Knights of the Old Republic, a Star Wars-universe based game, is a BioWare release. The best thing about KOTOR is that unlike most games, you honestly get a choice in your path. Many games claim to, but KOTOR actually succeeds. The story and the universe come out differently depending on whether you play “dark side” or “light side,” and that is determined by how you talk to people and what action choices you make. The story is engrossing, and some of the NPCs are really fun.

KOTOR II, the Sith Lords, has a darker feel and slightly different mechanics. Your actions and words affect your party members, encouraging them to disclose more of their story to you or sometimes swaying them toward your chosen path.

Try Jade Empire, another BioWare game, for a fantastical or mythological China feel. The story has a totally surprising twist or two, and the NPCs are almost all truly individuals, often funny ones.

Fable, by Lionhead Studios, has a nice look. The graphics are storybook-like, with bright colors and simple forms. The voice actors seem to all come from some region of England with a strong accent. This can be annoying or engaging. You may buy a house, court a man or woman, and if received well, get married. A big plus is that prosocial or antisocial actions affect how people respond to you everywhere you go. The only downsides are that the game is really short compared to the others, and that the ending video / conclusion scenes are pretty lame.

Bethesda Games’ Morrowind won Game of the Year in 2003, and it is still well worth playing!