Games defined the childhood of generations. Community leaders reflect on their favorites.

Erik Chalhoub here, reminiscing on the games I played when I was a child. There were plenty of board and card games—Sorry! and Uno being among my most-played—but many were either too complicated for me or felt like homework, and therefore not fun (I’m looking at you, Monopoly and Scrabble).

My favorite game (which still holds true today) was not played on a board or with cards, but rather on a gray, plastic controller: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64. I still remember the excitement when picking up the game at Toys ‘R’ Us shortly after it was released in 1998, heading home, tearing open the plastic seal (the thought makes me shudder today as an adult collector) and popping the cartridge in the console.

It was probably one of, if not the first video games I ever played that was driven by a story, evoking a roller coaster of emotions that was unthinkable at the time for me. From joy to sadness and even fear (there’s certain parts in the game that still creep me out), it’s something that continues to stick with me.

Games play an important part in any childhood, not only helping with development but also providing memories that mold us into adults.

To honor this year’s Best Of Monterey County theme of games, the Weekly’s editorial staff reached out to busy community leaders to ask them probably the easiest questions they’ll ever get: What was your favorite game, and do you still play it?

At least, that’s what we thought of these questions at first. On the surface, they may seem simple, perhaps not the most appropriate questions to ask when there are much more pressing matters in the world.

But what we got were very thoughtful responses. I encourage you to check them out and reflect on your own childhood. 

What was your favorite game growing up, and did it help shape you into the person you are today?