I really like this list a lot, and I agree in nearly every case. But I notice that it's light on console games/genres. If you'd permit, I'd like to expand on that a bit.BloatedGuppy said:
STORY-DRIVEN RPG: You're going to hear from everyone that Chrono Trigger and FFVI/VII are must-play games. And for the most part they're right. All three are brilliant games that popularized the JRPG formula as it exists today. My favorite, though, was Suikoden 2. I ADORE this game for its story and characters. It has a tone and gravity that few games at the time ever attempted, especially in the realm of console gaming. At its core, it is a story about friendship, and how the shifting tides of war can test the moral fiber of an individual in terms of their relationships. If you can look past some of the cutesy character art, it is a brilliant narrative experience.
TURN-BASED TACTICS: Front Mission 3. Every person in reality owes it to themselves to at least give this game a few hours. The mech customization is just the right level of specific and approachable, allowing and encouraging the player to become invested in their team's development. The battles themselves are varied and robust, one of the few games with positive examples of escort missions. Finally, the side content, the way that such an innocuous little in-game web browser can teach the player and allow for certain new possibilities in the main narrative (which can be totally missed if you skip the side stuff) was so unique at the time.
An honorary mention in this category goes to Final Fantasy Tactics. A brilliant game, but a great example of how sometimes too many options and not enough direction can negatively impact an experience. Building a viable party and keeping them alive is sometimes a bit too difficult, especially in the mid game. The high point of this title is the story, which you would have to play the PSP version in order to properly understand without glaring localization errors.
STEALTH: Metal Gear Solid. I am SHOCKED that I haven't seen this answer yet. With the recent release of MGSV, just about everyone in this hobby knows the name of the franchise. This game is the reason for that fame. Technically the third game in the series, Metal Gear Solid was the first game to garner any kind of notable acclaim, and for good reason. Fantastic controls, phenomenal level design, memorable characters, and a story so absurd it totally works. It was also a game unafraid to test its players cleverness, packed with some of the most iconic and unique moments in gaming which can never be replicated.
