If you were helping someone get started with PC gaming...

[nonsiccus]

What would the top 3 quintessential games on your list for them to play be? These can range from any era of PC gaming, but they need to be representative to why they should enter the platform.

1. Dune 2
This is pretty much the precursor to all modern RTS games. It was Westwood Studio's (now a part of EA) progenitor to the Command and Conquer series and was an absolute blast to play. This was the game that made me a PC gamer.
2. Counter-Strike 1.6
This game wasn't the first FPS game out there, but it was one of the titles that brought multiplayer FPS games to the forefront. Even to this day it has a large following and spawned multiple sequels and spinoffs.
3. Civilization
One of the first 4X games out there that gained critical acclaim. Civ was one of those games that allowed traditional boardgamers and empire builders to move to the PC. It's truly a venerable title and very deserving of a spot on my top 3.

I struggled with putting one of those "next-gen" graphics fest games on here, since one of the things about PC gaming is the fact that it is possible to squeeze out some amazing graphics compared to consoles...

 

[Mudgee]

Red alert 2, Warcraft 3, (sims for girls, widely popular)

 

[Medza]

1. Minecraft in it's full glory with mods. There are so many good mod packs out there right now like Feed the Beast or Tekkit and they really change the vanilla experience so much, it really introduces people to just how big of a deal modding is on the PC market

2. Team Fortress 2 - That game has been going for so long now and yet it's the most popular free to play FPS. And there's hats...

3. Some of the total war games - Strategy games are definitely only playable on the PC and the total war series is full of classics, you could go for Medieval 2, or wait a bit and dive straight into Rome 2 when it comes out soon

 

[Mudgee]

Actually, I agree with Medza on the team fortress 2 part. That was revolutionary for pc gaming. Like Doom in its hayday

 

[BlackSolaris]

Age of Empires 2 HD, Deus Ex, Thief 2 and Grim Fandango

If you don't enjoy and use reasons such as "it didn't age that well" or "the graphics are dated", you better go back to your consoles.

 

[iShootRocks]

It would have to be an MMORPG such as Maplestory, Runescape, etc. then Minecraft and Counterstrike: Global Offensive. I believe these 3 games alone have had me playing PC for over 7 years.

 

[mikerossuk]

As long as Skyrim and Pro Evolution are in the list it doesn't matter to me. I think you get a great range of the different aspects of PC gaming through these games. I think the last game should probably be an online game I just can't make my mind up which one! Any suggestions?!?