There are too many good games to list, but my all-time top picks are Holiday Island (the best SimCity clone), Gothic 1 and 2, and Unreal Tournament 2004. I used to game a lot, and I still love it. World of Warcraft was a huge time sink, but I finally stopped. Age of Empires III and any tycoon games are incredibly addictive. Halo and Zelda are classics. I also enjoy Commandos: Strike Force, Brothers in Arms, Need for Speed, Gran Turismo 4, and Pro Evolution Soccer 5. My top 10 in order: StarCraft, Rainbow Six series, Counter-Strike series, Age of Empires series, GoldenEye, World of Warcraft, Halo, Half-Life series, Unreal Tournament series, and F.E.A.R.
My favorite games are Unreal Tournament GOTY, Commandos: Strike Force, and Brothers in Arms for FPS. For racing, Need for Speed and Gran Turismo 4 are the best. Pro Evolution Soccer 5 is my go-to football game. I also love Super Mario World on SNES, RuneScape, Worms World Party, and GTA San Andreas. I used to play RuneScape a lot—I had a level 31 account with full rune, but it got stolen. I’m looking for non-noob players to team up with. Our clan has about 80 people, and we usually hang out on world 56. If you’re interested, hit me up.
I’m currently playing a free MMORPG called Thang (thang.ongameport.com). It has great graphics for a free game and is really addictive once you get past level 15. I’m level 99 now, which wasn’t easy. It’s a great way to waste time and have fun. My character name is shamama, so look me up if you start playing. My all-time favorite game is Age of Empires 2. It demands strategic thinking and brave moves—other games might have one or the other, but Age of Empires 2 has it all. I also love GTA (the original), Swords and Serpents on NES, and Morrowind. Now I’m hooked on Oblivion by Elder Scrolls—it’s completely open-ended and the best RPG out there.
My all-time favorites are GTA (the original), Swords and Serpents (NES), and Morrowind. I’m totally hooked on Oblivion now—it’s open-ended with loads of things to do, far more entertaining than any other RPG. On PS2, Gran Turismo 4 is my favorite. On PC, I love the Grand Theft Auto collection, Need for Speed collection, and Call of Duty 1. I also enjoy Red Alert 2, America’s Army, Need for Speed Underground 2, Age of Mythology, Counter-Strike, and Warcraft. I hate Age of Empires 3, though. The most epic games I’ve played are The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, World of Warcraft, Far Cry, and Age of Empires 2. My first game was Doom 2, and I still love shooting demons.
The legendary game for me is Lufia—I’ll be playing it till I die. My new favorite is World of Warcraft; I played at launch, took a break, and came back recently—it’s still as fun as ever. My old favorite was Swords and Serpents on NES, and I also love Oblivion. Counter-Strike is a staple. I really like the SmackDown vs. Raw series—the 2006 version had great gameplay, and I can’t wait for the 2007 version. GTA San Andreas and Vice City are both amazing and equally fun. Gaming has given me so many memorable experiences, and I keep coming back to these classics.
I’ve been replaying some of the RPGs mentioned in this thread, and I’m amazed at how well they’ve aged. Final Fantasy IX, for example, still has one of the best stories in the series, and its art style is timeless. But I’ve also discovered that modern indie RPGs like Undertale and Disco Elysium capture that same magic with innovative mechanics. If you’re a fan of classic turn-based combat, I highly recommend checking out Octopath Traveler II—it blends retro aesthetics with modern quality-of-life features. For those who loved the sphere grid in FFX, the license board in Final Fantasy XII offers a similar depth of customization. I think the key is that great game design transcends technology; it’s about the emotional journey.
Reading through everyone’s favorite shooters, I’m reminded of how much the genre has evolved. I cut my teeth on GoldenEye 007 and Unreal Tournament, and those games taught me map control and twitch reflexes. Today, games like Valorant and Apex Legends have refined those concepts with modern netcode and mechanics. But I still go back to Quake Live for that pure, unadulterated arena shooter experience. If you’re nostalgic for the old days, I suggest trying Diabotical—it’s a free, modern take on the arena shooter that honors the classics. Also, for those who loved Brothers in Arms, the Hell Let Loose game offers a similar tactical WWII experience with a focus on teamwork and realism.
I was thrilled to see mentions of Roller Coaster Tycoon and The Sims in this thread. Those games were my childhood. I’ve since moved on to more complex simulations like Cities: Skylines and Planet Coaster, which offer incredible depth and modding support. But I still think the original Roller Coaster Tycoon has the best balance of challenge and creativity. For anyone who loved Command & Conquer: Generals, I recommend checking out the open-source engine OpenRA, which lets you play classic C&C titles with modern improvements. And if you’re into tycoon games, Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus capture the spirit of Theme Hospital with a fresh coat of paint. The simulation genre is alive and well!
