As a kid I read about fantasy games in magazines. Then my parents bought me a SegaMEGA Drive console, but I can't remember any specific RPG. What I do remember is Exile III:Ruined World demo which I've played on my Macintosh for endless hours.
It was a RPG proper! You create a party of six, with attributes, races, classes, skills, etc., and then you are just dumped into the world. Go and do whatever! It was a true open world with high interactivity, and real consequences for your actions. (I doomed some of the cities by accident more than once. Ops!)
I see it is still available for sale, for both PC and Mac. The screenshots bring so much nostalgia!
The best introductory tabletop RPG is the D&D Basic Set!
There are two versions, one by Tom Moldvay (usually called B/X Basic) and one by Frank Mentzer (usually called BECMI Basic, comes as separate Player's Manual and DM's Rulebook):
D&D Basic Set Rulebook by Tom Moldvay
D&D Basic Set by Frank Mentzer
Both cover all the fantasy tabletop RPG tropes, have all the necessary rules for both the players and game masters, are easily understood, chock-full of examples and inspiring illustrations.
And the best thing? More than 50 years of content readily available online. There is a high probability someone out there already made whatever you might think of.
Both can be legally obtained for less than $10—just print them at your local shop and start playing with some friends!
All those who are reluctant to play because they believe they'd feel awkward or that it would be a time-sink. Playing table-top RPGs is not only great fun, but also fosters creativity, cooperation, and camaraderie.
