Epic single player games that anyone should not miss in his lifetime?

hl1 but too dated to play.

metro 2033 is the only 'epic' game of the last few years.

- Gothic2

- KOTOR2

- Wizardry series

- Ultima series

- Baldurs Gate

- Arx Fatalis

- Divine Divinity

- Warcraft2

- Dune2

- Crysis 1

- Stalker series (also check out METRO)

- ARMA/ARMA2/DAYZ

- Anno series

- Half Life 1/2

- Police Quest series

- Ghost Recon 1

- Old Rainbow Six games

- Warcraft2

- Oregon Trail

- Deus Ex

- Planscape Torment

- Icewind Dale

And you are right about NBA2k13! Its fantastic! Probably my faovrite sports game of hte last 10-15 years. The MY PLAYER mdoe is just amazing, it could be nominated for RPG of the year with all the roleplaying in that mode.

Out of the newer released games?? The Walking Dead, Borderlands2, DayZ and FTL Id have to say.

I am a massive fan of PC gaming, yet I don't have many answers for this, which is depressing :(.

Portal 2 is about all I got for PC games. In terms of 9.5 - 10 epic singleplayer experiences.

Technically RE4 is on PC as well, but it is a terrible port.

Then there is Diablo 2 which I don't consider a singleplayer experiences, but you could I guess.

I wish there was more epic stories I felt so strongly about on PC.

deus ex

walking dead

These are my picks for the greatest SP games:

• Half Life 1- Probably the greatest FPS ever made. Innovation, frenetic gunplay, survival, intelligent AI, longevity, fun weapons are just a couple of things that make this game so amazing
• Legacy of Kain (series) - Not so amazing for it's gameplay, but has (IMO) the best storyline ever to grace gaming. The writing, the voice acting, the setting, the world and the atmosphere are all brilliant.
• Resident Evil 4 - Best in the series. Gripping campaign and simply incredible replay value.
• Divine Divinity - The most immersive RPG I've played. Huge world, sublime exploration, great music and a superb variation of quests.
• Warcraft 3 - Best RTS campaign and my favourite video game lore. Epic is the best word to describe it.
• Prince ofPersia (trilogy) - Pehaps my most entertaining action adventure series.
• Diablo 1 - My favourite ARPG, and the "descent to hell" atmosphere is probably the best ever.

These are just some that I can remember atm.

• World in Conflict
• Batman Arkham Asylum
• Stalker Shadow of Chernobyl
• Bioshock 1
• The Witcher
• Half-life 2 + episodes
• Crysis 1 + Warhead
• Back to the Future the Game
• Resident Evil 4
• Deus ex
• Mirrors Edge
• Diablo 1
• Portal 2

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout 3

Fallout

Neverwinter Nights

Fallout 2

Mass Effect

The Witcher

Planescape: Torment

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Neverwinter Nights 2

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Dragon Age: Origins

Wasteland

I really wish PC got more adventure games like Zelda and so on. To be fair, not many systems get those kind of games this gen as is. Beyond Good or Evil so far is not very satisfying :(.

I really wish PC got more adventure games like Zelda and so on. To be fair, not many systems get those kind of games this gen as is. Beyond Good or Evil so far is not very satisfying :(.

NaveedLife

Try Soul Reaver 1-2, it's like a Tomb Raider-esque Zelda, both released for the PC and the strongest point is the story.

hl1 but too dated to play.

jakes456

It's only "too dated" for whiny graphic whore kiddies.

To the Op:

Ultima 7 was one of the first. I know the Ultima series has already been mentioned but 7 specifically deserves special note. Besides the fact that it's actually 2-4 games depending on how you look at it (two full titles plus one add-on pack for each game), it was one of the most technically demanding games of its time. Back in the AppleIIe days there were actually a handful of games that offered Skyrim-like complexity but with extremly simplistic, tile based graphics. Ultima 7 was a game that offered this level of complexity but with full VGA 640x480 graphics (impressive at the time). NPCs had lives, homes, places they worked, eat, etc as opposed to the Diablo-style NPCs who are nailed the floor and do nothing but dispense quests.

