I know there would be a lot of subjectivity involved in this. What we think constitutes perfection in a game will differ in the particulars (genre, for example). But to try to put a baseline around it, let's say that by perfect I mean a game in which you would not change a single element (i.e. update graphics, lessen the learning curve, play as mp rather than sp, and so on) if given the opportunity.

I'll wager up front that most people will say no. Sure, we've all played outstanding, even unforgettable games. But perfect? Most likely not. I haven't. There are two that come to mind, from different generations of gaming, that I think came quite close for me: Orge Battle, March of the Black Queen and Wizardry 8. But even thesecould have been just that little bit better with the minor change here or there.

So, I'd love to hear if you have had the experience of playing your perfect game. Or, if you haven't, what you think may have come closest.

By the way, this isn't quite the same as asking one's favorite game. For example, my favorite game of all time is still Conquest of the New World Deluxe. But I recognize that it is a far from perfect game in that I would have lessened the learning curve and added moreplayable country options.

Easy
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BTW
Speaking of perfect games I'm still in tears over last night. ONE OUT AWAY!!!!!!!
I'm not a Rangers fan AT ALL, but ONE OUT AWAY!!!!!! OH THE HUMANITY! :(

Trees in Wizardry 8 were really really bad. :P

The minute there's a "perfect" game, the industry will get a lot more boring :)

Super Metroid and Metroid Prime to me are the perfect Sci-Fi games.

Athmosphere, Music, Combat, Exploration, Story (if you understand it), and the character Samus and etc. are all ace.

If genre depending:

Jump'n'Run: Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back it was the first PS1 game I everplayed as a child and I still revisit it pretty much every week and play it.

Shooter: Quake 2 same as above the first FPS I played as a kid and since then I was hooked, the music, the gameplay, the weapons. Everything syncs in my opinion into the perfect FPS for me.

I've never played the perfect game, but I have come close a couple times. One of the closest-to-perfect game experiences I've had was actually quite recent, Dishonored. The only thing I can think of changing in that game would be to make the major plot twist a little less predictable. Other then that, I don't think I had a single complaint. Even the somewhat low-resolution textures were fine, because they served a purpose in the art style of the game. I'm sure many will disagree though.

Of course, I'm sure time and hindsight will change that opinion, as it does with all perfect experiences. And in time and more playthoughs I'll undoubtedly determine more and more flaws. I guess it's hard to separate nostalgia from truth when it comes to this question, but then, that is why it's so subjective.

Personally, I would say Braid is close enough.

I'm don't recal a game where I would not want to change smt, as my fav genere is RPG and simracing and there is always smt that could be done different/better :P.

But after some thinkig, Portal was fine as it was.

The original X-Com: UFO Defense and Sid Meier's Pirates! are very close to perfection in my eyes.

Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Sacrifice, King of Dragon Pass, Sword of the Samurai, Mortal Kombat 4, Warcraft III, Diablo 2, Majesty, Dune 1....

Think that's all of them.

I did, once, but then she said it costs extra :(

Wow rare seeing a person who LOVES Mortal Kombat 4, it was criticized for not being a true 3D fighter like Tekken and Virtua Fighter (it was 2D gameplay with Side-Stepping) and it was just pretty much exactly like Mortal Kombat 3.

Pfff... Who cares about true 3D? The fights were the best of any game, the fatalities were delicious, and the game was absolutely addictive. I could play for hours without even thinking of doing anything else.