Only the Awesome Catch-All

Prompted by the Doctor Strangeplay Thread, and some of the talk in the 2012 Pile Thread, I've decided to personally follow the "Only the Awesome Need Apply" approach to gaming. In order to make this easier for myself and others, I thought it would be good to crowd-source a list of Awesome Games™. We have the Essential Games wiki but it is seriously out of date at this point, and doesn't really meet what I'm going for at this point.

Guidelines for Inclusion

  • No genre is off limits. Every genre is awesome to someone. It doesn't have to be for everyone.
  • It has to be awesome. Not universally awesome. We aren't making a list that everyone agrees with; we are making a list so that everyone will find something they like. So, if you have a replay-every-year game, or ever told a buddy "You have got to play this!", then go ahead and suggest it.
  • It must be easily runnable The point is to spend your gaming time playing sweet games, not tracking the things down or fiddling with them to get them to work. Old games are fine, but it needs to be easy to acquire for and play on a current system. If it's a console / handheld game it should probably be on a currently supported console (so PS2, PS3, Wii, 360, DS, 3DS, PSP, Vita), or one of those consoles' download channels. If it's a PC game, it should probably be purchasable from stores, direct download channels, or the dev's website.

I'll update the OP with people's suggestions. Please list at least the name, system, and genre(s). Links to where it can be bought would be great also. A short description might be useful too depending on how long the list gets.

Feel free to debate, but remember not liking something isn't a reason for it not to be here. Suggestions on listing format or other guidelines are welcome.

The list is in a google doc here: Awesome Games You Can Play Right Now

Addition guideline for debate.

DSGamer suggest this in the Strangeplay thread.

  • If it is part of a series, it should be the most essential of the series. That doesn't necessarily mean the best of the series. If a later game in the series is better than earlier games, but the series needs to be played in order to really appreciate it, then the earlier games takes precedence. Multiple games in the same series can be listed as long as they can be enjoyed independently.

The potential problem I see is that different people might have different ideas about which particular game is most essential, so we could end up with all the games in a series listed anyway.

Plastic Instrument games: Rock Band 3 (PS3/360 versions only)

Ultima: Ultima VII: The Black Gate - the best version of the game slightly edges out Ultima VII: Serpent Isle, for having a more interesting story, and broader social ramifications, with a slightly worse inventory system. (available from GOG)

Planescape Torment: 'nuff said (available from GOG)

Do GBA games count as "current gen"? Or are we waiting for them to officially hit the 3DS virtual console?

My current Best Games Evar list (not in order):

Persona 3 Portable on PSP
Catherine on PS3/360
Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Wii
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask on Wii Virtual Console (originally N64)

Hmm. I would say Metroid Prime but I'm not sure it meets the qualifications of "easily available." The best version is the Wii version included with the trilogy package, but that's rare and expensive. The GameCube version isn't bad, but it's on an older system and most stores don't stock even used GameCube games anymore.

Batman - Arkham Asylum

Garden Ninja wrote:
  • Most importantly, it has to be awesome. Not universally awesome. We aren't making a list that everyone agrees with; we are making a list so that everyone will find something they like. So, if you have a replay-every-year game, or ever told a buddy "You have got to play this!", then go ahead and suggest it.
  • Christmas NiGHTS

  • It must be easily runnable The point is to spend your gaming time playing sweet games, not tracking the things down or fiddling with them to get them to work. Old games are fine, but it needs to be easy to acquire for and play on a current system. If it's a console / handheld game it should probably be on a currently supported console (so PS2, PS3, Wii, 360, DS, 3DS, PSP, Vita), or one of those consoles' download channels. If it's a PC game, it should probably be purchasable from stores, direct download channels, or the dev's website.
  • Dammit

    It'll be interesting to see if this can become more than just people jumping in and shouting about their favourite games. Still, I suppose that Bioshock will inevitably end up on here. Oh, and Journey, which is the only game of recent memory that I've dragged a person into my house in order to make them play it.

    It'll be interesting to see if this can become more than just people jumping in and shouting about their favourite games.

