Games we all should play before we die

What games do you all think that all gamers should play through at least once just for the experience. I'm not talking about just a great game, but the games that have that extra something that all gamers must see.

For me, I'm a real shenmue fan and generally speaking I recommend Shenmue II to anyone. Besides that, the only other games I would say that all gamers should play once are:

MGS(PS): I know it is on PS, or DC with bleem, or the GC remake/ basically there is no reason not to play this game. We all should have a system capable of playing some iteration of MGS, and it is TRULY more than just a game, it's an experience, and a great one at that.

Pac-man(available on practically every system imaginable)- the absolute best example of how smart game design and tight gameplay can trump any other design factors.

What do you all recommend

Zelda Ocarina of Time.

Whether you play it on the N64,Virtual Console, MasterQuest, 3DS it doesn't matter

Just play it.

There is not a single game in existence that all gamers should play through, or a game that contains something that all gamers must see, simple as that.

Good question. I'd say...

Halo CE

x-2tha-z

ewwww. that would be the absolute LAST game I'd play. I'd rather play E.T. on the 2600

I Wanna Be The Guy (PC) - I played through this a couple years ago a few times, got through it on Very Hard... was super proud of myself. Hillarious references, super challenging difficulty. Any true HARDCORE platformer fan with a LOT of patience should play though this game. It's well worth it. AND IT'S FREE!

Star Control II (PC) - Hands down one of the best video games ever made. Open ended exploration, dialog choices that actually mean something, and many different ways to play through the game to the end. Just simply excellent. Also free!

Cave Story (PC) - Probably my favorite adventure/platformer type game I've ever played. Wonderful characters, stories, extras, weapons, etc. Just, amazing. So glad it got ported to the wii, but you can still play it for FREE as well!!!

It's funny how some of the absolute best games to play are legally available for free. Go play these 3 if you haven't yet, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE!!!

Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy IX
Sonic CD
Sonic and Knuckles
Metal Gear Solid 2
Super Smash Bros Melee

Dynamite Cop

Go play it...NOW!!

I think all of these games are MUST PLAYS for anyone that likes to play games. They are all very important to the history of video games. im sure there are more, but i think these are the top of the list.

Pong (pick a version)

Tetris (any format)

Super Mario Bros (nes)

Super Mario 64 (n64)

Sonic the hedeghog 2 (gen)

Guitar Hero (any of them)

Resident Evil (1 or 2, take your pick on Ps1)

Sim City (the original or 2000 on PC)

Lemmings (any format)

Mortal Kombat (arcade)

The Legend of Zelda (nes)

I would recommend Final Fantasy X for the experience if you have not yet played it.

There is not a single game in existence that all gamers should play through, or a game that contains something that all gamers must see, simple as that.

ubpoker123

There's always one.

Off the top of my head I'd say Super Mario 64, Portal, Grim Fandango, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Bioshock, and Unreal Tournament. In terms of innovation and what they did for their respective genres / video games in general, anyone with an interest in gaming should check them out.

amidoinitrite its a good book wouldnt agree with every thing in it though

Ico/Sotc

Resident evil series

Metal Gear series

Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Kart series

Street Fighter series

Castlevania SOTN

Tetris

Pac-Man

Doom

Deus Ex

Burnout 3 Takedown

Contra series

Silent Hill

Strider Hiryu

God Hand

amidoinitrite its a good book wouldnt agree with every thing in it though

superdum2

Saw this book the other day at my local bookstore. Wondering if it might be worth picking up.

[QUOTE="x-2tha-z"]Good question. I'd say...

Halo CE

TheKungFool

ewwww. that would be the absolute LAST game I'd play. I'd rather play E.T. on the 2600

and yet you gave Bioshock a 10 :|

anyway my picks:

-system Shock 2

- Deus Ex

- Dune

- Dune 2

- Civilization (any of them)

- Zork

- Monkey Island 2: Le Chuck's revenge

- Master of Orion 2

Shenmue
Zelda OOT
Super Mario Bros 3
KOTOR
Counter Strike

mike tysons punchout

Simple answer: There isn't one.

Every one has different taste in games, and it's not possible for 1 single game to appeal to everyone.

Final Fantasy X

Doom

Super Metroid

Command and Conquer 95

Super Mario Bros

Any NES/SNES Mario Games

Zelda OoT/Majora's Mask

Star Fox 64

Punch Out

KILLER 7!!!!

I would have to say the following games either set standards or broke the mold in graphics or gameplay, story or ideas, and changed gaming forever. Therefore for me they are must plays:

Super Mario Bros. 1 & 3 (nes)

God Of War 1, 2 & 3 (ps2 & ps3)

Twisted Metal 2 (ps)

Devil May Cry 1 (ps2)

Dino Crisis 2 (ps)

Tomb Raider II (ps)

Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies(ps2)

Burnout 3: Takedown (xbox)

Need for Speed Underground (ps2)

Sonic The Hedgehog 1 & 2 (gen)

Super Mario Kart (snes)

The Sims (pc)

F-Zero (snes)

Street Fighter II: Championship Edition (gen)

Shadow Complex (360 - xbla)

Freedom Fighters (xbox)

Pac-Man

Tetris

Columns (gen)

Streets Of Rage 1 & 2 (gen)

Psychonauts (xbox)

Fight Night: Round 3 (360)

I can't think of any more right now, but I'm sure more will come to me. Do you agree?

