I remember playing “The Legend of Zelda” in junior high school, sharing tips with friends in class. Playing gave you something fun to talk about, but it was also a private experience. That, for me, was the perfect social scenario. I was a part of a big conversation, but I was also able to sharpen my skills at my own pace, on my own time.

I loved being the only hero. Even in the realm of sports games, I’d take “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!” over “Tecmo Bowl” any day, because Punch-Out!! was a solo experience. I was more of a parallel play kind of kid. Competitive, sure. I wanted to beat Mike Tyson before anybody else did. But I wanted to beat the machine, not the kids I was talking to about games.

If you love games, you’ll likely have a favorite moment from a single-player game. Maybe it’s a narrative surprise, like watching Aerith’s tragic fate unfold in Final Fantasy VII. Or a shocking advance in technology, like Mario running through a 3D field for the first time. Perhaps it was a brain teasing puzzle in MYST that you cracked all on your own. And even more likely, you have hundreds of these memories curled up in your brain, ready to bring you joy every time you recall them.

There are lots of great multi-player experiences to be had as well, of course. But for me, the highest highs always came when I played alone. Single player games are more akin to reading a great book or watching a great television series. That’s what I want from games. That’s what I will be celebrating on this blog.