Introduction

I thought it would be fun to find out what everyone's top 10 PC games were! I always enjoy reading the "top lists" on game sites and sometimes find new games in the process, so why not try and make your own?

By the way, my list is based around the fun factor I got while I was playing during that time. If I was to play at this time, I may not think X game is more fun than Y game due to graphics, gameplay, etc. Replayability is somewhat taken into account while content is somewhat downplayed. Seems like a paradox, but some may understand. :) Also, I haven't played that many games extensively. I lose interest relatively quickly. Although I have played quite a few semi-briefly.

By the way, title got cut off. It should read, "read first post for rules." for those wondering.

Rules

1. They must be PC games.
2. They must have been played reasonably far into. (i.e. I can't post BG2 because I haven't played it yet. :P)
3. Comments are optional on your list, but they would be helpful!
4. Don't be harsh on other people's lists. Difference between harsh and critical.
5. If your rating to be given for the above post is broken by other people's comments, try to quote them or type @name. It makes things easier for others.

List

10. Minecraft

Somehow, between survival and creativity this little gem managed to creep into my list. I loved legos as a kid and this feels like playing with legos all over again.

9. Worms World Party

Oh the days I played/tinkered with Worms! It was constant fun trying to kill the worms in as many different ways possible - sometimes skillfully, others I would just die in the process.

8. Rollercoaster Tycoon

Let the money roll in! Perhaps my first financial management game, it was incredibly fun to design your own theme park! Ah, the sight of people throwing up after riding my coaster of death brought me smiles.

7. Sim City 4

I don't think I was ever good at this game, haha. I would always go bankrupt as my city hit medium size. Then I would just wreck disasters on the city. Still, the whole process was highly intriguing and fun.

6. Jagged Alliance 2 w/ 1.13 fan patch

I lost count how many times I went back to this game. It was simply wonderful - the harmony between realism and gameplay. The attachment you form with the characters in the game are really something. Should I attempt a stealthy, night-op mission with my highly-specialized, knife-throwing, martial artist equipped with a katana? Why yes, I think I will. *later on* Wow they had land mines?? Reload.

5. Rise of Nations w/ expansion

Don't launch your nukes! @ my friends in a 5 person LAN party. Take him out, I think he's trying to go armageddon! Beep, beep, beep! WHY!??! *2 seconds later* Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, etc. Armageddon. Draw game. Losers smile at the outcome, while winners lament at their loss of a potential victory. That's just one scenario. Civilization merged with Age of Empires... "Gather, Tech, Build, Battle" taken to a whole new level. It was amazing. Great shame there is not a true sequel to it.

4. Need for Speed 3 Hot Pursuit

This game made me a fan of driving games. I still have memories of playing it in my elementary school. Ah, the horrid, pixelated graphics were so fun! Trying to jump the highest, not get caught the longest, and win the race in your selection of beautiful cars... Adrenaline pumping action! Must search online for downloadable cars! Some may be wondering how this game scored higher than the ones above it, and I'm curious as well. But I know that this game deserves this place. It had that special something in it that made it a blast to play.

3. Dragon Age Origins

Perhaps the first RPG game that truly captivated my attention (until the dungeon part. Then I just quit due to the dwarves' ignorance. But I think that's reasonably far, no?) Excellent voice acting, sweet classical graphic perspective, and polish upon polish just overflowed. And the characters! Wow. Sometime these days, I need to get back and push my self through the dungeon part. Dwarves don't stop me now!

2. Command and Conquer Red Alert

My first RTS game. Tanya was awesome. Attack dogs were awesome too. So were the attack planes. In fact, the whole game sizzled with action. Not to mention super powers such as chrono trig... I mean chronosphere and nuclear warhead...ah good memories. Somehow I didn't get the same feeling when I played Red Alert 2. Of course it was fun, and I know Red Alert 2 would be more fun if I played both right now. But, during the time that I played Red Alert, it was pure awesome. A genre milestone? Perhaps.