    I hope it can be. I think the restriction that the game needs to be easily available for a current system/easily runnable on a modern PC is a good one. (Personally, I would even eliminate the PS2 from the list, although I do still see some PS2 games here and there in stores.) It's all about making an awesome list of Games You Can Play Right Now! to borrow from the podcast.

    It's interesting some of the games that excludes, though, like System Shock 2 (not available) or the aforementioned Metroid Prime.

    Lets see now.

    FPS:
    Quake3/QuakeLive
    Unreal Tournament (99)
    Duke Nukem 3D
    Left4Dead/L4D2
    Battlefield 2

    First Person Sneaker:
    Thief 2

    RTS:
    Red Alert2
    Supreme Commander/Total Annihilation/SpringRTS
    StarCraft/SC2/Warcraft3
    Company of Heroes

    MMO:
    WoW
    EvE-Online

    ClockworkHouse wrote:

    Persona 3 Portable on PSP

    Should that be generalized to Persona 3, or is it specifically that version? What about P3FES on PSN?

    Dyni wrote:

    Super Mario RPG - SNES - RPG

    Super Smash Bros. Brawl - GameCube - Fighter

    Is Super Mario RPG available on Wii VC?
    Did you mean Super Smash Bros. Melee? That was the one on GameCube (and disqualified). Brawl is on Wii, so it's okay.

    ClockworkHouse wrote:
    It'll be interesting to see if this can become more than just people jumping in and shouting about their favourite games.

    I hope it can be. I think the restriction that the game needs to be easily available for a current system/easily runnable on a modern PC is a good one. (Personally, I would even eliminate the PS2 from the list, although I do still see some PS2 games here and there in stores.) It's all about making an awesome list of Games You Can Play Right Now! to borrow from the podcast.

    It's interesting some of the games that excludes, though, like System Shock 2 (not available) or the aforementioned Metroid Prime.

    It does exclude a whole bunch of really awesome games. My thought on systems was that you should be able to go buy the system now, and that they are still producing games for it, or at least can still get the games new. That excludes GameCube, and GBA. I thought about excluding PS2 as well, but left it in because I thought games are still being made for it (e.g. Persona 3 and 4). I just checked and GameStop only has the system refurb, but you can get them new from Amazon. Not sure really whether it should stick around, because even if the system is still available, a lot of the games are hard to find now. What do people think?

    Also, I like the term Games You Can Play Right Now. I might update the thread title to include that. Might make the intent of the list more clear at a glance.

    Garden Ninja wrote:
    ClockworkHouse wrote:

    Persona 3 Portable on PSP

    Should that be generalized to Persona 3, or is it specifically that version? What about P3FES on PSN?

    In my opinion, it's PSP > PSN > PS2 (FES version), with the decision being made by what systems you own. PSN and PS2 are the exact same game but playing on the PS3 is better, generally.

    SixteenBlue wrote:
    Garden Ninja wrote:
    ClockworkHouse wrote:

    Persona 3 Portable on PSP

    Should that be generalized to Persona 3, or is it specifically that version? What about P3FES on PSN?

    In my opinion, it's PSP > PSN > PS2 (FES version), with the decision being made by what systems you own. PSN and PS2 are the exact same game but playing on the PS3 is better, generally.

    Minarchist will fight me over it, but I think Persona 3 Portable is the stronger release. Having put 45 or so hours into FES on the PS2 and 15 or so into P3P, the PSP version is superior.

    I have three entries, all of which I feel very strongly about. Two are kind of a no-brainers, the other needs more exposure.

    Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts - Xbox 360 - Imagine a platformer on par with some of the better Mario games, but instead of running and jumping you need to engineer vehicles using a robust creation tool to complete challenges. The possibilities are nearly endless. The only gripe is somewhat finicky controls, but I say if you lobby that complaint you are not building well enough.

    Dragon Age: Origins - Multiplatform - If you have any interest in fantasy or RPGs, but especially fantasy RPGs, this is a must-play. Hell, if you just like fantasy literature I feel this is a pretty strong example. It gets bonus points for a slyly vignetted approach to narrative.

