My 9 Games Template — Pick the 9 Games That Shaped You

Top 9

See which games players keep choosing, grouped by decade, genre, and platform.

What is a “my 9 games” card?

I think of a my 9 games template as a small visual autobiography. Instead of writing a long list of every game I have played, I choose nine titles that explain my taste, my memories, or a particular period of my life. Each title gets one square in a three-by-three grid. The result is quick to read, but it can still start a surprisingly detailed conversation.

The format feels familiar because it borrows from social posts, starter packs, and character grids. It is also flexible. I can make a card about childhood favorites, the games that shaped me, one console, one decade, or the nine releases I would recommend to a friend. The recent popularity comes from that mix of identity and low effort: I only need nine decisions, not a perfect ranking or a full review.

For me, the best card is not a list of the “correct” classics. It is the list that makes another player ask, “Why did you choose that one?” That unexpected choice is usually the most personal square.

How to make your my 9 games template in 3 steps

1. Pick a theme. I start with one simple idea: games that shaped me, games I played with friends, games from the 2000s, or games I still recommend. A theme keeps the grid coherent without turning it into homework.
2. Search and fill the nine slots. I search for a title, review the IGDB cover, release year, and platform, then click the result. The progress counter tells me exactly where I am. I can remove a square and replace it before the card is generated.
3. Generate, download, and share. When the grid reaches 9/9, I generate the card. I can download a PNG for a post or copy the public share link. The share page keeps the title and metadata visible so the card is understandable outside the original browser session.

The workflow is intentionally short. I can make a first card in a few minutes, then create a second version with a different theme instead of spending an hour trying to make one list perfect.

What goes on the card

The card has nine equal spaces arranged in a three-by-three grid. Each space can show an IGDB cover, the game name, the release year, and platform information when IGDB provides it. The cover gives the grid its visual rhythm; the small labels make the choices easier to identify. A simple site watermark stays on the finished image so the shared card still has context when it travels.

I can add a short card title too. A title such as “Games I played after midnight” says more than a generic ranking and gives friends a reason to look closer.

Tips for picking your 9 games

Choose memories, not only masterpieces

A personal card gets stronger when I include the game I played during a specific summer, the game a friend introduced, or the game I returned to after a hard year. Critical reputation can be a useful filter, but it should not erase the title that carries the real memory.

Use contrast

I like mixing one huge adventure with one short puzzle game, one competitive favorite with one quiet game, and one older title with one recent discovery. Contrast helps each square stand out. If all nine choices look and play the same, the card may be accurate but less interesting to read.

Let one choice surprise people

The unusual pick often becomes the best conversation starter. It could be a licensed game, a simulator, a visual novel, or a title I only played once. I add it when it explains something about my taste that a safe classic cannot.

Use the top 9 games pages as prompts

When I am stuck, I browse the decade, genre, and platform lists. They are useful prompts rather than rules. I can look at the 1990s, 2000s, or 2010s, then check Nintendo, PC, or indie when I want a different angle. The goal is to remember a game, not to copy a leaderboard.

Free vs. paid

This my 9 games template is free to use. I do not need a paid plan to search, fill nine slots, generate a card, download a PNG, or share the result. The site uses IGDB metadata for game information and external IGDB cover URLs rather than hosting a private image library. That keeps the tool focused on the card-making workflow instead of adding an unnecessary asset account.

Explore top 9 games by decade, genre and platform

I use these pages when I want a starting point before I build a personal card. Each list is based on games that appear in generated cards, so the pages can grow as more people use the maker.