1. Portal (just kidding!) Command and Conquer Tiberian Sun w/ expansion

Ok, I loved Westwood. :P This game was just oozing with style, atmosphere, and gameplay. In fact, I think I will still have as much fun if I played this one right now. Mechs, mutants, lasers, giant FREAKIN' ELEPHANTS?? Wow (it's not insanely mind-warping as I made it sound like just now). Such a shame Westwood got bought by EA. Dragon Age 2. Cringe. Anyway, this game brought me the same feelings as Red Alert, except with improved graphics, atmosphere, and style - this is saying a lot because I had such a fun time with Red Alert. Oh and I really liked seeing those in-game movies between missions. They were meant to be cheesy(?) but I didn't think so back then - I was too into the game. In fact, I'm still not sure to this day if I consider them to be cheesy. :) Thanks for reading!

Alright. Ten at top for the bottom game in the list, right?

10 - Roller Coaster Tycoon
Strategy games are not my strong suit. I tend to lose them quickly even on the easiest settings regardless of if they are combat sims, managerial sims, or any other kind of strategy title. So when I say I played the hell out of Roller Coaster Tycoon and never once grew frustrated with it, that should tell you two things: A) the game is easy as hell, and B) it's fun to boot. Nothing makes you smile quite like spending several hours working on your custom coaster until you finally get it working exactly like you want it to.

9 - TES3: Morrowind
I'm a big fan of Bethesda as a company. They have a great eye for game design, even if their projects are usually buggy as all get out. Morrowind had the perfect balance of tight design with open-ended gameplay, making it one of those titles that gamers will be coming back to for years to come.

8 - Age of Empires II
A lot of people prefer Age of Mythology over its older brother, but I found myself much preferring the vastly greater scope and crisp 2d graphics of the elder. With a clean interface, deep yet easy to understand progression, and a goodly number of different cultures to play as, each with a slightly different strategy, Age of Empires II is a game that, for me, never gets old.

7 - Might And Magic
Yes, the original. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed what I've played of all the games in the series, but there's just something... magical, about the first game. The simple yet efficient graphics clearly represent what you need without getting in the way of your imagination, the game is hard but not unfair, and call me a masochist but I love the challenge of mapping my own way through the world. A true classic of the computer gaming industry.

6 - Half Life
A lot of people might have a problem with my inclusion of this title, but bear with me. Half-Life was one of the first FPS games to efficiently integrate puzzle solving and storytelling aspects seamlessly into the gameplay. To this day, the graphics stay adequate, and for the time it was made they were damn impressive. Add to that the title's support of many of the internet's most popular multiplayer FPS franchises, and you have an instant winner here in my opinion.

5 - Baldur's Gate
I'm a huge fan of role playing games, and when it comes to utilizing the DnD license nobody has done it better than Bioware. While I have personally spent a hell of a lot more time playing Neverwinter Nights, and will continue to do so, there is no denying that from both a technical and story perspective Baldur's Gate is the far superior title, initial release compression issues aside.

4 - Civilization 4
While real-time strategy titles scare the bajeezus out of me (I can't seem to keep up with the action in them, whether it's Starcraft or C&C) I absolutely fell in love with Civilization. I regret that I am missing a large history of experience with the series, having started with 4 and finding it impossible to get into 3 afterward, but I have no regrets about the countless hours I have sunk into this gem of a title.

3 - Doom
Many people would place Doom II above the original when it comes to ranking great games, but in my opinion there's nothing like the original. Any PC gamer will get nostalgic hearing the first few midi-tones of the game burst from their speakers, and I don't know of a single person who gets tired of the screams of Imps and Pinkies as they're being splattered across the landscape. Wolfenstein might be the grandaddy of all FPS titles, but for better or worse Doom is the title that made the genre a staple of the PC gaming industry.

2 - Diablo II
Hack and slash, anyone? Sporting gameplay that has been immitated but not equaled by countless PC RPG titles since, the Diablo series is everybody's go-to franchise for some good old fashioned monster killing, and while the original was darn near perfect Diablo II took its formula and made it bigger, darker, and deeper than before. Blizzard has neglected this series for far too long.

