Games that EVERYONE should play at least once

[Owlslayer]

I'm surprised anyone hasn't said it before, but maybe I'm just a fanboy who praises the game too much.
Anyways, i suggest Max Payne 1&2. Awesome games.
Braid was great.
Mass Effect 1.
Portal, of course.
And everyone should try out Minecraft.
Can't think of anything else that important.

 

[MrGalactus]

Crackdown, because it is Marmite.

 

[priestswearseatbelts]

The legacy of Kain series. Excluding blood omen 1. Just watch the cut scenes, avoid the gameplay.

If you haven't played through them all you are missing an epic story. I can't think of a game with a better story.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Psychonauts........ & Portal.

I think we're the same person, sir.

Edit: I'd add Audiosurf to this list, too.

 

[Danial]

Going to throw a curve ball out there.

Shadow Hearts.

 

[Tarenwebberw]

Secret of Mana
Starcraft
Kingdom hearts
FF7 and 13

 

[Brutal Peanut]

Psychonauts........ & Portal.

I think we're the same person, sir.

Edit: I'd add Audiosurf to this list, too.

Or ma'am, or young lady, or sexy lady - whichever you prefer. =D

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

For Xbox I'd say ether Mass Effect 2 or Bioshock 1. And for Arcade I'd totally say Dishwasher Vampire Smiles or Perfect Dark perfect dark just for nostalgic.
For PS3 I'd say Heavy Rain. It's not the best but it deserves to be at least played. Same for Cage's other game, Indigo Prophecy on the original Xbox.
For PC, it's totally ether Starcraft I, Team Fortress II, Amnesia, or Deus Ex and System Shock 2. The last two need to be play, literally.
And for Wii...wow this is hard...Uh I would have to say No More Heroes II and Trauma Team becausethey are just something different.

Special mention goes to Eternal Darkness for the Gamecube and Any Silent Hill for the PS2

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Psychonauts........ & Portal.

I think we're the same person, sir.

Edit: I'd add Audiosurf to this list, too.

Or ma'am, or young lady, or sexy lady - whichever you prefer. =D

I did not notice you were a woman. Allow me to adjust my realization accordingly:

I think we're of similar tastes, ma'am.

 

[chuckman1]

The original super mario bros.

 

[xFullmetalx]

Hmmmmm probably Crash Bandicoot, Gran Turismo for the PS1, Ratchet and Clank, Jak n Daxter, Kingdom Hearts for PS2, Pokemon for Gameboy and Bioshock for the xbox 360

 

[Mr Somewhere]

People are doing a pretty good job covering titles here... I'll just add some note worthy games, that as of yet have not been mentioned (that I've seen).

Earthbound and Snes rpg with buckets of charm and real heart behind it.
Medievil part from the remake, there aren't enough games with this kind of spirit.
Super Metroid, don't think it was directly mentioned, so, here's some clarity.
Super Mario Galaxy, this wasn't mentioned yet (I don't think), pure fun.
Silent Hill 2, hadn't seen this, either.
No More Heroes, mindboggling insanity, concentrated into one big dose. (2 is great also).

 

[OceanRunner]

Spoiler: PSOne

Breath Of Fire IV, Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee & Exodus, Spyro The Dragon Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot Trilogy, Crash Team Racing

Spoiler: PS2

Okami, All the GTAs, Scarface: TWIS, Beyond Good & Evil, Psychonauts, Dark Cloud, Dark Chronicle, Jak & Daxter Trilogy, PoP: Sands of Time Trilogy, Killer 7, SMT: Digital Devil Saga 1 & 2, Grandia 2

Spoiler: PS3

Infamous, Killzone 2 & 3, Trine, Demon's Souls, Little Big Planet 1 & 2, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Trash Panic, PixelJunk Eden, Monsters & Shooter, Flower

Spoiler: PSP

Pursuit Force & Extreme Justice, Gurumin: A Monsterous Adventure, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, GTA: Liberty/Vice City Stories, LocoRoco 1 & 2, Patapon Trilogy

Spoiler: 360

Crackdown, Mass Effect, Metro 2033, A Kingdom/World of Keflings, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Viva Pinata & Trouble in Paradise

Spoiler: DS

Pokemon BRT/Platinum/B&W/EoS/Ranger, Professor Layton Trilogy, Another Code, Super Mario 64DS, Final Fantasy 3 & 4

Spoiler: Dreamcast

Shenmue 1 & 2, Power Stone 1 & 2, Sonic Adventure 1 & 2, Soul Calibur, Skies of Arcadia

 

[Hylke Langhout]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Ace Attorney series or Time Hollow yet. They show how good a visual novel can truly be.

 

[F'Angus]

The Oddworld Series. Especially the PS1 ones

 

[badgersprite]

King's Quest VI.

I had a longer list, but I would be here forever gushing about games I like if I didn't reign myself in.

 

[Ldude893]

-Pong
-Tetris
-Pac-Man
-Space Invaders
-Super Mario Bros

That's the bare minimum.

 

[Hristo Tzonkov]

This thread actually sucks cause it's filled with Marios and Portals.Oh and Zeldas and Freemans.Really there's classics but I've never actually enjoyed them.I was 3 when I first touched Mario and felt that it's freaking stupid so I went to play Sonic.I can understand the appeal in many games and I enjoy watching movies about them,reading the story but kill me if I'll sit down and play them.

So yeah as previously mentioned,the global opinion is not your opinion.People can guide you to what you may or may not like but it's for you to choose.I'd say go play Arcanum but the choppy graphics,bad combat system and numerous negative reviews will surely draw you away.