I want to start with one of my favorite game series: Portal. When the game first came out in 2007, I wasn’t that interested in it. I was finally convinced to play it, and it surprised me. There’s no other game like it! I really enjoyed the game, but even then, it took me a few years after Portal 2 released (2011) before I gave that one a shot. To me, it’s one of those rare instances where the second is better than the first (Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, anyone?!). I loved it so much, in fact, that my eldest cat is named after than main character, Chell.

You don’t have to play the first Portal to understand Portal 2, but I HIGHLY suggest that you do. There’s so much character development with the series’ antagonist GLaDOS in the first game that it’d be harder to appreciate her as much in the second. Plus, all of her snarky commentary in the first game is freaking fantastic.

**Bonus
While I lived in Redmond, WA, I got to tour Valve studios; the creators of Portal and other awesome games like Half Life and Team Fortress 2. I felt more like a giddy little school girl than when I was literally a little school girl. There was cool concept art everywhere, a life-sized turret from Portal, a head crab on the ceiling from Half Life, and the tour guide showed me their sound studio and 3D printer, where he let me take home a few pieces from a Portal board game they were working on. I also got to test out the HTC Vive before it’s release, which included a cute Portal game. Unfortunately, the picture-taking was limited, but if you get the chance to check it out the experience is great!
If you’re ever in Bellevue, WA, the tours are free. You just have to email them a few weeks in advance and they’ll get back to you. You can request a tour at frontdesk@valvesoftware.com…DO IT.

I plan on adding a walkthrough soon so stay tuned!