet for people to explore themes and discover things about themselves. Every kid deserves to be loved and treated well by their parents or guardians. Children have the right to have a happy childhood and enjoy playing games for fun. As an adult games are a, great outlet to escape the pressures of modern life too. As long as it does not affect your life or reletionships in a negative way it's a great way to relax and it's fun. Really enjoy the channel. Hope one day you make a great game to rival these classics

[@bobjones6154]

Dude way to go. My situation is similar to yours, however I chose drugs to deal with my problems and ended up being a heroin and meth addict, basically living on the street for 10 years. I worked for a good part of that and tried to hold things together, with varying success. I'm now nearly 2 years clean, have my own business too and am doing really well. And me and my kids are extremely close and I vow to never put them through what I've been through. Kudos to you for that Mortym. I'm an 80s baby so for me it's doom, half life 1 and 2, diablo 2, the old platformers from the 90s, Mario, sega master system games, GTA 1, goldeneye. But my comfort game is definitely half life 2, I absolutely adore that game.

[@NikolaPj]

Well, now you made me feel old, when Dragon Age Inquisition goes into nostalgia department. :)

[@mroiddzhem7311]

Yeah, I still feel like it was like a year ago

[@bigego503]

We share a dependence on Oblivion to get thru a tough period in life. For me, I lost my home in my late 40's, became homeless and in general was a mess. When I started pulling myself back together my girlfriend died suddenly, leading to another couple years of insanity. When I finally pulled myself together (around 53, I think) and was working/being stable had an accident working that put me on my back for 7 or 8 month's. Had no resource's then and was going stir crazy when a friend brought over an xbox 360 and a copy of Oblivion. Played that game non-stop for 6-7 month's and it saved my sanity. And probably my life. Good vid

[@al470ex12]

your story is both saddening and heartening. Games also made a good impact on my life, I learned my basic english and math from games. Gothic 2 and 3 was the perfect escape for me during my garbo childhood, Titan quest during my aweful teens, and the witcher 3 when my life also turned around during my service.

[@Hexentric8]

I don't comment often but I've been watxhing your content for the past 3 years and to see the growth is fantastic, so happy for you! Keep up the great work 😁

[@xeveserpere5509]

Man Diablo 2, elder scrolls oblivion and zelda ocarina of time are games I'm constantly going back to for nostalgia. Oblivion literally changed my life at the time because I was dealing with some crippling anxiety. I completely lost myself in that world. Video games can really be a beautiful refuge for people who are suffering. I'm glad to hear we both were able to make it out the other side, so to speak! Nice video!

[@klauthor]

You made it through, man and I'm glad you did. I was pleasantly surprised finding your videos in my KZbin recommendations. Your opinion is carefully crafted, and you have way with your communication that just makes me feel like you are very kind. Not everyone can come through difficult times and still be kind. I'm proud of you, and keep being your awesome self.

[@Jaszunai]

Fallout Tactics was my first "Favourite" game so it holds a lot of nice memories of my childhood. I played World of Warcraft all through college and those were both some of my best and worst memories in gaming and I am still nostalgic about a specific period of time where I levelled up through an expansion with a close group of friends and we then begun raiding as a guild. I got "Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb" as a birthday gift growing up. I would normally pick my gifts but this was a surprise from my mother. I really loved playing through the game, but the best part was the feeling that the mother knew me well enough to pick a game I would like without me specifically picking it out.

[@GeertPrins]

This is the first video of your channel I’ve come across. I’m impressed with how vulnerable you’re allowing yourself to be. I’m glad your life turned out better

[@BlackCanvasAudio]

First of all, THANK YOU for the candor. I'm glad you made it through those tough times. Keep making these videos and I'll keep watching them!

