The Fallout Series. Master of Orion 2. The Civilization series. Master of Magic.
These are, imho, the absolute best.
Fallout was mature, back when it was released this was something very rare and if a game was directed at adults, it consisted mostly of either blood and guts or boobs. Or both. While not good for children, I wouldn't call it mature ;) Fallout though, oh boy. Choices, morality, no black and white situations. And of course the setting is cool.
Master of Orion 2 - much better than the disappointment that was it's sequel, it's my favorite 4Xgame (eXplore,eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate). Designing your own ships, creating an empire, it's never been as fun as it was here.
Master of Magic - an old strategy game that looked and played like a cross between civ and an rpg game. Build cities, develop them, crush your enemies etc .. but also hire heroes, arm them, level them up, research spells, fight monsters, travel to another planes of existence... there was a lot to do.
Civ series - Hell, I'm addicted to these time stealing bitches. Steam is showing me almost 400 hours of civ5 ....I could write pages and pages about it. i won't. You're welcome.
As for shooters, a honorable mention must go to Unreal Tournament, the game of my High school, my first real online experience.
Yac.

I tried the Civ series, but turn based strategy games just didn't do it for me. I love turn based RPGs so I thought I'd like it...but I don't.

Although this was roughly 10 years ago, so maybe my opinion would be different these days...

I usually hate any type of turn-based game, but Civ may be the only exception, and particularly Civ 4. I thought 5 was definitely a step back.

Dude, if you don't like Civilization, I think that means that you may be missing a chromosome. ;)

Not the gamer I used to be, but I still indulge when the opportunity arises.
Gonna jump the Zelda bandwagon, with Majora's Mask and Windwaker being my favorite. I also love the Mass Effect (particularly 2 & 3), Fable, Smash Bros, and Pokemon Series.
I tried to like Half-Life, I really did, but something about it just didn't click with me.

I think my favorite game all time is probably this, now that I think about it:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...frontcover.jpg

The fable series got better with each release imo. Some people didn't like the 3rd game but I personally liked it a lot. It was just too short.

I still have Heart Gold for my DS and I love it. The original Gold version was my favorite pokemon game ever, so it just adds to the awesome.

it's a bloody port from the Atari ST, but this is the most intense and engaging game I have ever played, get it if you have an Amiga emulator:-

My favourites were probably the first two Oddworlds.

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...amonia_abe.jpg

All of the Fable releases are too short imo. And I absolutely agree that they got better each time. It was great to hear the hero talk for once.
And yeah, HG/SS is <3.