I enjoy RPGs but I am scared off by dated graphics and potentially cheesy storytelling. I have a couple of the most popular Ultima games already and the freebies but I have pushed them to the far end of my backlog. Are the rest of the Ultima games mostly timeless classics not to be missed (give or take ones like 9) or am I better served holding off to see if some of my long-wishlisted games pop up on flash sales? Thanks for sharing your opinions.

#7 is supposed to be the best. It wasn't my cup of tea. That's all I know.

Skip the original trilogy. I've only beaten 1-3 so far and I'm still burnt out from that experience. The first two games require you to figure out insanely obscure rules/mechanics and then sacrifice several days of your precious life on level grinding. The third game was definitely better but it still wasn't really worth my time. I guess the first Ultima games worth playing are part of the second trilogy and, like Talima suggested, Ultima 7 is (supposedly) the pinnacle of the series and you should probably just go for that one.

Yes, thanks. 7 is the most popular and I already have it. Underground 1 and 2 also have a following and I nearly got them on several occasions.

Ultima 4. The game that made me type "give" than type "1", and press ENTER exactly 1000 times in order to max out my compassion virtue to get a Partial Avatar state.

Ancient game is ancient. What I said to F4LLOUT.

Thanks. The responses here seem to confirm that I was probably right in my reluctance.

You have the 2 spin_offs and Ultima 4 for free, you can use them as a Demo. Also, I found the Underground ones to be veri solid and fun to play, even nowadays.

And surprisingly. I beaten Ultima 4.

If you like being evil in games then Ultima 8 is a must have.