1. Grandia - PS1 - I picked this up randomly because I was on a big JRPG kick at the time. The battle system was so good it quickly became one of my favorite games of the era.

2. Batman: Arkham Asylum - PS3 - I went in expecting another average Batman game and ended up with some of the most satisfying fighting in an action game ever enjoyed.

3. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness - PS2 - I wasn't big into SRPGs at the time and this game took over my gaming life for months, so addicting with tons of content

4. Dangan Ronpa - PSV - This game is so hard to describe, but it is insane gripping and really surprised me how well it was crafted.

5. Sly Cooper: Thievius Racoonus - PS2 - I remember thinking this was another platformer and it ended up being one of the best platformers I have ever played.

Crackdown 1. Played the demo and it was surprisingly a LOT of fun.

Fat Princess; I got so hooked off of the demo, and put a lot of time into it.

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door.

There is so many games on DS that I could list, like Advance Wars and Phoenix Wright.

But out of the ones I've gotten newly I would have to say ZombiU. Only bought it cause it was dirt cheap but out of my (at the moment) 7 Wii U games this is my favorite :)

Nier. I heard it was alright, but man, it's absolutely great. Not exactly a looker, but it's really an amazing game.

Also, Asura's Wrath. I loved it. Too bad it was so short.

"Games that completely surprised you on how good they were..."

My answers:

1. Ico - a friend recommended this game years ago when it came out on PS2. I forgot about it until I bought the Ico/SOTC remake for PS3. The game just blew me away, especially the part where you have to let go of the girl's hand - just as you are about to make it to safety.

2. Heavy Rain - the positive buzz and reviews convinced me to give this game a try. One of the best games of the last gen, no question. The multiple endings were great, and the story behind the Scott character sealed the deal.

Honorable mention (from my Sega Genesis days)

1. Toejam & Earl - so much fun with a friend
2. Rolling Thunder 2 - ditto, but also adding a shooter element

3. NHL '94 - this game single handedly caused my GPA to fall from 3.5 to 2.95. Thanks EA.

Valkyria Chronicles, Pikmin 3, Dragon's Dogma, Lost Odyssey, Beyond Two Souls. I could go on.

This was the biggest one. Eventually made my list of best games of all time (#35 if I remember correctly)

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=48339&page=1

Resonance of Fate
Tales of The Abyss
Star Ocean Second Evolution
Crimson Gem Saga