1 - Minecraft
I'll admit it, I'm addicted to this game. I've owned it since September of '09, and it's the title that inspired me to truly become interested in the indie gaming market. For all the complaints people spout about it not really being a game, I've found more than enough entertainment value fighting off creepers and zombies while building cities, towers, and underground railroads galore. Of all the games on my PC, this is the only one I boot up on nearly a daily basis for an hour or two of construction work.

Welp, that's my top 10! It was a hard choice, but these are the games that really "do it" for me. Of course, there are plenty of other great titles, and thusly I now present my
HONORABLE MENTIONS
(in no particular order:)
--Desktop Dungeons
--Oblivion
--Dungeon Hack
--Quake
--Warcraft (yes, the original)
--Blood

Okay, but these could change at any time...

10 - Crysis
My second-favorite FPS, Crysis is a great sandbox as well as a great tactical experience. Put the game on Delta difficulty and spend hours sneaking and picking-off hostile soldiers in the woods, tension mounting with every kill despite the quick-save button. Or play it on normal and blast through enemy camps with super speed and super strength, throwing barrels at enemy heads and blowing up everything you see with realistic physics. Insanely open, both in level size and gameplay, Crysis is the antithesis to the modern shooter which keeps you constantly in a tunnel.

9 - Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Just perfect stealth, accessible yet challenging. On a pure gameplay scale it probably beats Thief for me, but its generic setting and story put it a couple places behind on this list. The soundtrack is amazing, Michael Ironside owns the role of Fisher and no game ever looked this good as early as it did.

8 - Sam & Max Hit the Road
My favorite adventure game by far. King's Quest VI got me into the genre with both feet along with Under a Killing Moon, but when I think back to adventure games and my long nights playing them in the mid-90's it's Sam & Max I remember most fondly. Some of the best dialogue ever written for a video game.

7 - Thief II: The Metal Age
Honestly I almost gave this to Thief 3, which I know many would feel is sacrilege. I just love the entire series and 3 is arguably the best presentation-wise, plus it has that cradle level. Thief 2 has the best sneaking though, and isn't that the core of the damn series? So Thief 2 gets the nod. These games also have unique settings and some of the best fucking movies in all of gaming history.

6 - Mass Effect
Mass Effect presents sci-fi the way I want it to be presented. Inspired by the best of 70's and early 80's sci-fi movies along with a great cinematic story Mass Effect's presentation is tough to beat. While Mass Effect 2 did the shooting better the original trumps it in all other areas with planets to explore, crazy armor to find and use and a much better narrative that keeps you interested the entire game and ends with a bang. Also: best video game music ever.

5 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
My favorite GTA game mostly because of the setting and style. I am a child of the 80's so it went straight to my heart, plus the game was expanded in some key ways from 3 like having a much better story. GTA4 is right beside this installment with amazing animations and physics, plus a great story all its own, but Vice City is my nostalgia pick.

4 - F.E.A.R.
Yes, F.E.A.R. is my favorite FPS ever. It's not just the scary atmosphere and the incredible presentation, it's also the insanely visceral combat and astounding enemy AI. Seriously, AI has not been done better since this game and it was never done as well before it, F.E.A.R. is still the AI king 5+ years later. Throw that AI in with the particle effects and animation of masters and you have the most intense combat game ever made.

3 - Fallout (and Fallout 2)
The original is the best in a lot of ways, though Fallout 2 is right there with it with a larger world and crazier ideas. Both are essential RPGs with writing and environments at the top of the genre. Plus it's just fucking different. How I wish we had more unique settings for RPGs today.

2- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The world man, my God the world! It's just breathtaking... visually stunning and well designed, alien but also familiar. It never gets boring to explore for me, and on top of that you have some great RPG gameplay. The story of man-made Gods through technology is great as is the structure of the game, where the end boss is there for the fighting when you feel up to it.

1 - Deus Ex
I love me some cyberpunk and I also love me some open-ended RPG gameplay. Throw in a great story and good first-person action and you have the best game ever.


