Basically, I have recently installed Windows 7 onto my new Macbook pro, which seems to be able to run games pretty damn well.

I have barely played any games apart from WoW and Halo in the last 7 years, and having recently been amazed by Modern Warfare 1 & 2 (Seriously, MW2 was ridiculously good, as well as having killer graphics), I am looking for recommendations regarding the best games around.

I am not particular to any main genre, just want ones that are worth the time spent playing. Ie, a good plot line, good game play, and preferably pretty graphics.

Having browsed around, my list so far is the Mass Effect games and Dragon Age: Origins. They look pretty sweet.

What else do you guys recommend?

 

StarCraft II once it hits the shops.

BioShock 2 is pretty popular and good too.

 

Team Fortress 2, of course.

 

Hmm, TF2, I took a look at that, but didn't really give it a go.

Also, is Mass Effect 1 good, or should I start with Mass Effect 2?

 

I also recommend Starcraft II. I'm going to be picking that game when it releases. If you have ever played DoTA, you'll love Heroes of Newerth.

Mass Effect 1 is very fun, but I hate the parts of the game where you have to drive around in that dune buggy looking thing. That made me not want to play the game a second time around. The game itself is very entertaining. I liked it better than the second one, which is more action driven and has less RPG components to it.

 

Play Mass Effect 1. It's a great game when you stick to the main story. The exploring planet sidequests get quite repetitive (initially, it's quite fun, but once you've done half a dozen planets and notice there's little variation, it gets boring), but given Mass Effect 1 is pretty cheap these days, paying for the main story is entirely worth it. There's probably 12 hours or so the first time if you only do the main story, and ~25-30 hours if you do all the sidequests (not all that extra hours is planet scouring, thankfully).

Half Life series. Likely the best FPS series out there. Graphics are consistently good in the new installments, though they're heaps slow in coming out with new material (wasn't ep 3 originally going to be out at the end of 2008? Still no real news).

The original FEAR is brilliant. Highly recommend it. Great atmosphere (ambient, music, lighting), great combat, and pretty good story. The middle location goes on about 20min too long, but the end four or so levels more than makes up for it. I'm also quite fond of the Rainbow Six Vegas games, but recommend FEAR over them.

Company of Heroes, the original, is quite enjoyable if you enjoy RTS. Didn't like the first expansion and haven't played the second.

 

DA: O is fucking amazing, buy it, play it, and don't hesitate to replay it with a different background, it's just as much fun the second time around (and third.. and fourth, already, for me), especially if you learn how to skip dialogue using the escape key.

If you are looking for a lightweight, entertaining, and non overwhelming game, look up Geneforge. I played only 4 and 5, but apparently you can get a lot of really cool in jokes if you play the earlier ones. Don't expect anything graphically impressive, since it's from an indy developer, but It is a lot of fun.

 

Okay I back ME 1 and 2. And yes you have to play 1 before the other. Your character carries over with all your decision. If you want graphics, ignore DA:O. I have not played Bioshock, but the reviews and raves on it all say it is amazing. There seems to be some real philosophical shit embedded within it. It's on my to play list.

Assassin's Creed 2, you don't have to play the first one, is also pretty damn entertaining. Strong plot, endless shit you can do, and the graphics are great.

 

A personal source, who works at a low-mid level at Valve, said to me that they haven't even started to develop it. But of course, I don't know how reliable my source is.

 

Baldur's Gate II... Alpha Protocol is a shitty game but its fun... Star Wars Force unleashed... TF2... Fallout 3...

 

I am leery about recommending Assassin's Creed 2 for the PC. Not a fan off Ubi's DRM model...

This game was funner than I thought it would be. Had to borrow a 360 controller, but things were smooth sailing after that.

 

Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights 2.

 

If the person is connected to the internet 24/7 anyway, I really don't see the problem with the DRM besides principle. But, let's not let this thread be dragged into a debate like that. Awesome game is still awesome.

 

GTA 4,Fallout 3,Oblivion,Bioshock and Assasin Creed 2

 

Minesweeper. 'tis the fucking shit.

 

Nah man. Get solitaire, its tons better. Stupid bombs

 

Their servers have a track record of going down more often than your mother. And, one day, the servers will no longer be there. Who hasn't got games a decade old sitting on their hard drives, made by companies who don't exist any more?

 

You really can't go wrong with a game made by Bioware

Baldur's Gate
MDK2
Neverwinter Nights (ymmv)
Knight of the Old Republic
Jade Empire
Mass Effect 1 & 2
Dragon Age: Origins

Couple of other games I've enjoyed in the past:
The Witcher
Fable TLC
Fallout 3 (God Mode + Indestructible playing in the background with mini-nukes raining down around you = win)
Left for Dead 1 & 2 (need to redownload 2 myself)
Batman - Arkham Asylum
Flatout: Ultimate Carnage (anyone recommend any good racing games?)
Bioshock 1 & 2
Serious Sam
Redneck Rampage - might make your eyes bleed
Postal2
Freedom Force - was pretty lulzy
Red Faction 1 & 2 - haven't played Guerrilla much at all (opinions?)
Rome Total War
Torchlight
World of Goo