    Mortal Kombat (9) - Xbox 360/PS3/Vita - This is the definitive fighting game of the past decade (if only because Smash Bros. Melee came out 11 years ago). The fighting system is nearly flawless (the one flaw is a cheap end-boss), and it tackles narrative in a fighting game in a manner that eclipses anything before it and sets a high bar for those to come. I wish the Netherrealm guys the best of luck with topping this in a sequel.

    And yes, Super Mario RPG is available on Wii VC. I heartily endorse all of Dyni's choices.

    Blind_Evil wrote:

    And yes, Super Mario RPG is available on Wii VC.

    Hmm, I did not realize that.

    SixteenBlue wrote:
    Blind_Evil wrote:

    And yes, Super Mario RPG is available on Wii VC.

    Hmm, I did not realize that.

    The vast majority of good SNES RPGs are on there now, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 2+3, Actraiser, etc.

    No Terranigma, though :/

    Blind_Evil wrote:

    Dragon Age: Origins - Multiplatform - If you have any interest in fantasy or RPGs, but especially fantasy RPGs, this is a must-play. Hell, if you just like fantasy literature I feel this is a pretty strong example. It gets bonus points for a slyly vignetted approach to narrative.

    I was going to suggest that one, but you're welcome to take the heat.

    Which reminds me of a glaring omission: The Witcher 2

    Also, Space flight 'sim': Freespace 2 (plus FS open)

    I'm actually having a really hard time deciding between Portal and Portal 2, so I'm really just opening this up for discussion more than suggesting a game.

    Does Diablo II run well still?

    Plants vs Zombies (Everything)

    Ratchet and Clank Future - A Crack in Time (PS3)

    IMO Portal 2 blows the original out of the water on almost all fronts. I understand some people thought it was too...intuitive, but if that's the cost of a more interesting and fleshed out narrative I'll take it.

    Diablo 2 runs fine, they updated it as late as last year I believe. I think I actually preferred the original, but consensus would mark 2 as definitive.

    And eff the Witcher 2.

    Garden Ninja wrote:
    Dyni wrote:

    Super Mario RPG - SNES - RPG

    Super Smash Bros. Brawl - GameCube - Fighter

    Is Super Mario RPG available on Wii VC?
    Did you mean Super Smash Bros. Melee? That was the one on GameCube (and disqualified). Brawl is on Wii, so it's okay.

    Ah, yeah, I meant Brawl. I prefer Melee by quite a bit, but it doesn't meet your guidelines, so Brawl it is. I'll edit my post and fix stuff.

    Dark Souls - PS3/360/PC (soon) - Action RPG

    Super Mario RPG - (SNES game) Wii Virtual Console - RPG

    Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wii - Fighter

    If I had three real people to play Smash Brothers Melee with available at any time I would never play another video game again.

    Unless the Wii U one was super awesome.

    This post seems devoid of point as is, so I wanted to say this earlier but didn't:

    The spirit of this thread is sort of kindred to my approach to collecting games. During and at the end of each console's life I take a hard look at every game I own for a given system. If there are redundancies, I weed them out, with exceptions of course.

    For example, I own only one baseball game, MLB Power Pros 2008 for Wii. No other baseball game holds a candle, so they get/got sold. Character action games! You can all piss off except Bayonetta. Gears of War 1 and 3 have no place in my home, and even 2 is in trouble due to Vanquish (my Gears 2 disc is too jacked to sell). I try to keep just one multiplayer shooter around at a time.

    Blind_Evil wrote:

    If I had three real people to play Smash Brothers Melee with available at any time I would never play another video game again.

    Amen That's exactly what I had my freshman year of college (more like 7 other people, actually). It seemed like my Gamecube was on 24/7 for just about the entire year. The downside was that there were usually 5+ dudes in my tiny 2 person dorm room.

    ClockworkHouse wrote:

    Hmm. I would say Metroid Prime but I'm not sure it meets the qualifications of "easily available."

    That would also be on my list if it qualified.

    I think Metroid Prime 3 makes a suitable substitution if you can't access the first (but I do own the collection, nya-nya). I wonder sometimes how people view games in a series like that with fresh eyes, there are no doubt thousands of people that only played 3. Is it amazing as Prime was to us in 2002?

    List is updated. I don't think I missed anything.