NOTES: No Half-Life? What? Yeah, I was a little surprised it didn't pop up there myself. The episodes really are not as good as HL2 proper if you ask me, by a wide margin, which I think has spoiled my fondness somewhat. HL2 would be in the top 20 though, without a doubt. Bioshock would have made this list a year or so ago, but I replayed it about 6 months ago and it didn't quite hold up as well as I thought it would (mostly due to mechanics). On a similar note System Shock 2 was disqualified because I haven't played it since it came out and barely remember it to be honest. The Witcher, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines and Gothic 3 were all disqualified because I never beat any of them, despite playing them for hundreds of hours, which I know is insane.

Also it broke my heart not to list Mirror's Edge, which is an amazing game. It would probably be number 11. Yes, above Half-Life 2. SUCK IT!

I've heard mixed reviews of Mirror's Edge, enough so that even though its concept interested me I haven't picked it up yet. It's really worth playing, then?

This is my list based upon fun factor.

10. Duke Nukem 3D
9. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
8. Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger
7. Quake 3
6. Operation Flashpoint
5. Doom
4. Half-Life
3. Team Fortress 2
2. Deus Ex
1. Crusader: No Remorse

10. Quake 3: Arena
Excellent fun, even if you, like me, only play with bots. Insanely fun.

9. Half-Life 2
Honestly, I couldn't decide if I wanted to put this one here or the first one, but they are both excellent.

8. Doom
A great game, no more needs to be said.

7. Princess Maker 2
It's a genuinely fun game, guys.

6. Alone in the Dark
Excellent early survival horror game, lots of great and awesome fun.

5. Myth 2: Soulblighter
Brutally hard and unforgiving, this game is excellent and fun. Even if your goddamn dwarves can't throw straight.

4. Return to Castle Wolfenstein
I love this game. With the exception of one level (you know which one I'm talking about) everything is done just perfectly.

3. Condemned: Criminal Origins
Honestly, pretty much a tie with its sister series, F.E.A.R. Creepy, moody, and intense.

2. System Shock 2
Creepy, very intense, and easily one of the best games I've played.

1. Blood
fun, frantic, full of little Easter eggs for horror fans like myself, this game has everything.

I really loved your top 10 and being too lazy to write my own I can say that we are in complete sync apart from no 8 and 4 which I would of replaced with Bioshock and Fable respectively.

Absolutely. It's more of a first person platformer than a shooter (I get the feeling they designed the game to actually discourage you from using weapons). The visuals are lovely - really colourful and vibrant. The city is pretty, but can seem lifeless, although I didn't mind that at all. It gave me this peaceful feeling as I leapt from building to building with no distractions. Sometimes I'd stop when I get really high up, walk over to the edge of the roof and just stare down at the city. It's really pretty cool. I thought the story to be just... meh... but that's not what you're playing the game for.

----------------------------

My top 10? Hmm... I have a top 5, but after that I'm not too sure...

10. Counter-Strike 1.6
Spent so much time on this game I pretty much HAVE to put it in this list. My friends and I used to be seriously addicted to it.

9. Diablo II
Same reason as above.

8. SimCity 4
I was debating to put Simcity 4 here or Simcity 2000. I had tons of fun with Simcity 2000 back in the day, but Simcity 4 is just so much better that it beats out nostalgia.

7. Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
Great story, and funny, yet still manages to maintain a serious tone. I'm actually not sure why I love it this much... I just... do.

6. The Curse of Monkey Island
One of my first LucasArts adventure games. Loved the cartoony look, the humour, and well designed puzzles. It really made me love the adventure genre.

5. System Shock 2
Scared the crap out of me all those years ago, even though I had a walkthrough in hand! The mix of genres and different options you can take to complete an objective made the game extremely fun and pretty replayable.

4. Planescape: Torment
I didn't really play this game until 3 or 4 years ago. I was kind of turned off by the various reviews saying it's like 'playing a novel' (I'm not a big fan of reading books). Since I love Baldur's Gate 2 so much, I finally decided to give PS:T a try. I finished it, then immediately went back to play it again... and then again. The story and writing were so good that I actually tried to avoid long fights just so I can continue learning about The Nameless One and the mysteries of the Planes.

