9 Games That Define Me: make yours

It is a simple format: a 3×3 grid with one game in each square, posted with a title like 9 games that define me. The grid travels well because people recognise covers at a glance, and comparing grids starts conversations — “you picked that too?”

The idea comes and goes in waves on X, Reddit, Instagram and TikTok. In Japan the same format is known as 私を構成する9つのゲーム (“the nine games that make me up”), and it appears with movies, anime and albums as well as games.

There are no official rules. Most people pick games that mattered to them, not a list of the best games ever made. That is what makes a grid feel personal.

The titles are close, and you can switch between them in the maker at any time. A rough guide:

• 9 games that define me — who you are as a player today: the genres you return to and the games you would defend in any argument.
• 9 games that shaped me (or shaped who I am) — your history: the first game you remember, the one that got you through a hard year, the one that changed your taste.
• 9 games that made me — usually a nostalgic, childhood-heavy grid.

If none of these fits, type your own title into the maker, such as “9 games I would replay forever”.

Narrowing a lifetime of games to nine is the hard part. Go through these prompts and write down the first game that comes to mind for each, then cut the list to nine:

1. The first game you remember playing.
2. The game you have replayed the most.
3. The game that introduced you to a genre you now love.
4. The game you played with a friend, sibling or partner.
5. The game that beat you — and maybe the one you finally beat.
6. Your comfort game for a bad day.
7. The game that changed what you expect from games.
8. The game you think nobody else will pick.
9. The game you are playing right now and cannot stop thinking about.

Order matters to some people and not to others. In the maker you can drag tiles to rearrange them, so start filling and sort later. Adding one line per game (“Why this game?”) turns the grid into a small story when you share the link.

• X and Reddit: the square 1:1 image is shown in full on most feeds.
• Instagram feed: the 4:5 portrait image fills more of the screen.
• Stories, TikTok and Reels: use the 9:16 story size.
• Want people to see your reasons? Create a share link. The link preview shows your nine covers, and the page lists the line you wrote for each game.
• Game not found? Console-only games may not have a cover in our search. Add the title as text, or use your own image — it stays on your device and appears only in the image you download.