Chrono trigger

• Half-Life/Half-Life 2
• The original Fallout
• The original Doom
• Brutal Doom (the campaign)
• Star Control 2 (The Ur'Quan Masters fan-made modernized version)
• The Neverhood
• Subnautica (not Below Zer0)
• Duke Nukem 3D
• Total Annihilation
• Megaman (the first one)
• Megaman X (the first one)
• Team Fortress 2
• Portal 2

This is by no means an all inclusive list. These are just games that I personally played that fit the criteria.

Completely different genre but the Stabley Parable checks all of these.

100 years in the future and it will be just as perfect.

Morrowind ?

Doom. The game that solidified a gaming genre and has become a benchmark for computers. 'Can you play doom on it?'

The Stick of Truth, obviously.

Semi-jokes aside, I am a bit sad that not a single person mentioned the first four Silent Hill games. The sheer influence that series had on video games as a whole, especially in the horror genre cannot be overstated. But I guess it is tricky with games because everyone has different tastes and interests. It is rare that games unite people the way lord of the rings did. Gaming is at once so broad and so niche.

A genuinely heart warming story that deals with strong themes of love and friendship in a way that made a genuine impact?

Undertale.

I would have to go with the Panzer Dragoon trilogy on the Sega Saturn.

While the first title was, at its basics, a fairly simple on rails shooter it was more than the sum of its parts.

It had incredible art direction, a sweeping musical score, innovative world building and rock solid gameplay.

The second title built up on the first installment in every way to solidify it as one of the best titles of that generation.

Then came Panzer Dragoon Saga which evolved the series into a full blown JRPG that is still so unique and unlike anything else out there.

Team Andromeda's passion, dedication and innovation ensured each game was a new benchmark for Segas black box.

What I wouldn't do for a new installment by the original team.

The Secret of Monkey Island

It's not a trilogy, but I gotta preach the good word of Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. If you enjoy 2D metroidvania style games it's top notch.

The game just drips in atmosphere. The environments are beautifully drawn and designed, characters and enemies are animated well and the music just wraps everything up in a nice bow. It's a melancholy game and it literally made me cry at points and I'm not the type to tear up often when playing games.

The game can be challenging at times, but I wouldn't say significantly so. I would say Hollow Knight is more challenging than this game especially with some of the end game content that that game has.

The game is worth full price, but it goes on sale pretty regularly and probably is right now with the summer sale on Steam.

There's also a sequel out now called Ender Magnolia. I haven't played it yet but I will eventually.

The Yakuza series I guess? Granted I've only played zero, kiwami and kiwami 2, but it all seems to be completely sincere in its craziness. It doesn't appear to pretend to be anything more than it is.

Deus Ex

Ocarina of Time

It's weird that Deus Ex isn't in this thread yet. Such a well made game with quite a few prophetic moments.

Morrowind

planescape torment

BG I,II

Fallout I,II

red dead redemption 2 is missing from a lot of these

Elden ring

There’s a recent one, Expedition 33.

Witcher 3 is pretty good

Has he not heard of Ocarina of Time?

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This is what can be done when the actual developers and artists are given a chance without executive meddling and forced monetization.

I feel like the labor of love part being something like Factorio, Satisfactory, NMS is fitting. Also grand scale, holds up well, graphics aren't the main point

The Persona series comes to mind. But probably more than anything Witcher 3, Skyrim, Disco Elysium, Stardew Valley, No Man’s Sky, Nier Replicant/Automata, Metal Gear Solid 3, there’s actually quite a few imo.

Edit: oh and dwarf fortress!

I always felt like Breath of the Wild was Lord of the rings animated by studio Ghibli the videogame.

Undertale

Doki Doki Literature Club

Terraria

Final fantasy 6 Chrono trigger Capcom vs SNK2 Soul Calibur 2 Super Mario Bros 3

These games all stand tall as giants of excellence decades after their release. Teams have already decent renowned executing at the peak of their genre with true craftsmanship and deep care into their design from mechanics to aesthetics to music to gameplay.