A question I was just thinking about:

What video games would you choose if asked to make a list of classics?

I'm not asking for your favorite games--I'm asking, what would you call a classic in the same vein as the classics of literature or film; a game that every well-read (or "well-played"?) person should be expected to have at least passing familiarity with? (assume for the purposes of this that video games are generally considered a worthy form of art (they are, but not everyone agrees))

We would say, in no particular order:

Final Fantasy IV, VI, VII, IX, and X
Suikoden and Suikoden 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario World
Super Mario 64
Super Metroid
Ocarina of Time
Majora's Mask
A Link to the Past
Wind Waker
Pokemon Heartgold/Soulsilver
Tales of Symphonia
(at least one game from the Mega Man or Mega Man X series, I don't know which)
Tetris
Arkanoid (or at least Breakout)
Chrono Trigger

Additionally, @Rosemary would say Dragon Quest VIII as well, but I wouldn't--we agree on most of the rest

Oh yes, also:

Earthbound
Golden Sun (both GBA entries)
Terranigma
Secret of Mana
The original Spyro trilogy

and if we allow games that were never officially translated to english:

Mother 3
Seiken Densetsu 3