Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

Luigi was never a brave hero, and that's exactly why it's so much fun to watch him tremble with fear in the dark halls of haunted mansions. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon from 2013 is the long-awaited sequel to the cult GameCube game, bringing Mario's adorably terrified brother back to the 3DS to battle ghosts once again.

Development was handled by Next Level Games, who took the original concept of hunting ghosts with the Poltergust vacuum and expanded it into a full-fledged adventure structure. Instead of one large mansion, you now explore several different locations, from a classic haunted house to snowy mountains or a mine, each with its own atmosphere, puzzles, and ghosts.

The core of the game is fighting phantoms. First you blind them with a flashlight, then you catch them in the vacuum's beam and, in a tense tug-of-war, suck them in. Added to this is solving ingenious puzzles, hunting for hidden treasures, and looking after Professor E. Gadd, who keeps giving Luigi tasks. The humor, lighting effects, and Luigi's frightened humming of melodies make the game's atmosphere something exceptional.

Dark Moon also brought a surprisingly robust multiplayer mode, ScareScraper, in which up to four players work together to fight their way up a tower full of ghosts. This cooperative mode significantly extended the game's lifespan and became a beloved part of the package.

Commercially it was a big success. The game sold many millions of copies and is among the best-selling titles on the 3DS, definitively confirming that Luigi can carry his own series. It was later followed by a third installment on the Switch, but this entry remains the one that restarted the brand and showed its potential.

Why play it: It offers an adorably spooky atmosphere, funny ghost hunting, and clever puzzles with a superb cooperative mode. Ideal for players who want Nintendo magic with a slight shiver down the spine.