One small Questing...

My boys have recently started playing Adventure Quest, the game for people who just really need to get a game fix. In theory it's an RPG, and I guess that holds up when you use the Computer Gaming definition. Still, it's extremely repetative. It's more like "The Legend Of Zelda".

Except, of course, no Ganon.

At the moment they play Dragon Fable, a spinoff of Adventure Quest. It's pretty much the same, only some slightly cooler functions.

These games are currently free, if you can get on the server. The server for AQ is usually packed at mid-day, but Dragon Fable is stress-testing right now. You can get on whenever. You can get on whenever, as you quickly learn, should you send the folk in Florida $20 American for it. It's good for the life of the game, so it's not a subscription gig... but it only covers AQ as far as I can tell. Dragon Fable costs $30+, and between the two you could purchase something that is equally as valuable 5 times over:

Tetris: Not an RPG, but it's well worth the $10 you shell for the game.
Civilization 2": The graphics are better, and it's far more addictive.
Rainbow Six: Duuuude.
Splinter Cell: Another excellent game. It doesn't have the replay value of CivII or Tetris, but it's definitely an RPG to the C and the "sneak around and not shoot stuff" play remains a favorite.
Pretty much every cool 80's arcade game. Plus soundtrack (for an additional $10).
Any Myst game. It will take you long enough to solve the puzzles that it might as well be repetitive, with the advantage that it isn't.
Max Payne manages to squeak in on a technicality. I've fiddled with it a bit, and the game is dark, but definitely an RPG+shooter with a dark sense of humor. The Noir feel is incredible. Made by those cretins that put together "Grand Theft Auto". To my surprise.
Baldur's Gate doesn't have any such excuse. I've never played it, but every bit of press I've seen has been positive. It is allegedly one of the best CRPGs ever.
Another "never played it", Advent Rising makes the list solely because it's written by Orson Scott Card. I'd like to encourage professional writers to involve themselves in the production of entertainment. Good ones.
Bad graphics don't stop Roller coaster Tycoon from being an excellent edition for most any gaming cabinet. It lacks anything really objectionable and is so cartoony as to be almost adorable. Plus the occassional crash.
Risk goes much faster on the computer, and is soooo worth the coin. (Price was listed as .01 dollars as of this writing).


An educational classic:
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? is such a fun game, and not so repetitive for the younger set as to be worthless in 2 games.

Pirates! gets an honorable mention. It's $20, but it's a fine example of a good game that just doesn't get old.

That's what I've got... feel free to add info.