Text-only video game shows how genre can be beautiful, innovative and complex
Folks interested in interactive fiction (aka text adventures, but that name implies something a little different these days) should definitely check out the annual interactive fiction contest: http://www.ifcomp.org/  The winners are always top notch games, and the format is perfect as most games are built to be completed in an hour or two and have a full hint/walkthrough to help you if you get stuck.  Modern IF games rely much less on tricks and traps like the classic Infocom games of days past, so they're much more friendly and entertaining to play.One of my favorite authors is Ryan Veeder, his games remind me of Infocom's classics but aren't nearly as frustrating to play: http://www.rcveeder.net/blog/interactive-fiction/  Check out Taco Fiction for a great example (and IF comp winner!).