Games to buy if you are young, penniless or both

This list is designed for the jobless and the less well off gamers out there. Those of you who can only by a game a month, if that, and need their purchases to go that little bit further. But this list is also designed for those people who have a bunch of free time, read teenage nerds, who wouldn't bat an eyelid about spending 60 hours on a game. I should probably clarify that I'm not taking the mickey here, I'm actually rather envious of people who still have that sort of free time, unfortunately though I've just grown out of that phase.

List items

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  1. World of Warcraft

  The name says it all really. You could not buy another game and be perfectly content with this for a good old while. Having a subscription based game on a list designed for gamers with less money may seem counter intuitive but if you know that you're going to only spending £20 a month each month it works out cheaper than buying one new release every 2-3 months.

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  2. Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life

  If ever a game were to last you a lifetime it's this one. I know I'm sounding like a back of the box quote but it's true, you could play this for years and still not finish it. I've heard that Another wonderful life is better but as this is the only Harvest Moon game I've played I thought it only fair to put this on the list.

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  3. Just Cause 2

  Once you've completed the main game it just keeps on giving. With hundreds of collectables and destructible stuff you could keep chipping away at the percentage for ages.

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  4. Pokémon

  Any Pokemon game will keep you busy for a while. And as thier all essentially the same it really doesn't make a whole world of difference what generation or re-make you go for. Having been with it from day one though my personal recommendation would be either Fire Red or Leaf Green, both about £10-£15.

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  5. The Orange Box

  5 brilliant games for £20, one of which, Team Fortress 2, is steadily supplied with updates and could conceivably see you playing for a good long while.

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  6. Fallout 3

  I think the Giant Bomb dudes have said enough on the 'cast. Also if you grab the GOTY edition then you'll get the full game and all the DLC for about £20

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  7. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

  Essentially it's re-skinned Fallout 3, or rather Fallout 3 is re-skinned Oblivion but there's still a wealth of caves and ruins to find and adventure through. Plus there's a super odd bundle which packages together Oblivion and Bioshock for £20. Alternatively the GOTY edition also costs £20 and comes with 2 expansions.

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  8. Sid Meier's Civilization IV

  a single game will take you several hours at least. There's a multiplayer mode. The game and it's two expansions will only set you back £20. 'nuff said.