The original Deus Ex. Obiously.

The Last Express. This is a game by Jordan Mechner (Prince of Persia) that was release back in 94. It was a massive commercial flop, costing over 5-6 million dollars to make. Not a big deal today, but in 1994 that made this the most expensive game made to date. Also if you adjust for inflation that's more like 8-9 million today.

The game is a film noir murder mystery adventure game that takes place on the Orient Express in the last days of World War I. It's a Myst-style recreation of the actual train and uses rotoscoped hand drawn animation for the actors. What's really interesting about this game is it takes place IN REAL TIME over 3 days. With the exception of when your character is unconsious, time moves forward at a 1:1 ratio to real time. Characters have their own motivations and schedules and will move from car to car, have discussions, etc (although your actions can and will change what the characters do). The game was very highly reviewed but unfortunately it did not sell well. I'm not saying that a real time 3 day train ride is necessarily a thrill a minute but this is a truly unique game that you should at least check out.

-Byshop

[QUOTE="NaveedLife"]

I really wish PC got more adventure games like Zelda and so on. To be fair, not many systems get those kind of games this gen as is. Beyond Good or Evil so far is not very satisfying :(.

SovietsUnited

Try Soul Reaver 1-2, it's like a Tomb Raider-esque Zelda, both released for the PC and the strongest point is the story.

Is it open world like Zelda? Is there exploration and towns or no? I feel like any game today that has exploration and such does it on such a massive scale the world doesn't feel hand crafted and beautiful in every inch of the space. I miss worlds like most Zelda games (minus TP and SS) :(.

[QUOTE="jakes456"]

hl1 but too dated to play.

Byshop

It's only "too dated" for whiny graphic whore kiddies.

Not that this applies to everyone, but my brother tried to play it and he actually got sick trying. He wants me to play it sometime while he watches so he can witness it :P. He gets motion sick and such more easy than I do though. I have only gotten motion sick from a game once, and that was Mirrors Edge in a very cramped inside area with a lot of turning.

[QUOTE="SovietsUnited"]

[QUOTE="NaveedLife"]

I really wish PC got more adventure games like Zelda and so on. To be fair, not many systems get those kind of games this gen as is. Beyond Good or Evil so far is not very satisfying :(.

NaveedLife

Try Soul Reaver 1-2, it's like a Tomb Raider-esque Zelda, both released for the PC and the strongest point is the story.

Is it open world like Zelda? Is there exploration and towns or no? I feel like any game today that has exploration and such does it on such a massive scale the world doesn't feel hand crafted and beautiful in every inch of the space. I miss worlds like most Zelda games (minus TP and SS) :(.

You should look at a couple of gameplay videos, and see if you like the world. Soul Reaver 1 world is very different from Hyrule which is colorful and varied; instead, it depicts the ruined and decaying world of Nosgoth. This is also different in SR 2, which has much more variance in locations.

I would also recommend Tomba 2, but that is on PS1 :(

hl1 but too dated to play.

metro 2033 is the only 'epic' game of the last few years.

jakes456

Mass Effect, the entire trilogy is incredible.V4LENT1NE

Mass Effect 1 and 2 (have not played 3) are both highly addictive and entertaining games, for a reason I am not sure of :P. There are so many flaws and neither of them deserves the praise they get, yet I missed them when I was done.

Does it have to be pc?

Metro 2033
STALKER call of pripyat

mass effect 2 was p gud

uh pc has no games

multiplats:

Sonic 3 and knuckles
Klonoa 2

Rocket knight adventures
Jet set radio
ocrina of time


yeah i mainly just play pc for mp fps
console exclusives are better for SP

(I am only listing games that have aged well)

[QUOTE="jakes456"]

hl1 but too dated to play.

metro 2033 is the only 'epic' game of the last few years.

