Alright here are the final six
Paper Mario TTYD ( Rich story, adventure a sizeable cast of characters but we can mess with them however we want)
Super Mario 64 ( Platformer able to have more freedom when it comes to a story)
Pac Man ( running away from either ghost or pac man)
Mega Man ( Computer based might have some freedom)
Persona 3 ( Rich story, high schoolers fighting shadows)
Pokémon Red and blue (Need I say more)
I do not know of Persona 3, I haven't played it, nor have I played Paper Mario TTYD or any of the Mega Man games. If this turns out to be Pokemon Red and Blue, it may as well go in the pokemon discussion. I think I will vote for Super Mario 64, then Pokemon Red + Blue Second though and then my third choice would be Pacman. I haven't exactly played Super Mario 64, but the worlds would be interesting and I know I bunch of mario villains I could rp as to help. From what I get though, this is going to be more like real life.
For Super Mario 64, the group could have an active role in doing missions and collecting stars, in order to get out. Instead of it focusing on Mario, it could focus on the whole group-one character could represent or take Mario's role, but then here's the twist: we have the other Mario heroes to help-a Luigi themed character, a Peach themed character (who may get seperated from the Mario character at the start), a Toad chief character, a Yoshi character, a Penguin character + other friendly characters you meet on the way. Prehaps, the Peach character is actually the real life girlfriend of the Mario character. They don't have to be the same character, is what I am saying, more like, they take their role.