Game List
This list includes a mix of video games and table top games, and most of the video games are lesser known older games.
Chess: Definitely the most well-known board game. I've played chess since I was in kindergarten and have gotten to a pretty respectable skill level.
Card Games: I enjoy playing card games and creating card games. Among my favorites are Hearts, Flex (an original creation of mine), Blackjack, and Texas Hold 'Em.
Castle of Dr. Brain: An old puzzle game that contains a wide variety of different puzzles. If you decide to play through the game on the highest difficulty, prepare for some brain hurt. Published by Sierra.
Cosmic Osmo: This is an old black-and-white exploration game with comedic value that can be fun for the whole family.
Maelstrom: At the time, this was a modern remake of the classic arcade game "Asteroids". This game (highly popular at the time of its release) is also what kickstarted Ambrosia Software.
Chuck Yeager's Air Combat: Unquestionably the best flight simulator of its time. It also provides some history lessons as you also get to learn about the air campaigns that were carried out during World War II, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War. Published by Electronic Arts.
Bolo: A game that is surprisingly rich in strategy despite its simplicity. It was a very popular multiplayer game at one point, but interest faded as similar and more complex games emerged. Created by Stuart Cheshire.
SimCity 2000: This game was highly popular at one point and for good reason. If you want a taste of what it's like building and managing a city, this is probably the best version of SimCity created. Published by Maxis.
SimTower: Created by a Japanese development team and marketed in the U.S. by Maxis. Although not quite as engaging as SimCity, it's still a reasonably good simulation game. Just be prepared for the stretches of time in which you can't do much other than randomly poke around your creation.
Escape Velocity: This is the first in a series of three first person space-based trading/combat games. It's a really fun game that almost inspired its own genre.
Bugdom: This is a great game for the whole family to enjoy. Plus, it has a really appealing and memorable soundtrack.
Gizmos & Gadgets: A great game for any children interested in machines or engineering. Published by The Learning Company.
Pac Mac Deluxe: One of many Pac-Man clones that have emerged during the years, but this one has the best sound effects and the best soundtrack out of all the clones I've seen.
Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?: A great game for children who are interested in learning more about the world while also solving puzzles. Published by Brøderbund Software.
Where In The USA Is Carmen Sandiego?: A sequel to Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? Published by Brøderbund Software.
Ares: A space combat game created by Nathan Lamont, it provides a nice blend of tactics, strategy, and arcade action. A community has recompiled this game under the name "Antares" so that it can be played on modern computers without the need for emulation. Originally published by Ambrosia Software.
Descent & Descent II: These were 3-D first person shooters with graphics way ahead of their time. Since you pilot a ship in a zero gravity environment, there are more controls to master, but there are also 5 difficulty levels to choose from (ranging from Trainee to Insane). Adding to the game's complexity is a large arsenal of different weapons and a wide variety of different enemies. Published by Parallax Software.
Creep Night: A Halloween-themed pinball game that uses the virtual environment to great effect by employing neat mechanics that are not possible on a real pinball machine.
Escape Velocity Nova: This is a game that I recommend to everyone. It's a first person space-based trading/combat game with a very rich second person narrative. Even though this game is about 25 years old, some people still play it because of how much it has to offer. Unfortunately, Ambrosia is now defunct, but there are ways of registering the game. Developed by ATMOS and Ambrosia Software.
Deimos Rising: A scrolling shooter game featuring a wide variety of challenging enemies. Published by Ambrosia Software.
StarCraft: Brood War: This might be the best game ever created. Even though it hasn't received a balance patch since 2001, devoted players are still discovering new strategies.
N, N+, and N++: A series of platformers in which the player controls a ninja and must evade deadly enemies. It's a game that requires as much raw skill as it does problem-solving abilities. The original N is free to play, but N+ and N++ cost money. Published by Metanet Software.
StarCraft II: Although the storyline was not as good as StarCraft 1, the sequel (although dwindling in popularity) is fun to watch and to play. Both StarCrafts have their pros and cons, so I don't like engaging in debates about which is better, but the original StarCraft will always be something special to me.