A lists of games you should play to be up to date with game culture. They are either culturally relevant of simply comercial successes of their era. Only includes games that count as works of art (stories) and not exclusively recreational like say LoL, etc. For some games you should play the whole saga (or part of it) but for others I've chosen to put the entire saga or many of it's games. I may have accidentally repeated some games.

Playing all of these in less than 10 years is perfectly achievable, even if you decide to play them more than the essential amount of time. You will drop one or many of those without much hours put into them because they're just not for you, which will make things easier.

Only play the listed CoD games
Play whichever Shin Megami Tensei games you like (ideally the Persona saga) but not necessarily the first
If you like Assassin's Creed, Devil May Cry, Residente Evil of Silent Hill, play them all or at least the most recommended ones by their respective communities
*Play all of God of War saga