Note: I have an updated version of this list here.
That's hard to answer, because I like such variety of genres. Here's the ones I've enjoyed most. To keep this list from filling up with Metroid sequels, I’m arranging it more by genre. For each game, I've listed Runners-Up for similar games that also took a lot of my time.
13. Life is Strange (Best Storytelling Game)
Runner-Up: Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
12. Gauntlet (Best Multiplayer Dungeon Crawl)
Runners-Up: Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance, Dungeon Siege
11. Super Mario World (Best Action Platformer Starring A Plumber)
Runners-Up: Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario Maker
10. Silent Hill 2 (Best Horror)
Runner-Up: Resident Evil 2
9. Mario Kart 8 (Best Racing Game For People Who Don't Like Actual Racing Games)
Runner-Up: Mario Kart 64
8. Dragon Age (Best RPG That's Not Skyrim)
Runner-Up: Knights of the Old Republic, NeverWinter Nights
7. Injustice: Gods Among Us (Best Fighting Game)
Runners-Up: Mortal Kombat 9, Marvel Vs Capcom 2
6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Best Action Adventure Not-Quite RPG)
Runners-Up: LOZ: A Link Between Worlds, LOZ: Ocarina of Time
5. The Sims 4 (Best Time Suck While Wishing I Lived In A Computer)
Runner-Up: The Sims 3
4. Skyrim (Best Immersive First Person RPG)
Runner-Up: Oblivion
3. Chrono Trigger (Best JRPG That Isn't A Final Fantasy Game)
Runner-Up: Earthbound
2. Final Fantasy 6 (Best JRPG Period Hands Down)
Runner-Up: Final Fantasy 7
1. Super Metroid (Best Sci-Fi Action Platformer)
Runners-Up: Metroid Zero Mission, Bionic Commando, Mega Man 2
I've probably missed a few in there but overall I think I've hit the most important ones.
I would define myself as a gamer. I was practically born with a controller in my hand. My earliest memories involve arcade games like Asteroids and Space Invaders. Gaming continues to be my favorite hobby, even if I don't have time to do it as much as I used to.
I've owned the following systems at one time or another: Atari 2600, TRS-80, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, 8-bit Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation, Playstation 2, Playstation 4, Wii, Wii U, X-Box 360, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance SP, Sega Game Gear, and Nintendo 3DS. Yes I'm including old computers in the list because I used them almost exclusively for video games. Note that these consoles were new when I had them (as opposed to the modern trend of collecting retro systems). I also play pencil-and-paper RPGs.
Unfortunately, the modern usage of "gamer" brings to mind sexist guys with neckbeards and fedoras, who only play macho games like Call of Duty. When I was a kid, gamers weren't respected because video games were considered new and evil. But today, gamers aren't respected because we're often judged by the loudest of us. Too many people think all gamers are like the whiny MRAs on GameFAQs, because they get the most media attention.
But really, is anyone not a gamer at this point? Even my elders are constantly playing Candy Crush on their phones these days, while still looking down at the younger generations for being addicted to computer screens. When I call myself a gamer, it's not just because I like video games, it's because they've been such a big part of my life that they're part of my psychological makeup. It's because I think about the stories behind games even when I'm not playing them. Heck, I used to draw comic books based on Metroid.
So even thought I'm not particularly good at video games, and even though I rarely own the newest systems or play the most popular games, I'm definitely a gamer.
Things I like in a game:
1. Customization. I love to design my own character. Some game companies put too much thought into designing a marketable main character, when I’m happier with a generic one that I designed myself. This is kind of what killed the GTA series for me. In GTA 3 you were a nameless, voiceless thug, but there was a code that let you look like other NPCs in the game. But later GTA games put too much work into making your character memorable, when all I wanted was to choose my appearance.
2. If deep customization isn’t available, at least give us multiple characters to choose from. Bonus points if at least one of the characters is female. I'm about 50% more likely to stick with a game if I can play as a female character.
3. I like games I can break. I don’t play games for the challenge, I just want to see what happens next. I don’t like dying and replaying the same levels a lot. I love it when I can find armor that makes me nearly invincible, or weapons that let me dominate my foes. After a stressful day at work there’s nothing more fun than mowing down a swarm of enemies.
4. Easy to stop and resume. This is a more recent thing, as I’ve gotten older and don’t have as much time to play. I don’t want there to be hours between save points. I don’t want a plot so complicated that I can’t remember what I was doing if I don’t play for a week. If the game has quests, I want a journal system that helps me remember them, and a map system that makes it easy to find my next target. Skyrim was excellent about this.
My Favorite Genres:
I mostly like RPGs, Fighting, Sci-Fi Action, Horror, and Platformers. However, I'm pretty selective about what games I see through to the end. These days I tend to buy a lot of cheap games on Steam, then play most of them for about 2 minutes before trying something else. Maybe one out of 50 games sticks with me, and I'll play it for years. As much as I love RPGs, I just don't have time to pay attention to long plots any more. But I do love mindless dungeon crawlers like Torchlight and Dungeon Siege.
Games I've Played the Most:
According to Steam, my most played game is Skyrim, with 148 hours as of this writing. Of course, that's only Steam games. I'm sure I've at least that much into The Sims 3, and my Wii U says I've put over 100 hours into Super Mario Maker. Also, back when I used to host a NeverWinter Nights server, I probably put more hours into NWN than any other game in my life. And back when I first discovered the internet, I put hundreds of hours into on online game called JediMUD.
JRPGs or Western RPGs?
I like RPGs, but I am picky about them. I can only name a handful that I’ve played to the end, but those few I’ve played through multiple times. So I’m very loyal to a small number of RPGs. I like Western RPGs because they’re more likely to have customizable characters. I like Japanese RPGs because of the creative characters and stories. So I would say I’m about 50/50.
Multiplayer:
I’ve loved multiplayer games since the original Gauntlet, but I dislike competitive online shooters. My favorite multiplayer games are basically Gauntlet derivations: Torchlight, Baldur’s Gate Dark Alliance, Dungeon Siege, and other mindless dungeon crawlers. I don’t play a lot of these games any more because I don’t see my friends as often, and they never have the same game systems as me.
Consoles or PCs:
This used to be an easy question. While I had a few gaming computers in the 8-bit era, most of my life has been about consoles. I really liked how console games were plug-and-play, and you didn't have to worry if your machine had the right specs. Shove the cartridge in, and you're playing the game within 30 seconds. But modern consoles are just as bad as PCs about installing games and downloading updates. And computer games are cool because you can install mods. So at this point in my life I'd have to say I like both equally.
Favorite System:
The Super Nintendo is hands-down my favorite system of all time. A lot of that is nostalgia. It was the first system I earned with my own money, and it came out at just the right time of my life. The SNES controller is also one of my all-time favorite controllers.
If I were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one game, what would it be?
Probably Skyrim. There’s just so much to do. There are several games I like better, but those games are only good for one playthrough every couple of years. Skyrim consistently surprises me with new areas the more I explore it. Between the PS4 and the PC, I’ve put more than 200 hours into this game, and I still haven’t seen everything.
