The correct answer is starcraft: brood war. However, I will throw in Disciples 1 and 2 because they're flawless and I adore them.
Essential PC Games
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I'd recommend most games made so far by Blizzard (Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo series) save for WoW. WoW's a time hole that (for me) is devoid of enjoyment.
I'd also say get the Orange Box like a lot of others, and search for deals on Steam, yada, yada, yada...
Also, despite the hate people poured on it, I still think Spore is a pretty fun diversion, until it too hits the time hole point after a few hours of Space Exploration, and it's worth the probably 15-20$ you can get it for now. Of course, that's just one guy's opinion.
I'd also say get the Orange Box like a lot of others, and search for deals on Steam, yada, yada, yada...
Also, despite the hate people poured on it, I still think Spore is a pretty fun diversion, until it too hits the time hole point after a few hours of Space Exploration, and it's worth the probably 15-20$ you can get it for now. Of course, that's just one guy's opinion.
I don't know if there are essential PC games by name. There are essential PC games by type of game style, though.
StarCraft/Warcraft & Command & Conquer (Any of them) - RTS
A Civ game or Alpha Centauri - TBS
Diablo (1 or 2) or Dungeon Siege - Hack and Slash
Any one of the games made by either Black Isle or Bioware (Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, Planescape, or Arcanum) - Classic cRPG
Half-life 2 + at least one of its spawn (Counterstrike, TF2, any mods) - FPS
Morrowind or Oblivion (Morrowind recommended) - open world RPG
SimCity or one of the Sierra City Builders (Caesar 3, Pharaoh, Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom) - City builder
Freelancer, Freespace or X2/X3 (Freelancer recommended) - Space Game
Portal - Misc. Puzzle?
Can't really think of any other worthwhile types...
StarCraft/Warcraft & Command & Conquer (Any of them) - RTS
A Civ game or Alpha Centauri - TBS
Diablo (1 or 2) or Dungeon Siege - Hack and Slash
Any one of the games made by either Black Isle or Bioware (Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, Planescape, or Arcanum) - Classic cRPG
Half-life 2 + at least one of its spawn (Counterstrike, TF2, any mods) - FPS
Morrowind or Oblivion (Morrowind recommended) - open world RPG
SimCity or one of the Sierra City Builders (Caesar 3, Pharaoh, Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom) - City builder
Freelancer, Freespace or X2/X3 (Freelancer recommended) - Space Game
Portal - Misc. Puzzle?
Can't really think of any other worthwhile types...
Go to GoG.com and buy Freespace 2.
The game so good, it killed the Space Combat genre.
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/freespace_2
[sub][sub][sub]Actually, what killed the space-combat genre was probably the death of the joystick, and the rise of consoles. But whatever, the game's still fucking amazing.[/sub][/sub][/sub]
I also suggest looking at GoG's Freespace 2 mod spotlight. And getting the FS2OPEN and MediaVP mods. They beef up the game's graphics, and allow it to support modern resolutions.
The game so good, it killed the Space Combat genre.
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/freespace_2
[sub][sub][sub]Actually, what killed the space-combat genre was probably the death of the joystick, and the rise of consoles. But whatever, the game's still fucking amazing.[/sub][/sub][/sub]
I also suggest looking at GoG's Freespace 2 mod spotlight. And getting the FS2OPEN and MediaVP mods. They beef up the game's graphics, and allow it to support modern resolutions.
the original Deus Ex. One of the best games I have ever played.
Make sure you install steam and watch the sales. If the game looks interesting check it out, typically I get my games on sale for between 2 dollars US and 20 dollars US.
Make sure you install steam and watch the sales. If the game looks interesting check it out, typically I get my games on sale for between 2 dollars US and 20 dollars US.
The Orange Box.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
X-Com bargain pack
One of the Civilizations
That's about 3000 hours alone for about £40 ($65).
Throw in Minecraft and Dwarf Fortress for free (although I'd tip Toady and Notch) and you've got enough gaming to last you until the next decade.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
X-Com bargain pack
One of the Civilizations
That's about 3000 hours alone for about £40 ($65).
Throw in Minecraft and Dwarf Fortress for free (although I'd tip Toady and Notch) and you've got enough gaming to last you until the next decade.
Why has no one mentioned Homeworld? ARE YOU ALL MAD?! Thief games as well. Also, if you like space combat sims, may I suggest the Freespace series? I may? Thanks! Also Mechwarrior. Tribes.... Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. That one game whose name escapes me... Rogue Warrior, X-series.
Ewww. Both Civ III and Civ V are way better than that dog. Adding crappy features that muddy core gameplay does not equal an improvement.Sober Thal said:
RPG Style games that are a PC gamer must have:
Planescape: Torment bar none the best of the oldschool Infinity engine (Baldur's Gate/Icewind Dale) games. So play this one if you're only willing to go through one crappy low res game.
System Shock 2 The game sucks for the first 2 hours and the last 4 hours, but in between it's the Best Game Ever Made. It didn't sell well at all, but having beaten it is considered a badge of honor amongst hardcore PC gamers.
Deus Ex (1) Better leveling scheme and the story is just as good as SS2. However you never feel genuine fear in this one, it's considerably easier.
Knights of the old Republic Discussed by various people already
Fallout 1, 2 or New Vegas Fallout 1 and 2 are great if you can live with the crap graphics, Fallout NV should be patched now so may be worth playing.
Morrowind Best of the Bethesda games, Oblivion and Fallout 3 are lesser cousins.
Soulstorm was better. Just saying...Xpwn3ntial said:
OP: Starcraft, all the Bethesda games, all the Bioware games, Civilization V, all the Age of Empires games, Empire Earth 1, everything Relis has ever made, especially Homeworld, the Total War series, all the Half-Life games, Team Fortress 2, and all the STALKER games.
If you have to pick five, i recommend STALKERs Shadow of Chernobyl and Call of Pripyat, Dawn of War 1 (kinda need them all to play Soulstorm or Dark Crusade, but they sell for $30 total), Homeworld, and then either Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, or Oblivion, because Bethesda games means amazing user made mods.
i'm gonna go out on a limb here and say "Stronghold" (the 2001 version)
as well as Starcraft and Warcraft 3.
as well as Starcraft and Warcraft 3.
I shall add in Bioshock, I just got it and I'm loving it 
TF2 and the orange box have already been mentioned, and so has starcraft...umm...
If you can lay you're hands on it an oldschool title that's kinda fun is Dungeon keeper, it's old and hard to find though.
Lastly if you like more strategic RPG's then Guild Wars is fun too The level cap is 20...but the kicker is that you can only take 8 skills out at once. It really makes you plan everything out and is fun.
TF2 and the orange box have already been mentioned, and so has starcraft...umm...If you can lay you're hands on it an oldschool title that's kinda fun is Dungeon keeper, it's old and hard to find though.
Lastly if you like more strategic RPG's then Guild Wars is fun too
The level cap is 20...but the kicker is that you can only take 8 skills out at once. It really makes you plan everything out and is fun.