I'm curious what you guys have to say about this. Are there any games you consider perfect? Can a game even be perfect?
My example of a perfect game is always Portal 1. Portal 2 has more going on, but in 1 there just isn't anything to shave off. From start to end, there is nothing I'd change about the game. It's short, infinitely replayable, great pacing. I like Portal 2 a lot in concept, in concept it should be a perfect sequel, but it just doesn't keep the extreme tightness of the original game.
I also came to say Terraria. It has such a great progression from fantasy monsters and swords and magic, then you get a musket, then a laser gun, and by the end of the game you're using a sword that shoots Nyan cats. It's style is so distinctive, despite being a mishmash of different genres and media references. I can't think of any other game that lets you progress from nearly helpless to master of the world in such a satisfying way.
Also Hardmode is imo where the game hits it's peak. It's a bit more linear in terms of boss order, because you don't have to actually fight any bosses pre-hardmode except the wall of flesh to advance, but in Hardmode you gotta go mech bosses -> plantera -> golem-> moon lord. But I think that works well, because it means there's a few different tiers of progress you can make in Hardmode.
Damn I am excited. I got all my pre-hardmode NPC's and three pylons up for each of the villages. I ran out of money and bombs when making a hellivator though :(, but I guess I should farm the jungle underground in the meantime even though I think I am pretty well geared (got full demonite armor, the minishark, bee sword, and like both the slime and bee summon ally thing).