IxX3xil3d0n3XxI

Too many to list but here are a few games I've played "recently" that have stuck in my mind: Just Cause 2(that scale), Red Faction 3: Guerrilla(that space a-hole), Postal 2(that murder scene), Metro 2033(that atmosphere), Solar 2(that pacing), Toki Tori(that innocence), Magicka(those spell combos), Trine 2(that goofy + art direction), Max Payne 2(that level design), Bastion(that narration), Psychonauts(that game design), Batman: Arkham City(that brawling), E.Y.E Divine Cybermancy(that deep RPFPS), Dear Esther(that journey), etc. but just through these you'd get a good flavor of what gaming experiences are out there although I'd probably have to list a few dozen games to really give a more accurate flavor.Zubinen

u shud kno dis

[QUOTE="Zubinen"]Too many to list but here are a few games I've played "recently" that have stuck in my mind: Just Cause 2(that scale), Red Faction 3: Guerrilla(that space a-hole), Postal 2(that murder scene), Metro 2033(that atmosphere), Solar 2(that pacing), Toki Tori(that innocence), Magicka(those spell combos), Trine 2(that goofy + art direction), Max Payne 2(that level design), Bastion(that narration), Psychonauts(that game design), Batman: Arkham City(that brawling), E.Y.E Divine Cybermancy(that deep RPFPS), Dear Esther(that journey), etc. but just through these you'd get a good flavor of what gaming experiences are out there although I'd probably have to list a few dozen games to really give a more accurate flavor.JigglyWiggly_

u shud kno dis

hl1 but too dated to play.

metro 2033 is the only 'epic' game of the last few years.

jakes456

Black Mesa Source....

• Deus Ex 1
• Human Revolution
• Batman Arkham Asylum
• Batman Arkham City
• Fallout New Vegas
• Half Life 1 and 2
• Starcraft 1 + Broodwar
• Starcraft 2
• Crysis 1
• Max Payne series
• Metro 2033
• Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines
• Warcraft 3 Frozen Throne
• Bioshock
• Dishonored
• Neverwinter Nights 2 MotB
• Dragon Age Origins
• Divine Divinity
• Hearts of Iron III
• Mirror's Edge
• Portal 1 and 2
• The Witcher
• The Witcher 2
• Mass Effect 1
• Mass Effect 3
• Homeworld
• The Walking Dead
• Alpha Protocol
• Hitman Blood Money
• To the Moon
• Amnesia
• Gemini Rue
• Dead Space 1 + 2
• Civilization IV
• Icewind Dale
• Planescape Torment
• The Saboteur
• Thief Deadly Shadows
• Rome: Total War
• Medieval II: Total War
• Psychonauts
• Dawn of War 40k I

Baldur's gate has already been mentioned but it should be noted that it just got a re-release for PC with updated graphics and content. It's also been made (or is about to be made) available for iOS and Droid to play on tablets.

-Byshop

Baldur's gate has already been mentioned but it should be noted that it just got a re-release for PC with updated graphics and content. It's also been made (or is about to be made) available for iOS and Droid to play on tablets.

-Byshop

Byshop

Dark Souls

hl1 but too dated to play.

metro 2033 is the only 'epic' game of the last few years.

jakes456

You're bang on target. HL1 is probabaly the best ever single player game ever made. So what if its dated? That shouldn't prevent any person from playing it, unless of course he's a graphics whore. I've beathen the game mor ethan 20 times, and continue to beat it once every few months. Its just too irresistable.

L.A Noire

Red Dead Redemption

Old Splinter Cell games (til double agent)

Fallout New Vegas

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

And obv all good classic adventure games like Broken sword 1 n 2, monkey island.. etc

[QUOTE="Byshop"]

Baldur's gate has already been mentioned but it should be noted that it just got a re-release for PC with updated graphics and content. It's also been made (or is about to be made) available for iOS and Droid to play on tablets.

-Byshop

Elann2008

It's worth getting on the PC if you're not in the mood to mod the original. Also has a zoom feature that is not in the modded version. Wen it's cheaper, and a year from now wen all the bugs have ben fixed, and the modding community gets a strong hold of it, it'll be better.

