The Vault
Handwritten shelf notes — why these four live here now, and why the collection never stops changing.
The Vault is where I keep the things that refuse to leave my head.
Some of these are games. Some are albums. Some are movies, shows, books, or whatever else manages to stick with me.
They're not here because they're the "best." They're here because I keep coming back to them. I replay them. I revisit them. I recommend them. Years later, I still find myself thinking about them.
The shelf changes.
Sometimes something lives here for years. Sometimes it gets replaced a month later by something that caught me completely off guard.
That's the point.
The Vault isn't a hall of fame. It's a snapshot.
A look at what's living on the shelf right now.
Manhunt
Every time someone brings up Manhunt, the conversation immediately goes to the controversy. I think that's a shame because what's always stuck with me is the atmosphere. The grime, the sound design, the feeling that the city itself wants you dead. It's one of Rockstar's most unapologetic games, and even two decades later there really isn't anything quite like it. Whether you enjoy it or not, it's an important piece of gaming history, and that's reason enough for it to have a place in my collection.
Clock Tower 3
There's something about Clock Tower 3 that I don't think any other horror game has managed to replicate. Everything about it feels operatic. The music swells at exactly the right moments, the villains chew every scene they're in, and the story unfolds with this larger-than-life sense of tragedy. It isn't trying to be grounded. It's putting on a performance, and I absolutely love it for that. Games this committed to their own identity deserve to be remembered.
Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama
Every collection needs something that's just unapologetically fun, and this is mine. Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama isn't trying to reinvent horror. It's here to throw a tiny demon, bowling alleys, goofy practical effects, and enough charm to make you wonder why movies don't get this weird anymore. It's impossible for me to watch without smiling, and I think cult horror is better because films like this exist.
Oakland
I don't think Oakland gets talked about nearly enough. Every time I throw it on, I'm reminded that heavy music isn't just about being the loudest band in the room. It's about having something that sticks with you. Suffokate found this filthy, pissed off sound that feels completely their own, and that's exactly why it's earned a permanent spot in my collection. It's rough around the edges, unapologetic, and memorable. I'd take that over polished and forgettable any day.