My initial thought was something like Elder Scrolls or Fallout, but I think I would be happier in something with a robust building system. Minecraft would work but something like 7 Days to Die would work too and add a bit more challenge. Maybe Valheim, I haven't played a lot of that but the building system seemed good the little I played?

Edit: I think I would choose No Man's Sky, actually. Endless exploration and a semi decent building system.

Skyrim /The Elder Scrolls

If mods are allowed, Stardew Valley. Heck, even if mods aren't allowed. I've probably put nearly 600h into it between PC and Switch, so if I'm playing one game exclusively, I'm going to design the best damn farm I can!

Smite or maybe another MOBA, because that's what I already do and I apparently hate myself.

I've been posed the same question about 'if you could only listen to one band' and I usually decide that if I were restricted to just one, I'd sooner drop the hobby altogether. Anything loses its luster after too much repetition for me.

But for the sake of actually answering the question, would have to be something that can't just be shut down, has variety in and of itself, and stands the test of time. So maybe something along the lines of Fallout 4? I know Skyrim is the darling but Fallout 4 has more actual stuff to fiddle with between base building, constant procedural questing, etc. I dunno. That's not a perfect answer, but it's in the same realm at least.

probably dwarf fortress. I can always come back to it and haven't even experienced everything possible in the game yet.

Other than that, maybe Zelda? The latest switch games have a lot of replayability so I'm assuming future games in the series will too.

Hunt: Showdown. Shit's my jam.

I mean, the answer kinda just has to be something like Call of Duty to make sense. Think about how much evolution that series has gone through over the years, and how many components there are between campaign, multiplayer, Zombies, spec ops, battle royale, and most recently DMZ. It's probably the most variety you'd get from just one franchise.

Sounds like hell. I compulsively switch between games, I could never stick to one.

Seeing how I've played Slay the Spire for about 650 hours, and the only game that comes close (and almost certainly surpasses it) is Counter-Strike when I was a teen, I'd have to go with that I suppose.

Warframe probably. Or a game like Ultima Online. Something dynamic and interactive.

Mods allowed? Rimworld

@GlowingLantern If I had to pick just one game, Morrowind or Super Mario RPG (maybe the new one if it’s still amazing).

If collections counted maybe the old super Mario all stars. Used to play that religiously after school at my grandparents when I was a kid.

Crusader Kings 3: It will get updates for years probably, has a very active modding community and you can play in vastly different scenarios. Ranging from historical to Elder Kings, Lord of the Rings and much more.

But it would at some point get bland anyways. I wold probably start to hate it at some point.

I'd probably go with a Monster Hunter game (4 Ultimate most likely) or a game with a lot of customization like Elden Ring.

Probably Minecraft, Skyrim, or another game with good mod support from the community. I'd never get bored

@GlowingLantern I’d have a compilation so I could enjoy multiple titles in one package. Super Mario 3D All-Stars or the Sonic Mega Collection come to mind!

#loopholesFTW #AlwaysThat1Guy

That's a tough one, I usually swap between one game I focus on. I'd like to say elder scrolls but after sinking in hours on oblivion I was a bit burnt out when Skyrim came out, but then I sunk hours into fallout 4, then call of duty mw, then oxygen not included. It's hard for me to go from one game to another similar game without my ADHD kicking in