If you didn't know, I'm a gamer. In fact, "gamer" doesn't quite do justice to the level of video game fanaticism that I operate on. For all of you to achieve such status as I, there's a list of games you must play.

(Keep in Mind: Games will set you back $59.99 fresh out of the package--a high price, in my opinion, for what may only amount to a few hours of solid gameplay. So be sure to research game previews and reviews before purchasing--IGN.com is my most trusted source. Know a game's potential before standing in line at the midnight release party. Grabbing the discount a few weeks later is often the best bet.) For the sake of tight budgets, here are my favorite console games and where to get them dirt cheap.

If I'm shelling out $60 for a game, I want it to last. There are only two game developers whose games I'll purchase at full price--Bethesda Softworks and Rockstar Games. Their games are rich with complex characters and storylines, intense action, and, best of all, many hours of gameplay. Bethesda's Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion took over 100 hours to complete and was, by far, the best gaming experience I've had to date. This massive medieval RPG can be bought pre-owned at Gamestop for just $14.99. In a similar boat, Bethesda's post-apocalyptic Fallout 3 is only $12.99 pre-owned.

When it comes to Rockstar, two titles come to mind: Red Dead Redemption, an open world western that'd make Clint Eastwood throw down his six-guns (now $25 at Gamestop), and GTA IV. The latter, just $9.84 on Amazon.com, received the first perfect 10 score from IGN.com since the 1998 release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. (Often hailed as the greatest game ever created, you can pick up Ocarina of Time, and the Nintendo 64 required to play it, on Amazon.com for a total of about $45. GoldenEye 007 ($13) and Super Mario 64 ($15)--games that revolutionized 1st person shooters and platforms respectively, much like Ocarina of Time did for RPGs--are classics that should similarly be played by all who haven't experienced them. Plus they're just so darn cheap. Hooray for aged perfection!)

If you fancy yourself a history buff and like cutting up unsuspecting citizens (seriously, if you like the latter, get some help), then you'll love the Assassin's Creed series from Ubisoft. Though the first installment wasn't great and isn't necessary to understand its nearly perfect sequel, seeing the differences from 1 to 2 is fascinating while also devilishly exciting to play. Assassin's Creed can be found under $10 while the highly recommended sequel Assassin's Creed 2 is under $15.

For those who love action and soiling their pants (again, seriously, if you like the latter, get some help), the survival horror genre is the place to be. And if you ask me, being chased by Necromorphs in zero gravity in EA's Dead Space is about as frightening as it gets. What's even scarier is how low the price is now: only $16. The highly anticipated sequel is discounted as well, even though it just released. Amazon.com has it for $37.50.

There you have it, my favorite games of all time. Now go forth and game on.

--Chris

For more ways to game on the cheap, check out my brass 10, Price PWNAGE: 10 solutions to cheaper gaming.

Photo taken from this photostream and used with permission of a Creative Commons license.
 

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