[@TheSturtless]

Glad to hear you're in better times now, thanks for the channel lore dump ❤ For me, I love old Playstation 1 demo discs. I used to play through them with my late uncle when I was really little and it was always an exciting and fun time

[@connorsimpson9423]

Really cool to see Dragon age inquisition here. It also came out at at a memorable time for me- I'd just started high school and after initially not feeling like I fit in, I finally found a great group of friends that shared my interests- I remember a particular friend was also really into this game when it came out and we'd be discussing it all the time at school, what choices we were making, what classes we were playing etc. It's such a flawed game but like you it just brings me back to that happy and simple time in my life, and I continue to love it and play it at least once or twice a year. It's probably a big reason why I'm still looking forward to Dreadwolf, as I'm so attached to the series because of this game and want it to succeed. It also helps that it got me into DAO and 2, which are some of my favorite games. Great video topic, thanks for discussing something so relatable! :)

[@TheBeaviz]

Can't elaborate enough to describe how much I am inspired by your channel! much appreciate the content you serve as a lifetime fan of the genre and the drops of the personal story mixed in it being directly involved in war for over the year now, it is one of few sunbeams that keeps me motivated to push further thank you

[@astrobyo]

Great video, DAI has the same effect on me, I played it for the first time around the time it dropped, around age 14, and it was a massive distraction for me during some dark times, so I’m forever grateful that game exists! I bought the ps4 version around my 22nd birthday when I needed that same level of distraction and it still works wonders, even got the platinum trophy for it around that time. It’s amazing how even such flawed games can have massive impacts on us. Wishing you all the best

[@schappsi]

Much respect for the hardships you had to endure at such a young age - and how well you have landed on your feet. Remarkable! I hope it's all smooth and happy sailing for you now :)

[@DetourK]

Happy Birthday! 🎉 One of the reasons why I love your channel is because it’s so personal. I remember watching your Diablo 2 video and hearing abt your personal history and thinking…damn. For me, my nostalgia game is KOTOR 1. My sister was away at college but when she came home she lent me the game and it changed my perception of storytelling and what video games could be. It was also difficult bc my mom was also…unstable and it was rough but playing as Revan felt liberating and I needed the escapism. Congrats on all that you’ve accomplished and thanks for the A+++ content!

[@seangarey3921]

After that story when i play diablo 2 again my character will forever known as mortismal. That was the best transition from a child hood story to video games and how they are good for children that ive ever heard. Good stuff. Great video

[@Robertjay27]

So much respect for you, friend. First off, happy belated! I also just turned 30, so I totally understand the introspection. Secondly, thank you for sharing all that you’ve had. I have so much respect for you, and I’m so happy you were able to progress in your life the way you had. Your videos have become something of a comfort watch for me, so thank you friend :).

[@royflowers9316]

Great video as always. The nostalgia brings a greater depth. For me it was Super Mario 2 as we didn't have a NES but a neighbor did and I only got the chance to play it was on holidays when they invited the neighborhood over for a party. For me and a few others it was non stop playing until we beat or had to go home.

[@mahinswins]

First time finding out about your story and its pretty inspiring. Im happy for you and that youve moved past those circumstances in life. Its also great that youve been able to channel your love for video games into content creation. We have different stories in life but its cool to find out that were pretty close in age and that I also enjoyed all the games you listed at one point in my life or another. You have a young son whos going to school, and you still get to explore all these new games and getting that 100%. Thats amazing my dude. More power to you.

[@lusalma5404]

SSI Gold Box Games, Eye of the Beholder, King's Quest IV, Might and Magic 3, Daggerfall, Diablo 1 are my nostalgia games

[@xbabydumperx]

Never recognised how Fable had a special place in my growing up as a kid, first rpg I could truly comprehend and challenged me to make very obvious morale decisions which I think have truly stuck with me my life so happy I found you at a growth and could experience this turn around in your life, maith thú

[@SkylinesArtist]

Happy birthday dude! Thank you for sharing a bit more of your story through this video. It takes a lot to come out on the other side of such hard ships and still be a good person with a positive demeanor, which says a lot about your character. Gaming is powerful and helps many through tough times, and now your videos do the same in a way. Cheers to you my friend, always looking forward to new videos!

[@colinnoel6119]

Your storytelling is incredible ! You are genuinely so inspiring. Thank you for being you.

[@cmdr.jabozerstorer3968]

Baldur's Gate is one of mine too. I used to play it at Uni in my downtime. I'd already completed it before then, I think but myself and another guy used to both take turns to go through it with our own characters. He completed the whole thing (including the DLC) with his Paladin, whilst I only completed the main campaign. In my youth it was probaby either Double Dragon or International Karate+ on the Atari ST. Both were 2-player games and a mate of mine used to come over and play both of them with me. Then later came Dragon Age: Origins, which is one of my favourite games of all time.