I’ve got so many favorite games it’s hard to pick just one. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City really stood out to me with its immersive storyline and open-world freedom. I also love wrestling games—pretty much everything except the Backyard Wrestling and Legends of Wrestling titles. Going back to the classics, Super Mario on the SNES and Mario 64 on the N64 are timeless. The Donkey Kong games on SNES were superb, and the Zelda series is incredible—Ocarina of Time is my favorite with its excellent storyline and side missions. Majora’s Mask didn’t grab me as much; I’m still stuck on the last temple. I even have the strategy guide! The SNES Zelda (A Link to the Past) was also fantastic. So to narrow it down: SNES - Super Mario, N64 - Zelda: Ocarina of Time, PS2 - Smackdown vs. Raw 2006.
I’ve played many games, and my favorites are those that require skill and teamwork. Shattered Galaxy was an early MMORTS that I loved for its strategic depth. Guild Wars is my current go-to for the same reasons. Arcanum is an old RPG set in a world where technology and magic coexist—really unique. I also enjoy Need for Speed, soccer games, Super Mario, Spiderman, cricket, Free Cell, and Sonic. Each offers something different, but the ones that demand cooperation and strategy are the most rewarding for me.
EverQuest has been my game for five years on the Bristlebane server—it’s an incredible MMORPG. My favorite game overall is Need for Speed Most Wanted; I play it the most. My top three are: First, Final Fantasy VII on PS1—the story is amazing despite the dated graphics, and it’s better than FFX. It requires dedication and training. Second, Kingdom Hearts II improves on the first with better graphics and story, though the first has more emotional moments. Third, Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus continues the story with Vincent Valentine, mixing FPS and RPG elements. I recommend trying these out.
My favorite games are World of Warcraft and The Sims 2. WoW is the greatest network game ever—a whole world of warlocks and magic. It’s fantastic for completing quests with other players, though you need a subscription. I’ve finished it twice and never get bored. The Sims 2 is a life simulation with 3D graphics where you create characters and build houses, living life like the real world. I also enjoy Generals, Counter-Strike, GTA San Andreas, Need for Speed Most Wanted, and MDK 2.
I prefer the original Sims with the Magic expansion over Sims 2, but Sims 2 is improving with expansions. I’m always looking for custom content—mostly on The Sims Resource. Counter-Strike is tough now with so many pros online, even in cyber cafes. In GTA San Andreas, I wish they’d add more realism like shopping and carrying bags. Need for Speed Most Wanted is cool, but I prefer Underground 2.
I love the SOCOM games on PS2—I bought SOCOM II three times because the discs broke. On PC, I mostly play Counter-Strike and Unreal Tournament 2004, but Morrowind is also great. I wish my computer could handle Oblivion. SOCOM is a third-person tactical shooter with a focus on teamwork and strategy. It’s different from typical shooters because of its realistic military approach. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes tactical gameplay.
Age of Empires is a great strategy game. My favorites include Halo, Grand Theft Auto, and Medal of Honor Allied Assault: Spearhead. I’m into war games—the whole fighting thing with jets and stuff is awesome. Currently, I’m stuck with my old Nintendo 64, but Perfect Dark is the best 64 game out there. I also play Counter-Strike Source (my server: 83.142.54.109:28020), FIFA World Cup, and Kal Online (free, great for students).
I feel out of the loop with all these games I’ve never heard of. I’m not a big gamer, but I enjoy Dofus—a role-playing game I found two months ago. I now pay for it because it’s fun. I also like the Final Fantasy series, Counter-Strike, Halo 2 online (played it the most on Xbox), and Gran Turismo 3.
My favorites are Phantasy Star Online (PC/GameCube), Age of Empires II, and Contraptions: Return of the Incredible Machine. I love first-person shooters like Rainbow Six 3, the original Counter-Strike (without hacks), and Halo. Right now, I’m into MapleStory—a 2D side-scroller mixing Zelda and Mario, highly addictive. I also play an old text-based game called Star Kingdoms. I’m considering Guild Wars but waiting for more reviews before spending $50.
My favorite game is Civilization—it’s so addictive, I can play for hours, though it gets boring after a while. I also love Super Smash Brothers; I’ve had it for two years and still not bored. MapleStory and Counter-Strike are also favorites—they’re addictive. For me, it’s a tie between Planescape: Torment and System Shock 2, then Civilization 2, Half-Life, Red Alert 2, and Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Good games never die—fancy graphics are for suckers.
I choose Pro Evolution Soccer 5 as the best game—it never gets boring. I also like Age of Empires III, GTA San Andreas, The Godfather, Spider-Man, and Harry Potter games. My top five are Halo 2 (Xbox), Street Fighter Alpha 3 (arcade), Final Fantasy VII (PlayStation), Rampage: World Tour (arcade), and House of the Dead III (arcade). Halo 2 online is amazing, and House of the Dead III is great for killing games. Resident Evil 4 (GameCube) is also awesome.
My favorite game is Unreal Tournament 2004. I also enjoy Battlefield 2, F.E.A.R., Counter-Strike, Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat, Day of Defeat: Source, Guild Wars, and Silkroad Online. Zelda: Ocarina of Time is another favorite—I grew up with it, and it gave me nightmares, but good times. On Xbox 360, I play Call of Duty 2, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, and I’m looking forward to Chrome Hounds. DOA4 is also great.