We all play video games for different reasons. Some play just for fun, some play for the experience, some play to get away from the real world for a moment in time, some play to witness an engaging story. Some, play for all of these things.

Video games can have different purposes in all of our lives and they can also impact us in a multitude of ways. We might have learned a lesson from a game or we might just have felt a happiness from a game that helped us through a difficult time.

What games have had the most impact on your life, and why?

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time.

I tried so hard not to cry...

The World Ends With You-----> It was more of the experience that changed my view of gaming. It was fresh, new, and punishing. The sound was great and the battles were unlike anything I had ever seen before. I love it, man.

Mother 3----> God damn it.

I'll go ahead and think of others.

Metal Gear Solid definitely left an impact on me. The series was such an amazing experience.
Pokemon has probably had more of an impact on me. My don't give up, super positive attitude probably came from how pumped up and into battling friends I was with my friends. I've met friends thanks to pokemon, kept friends thanks to pokemon, and met someone cause of pokemon (<3). I just won't ever be able to stop loving pokemon. "This dream will last forever! Yeah, This dream will never die!" "This dream keeps us together! This dream is you and I!"

...none? I guess the closest would be Kingdom Hearts, which got me into RPGs, which is all I play anymore. But I wouldn't really count that as effecting my life.

I think the OA meant it more as like:

"Wow! This game is so f*cking awesome and intense!"

Translation: Wow-factor wise, what was the game that impressed you the most?

Ape Escape. I used to believe every video game had some redeeming qualities.

I guess I could say the .Hack series had the most impact. The setting and story for those games was pretty unique compared to most other games I've played. I also made a lot of friends (On the internets if that counts) because of it. Sad I don't keep in contact with any of them anymore.

Aeris. 'nuff said.

Most Sega titles.

Because I played Nintendo before Sega but Sega had that lasting impact that stuck with me and sucked me into video games. I still think Sega had the best crops of developers.

Sonic Adventure Battle 2 - I cried when my Chao Garden data got corrupted.
Pokemon - Have some friends thanks to it, learned words like 'experience' which i remember using in spelling quizzes.
Harvest Moon: IaWL - played for hours, vividly remember carrying chickens into barns in the rain, when my cow died i stopped playing so my memory card still plays that scene when i pop it in. (still dont save)
Goldeneye - Played with my uncles and they always kicked my butt. Brosnan is my favorite Bond.
SMB 3 - i played this with my mom all the time
Uniracers - One of the only games me and my sister actively played together.

I could go on but ill stop there.

FFXIII

Dajh

Wonderboy 3: The Dragons Trap, Yoshi's Island and Pokemon Blue.

The only game that has ever had any real impact on me is Metal Gear Solid 3. The ending seriously had me on the verge of tears. Everything about the game was phenomenal, and I truly felt connected to the characters. Simply beautiful :,(

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance + Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. Upon finishing those games, one cannot ever become racist.

For the sake of humanity, every human being should play those Fire Emblem.

Mario 64
Lylatwars
Pokemon
Animal Crossing
Mario Kart
Smash Bros Brawl
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
Quite alot really

I've been rereading the OP, and nothing about it sounds like "wow-factor" to me. I think he's honestly asking if games have had a meaningful impact on our lives, which I find at least somewhat absurd. He's pretty specific about it, actually.

My wife and I had some of our best moments playing games together. I would consider this to have a huge impact on our lives.

Mario Party 5, 6 and 7
Super Mario World
Donkey Kong Country 1, 2 and 3

For me, nothing will surpass the magical first moments of playing Super Mario Galaxy. That was the first ame that truly amazed me and everything about it is just fantastic. Sitting in my friend's living room and just watching him play with a wide eyed expression and open mouth is something that will stay with me for quite a while.

Professor Layton and the unwound future...
An adventure I'll never forget, Just wow

Super Mario Galaxy
Fire Emblem Awakening
Kid Icarus Uprising

Without SMG, I might never have gotten into Wii games.
Without FEA, I wouldn't be think about everything in FEA terms.
WithoutKIU, I'd have a lot more 3DS games.