But if you are in the mood to mod it, you can get BG1+Expansion & BG2+Throne of Baal for the same price as BG1 EE. You can then add the Baldur's Gate Trilogy mod that fixes every bug and enhances everything, also makes all those games into one huge game with continuity. And once you apply the BG1 NPC Project, BG1 will feel just like a portion of BG2.

Unless you dislike 2D games, anyone can get into Infinity Engine games. Infinity Engine games are ageless, Elann. They aren't clunky and they are as playable as anything out there, fluid and enjoyable.

Once you have a higher resolution, they look beautiful, like a painting in motion. If there's one thing no one can complain about, it's the beautiful graphics. The UI is incredibly easy to manage, every button is defined to know what it means, every action takes a sec. with your mouse. The combat is also incredibly easy to get into, you can pause at any second and take your time. The controls are standard mouse/kb, so no problem here.

They are worth playing as much as any RPG, modern or older. Ofcourse with mods for fixed bugs and a higher resolution.

I'm going to recommend three games:

1. Dragon Age: Origins

I consider this to be one of BioWare's last greatest games. The game is over 80 hours in length, and what makes it so great is that everything you do seems to matter later on. Furthermore, the story is quite engaging, and features some of BioWare's best-written party members (Sten, Oghren, Morrigan).

2. Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl

Yes, it is nearly 5.5 years old at this point, but it is one of those rare games that make you feel so vulnerable to the game's world and environment. Even if you are armed with the best assault rifle and equipped with the best suit, you never know when a blowout or a pack of wild dogs might kill you.

3. Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines

I loved this title because it's one of the few games to do vampires in a modern setting, and do it well. Again, the game's writing and environment combine together to create a very compelling experience - furthermore, modders are still working on adding back content cut during development.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"][QUOTE="Byshop"]

Baldur's gate has already been mentioned but it should be noted that it just got a re-release for PC with updated graphics and content. It's also been made (or is about to be made) available for iOS and Droid to play on tablets.

-Byshop

Lucianu

It's worth getting on the PC if you're not in the mood to mod the original. Also has a zoom feature that is not in the modded version. Wen it's cheaper, and a year from now wen all the bugs have ben fixed, and the modding community gets a strong hold of it, it'll be better.

But if you are in the mood to mod it, you can get BG1+Expansion & BG2+Throne of Baal for the same price as BG1 EE. You can then add the Baldur's Gate Trilogy mod that fixes every bug and enhances everything, also makes all those games into one huge game with continuity. And once you apply the BG1 NPC Project, BG1 will feel just like a portion of BG2.

Unless you dislike 2D games, anyone can get into Infinity Engine games. Infinity Engine games are ageless, Elann. They aren't clunky and they are as playable as anything out there, fluid and enjoyable.

Once you have a higher resolution, they look beautiful, like a painting in motion. If there's one thing no one can complain about, it's the beautiful graphics. The UI is incredibly easy to manage, every button is defined to know what it means, every action takes a sec. with your mouse. The combat is also incredibly easy to get into, you can pause at any second and take your time. The controls are standard mouse/kb, so no problem here.

They are worth playing as much as any RPG, modern or older. Ofcourse with mods for fixed bugs and a higher resolution.

Yeah, I don't think they actually replaced any of the art files but they updated it so you don't have to run it in a tiny window.

In general I equate 2d games to pre-cgi movies. Baldur's Gate is like 2001: A Space Odyssey. Dated but still looks good by modern standards and actually ages better than newer, 3d games from that approximate era.

-Byshop

3. Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines

I loved this title because it's one of the few games to do vampires in a modern setting, and do it well. Again, the game's writing and environment combine together to create a very compelling experience - furthermore, modders are still working on adding back content cut during development.

The_Capitalist

Yeah, this game was awesome. To be fair, it was actually a really sh!tty game in a lot of ways (broken melee combat, buggy, etc) but the good points about it were so good that I've beaten it like 3 times at least. Not enough RPGs are made in a non-fantasy setting.