3. Baldur's Gate II
My first D&D game ever. It took me forever to really get into it since I didn't even know what D&D was before that. I still don't completely understand the mechanics behind many of the rules and stats, not that I really need to to enjoy this game. BG2 is such a deep game that offers months of gameplay in one playthrough. The problem is that it's impossible to do everything in one go, so you play again with a different character class/alignment/party, and there goes another 200 hours. The story is great as well; Jon Irenicus is simply a superb villain.

2. UFO: Enemy Unknown (AKA X-Com: UFO Defense)
Such a deep strategy game that is still enjoyable today. It may have been difficult, but it felt awesome to shoot down a big UFO, then land next to it and killing all the aliens, research their own weapons to use against them. Not only did you have to manage your soldiers on the battlefield (which was destructible by the way), but also had to manage your finances, base(s), research, etc.

1. Civilization II
While the newer Civilization games (especially 3 and 4) have upgraded Civ2, making it pretty much obsolete, Civ2 is still in my opinion the best game ever made from a purely nostalgic viewpoint, since none of the later versions made me feel nearly the same way while playing them. Having control over an empire without it feeling too complicated is just wonderful. There weren't too many sliders to fiddle around with, you didn't really NEED to micromanage, but still had so many options to you, and unlike most other game series, you could be a very peaceful nation yet still win!

Honourary mentions:
Sanitarium, StarCraft, Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Dungeon Keeper, Fallout: New Vegas, Master of Orion II, Freelancer

tracking

This is tough. I can flip flop this list all day.

10. Wasteland
9. Half Life 2
8. Ultima Underworld
7. Company of Heroes
6. Silent Storm
5. Crusader: No Remorse
4. Thief 2: The Metal Age
3. Dues Ex
2. Fallout
1. System Shock 2

Tough to decide, but I think my top ten are:

10. Diablo II
9. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
8. Sanitarium
7. Baldur's Gate
6. Baldur's Gate 2
5. Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines
4. Mass Effect
3. Planescape: Torment
2. Dues Ex
1. Fallout

I think the game is a masterpiece but obviously others disagree. It has a truly amazing soundtrack though and and very unique visual style. The gameplay is about always moving... jump, run, slide, get through the area as fast as possible. This focus on speed made the game short, but like Portal I think it's exactly the right length. A lot of people hated the combat but honestly it's pretty normal FPS combat, so I never understood the gripe. It's also nice to have some brief combat sections to break up the platforming, and it's cool to run up and kick a guy, take his gun as he falls, then shoot his two buddies.

It's a divisive game though. If you don't like figuring out where to go, which a lot of people seem to hate, then you won't like the game. If you want a strong narrative you won't like the game, because it has none. If you don't want to run and jump one minute then have an FPS shootout on a roof the next minute then you won't like the game. Thanks! I have never beat Fable, despite owning it. I should do that before I play Fable 3 I guess.

So far I have to say all the games listed are absolute classics, I feel my list might be heavily nostalgia based, but these are the games I think of when I think of how much fun I've had gaming.


10. Black Moon Chronicles

To be honest my memories of this game might be tainted because of the amount of effort it takes to get it running. Simply described as a TW game but with magic and heroes, based on the French comic of the same name.
There was something about old priests taking down dragons with lighting b lots which just spoke to me as a gamer :)

(I'm really interested to see if any of you guys have heard of this game Nb there was a MMO sequel with the same name which failed to get off the ground)

9. Diablo 2

Like many people here I have lost many hours to this game with friends. I like to refer to it as a cup of tea game, as in you can play in while having a cup and your skill doesn't really go down.

A classic hack a slash game.

8. Day of the Tentacle

I played it with my brother when it first came out as one of my 1st introductions to point and clicks. I fell in love with the mad logic and style.
More recently I put it on my phone and replayed it on a long coach trip, while it only took me hours not weeks it was still crazy fun.

A throw back to days before I had access to internet hints.