I would have to say the following games either set standards or broke the mold in graphics or gameplay, story or ideas, and changed gaming forever. Therefore for me they are must plays:

Super Mario Bros. 1 & 3 (nes)

God Of War 1, 2 & 3 (ps2 & ps3)

Twisted Metal 2 (ps)

Devil May Cry 1 (ps2)

Dino Crisis 2 (ps)

Tomb Raider II (ps)

Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies(ps2)

Burnout 3: Takedown (xbox)

Need for Speed Underground (ps2)

Sonic The Hedgehog 1 & 2 (gen)

Super Mario Kart (snes)

The Sims (pc)

F-Zero (snes)

Street Fighter II: Championship Edition (gen)

Shadow Complex (360 - xbla)

Freedom Fighters (xbox)

Pac-Man

Tetris

Columns (gen)

Streets Of Rage 1 & 2 (gen)

Psychonauts (xbox)

Fight Night: Round 3 (360)

I can't think of any more right now, but I'm sure more will come to me. Do you agree?

jealosy

That's a good list, but no Zelda or Metroid?

The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (Xbox/PC)

An innovative and unique first person action adventure that should't be missed by anyone. You won't find another game like it. Hell, if you don't have an Xbox or can't find it for the PC then pick up the remake/update, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena for Xbox 360 and PS3.

I agree with talldude80's list completely. I typed everything on that list before I realized somebody already posted it.Smug_Duckling

nice! oh and I think i forgot Pac-Man. That game has been re-created like 1million times, because its awesome. and it doesnt even have 1 button, just a joystick.

Super Mario World

[QUOTE="superdum2"]

amidoinitrite its a good book wouldnt agree with every thing in it though

King9999

Saw this book the other day at my local bookstore. Wondering if it might be worth picking up.

Super Mario 64, still a great game

Resident evil 2 (PS1)

Oddworld: Abe's oddysee (PS1)

Tomb raider 2 (PS1)

Spyro the dragon 2: Gateway to glimmer (PS1)

Toy story 2 (PS1)

mario bros (SNES)

crazy taxi (DREAMCAST)

sonic adventure (DREAMCAST)

and mario 64 (NINTENDO 64)

This is Just my opinion :)

Xenogears! Simple as that.....

Super Mario 64

Pokemon Yellow

Simple answer: There isn't one.

Every one has different taste in games, and it's not possible for 1 single game to appeal to everyone.

BuryMe

That's true, but that does not change the fact that greatness is universal. I am not a fan of swing or big band music at all but that doesnt change the fact that Frank Sinatra is a GREAT singer and listening to his music is a great experience. Similarly, playing a great game whether you are a fan of the genre or not means you are playing something great and basking in the experience of that.

• Persona 4 (PS2)
• Final Fantasy IX (PS1)
• Final Fantasy VII (PS1)
• Sonic 1
• Persona 3 (PS2 or PSP)
• Kingdom Hearts (PS2)
• Okami (PS2)

If someone told me they weren't a gamer and were only going to play 10 games before they die, I would pick...

1. Pac-man

2. Tetris

3. Super Mario Bros.

4. Chrono Trigger

5. Sonic the Hedgehog

6. Zelda: Ocarina of Time

7. Final Fantasy X (or VII)

8. Shadow of the Colossus

9. Shenmue

10. Halo

Whew, that was hard. I picked these because each game is representative of its genre or considered the best of its genre for the time. Each game was also considered revolutionary or was super popular when they came out. I don't know enough about sports and racing games to include one, but I don't know if I would get rid of any of these in favor of a sports game anyway.

I have a lot of games in mind :?

Some lists in no particular order

10 From Generation 3 & PC Pre-88

The Legend of Zelda (NES)
Dragon Warrior 4 (NES)
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Dragon Warrior 3 (NES)
Phantasy Star (SMS)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Metroid (NES)
Crystalis (NES)
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (PC)
Elite (PC)

20 From Generation 4 & PC 89-93

Chrono Trigger (SNES)
Gunstar Heroes (GEN)
Final Fantasy VI (SNES)
Super Metroid (SNES)
Akumajou X: Chi no Ronde (TCD)
Y's Books I & II (TCD)
Day of the Tentacle (PC)
Lunar 2 (SCD)
Sonic CD (SCD)
Snatcher (SCD)
Wing Commander (PC)
Secret of Monkey Island (PC)
Phantasy Star IV (GEN)
X-Com UFO Defense (PC)
Shining Force 2 (GEN)
Ultima Underworld II (PC)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
Earthbound (SNES)
Shinobi 3 (GEN)
Super Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES)

20 From Generation 5 & PC 94-98

Panzer Dragoon Saga (SAT)
Diablo (PC)
Starcraft (PC)
Half-Life (PC)
Guadian Heroes (SAT)
Total Annihilation (PC)
Star Wars: Tie Fighter (PC)
Panzer Dragoon II (SAT)
Dragon Force (SAT)
Grandia (SAT)
Final Fantasy VII (PS1)
Resident Evil 2 (PS1)
Final Fantasy IX (PS1)
Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1)
Xenogears (PS1)
Metal Gear Solid (PS1)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarnia of Time (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1)
Persona 2 (PS1)

20 From Generation 6 & PC 99-04

Shadow of the Colossus
Final Fantasy X
Beyond Good & Evil
Devil May Cry
Resident Evil 4
Metroid Prime
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Okami
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Halo: CE
Metal Gear Solid 2
Half-Life 2
FreeSpace 2
Age of Empires 2
The Longest Journey
Dark Cloud 2
Ikaruga
Ninja Gaiden Black