What would be your list of essential videos games?

[Devsman]

A list, going back to the start of time up through today of titles that were influential, popular or particularly unique that a well-played gamer should have under their belt.

A literature degree has required reading. If there were a video game degree, what would you make the required playing?

My list:

Pong
Asteroids
Pitfall
Breakout
Pac-Man
Missile Command
Tetris
Donkey Kong
Zork
Gravitar
Super Mario Bros
Outrun
Myst
Rescue: The Embassy Mission (Hostages)
Streets of Rage
DOOM
Yoshi's Island
Mega Man X
Street Fighter 2
Shinobi 3
Phantasy Star 3 (yes, 3)
Super Mario Kart
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Super Mario 64
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Gran Turismo
Any Sim City game
Chrono Trigger
Ape Escape
Warcraft
Final Fantasy 7
Metal Gear Solid
Suikoden 2
The Sims
Metal Gear Solid 2
Halo
Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
SoulCalibur 2
F-Zero GX
Skies of Arcadia
Sonic Adventure
Super Smash Bros: Melee
Fire Emblem 7
Luigi's Mansion
Metroid Prime
Rise to Honor
Grand Theft Auto 3
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Mass Effect
Trace Memory
Assassin's Creed
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Dark Souls
The Last of Us
Spelunky
Rocket League

And I think that's it for me. I considered Minecraft, but I actually have no idea what it even looks like today. If I could say Minecraft as it was in 2012 or so, I'd do that.

[Psycho]

gta 5, gta san andreas, red dead redemption 2, minecraft, hades, team fortress 2, dave the diver, hogwarts legacy, garry's mod, half-life, portal 2, terraria, fallout 3, fallout 4, fallout new vegas, skyrim, street fighter, little big planet, csgo/cs2, super mario sunshine, super mario galaxy

just my personal favorite games that i'd recommend to everyone

[vkobe]

it is not essential

but my top 10 if i am limited to only 10 video game i can bring in space travel and never back to earth, so my list stopped at 31 december 2023

sims 3
dyson sphere program
mirror edge catalyst
anno 1800
xenoblade chronicle x
legend of heroe cold steel
neptunia rebirth 3
atelier firis
dragon age origin
witcher 3

honorable mention

hogwart legacy
divinity original sin 2
yakuza 0
no man sky
dark soul 3
castlevania lord of shadow

potential

baldur gate 3
dragon dogma 2
starfield