7. Jedi Knight : Dark Forces 2 and mysteries of the Sith.

My first true 3D fps love. Played the demo and loved the design and the force powers. I think the original has the edge over the add on just because of the cut scenes being real actors.
The game also got my father into FPS games which he is now way more into than I am

Strangely never clicked with the later games in the series

6. Warcraft 3

Played a lot of WC and WC2 so WC3 was the natural progression, never got into starcraft as much don't really know why. I liked the heroes as it gave you something to do while you were building up your base. When I got to uni I discovered tower defences, dota and many many many more mods. Which became the staple of our game nights.

Great RTS base game, even better moding community


5. Mirror's Edge

StingingVelvet really said all that needs to be said about this game, it is the only fps I've played which got my heart racing.

4. Morrowind

The classic open world game, while the graphics’s don't hold up to the sequel Oblivion the game play is streaks ahead.
The only thing which would make this game better would be a coop mode.

3. Ascendancy

A underrated game by the logic factory. Your race has discovered space travel now go and explore the universe. Despite the flaws in AI it was the first game I played which felt truly epic, when after a few hours you have barely seen 5% of the possible planets you really feel a small player in a much bigger game.

Again it would be better with coop, but I guess the Imperium Galactica series does that well enough.

2. Rome: Total War

Again another gaming night classic, 4 humans, 4 AI 10:1 point disadvantage. While the later games have better AI and graphics, they have just never seemed as fun. Charging a hoard of Gaulic warriors at a wall of Roman legionaries never gets dull.
And the single player campaign is great too.

1. Pirates Gold

Clocked serious hours into this game it being my game of choice for about three years.
I loved the free roaming, the hunting down pirates even the treasure hunting. I have tried many games claiming to be the successors but none have ever drawn me in as much (even Pirates!).
For me this will always be the game which turned me into a gamer.

Consoles weren't very popular here and personally I only had PCs, so this thread is very interesting for me. It's nice to see some overlaps, but also to get a different view on other games.

10. Sid Meiers Pirates
The original Pirates is a great mix of different genres - exploration, action, rpg and management. The last remake (not Pirates Gold) with it mini games and graphics looks a little bit too hilarious to me, but maybe I'm wrong.

09. Bundesliga Manager Hattrick / Football Limited
This is a german football manager, very popular and well known in germany. I played this one very often with my friends in hotseat-mode, but it is still very addictive in single mode. It is one of the first games with an expanded stadium part, which allows you to improve the stadium area (parking lot, snack stands, etc.).

08. Indiana Jones: Fate of Atlantis
I love the old movies, especially the last crusade. The story is much better than the last movie, really a shame they didn't use it for the movie. I also love the first game (Last Crusade) and all the other LucasArts games (okay, Maniac Mansion not really, but that's another story).

07. Grand Theft Auto Vice City
It's all about the atmosphere. Miami Vice mixed with all the good mafia movies. I can just drive for hours with the radio on in the car, it's just fantastic.

06. Sensible World of Soccer
This is the original one which deserves to be on GOG. I know the 06er here on gog can also be fun when you use the modification, but it is not comparable to this classic one. While todays football games need thousands of buttons and combinations to play this needs only a few keys. This doesn't mean it isn't challenging, it is. I know a few years back there were tournaments and a fine community, didn't checked this for a long time.

05. Leisure suit Larry 1
Beside Kings Quest 1 this is the first adventure I played as a kid. Of course my english was so bad I didn't got to the notorious parts of the game. Years later I did another run and finished it. The story is maybe not the best of todays standard, but this game is pure nostalgia for me. I really prefer the old AGI version, because the remake tries a little bit too hard to be funny.

04. The Longest Journey
Thanks to GOG I got the chance to play this one - what a great story and what a catchy atmosphere. I also enjoyed the follower Dreamfall, but all the cliffhangers made me a little bit upset.

03. Duke Nukem 3D
Many good old hollywood action movie stars combined in one person. Duke is funny, but not slapstick. It is pure action, but not too fast and mindless.

02. Civilization 2
Maybe it has not the best AI, but it was the game of the series I played the most. Everytime I try to colonize the whole continent as fast as possible to keep the enemies away and to focus on science and economic development. There are for sure better ways to play, but I just love to manage all my cities.