[@nightlyboot4888]

Wow, thanks for sharing your experiences. Life really does just absolutely suck sometimes… video games are special in that regard. Bitter sweet memories, and a friend when no one else around you deigns to noice you. Glad you’re still here, glad you didn’t give up.

[@davincisama]

World of Warcraft was my escape during rehab, it's been 12 years of sobriety now. I no longer play WoW but I still feel nostalgic for being a place I could escape to when I needed ome the most.

[@alexcolfescu8071]

Glad to see games were there to help! I can also relate to the part where the video games are the escape when you want to take a break from ""adulting"" as a teenager. I really love the fantasy offer games had. Here is my top: Diablo 2 + Warcraft 3 ( since it's Blizzard ), Heroes III ( but I did dabble with the whole franchise up until 7) , Disciples 2 ( a classic for me) , Bioshock Infinite ( I did't expect I'd like this game)....aw and Lineage 2 for MMORPGs. I also played WOW and GW 2, but Lineage 2 was my first. Grindy as hell, but I swear when I hear melodies from that games I chuckle up a little ...Great memories from all of them games.

[@Roundbrow]

I'm not super far ahead of you at 32, but as someone with issues in my childhood as well growing up in the south, I can say my late 20s/early 30s have been amazing. I can tell you're rocking this period as well and know you'll keep it up. Appreciate the content as always!

[@topcover7390]

I played Bloodborne during a particularly tough time in my life to occupy my mind and to this day it's one of my favorite games of all time and definitely my favorite Souls game. Crazy to hear what you went through and big props for coming out the other side and making something out of yourself.

[@terrywong7677]

I think team fortress 2 is my most nostalgic game! It was my first big boy multiplayer shooter computer game that I got on my computer which was given to me at the start of highschool. For about a year that game was my everything. Something to practice, a community to hangout with, an economy to trade with, and a game to escape to. The multitude of classes, items, and maps never let me get bored. There was always something to get better at. I personally love playing spy and scout :)

[@BuddhasSoul]

Love to hear stories of life and its connection to the video games we love. Man you had a hard life. I am glad you found some relief in the video games you love.

[@Eevolved32]

Resident evil 4 on GameCube reminds me of a old friend who I lost contact with years ago. although, not threw the lack of trying! We would play it religiously, after school over and over deep diving into the lore, discussing theory’s and the future of the franchise… Good times, miss them 😢

[@theexpatriate]

Love every game on this list, especially BG1. You got me thinking about what games got me through tough times, and I'd have to say that was Pillars of Eternity for me. And it just so happens that it's my most played game on Steam, which probably says a lot

[@Pitchblue1]

I always wondered where did a game reviewer gain so much wisdom. Challenges are the birthplace of wisdom, and it sure as hell made you the best reviewer on the planet. I truly enjoy watching your videos and hearing your story made me respect you even more. Enjoy the ride , you have earned every bit of it

[@MunuM77]

I didn't have a lot of video games growing up. But I remember Myth: the fallen lords and Myth II:Soulblighter like it was yesterday. Baldur's Gate II was also the first game I paid for with my own money. It came on 5 separate discs and was an amazing experience. I stopped playing video games during college/grad school and got back into it by playing Dragon Age Inquisition on PS4. Great game despite the large empty maps.

[@jkaic1]

Had to pause the video to say thank you for sharing your experiences with us, glad youre doing well and wish you many more years of success, good health and good fortune

[@knutenathe6322]

I loved RTS's, as a kid and as an adult. When I was a kid, I had to stay with an aunt and uncle while my parents were away on business for a few weeks (off and on). My aunt and uncle had a computer that could run WarCraft II, and man did I play the crap out of it. It was in a barn with no AC, so I sweated through a few pounds, but I very fondly recall the game. OG StarCraft was the first videogame I bought with my own money and I got it on a PC I got from a friend as a present. I played it into the ground when my folks and I had to move because of finances. After grad school, while I was in between jobs and living with my folks, I played a bunch of Terraria while avoiding looking for a job. Not a great coping mechanism, but I still have fond memories of Terraria.

[@matteste]

For me, a couple of games that I like to play when I feel nostalgic includes the likes of Rayman 3/Warcraft III (putting them together as me and my brother bought them the same day) Heroes 3, Anno 1503, Guild Wars and Demonstar are some of the game I still play whenever I feel nostalgic.