    I'm not sure how to handle genre names. I'm not a fan of genres in general, as they tend to be too limiting, and their names usually suck (e.g. "Character Action Game"). However, trying to list all the genres would clutter things up for a forum post. I was thinking of just using whatever wikipedia has, and linking to the games page if people want to dig deeper. Any thoughts?

    Blind_Evil wrote:

    I think Metroid Prime 3 makes a suitable substitution if you can't access the first (but I do own the collection, nya-nya). I wonder sometimes how people view games in a series like that with fresh eyes, there are no doubt thousands of people that only played 3. Is it amazing as Prime was to us in 2002?

    I can list it, but personally, I'd say all 3 Metroid Prime games should be played in order, and since the first one is disqualified, I'd keep the whole series (awesome as it is!) off the list.

    Whoa, whoa. I didn't mean to nominate any of the stuff I mentioned in passing outside of my first post. Like, Vanquish is awesome to me, but I know a lot of people who it didn't work for. I consider stuff like Final Fantasy 2 and 3 to be ubiquitously recognized as awesome, so unless you're really trying to be exhaustive... Frankly I think just listing any game that every person thinks is awesome might lose meaning and value after 60 or so members chimed in. I was thinking a three-game limit per user would result in a more usable list.

    Anyway, do with that info what you like, but I only meant to add three games to the list.

    Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup - roguelike - PC. https://crawl.develz.org/wordpress/ Download or play online using webtiles or via putty

    Tactics Ogre or Final Fantasy Tactics - TBS - PSP/Vita. Great TBS games, Jeanne D'Arc is also a must play that's a good intro to tactics type games.

    Valkyria Chronicles - mix of real time & turn based - PS3.

    AmazingZoidberg wrote:

    I just finished it:

    If you like tactical RPGs for the combat: You should buy this game.

    If you liked Prince of Persia for the art style: You should buy this game.

    If you like Anime/JRPGs for the story/character development: You should buy this game.

    If you own a PS3: You should buy this game.

    Man I love this game. You should play it.

    Yeah, I knew you weren't explicitly nominating things but based on how you described them they seemed to fit the criteria.

    I think something like Vanquish qualifies, because the intent wasn't to find games that are universally praised, but to find games that someone thinks is awesome. A list that only had games that everyone can agree is a must play would be pretty short. The Strangeplay post for example had a bit about knowing which genres you like, so even a game that is pretty well liked across the board may not be for you, and that's okay, but someone will probably like it. That will probably lead to a huge list, which may limit its usefulness, so we can decide as a group how we want to approach it, but that was my original intent.

    Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - Action - PS3 / 360 / PC
    Red Dead Redemption - Action - PS3 / 360 / PC

    (not sure on the genres. Open world?)

    I suggest removing the first Left 4 Dead. Not that isn't merit to the first game anymore, but with the porting of all the campaigns, I don't really think there's any tangible benefit in buying both.

    Also, some of your [b] tags are messed up.

    How has no one suggested Baldur's Gate yet? Also, Fallout 2.

    I humbly submit Baldur's Gate and Fallout 2 to the list of awesome game. Also, Syndicate (the original).

    Hyetal wrote:

    Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - Action - PS3 / 360 / PC

    I would argue that Brotherhood benefits greatly from playing AssCreed II. While I enjoyed both, I still think ACII was the superior entry.

    Hyetal wrote:

    I suggest removing the first Left 4 Dead. Not that isn't merit to the first game anymore, but with the porting of all the campaigns, I don't really think there's any tangible benefit in buying both.

    Agreed

    KidC wrote:

    Tactics Ogre or Final Fantasy Tactics - TBS - PSP/Vita.

    I will second FFT. Readily available on a few platforms. It has an appeal that seems to cross all breeds of tactical gamer. Tactics Ogre is a better game, but lacks the same appeal.

    As to my suggestions that are currently available:

    Saints Row 3. Good lord is that game fun, and encapsulates the criminal open world genre quite well I think.

    Orcs Must Die. Again, much ridiculous fun to be had, especially at the low price point.

    GJ, this list will get ridiculously out of control. This'll likely need to be at least a spreadsheet, if not database, to be useful.

    Saints Row 3 did something remarkable, I felt.