So, I'm gonna make a list of essential (or at least, highly recommended) RPG's by system. I'll start off with my opinion of RPG's i've played, but people feel free to chime in to make this a better list. Any systems you feel I should add, also chime in.
Links may or may not contain spoilers in text and/or picture form.
If you're having trouble deciding whether a game is an RPG or not, THESE THREE VIDEOS might help.
If you recommend something and I don't immediately add it, don't get offended. I probably just haven't gotten around to it yet.
This list is based on North American releases.
NES:
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy II (aka Final Fantasy IV)
Final Fantasy III (aka) Final Fantasy VI)
Dragon Warrior (aka Dragon Quest)
Dragon Warrior II (aka Dragon Quest II)
Dragon Warrior III (aka Dragon Quest III)
Dragon Warrior IV (aka Dragon Quest IV)
SNES:
Chrono Trigger
Super Mario RPG
Earthbound
Secret of Mana
Illusion of Gaia
N64:
Paper Mario
Gamecube:
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Phantasy Star Online
Tales of Symphonia
Wii:
The Last Story
Pandora's Tower
Xenoblade Chronicles
Gameboy:
Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow
Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal
GBA:
Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green
DS:
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
Chrono Trigger
The World Ends With You
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
Final Fantasy IV
3DS:
Bravely Default
Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millenium Girl
Fire Emblem Awakening
Pokemon X and Y
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
Tales of the Abyss
PS1:
Chrono Cross
Dragon Warrior VII
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics
The Legend of Dragoon
Legend of Mana
Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve 2
Star Ocean: The Second Story
Wild Arms
XenoGears
PS2:
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Final Fantasy X
.hack series
Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts 2
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
XenoSaga
PS3:
Dragon Age: Origins
Demon's Souls
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Fallout 3
Fallout New Vegas
Ni No Kuni
Star Ocean 4
Tales of Xillia
PSP:
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
XBOX:
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Fable
360:
Dragon Age: Origins
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Fallout 3
Fallout New Vegas
Fable 2
Fable 3
Infinite Undiscovery
Lost Odyssey
Mass Effect
Star Ocean 4
PC
Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate II
Diablo
Diablo 2/Diablo 2: Lords of Destruction
Dragon Age: Origins
Fallout
Fallout 2
Fallout Tactics
Fallout 3
Fallout New Vegas
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Games with RPG elements:
Borderlands (360/PS3)
Legend of Zelda series (NES/SNES/N64/Gamecube/Wii/GBC/GBA/DS)
System Shock 2 (PC)
As you can see, this is far from finished. Just name some suggestions and I'll add them, I want to make a list of RPG's by system that we as a forum think are worth playing.