What are some of the most memorable or rewarding games that you have ever played?  The ones that you still look back on and say, that was the most fun I've ever had playing a game, the one game you totally dominated, or the one that made your jaw drop from sheer awesomeness?  And give examples of why too.

For me, there are 4.

First, the original Starseige Tribes was the most fun I have ever had playing a game.  I played mostly on the Renegades servers, and it was just an absolute blast.  I started my own tribe, and much tushy was kicked.  I can't wait until the new Tribes comes out (very soon, in beta now), but I can't ever go back and play the original... graphics hurt my eyes now =/

Second, Need for Speed: High Stakes on PC.  By far the most rewarding game I've ever played, and I really wish they would do a remake of it like they did with Hot Pursuit.  There were so many more features on High Stakes than even the new Hot Pursuit, including levels of upgrades for each car, and of course, the High Stakes racing.  Super intense, and very difficult, it was the most rewarding when I finally beat it.  Sad that if they do remake it, there will be no Ferrari's.  One of the best things about it being on PC was that you could add in almost every car imaginable from NFScars.

Third, Starcraft.  I remember playing it for the first time at a friend's house when I was much younger, and it blew my mind as I'm a big Sci-fi future guy.  It was also the first Strategy game I played and nothing has come close since then.  The books that came with the game drew me into the Starcraft Universe more than any game until Mass Effect a decade later.   My friends and I still quote the characters, and yell GO GO GO every chance we get.  Protoss were and are still my favorite race, and I can't wait for the next installment of the Zerg for SC2.

Last, and most recently, is Mass Effect 1 and 2 on Xbox 360.  (SPOILER ALERT) Mass Effect was already one of my favorite games ever until I got to the first Reaper encounter when Sovereign spoke with you.  THAT WAS AWESOME.  My mind was blown from the awesomeness.  And my jaw literally dropped in ME2 with the beginning cutscene and I actually cheered when you got to Archangel and saw who he really was.  Can't wait for ME 3 and the Collectors edition is already pre-ordered :D.  I know that ME can be considered even better on PC, but for me, nothing beats seeing all that epicness happen on my 50 inch plasma.

Civilization (the first one)
Dune II: Battle for Arrakis (US subtitle: The Building of a Dynasty)
Dungeon Keeper
The Settlers II
Betrayal at Krondor
The Secret of Monkey Island
Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis

Dark Souls and Demon's Souls are the most rewarding games I've ever played, some of the best games I've ever player at that.

Examples of why?  Cmon Hobbes :)

I will be getting Dark Souls eventually.  What made them so rewarding?  Very difficult to beat?

The difficulty is one reason, you'll struggle to do simple things and it feels amazing to finally accomplish them.

final fantasy 7,8,9. alan wake. bioshock. and crash 1-3

Examples of why on those? :)

They all blew me away as they were the first and best games I played in their respective genres (which eventually became my most favorite genres).

Civ I: start of the best TBS series ever, Dune II: invented RTS on PC, Dungeon Keeper: created an RTS subgenre which we call today tower defense and yet it's still better than any modern TD game, Settlers II: best economic/building sim ever, Betrayal: one of the best RPGs ever, Monkey/Tentacle/Indy: best graphic adventures ever)

Too late and too lazy to post more details. :)

Crono trigger on the super nes. I couldn't stop playing it. I spent several days without leaving my room  until i beat it. Great story.

Red dead redemption was the last game that i played and I loved this game because of the story and  feeling like i was actually in the  game.

Castlevania lord of shadows was memorable to me because of the jaw dropping ending.