Must-Play Games: Experiences Everyone Should Try

Dec 2, 2025 by Alex Johnson 49 views

Have you ever wondered what games are so unique and impactful that everyone should experience them at least once? In the vast world of gaming, certain titles transcend mere entertainment, offering profound experiences, innovative gameplay, or unforgettable stories. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or someone new to the world of interactive entertainment, there are games that deserve a spot on your must-play list. This article explores several such games, delving into what makes them special and why they resonate with players across different tastes and backgrounds. Let's dive into the world of gaming and uncover the titles that offer experiences everyone should try.

The Allure of Gaming: Why Play Games?

Before we delve into specific titles, let's consider the broader question: Why should everyone play games? Gaming, at its core, is a form of interactive storytelling and problem-solving. Unlike passive forms of entertainment like watching movies or reading books, games require active participation. This interactivity can provide a range of benefits, from cognitive enhancements to emotional connections.

Cognitive Benefits: Games often challenge our minds, requiring us to think strategically, solve puzzles, and react quickly. These mental workouts can improve our cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Games that require quick decision-making can enhance reaction times, while strategy games can sharpen our analytical thinking.
Emotional Engagement: Many games excel at creating compelling narratives and characters that players can connect with on an emotional level. By stepping into the shoes of a protagonist, players can experience a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to sadness and loss. This emotional engagement can provide a powerful and immersive experience that stays with players long after they've finished playing.
Social Interaction: Gaming isn't always a solitary activity. Many games offer multiplayer modes that allow players to connect with others from around the world. These interactions can foster teamwork, communication, and social skills. Online games can create communities where players share experiences, offer support, and build lasting friendships. Even single-player games can spark discussions and shared experiences among friends and family.
Creative Expression: Some games offer tools and platforms that allow players to create their own content, from levels and characters to entire worlds. These creative outlets can be incredibly rewarding, allowing players to express their imagination and share their creations with others. Games like Minecraft and Roblox are prime examples of how gaming can foster creativity and innovation.
Escapism and Relaxation: Sometimes, we need to escape the stresses of daily life. Games can provide a welcome distraction, offering a virtual world where we can relax, explore, and unwind. The immersive nature of gaming can help us forget our worries and focus on the present moment, providing a form of mental relaxation.

Given these benefits, it's clear that gaming can be a valuable and enriching activity for people of all ages and backgrounds. Now, let's explore some specific games that offer experiences everyone should consider trying.

Games Everyone Should Experience

Selecting games that everyone should play is no easy task, as preferences vary widely. However, certain games stand out for their innovative gameplay, compelling stories, or unique experiences. These are the titles that often spark conversations, influence game design, and leave a lasting impact on the player.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a masterpiece of open-world game design. Released in 2017, it redefined the Zelda series and set a new standard for open-world adventures. The game's vast and beautiful world of Hyrule is filled with secrets, challenges, and opportunities for exploration. Players are given an unprecedented level of freedom to tackle the game's main quest in any order they choose, or to simply wander and discover the world at their own pace.

Open-World Freedom: Breath of the Wild is renowned for its emergent gameplay, where players can experiment with the game's physics and systems to solve problems in creative ways. Whether it's using fire to create an updraft for gliding, or using metal objects to attract lightning, the game rewards ingenuity and exploration. This freedom makes each playthrough unique, as players encounter different challenges and discover new strategies.
Compelling Exploration: Hyrule is a world that begs to be explored. Every corner of the map holds a potential discovery, whether it's a hidden shrine, a challenging enemy encounter, or a breathtaking vista. The sense of discovery is a constant reward, encouraging players to venture off the beaten path and uncover the world's secrets.
Engaging Story: While the game offers a non-linear narrative, the story of Link's quest to defeat Calamity Ganon is both epic and personal. The memories scattered throughout the world provide glimpses into the past, adding emotional depth to the characters and the world. This blend of grand adventure and intimate storytelling makes Breath of the Wild a truly memorable experience.

2. Portal 2

Portal 2 is a puzzle game that seamlessly blends innovative gameplay with a witty and engaging narrative. Developed by Valve, it builds upon the mechanics of the original Portal, introducing new puzzles, characters, and challenges that will test your mind and tickle your funny bone. The game's portal mechanics, which allow players to create wormholes between two points, are both ingenious and intuitive, leading to some truly mind-bending puzzles.