01. Anstoss 3 (Off the ball series)
Anstoss was a football manager series from Ascaron. While todays manager try to be as much complex as possible and you need a weekend alone for a season preparation this one has still many options, but it can be played very fast - perfect for hotseat multiplayer. I loved the option to print all your data sheets (financial, team management), so you have all your informations while the other player is on his turn.

Long post inc. It's mostly oldies - I have played some new games, like Dragon Age Origins, but haven't been particularly impressed with it or other more modern RPGs.

10) Diablo II
Hack&slash, but fun hack&slash. Have only played it as singleplayer, and have at most reached lvl 55+ on a character, but it was still fun. D3 is a must-buy for me.

9) Warlords III: Darklords Rising
The first game I’ve ever played on the computer. Used to play it all the time when I were little. I loved it, and still do, although I have only played it once after growing up. Can still remember the first time all the opponents surrendered - I had to get my father to translate what had happened.

8) Mount & Blade
There’s no better medieval combat simulator, IMO. It feels so instinctive and natural. I am particulary in love with the horseback archery. I don’t care too much about the strategy elements – I usually lose interest in a particular game after 100 days. Now, if they would make a(n?) RPG where the combat maps would be the entire world, that’d be heaven. Something like Morrowind + Mount & Blade.

7) Heroes of Might & Magic III
I’m not good at strategy, and soon get tired of it, but in every other aspect this game rules.

6) Pharaoh
I like slow games where you have to think some, so the citybuilding games have always been favorites of mine. I think I’ve spent more hours on Caesar 3, but I like Pharaoh better. It’s great to get the city started, and watch the first tradesmen come in and buy your stuff, while the monuments grow larger and larger. The atmospheare is very good, too. Always liked the old Egypt.

5) Might & Magic 6: The Mandate of Heaven
I love this game. The world, the size of it, the bright colors, varied textures (compared to MM7 – the drab colors and unvaried textures kill that game for me within half an hour). The fun of having a party of four archmages nuking dragons out of the sky.

4) Thief: The Dark Project
I put T:TMA above T:DP because it was the pure sneaking experience, but I have come to really love T:DP too. I used to come to a grinding halt at mission 3: Down in the Bonehoard, but after I managed to get it through my skull that zombies are only threatening to 90 year old shuffling grampas using crutches, it’s jumped ahead to be my favorite level of just about any game. The sprawling complex where you have to really keep an eye out to find all the hidden spots, drawing your own maps (for this one time – it makes sense that you don’t have a map that shows every single little secret spot), the puzzles and yes, the zombies.

3) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
What’s not to love? Weird mushroom cities, huge atypical landscape, good quests without any handholding (I spent forEVER doing an early Mage Guild quest where you have to find a particular hideout. Wentback and forth over the same terrain, reread the instructions who knows how many times, finally found it, and realised that it was actually right where it was said it was. Simple quest, but it actually felt like a real accomplishment for me). The Mods. I just wish the combat system was better.

2) Baldur's Gate 2
The classic RPG. Have played it for so many hours. Neverwinter Nights doesn’t even reach the cellar of BG. The backgrounds and (less so) sprites are so detailed and varied that they still hold up very well, IMO.

1) Thief: The Metal Age
I love to go slowly and methodically through a level, so normal FPS have always put me off. Thief is the best game I’ve played – it rewards me for playing the way I prefer and the higher difficulty levels actually change the way that you play the game. I love the maps, where there’s no such thing as linearity. First City Bank and Trust is just pure joy for me.

Honourable mentions:
Dungeon Keeper. Awesome little game. I hope it’ll end up on GoG
Baldur's Gate. Great game, but I like the city:wilderlands ratio of BG2 more.
Planescape Torment. Have played it once, and want to try it again
World of Warcraft. I stopped playing it a year ago – the gameplay got too repetitive, but I have had some great experiences there.
Witcher. I’m only halfway through this one, but I really like what I have seen so far.
Oblivion. Good game, but Morrowind was better. It was way too generic, in pretty much all aspects.