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What game has always made you smile without fail?

In need of game recommendations like this due to being in a current depression.
Chatting with your island residents in Animal crossing is pretty wholesome. Dave the diver is pretty cozy, and I second Yakuza, especially Yakuza 7.

Or just check out all my memes about Adam, you knew you love them
 
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Astrobot. Lot of surprises and Easter eggs, really special specially if you've enjoyed or are/were a fan of any PS games and franchises. Its a pure nostalgia trip and really fun to play.

Others.. LocoRoco and Patapon are pretty silly but uplifting games. They're the old weird and quirky Sony Japanese titles that's infectious with happy tunes and vibes. Unique gameplay as well, and short+sweet so nothing too taxing. Yakuza (start with 0) is another one of those that'll have you laughing with its ridiculous scenes and scenarios it puts you through.
 
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Jet Set Radio and Jet Set Radio Future. I dunno, those games and Tony Hawk really are capsules of time and subcultures that don't exist anymore.

I miss that punk rock, anti-establishment the world is my playground energy. Hell, you don't even see skaters and roller bladers using the outside like they used too.
 
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Metal Eden. Seriously. This is the most underrated fps ever made. In my opinion its far superior to any modern Doom. Its not even close.
 
Majora's Mask. Got it for Christmas 2000, most memorable Christmas present I got. Been replaying it each year but now alterning with the 3DS version sometimes.
 
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It's hard to say without knowing which genres you like or dislike, and whether you're into pixel art or just eye-cany. But i'm always happy to play: Mega Man 1 + 2, Day of the Tentacle, Sam & Max: Hit the Road, Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario World, Dungeon Keeper, Theme Hospital, Blood, Punch-Out!!, RollerCoaster Tycoon, Emperor: Battle for Dune, and Command & Conquer: Generals.
 
Resident Evil 4 (Original)
Symphony of the Night
Ocarina of Time
Super Mario World
Streets of Rage 4

These are my personal picks for comfort food games.

RE4 is satisfying gameplay bliss and cutscenes that don't take themselves seriously. And if you feel like it, go into Mercenaries and snap some necks over and over.

SotN is a brilliant mix of music, gameplay, and exploration.

SMW is a nice laid back platformed filled with colour and happy music.

SoR4 is a very well made beat 'em up that is as difficult as you want, has great music that progresses with you through levels, and a very satisfying evolution of the classic gameplay.
 
BattleTanx and the sequel Global Assault. It was perfect 90's/early 200's edge that we don't see anymore. Those games are what started my love for gaming actually.

The original Ratchet and Clank games. I love how unapologetically goofy they were.

Dragon Quest 8. Yangus is one of the greatest side characters in an RPG. Full stop.
 
Playing as Yoshi in Super Mario Wonders, him trying his very best kicking his tiny legs when he is about to fall always put a smile on my face
 
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One more vote for Animal Crossing New Horizons. Even an old soul like me can't resist that wholesome soundtrack and everything the game offers.

If there's another one coming I'll be sure to put some time into it.

Oh and going to another friend's island for turnip gains during Covid lockdown was such a unique moment in time.
 
if we talked about story and ending:
xenoblade 2 & 3 ending,

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and final fantasy IX and IX ending

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whole gameplay?
- battlefront 2 2005 + harrison fog and remastered mod
- far cry 2 (depressing but that satisfying ending)
- monster hunter rise the twin, seeing hinoa and mikoto and hugh jackman chief
- zelda botw ending
- yakuza series
- many more

sometimes, i like depressing games as well, depending on the mood
 
Star Citizen. I log in every few months to check on progress, and it always makes me smile that the same bugs still exist in this 'game'.

Chris Roberts you genius, nearly a billion dollars ($951,314,461) of budget and still broken AF.
 
Original Deus Ex, the game is presented seriously but I always end up causing mayhem in the levels and barely surviving because it's still so much fun to play as a TNT box throwing doofus. The voice acting (including gaming's greatest death screams) still make me laugh too!
 
I'll honor my avatar and say Wonderful 101.
The vibes, the visuals, the humor, the music. It's not a perfect game, but one of the reasons I love it is that from the first playthrough it had me grinning all the time like a kid watching his favorite cartoon

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In need of game recommendations like this due to being in a current depression.

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Persona 4 Golden/Persona 4


Everything about this game makes me happy. The characters, the music, the world, everything. Not to drag the thread down but the game helped get me through multiple hard times in my life including a suicide attempt. I've played this game every single year since 2008 (original PS2 version) without fail.
 
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Persona 4 Golden/Persona 4

Everything about this game makes me happy. The characters, the music, the world, everything. Not to drag the thread down but the game helped get me through multiple hard times in my life including a suicide attempt. I've played this game every single year since 2008 (original PS2 version) without fail.

100% agree. It's like, after Persona 3, they thought: "Hey, we already made one of the most emo and depressing RPGs ever "-although I think that its message is actually a positive one-"so let's deliver now the total opposite!"

Tomba!/Tombi! is practically driven by its absurd humor.

Advance Wars 1 + 2, despite the war theme, have a cheerful tone.

A recent game I found very uplifting (and absolutely love) is Hi-Fi Rush. All characters are a bunch of goofballs, including the antagonists, and the adventure has a strong feel-good vibe from start to finish.
 
Open world racing (arcade) games: Crew Motorfest or Forza Horizon or Need for Speed (2015), driving in the nights while Govi's masterful flamenco or Jesse Cook's beautiful guitar soothes my raging mind.
 
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