Okami - one of my favourite games of all time. It's silly fun, has a great aesthetic and is satisfying to play. There's well over a hundred hours of exploration if you want to find everything. Bonus points for being one of a few games to make me cry at the end.
Dragon Quest VIII - I can't imagine a better turn based RPG. It's a bit slow for the first 12-or-so hours, but once the game opens up you get a really huge world to explore. Just when you think you're starting to make a dent in it, you get a boat and suddenly there's a million more things to do. The combat can be a bit dull at times, but the enemies stay challenging as you progress and it's fun learning the best way to beat them.
Braid - Well made game, and a real classic. Interesting gameplay mechanics, tough puzzles and a mysterious story that leaves you wanting to hunt around the game for more clues.
Portal 2 - Possibly the best gameplay experience I've ever had. I loved the way the game unfolded. The pace, the dialogue, the puzzles. It could have been harder and longer, but I everything that was there was top-notch. I don't know if I'll ever enjoy another game as much as my first playthrough of Portal 2.
Special mentions include: SoTC, Quake 3 (I could literally play this game forever, and you should too!), Rayman 3 and AO.
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