Five Video Games I’d Rebuy If I Had To Restart My Collection Today < NAG

May 13, 2026 - 09:06

If a house fire or a hard drive crash wiped out my entire game library, I would not panic over the rare physical copies or the expensive collector's editions. I would simply start over. But I would not waste time rebuilding a massive backlog. Instead, I would carefully pick five games that offer the most value, replayability, and pure joy. Here are the titles I would buy first, no hesitation.

First on the list is Stardew Valley. This farming simulation game is a masterclass in relaxation and depth. It gives you a small farm, a sleepy town, and endless things to do. You can grow crops, raise animals, mine for ores, fish, cook, and build relationships with the quirky locals. The game respects your time. There is no pressure to finish anything quickly. You can play for ten minutes or ten hours and still feel like you made progress. It is a game I can return to year after year without getting bored.

Next is Guild Wars 2. This is the only massively multiplayer online role-playing game I still play regularly. The reason is simple: it respects your time and does not force you into a subscription. The combat is active and fluid, the world events are dynamic, and the exploration is genuinely rewarding. If I lost my account, I would start a new character and enjoy the journey all over again. The base game is free, but I would buy the expansions immediately for the mounts and the gliding mechanics.

Third, I would grab The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This game changed how I think about open worlds. It drops you into a vast, beautiful landscape and tells you almost nothing. You learn by experimenting. You climb mountains, cook strange meals, and fight monsters with sticks and pots. The sense of discovery is unmatched. Every corner of the map hides something interesting, from a hidden shrine to a funny NPC. I would buy it again just to feel that first spark of wonder.

Fourth on the list is Hades. This is a roguelike game where you fight your way out of the Greek underworld. You die a lot, but each death teaches you something. The story unfolds through your failures, and the characters react to your progress. The combat is fast and satisfying, and the art style is gorgeous. I have put hundreds of hours into it, and I would happily start from scratch to experience the narrative and the upgrades again.

Finally, I would buy Celeste. This is a tough platformer about a young woman climbing a mountain. The controls are tight, the music is emotional, and the story deals with anxiety and self-doubt in a way that feels honest. The game offers a challenging but fair difficulty curve. It also has an assist mode for players who want to enjoy the story without the frustration. It is a short but powerful experience that I would not want to lose.

These five games cover different genres and moods. They are not the most expensive or the most hyped titles. They are simply the ones I know I will play again and again. If I had to rebuild my collection from zero, these would be the first purchases I make.