Innovative Puzzle Design: The puzzles in Portal 2 are cleverly designed to challenge players' spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. Each new puzzle introduces a fresh twist on the portal mechanics, requiring players to think outside the box and experiment with different solutions. The game's difficulty curve is perfectly balanced, gradually introducing new concepts and challenges without ever feeling overwhelming.
Witty Narrative and Characters: Portal 2 features a cast of memorable characters, including the sardonic AI GLaDOS and the eccentric Wheatley. The dialogue is sharp and funny, adding a layer of humor to the challenging gameplay. The story explores themes of artificial intelligence, human connection, and the consequences of scientific ambition, making it both thought-provoking and entertaining.
Cooperative Mode: Portal 2 also features a fantastic cooperative mode that allows two players to tackle specially designed puzzles together. The cooperative puzzles require teamwork and communication, as players must coordinate their actions and use portals to help each other overcome obstacles. This cooperative experience adds a new dimension to the gameplay and strengthens the social aspect of gaming.

3. The Last of Us

The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game that stands out for its emotional storytelling and compelling characters. Developed by Naughty Dog, the game follows the journey of Joel, a hardened survivor, and Ellie, a young girl immune to the infection that has ravaged the world. Their relationship forms the heart of the game, as they navigate a dangerous and broken world together.

Emotional Storytelling: The Last of Us is renowned for its mature and nuanced storytelling. The game explores themes of love, loss, survival, and the lengths we go to protect the ones we care about. The characters are complex and believable, and their relationships evolve in meaningful ways throughout the game. The story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, leaving a lasting impact on players.
Compelling Characters: Joel and Ellie are two of the most memorable characters in gaming history. Their relationship is the emotional core of the game, and their interactions are both touching and tense. The game explores their individual struggles and their growing bond, making them feel like real people with flaws and strengths.
Intense Gameplay: The Last of Us features tense and realistic gameplay, blending stealth, action, and resource management. Players must scavenge for supplies, craft weapons, and use their wits to survive encounters with both infected creatures and hostile humans. The gameplay is challenging but rewarding, adding to the sense of danger and desperation that permeates the world.

4. Minecraft

Minecraft is a sandbox game that has captured the imaginations of millions of players around the world. Developed by Mojang, the game allows players to build, explore, and create in a vast and blocky world. Minecraft's open-ended gameplay encourages creativity and experimentation, making it a game that can be enjoyed in countless ways.

Creative Freedom: Minecraft is a blank canvas for players to express their creativity. The game's building mechanics are simple yet powerful, allowing players to construct anything they can imagine, from humble homes to sprawling cities. The possibilities are endless, and players can share their creations with others online.
Endless Exploration: The world of Minecraft is vast and diverse, filled with different biomes, creatures, and resources. Players can explore caves, climb mountains, and sail across oceans, discovering new areas and challenges along the way. The game's procedurally generated world ensures that each playthrough is unique.
Community and Collaboration: Minecraft has a thriving community of players who share their creations, collaborate on projects, and create mods that add new features to the game. The multiplayer mode allows players to build and explore together, fostering teamwork and social interaction. This sense of community is a key part of what makes Minecraft so special.

5. Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium is a role-playing game unlike any other. Developed by ZA/UM, the game puts players in the role of a detective with amnesia, tasked with solving a murder in the fictional city of Revachol. What sets Disco Elysium apart is its focus on narrative and character development, with a unique skill system that represents the protagonist's different personality traits and mental faculties.

Unique Skill System: Disco Elysium's skill system is one of its most innovative features. Instead of traditional RPG stats like strength and agility, the game uses skills that represent the protagonist's different personality traits, such as Empathy, Logic, and Rhetoric. These skills influence the player's interactions with the world and the characters, leading to a wide range of outcomes and dialogue options.
Compelling Narrative: Disco Elysium's narrative is complex, nuanced, and thought-provoking. The game explores themes of politics, identity, and the human condition, with a cast of memorable characters and a richly detailed world. The writing is sharp and witty, and the choices players make have real consequences, shaping the story and the protagonist's journey.
Emphasis on Role-Playing: Disco Elysium is a true role-playing game, giving players the freedom to shape their character and their story in meaningful ways. The game's dialogue system is extensive, allowing players to express themselves in a variety of ways. The choices players make have a significant impact on the game world and the characters within it, making each playthrough a unique experience.

Conclusion: The Universal Appeal of Great Games

These games represent just a small sample of the incredible experiences that gaming has to offer. From open-world adventures to puzzle games, emotional narratives to creative sandboxes, there's a game out there for everyone. The games highlighted above share a common thread: they offer something more than just entertainment. They provide unique experiences, compelling stories, and opportunities for personal connection. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or new to the world of interactive entertainment, these games are worth exploring.

Gaming is a diverse and ever-evolving medium, and there's always something new to discover. By trying different games, we can expand our horizons, challenge our minds, and connect with others in meaningful ways. So, why not pick up one of these titles and embark on a new adventure? You might just find your new favorite game.

For more recommendations and insights into the world of gaming, be sure to check out reputable gaming websites like IGN.