Games that EVERYONE should play at least once

[bluebomber138]

depends on the genre...
i'd say Pokemon or crono trigger (RPG)
Portal (FPS)
Civ... any of them (TBS)
Mario world on the snes (platformer)
Sims (simulator)
erm... Command and Conquer? (RTS)
burnout 3 (driver)
Zelda... any of them (action RPG)
a classic metroid title (adventure, shooter)
And I just realized that the gaming industry has way too many acronyms...

 

[Sixcess]

Doom. If you play first person shooters then you need to play Doom. It didn't invent the genre, but just about every FPS since has been influenced in some way by Doom. Oh, and the gameplay is still awesome to this day.

For non-gamers, it has to be Portal. It's not too long, it's very accessible (like they said in EC once, it's basically 90% tutorial, but you don't notice) and though most of the puzzles aren't that hard it makes you feel like a genius when you solve them. One of the best designed games ever made and everyone should play it.

 

[AndrewF022]

Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Contra (NES)
Metal Gear Solid (PS1)
Zelda:OoT (N64)
Half Life (PC)
Halo:CE (Xbox)
Castlevania:SotN (PS1)
TESIV: Oblivion (PC)
Just Cause 2 (PC)
Doom (PC)

There would be a ton more, but those are what I can come up with right at this moment.

 

[Above]

Portal 1 & 2,And oblivion.

 

[Zantos]

I was suprised it took a whole 9 posts before someone mentioned a valve game.

I'd say probably Fable TLC, but those of you who remember anything I've already posted knew that already.

 

[Bon_Clay]

Super Mario Bros or SMB3. Like come on, come on. And Tetris everyone should also give a chance.

Doom, if you've played that you really have the jist of where FPS games are about.

Zelda OoT, I think that was the first game I played that was truly amazing. Games before that were fun, very well done, etc but OoT changed what I thought games could be. It brought together good story, fun gameplay and puzzles, and an interesting world to explore. Probably also one of the first times a game had real immersion for me too.

With those you get a good sample of addicting simple stuff, high action fun, and stuff that's deeper you can really get absorbed into.

 

[franconbean]

X-com.
I know it sounds pretentious, but it really is an amazing game that makes you actually care about the randomly generated soldiers you recruit.
Also, its a great slice of gaming history

 

[Gaiseric]

Freedom Fighters
Killer 7
killswitch
Red Faction

 

[Royta]

Demon's Souls. You have to experience it atleast once.

 

[gibboss28]

Portal 2
Warcraft 2 and 3
Final Fantasy 6
Sam and Max: The Devils Playhouse
Dune 2: Battle for Arrakis
Mario
Mario Kart
Quake
Duke Nukem 1 - 3
uhhh..thats all I can think of

 

[Vrex360]

I'd say Halo but I think that's too obvious an answer coming from me.

So instead I'll say Psychonauts. Because it is a great, great, great f*cking game. Frustrating but at the end of the day, there was so much great and crazy fun stuff and it was a blast to go through it all.
Plus it's a game with a decent length too, so there's that.

 

[Nouw]

Doom.

Once you have played Doom, nearly every FPS will be easier or more understandable. I am talking with the mindset of someone who hasn't played videogames in their life.

Or maybe some of the Lego:StarWars games, damn they're fun.

 

[Player Two]

I think everybody should play at least one text-based game. You don't have to like it or even finish it, just experience it. Same goes for point-and-click adventuring.

Aside from that... Deus Ex. And Minecraft.

 

[Gregg Lonsdale]

Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Play it once and it'll stick with you the rest of your (sane) life.

 

[mcg20k]

Deus Ex
Planescape: Torment
Mario
Doom

Off the top of my head those are some of the big ones

 

[Vibhor]

Shadow of the MOTHERFUCKING colossus
That is all.

 

[Smertnik]

The only thing that comes to my mind is Team ICO's stuff.

 

[weker]

Deadly Premonition hands down with ease

 

[blankedboy]

Doom.

Once you have played Doom, nearly every FPS will be easier or more understandable. I am talking with the mindset of someone who hasn't played videogames in their life.

Oh hell yeah. Not only that, it's probably one of the funnest and most intense games I own.

Oh yeah, and it has TNT and Plutonia. For added awesomeness.

 

[SilentXero]

These are some of my favorite's that I've played over the past 3 years. Enjoy!!

Halo:Reach-just an amazing story and awesome levels after levels, plus awesome multiplayer
Half Life 2-Greatest FPS of all time
Metroid Prime Trilogy- excellent First Person Action/Adventure
Zelda: OOT,MM,and TP (along with all of the NES and Snes games)and cannot wait for Skyward Sword

Mario Galaxy 1 and 2
Resident Evil 1 and 2 (my favorite two in the series)
Crysis 1 and 2-Freaking awesome FPS action and lots of fun!
Donkey Kong County (snes 1,2,and 3,) Donkey Kong 64, and Donkey Kong Country Returns
Portal
Kotor
Star Wars:Jedi Knight:Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy
Call of Duty:Modern Warfare 2-awesome military action!
Call of Duty:Black Ops-Incredible military action, plus multiplayer,plus Zombies!!
Super Mario Wii
Batman :Arkham Asylum
Star Wars:Rouge Leader,Rouge Squadron,Rebel Strike
Star Wars:Republic Commando (halo-like star wars adventure)
Mass Effect 1 and 2
Uncharted 1 and 2
Little Big Planet
God of War 1,2,3
Portal 2
Resistance:Fall of Man, Resistance 2 and the forthcoming Resistance 3 (awesome PS3 FPS)
Gears of War 1,2, and the upcoming 3 (awesome xbox 360 third person shooters)
Fallout 3
Elder Scrolls 4:Oblivion (can't wait until Skyrim)