-Byshop

Half-Life 2 + Episodes 1 & 2
Skyrim
Oblivion
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Quake 4

Half-Life, Half-Life 2
Max Payne, Max Payne 2, Max Payne 3
No One Lives Forever 2
Far Cry
Crysis
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

hl1 but too dated to play.

metro 2033 is the only 'epic' game of the last few years.

jakes456

If you think Half-life is too dated to play, just play Black Mesa. It fixes that problem.

[QUOTE="jakes456"]

hl1 but too dated to play.

metro 2033 is the only 'epic' game of the last few years.

hartsickdiscipl

If you think Half-life is too dated to play, just play Black Mesa. It fixes that problem.

Morrowind. It's an experience that you won't soon forget.

Also, if you haven't played the game or even heard of it, Minecraft can offer up some great player created moments that will stick with you for years to come (that is if you're into the game and that sort of stuff).

Well, Ill just pick games from 2004 and onwards since of all time would be an impossibly long list

Vampire the masquerade: Bloodlines

Halflife 2

Dead Space

Sleeping Dogs (the fact that both the criminals and police are painted as likable and dislikable people is pretty nice to have for once)

To the moon

Amnesia: THe dark descent

the STALKER games

Batman Arkham Asylum (you could throw city in here aswell if you wish, I chose not to)

Bioshock

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the earth

Deus Ex: Human revolution (I really REALLY liked this one)

Divinity 2 (if you are a fan of RPG and snide humor)

Dragon Age: Origins

F.E.A.R

Fallout 3 (and NV)

Metro 2033

Neverwinter Nights 2

The Witcher 1 and 2

If you are in a pinch I can also reccoment Singularity, the new X-COM and Saints Row the Third, althought I certainly think they could be missed without too much damage.

Mass Effect 1,2, and 3

Half-life, HL2 and episodes. If you don't want to deal with the dated graphics of HL1, play the Black Mesa mod that uses the HL2 engine. It's a very faithful remake of the original game and every bit as good.

World in Conflict

FEAR

Jedi Knight, Jedi Outcast, Jedi Academy

Dead Space

Crysis

There are many more, but this is a good start.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"][QUOTE="Byshop"]

Baldur's gate has already been mentioned but it should be noted that it just got a re-release for PC with updated graphics and content. It's also been made (or is about to be made) available for iOS and Droid to play on tablets.

-Byshop

Lucianu

It's worth getting on the PC if you're not in the mood to mod the original. Also has a zoom feature that is not in the modded version. Wen it's cheaper, and a year from now wen all the bugs have ben fixed, and the modding community gets a strong hold of it, it'll be better.

But if you are in the mood to mod it, you can get BG1+Expansion & BG2+Throne of Baal for the same price as BG1 EE. You can then add the Baldur's Gate Trilogy mod that fixes every bug and enhances everything, also makes all those games into one huge game with continuity. And once you apply the BG1 NPC Project, BG1 will feel just like a portion of BG2.

Unless you dislike 2D games, anyone can get into Infinity Engine games. Infinity Engine games are ageless, Elann. They aren't clunky and they are as playable as anything out there, fluid and enjoyable.

Once you have a higher resolution, they look beautiful, like a painting in motion. If there's one thing no one can complain about, it's the beautiful graphics. The UI is incredibly easy to manage, every button is defined to know what it means, every action takes a sec. with your mouse. The combat is also incredibly easy to get into, you can pause at any second and take your time. The controls are standard mouse/kb, so no problem here.

They are worth playing as much as any RPG, modern or older. Ofcourse with mods for fixed bugs and a higher resolution.

I am a massive fan of PC gaming, yet I don't have many answers for this, which is depressing :(.

Portal 2 is about all I got for PC games. In terms of 9.5 - 10 epic singleplayer experiences.

Technically RE4 is on PC as well, but it is a terrible port.

Then there is Diablo 2 which I don't consider a singleplayer experiences, but you could I guess.

I wish there was more epic stories I felt so strongly about on PC.

NaveedLife