[@Mazzy774i]

Great list dude I’m 29 amazing memories of these games. Fable 1 Jack of Blades is still a iconic villain to me

[@battlericky17]

Your story is intense man. In glad things are on the up for you, because you went thru the ringer and deserve the success and a chill life. Cheers bro. My wife went thru the same stuff from 12 to 20. For me i was 12, diagnosed with crohns and had 2 parents that didnt get it at all. It was rough and i played marvel vs capcom 2 and oblivion thru it all

[@CarbonDusk]

Wasn't expecting some heavy stuff clicking into this but thanks for sharing. As someone also turning 30 this year, that was actually very inspiring. Also, I have the Inquisition DLCs in my backlog for a long while now. Guess it's time to get into it.

[@Flow86767]

So happy that you’re here and in a better position. Homelessness as a teenager is no joke and is probably one of the worst things that could happen to someone that age. One of my friend I’ve met had a period of time where they were homeless (they were kicked out because they were trans and their parent didn’t support them at all and abused them) and had to go from friends to friends until a teacher of theirs helped them start anew for sometimes and they were able to put things together and have two jobs (while studying!) to finally be in a stable appartement with other folks. Now they’re fine (I met them when they were finally in a stable situation), but hearing their story (compared to me who’s very very lucky and privileged) always saddened me and brought me down to earth let’s say. Thanks for sharing this ❤

[@jonathanpickles2946]

I'm not sure there's any I go back to but some are memorable Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon - first game I noticed it getting light while I was playing. Master of Orion - set my bedroom on fire while distracted playing it and only noticed when it was too smoky to se the screen. Master of Magic - ignored the warnings and gave myself the biggest migraine of my life, the I wish I were dead type. Hmm there's a theme here. AvP was a happy wired LAN time that I am vaguely recreating now by playing coop Solasta online - it's impossible to play the AvP we played which I think was 2. Any hoo I have had a much less challenging life than you I'm so pleased that you have turned out so well :)

[@Universal_Buddha]

Respect for sharing brother. Your love for gaming truly shows.

[@seanaugust]

My big 5 nostalgia games are Fable, Pokemon Blue, City of Heroes, Soul Calibur, and Arc the Lad ToS. It's wild how playing a game or reading a book can evoke old emotions or bring back specific memories you'd otherwise never think of.

[@shawngillogly6873]

Very cool list. And your story encourages even this jaded old gamer.

[@TheRetifox]

For me definitely, it will be Gothic series. I loved playing Gothic 2, and to this day, one of my favorite OST of video games is Vista Point from Gothic 3. It really reminds me of simpler, better times.

[@DARKTHORNE1]

THANK YOU! i just went and listened to it, such a beautiful piece of music

[@chinezut1942]

gothic 1+2 for me

[@meowmeowmcpurrington2480]

I personally didn't grew up with Gothic, but when I played it I loved it, seriously both 1 and 2 are extremely good games.

[@asterik2045]

Yo man, I'm feeling nostalgic as well. Thanks for sharing. You're one of the elite content creators. Keep it up.

[@Scyths1]

I'm also 30, and the games you've listed are also among my favourites from my childhood. Dragon Age inquisition isn't though, I tried a few times to get into it due to the lore and due to having played the first one when it initially released, yet I never could because as I got older I just wasn't a huge fan of RPG games where you control multiple characters. Nowadays I just prefer having a single main character that I can deeply focus on and build rather than a set of 4 to 8 characters of varying importance to the story.

[@baziztsahy3927]

This video is the reason I watch KZbin. The unbelievable story behind the people making the videos. Hope you're doing well and you provide your child a different childhood experience life has given you

[@pfeilinger4463]

Hey Mortim, great idea for a video! i'm happy for you that many things seem to have worked out in the end for you and i hope you are happy now. The two games i always have to put when i think of this topic are banjo tooie which is the game that reminds so much of my childhood makes me incredibly nostalgic and the first guild wars which was the first game i played for thousands of hours and helped through some very tough years at school. oh and i forgot gothic 2 which was between these two games i boguht at a "spielepyramide" for 10 euros and i was soooo afraid of the orcs but played 100s of hours in the city of korinis :D