Let´s turn this into a List … maybe other also want to suggest on Categories and Plug-Ins if I might forgot something or placed it wrong … I also added a Picture of my Folder Structure for further „Inspiration“ :D

Most uniqe/must-have/innovative/versatile Plug-Ins:

Synths/Instruments/Sampler: Vital, UVI Falcon2, MODO Bass, Virus DSP56300 emulator, Sublab, FM8, Kontakt, Karma FX, Omnisphere,
Drums: Punch2, Kick2,
Chords/Arp/Seq: Phrasebox, Blue Arp, Cthulu, Thesys,
Plug-In Suite/Modular Kits: Tracktion, Reaktor6, PlugnScript, HofaSystem, Kilohearts Suite/Snap,

Multi-FX: UVI Shade, Nebula, FabFilter Trio, Karma FX, Infiltrator, Stutter, MXXX,
Bus/Master: Scultp,
Classic FX: Decimort (Bitcrush), Antresol (Flanger)
Drum-FX: Nomad Drum Tools, Drum Replacer, DS-10, KnockKnock, Nomad Drum Tools,
Delay: UVI Relayer, U-he MFM2
Dynamics: FirComp
Distortion: Squashit, Rift, Cramit
Enhancer: Knorr(Bass)
Equaliser: Pro Q3, Freiraum, smart:EQ, Surfer EQ, DSEQ, UVI Shade, Trackspacer,
Filter: Action Filter, WOW2,
Granular:
Mixing Tools: Mongoose, Panther, Side Filter(Spatial) Lowender, Bassroom, Little Foot (Bass)
Multiband:
Other: LFO Tool,
Pitch: Fault
Reverb: Uvi Sparkverb, UVI Plate, Unveil,
Restoration (kinda): Soothe
Shaper: ShaperBox
Sidechain: SideKick
Transient: MultiTransient, Transector, Transgressor2,
Vocals: Manipulator
Vocoder:
Vintage/Colouring/Amp: VHL-3C, VLA-FET, RC-20,

other/Scripts: Joiners JSFX,
Full Recommendation: Everything Fabfilter
Creative Companies to look into: Zynaptiq, Unfiltered Audio,


Thinking maybe we should make a „best sounding/must have VST´s“ and a „best at replacing many other VST´s“ List seperatly…?

 

Didn't the OP say "the most versatile plugins"?

 

Yes, but also uniqe, so it turned into something bigger :D Therefore also my Suggestions to maybe turn this into two Lists, one for "versatile" and one for "uniqe/best" ...

 

No. It says "most versatile and unique". Most of the "unique plugins" I have tend to be on the one-trick pony side of that. Otherwise, we end up with Reaktor, VCV things only. Or Serum/Surge because they have fx.

 

God Particle by Jaycen Joshua, KNOCK by Decap

 

https://sonic-cat.com/purity/
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/hypersonic_by_steinberg
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/absynth-by-native-instruments
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/crx4-by-linplug

 

Here are a few from my private folder structure:

Audio Meter - FX
Channel Strips - FX
Compressor - FX
DeNoiser - FX
Exiter - Sonic Enhancer - FX
Guitar - FX
Pitch & Tune - FX
Restoration - Audio Repair FX
Saturation - FX
Scales & Chords - FX
Stretch - FX
Tape Warmer - FX

Attached is my private 64 bit VSTi / 4K Monitor ready list:

 

Last edited: Sep 18, 2022

With regard to FX I would always want the best since I am a guitarist and I also play keys but right now I lean towards having a lot of amp sims and some of these are full of an army of additional FX. Helix by line 6 is a must have for delays reverbs and fx. Amplitube is great by itself but IK's total studio is on sale now for $250 directly from IK Multimedia till the end of thge month and that includes all the synths and FX from Sampletank to tron and synthtronix to miroslav orchestra and the physical modeling for Mondo bass and mondo drums then throw in the mutitude of mixing tools and FX from the mix box and T Rax with lots of useful mixing plugins and much newer reverbs also the leslie FX they provide are the best among rotary VST's only the neo ventilator is a superior option but that one FX boxwill cost you $500 or so and Hammond B3X is a must for the organ enthusiast in you if you want the very best B3 model there is and it is endorsed by Hammond and used by guys like the keyboardist for Kansas. Amplitube is up there with the best in terms of tonal accuracy for most of its amps. Additional options are THU and Bias and some like guitar rig and it comes with the ever popular Komplete though in the usefullness of what you get from IK with the total studio only costing $250 I would snag that if I where you.

Fabfilter, Eventide, 2C audio, Exponential, Overloud, Altiverb for IR reverb, Relab, Soundtoys, are additional FX worth taking on.

Blue Cat is a must get set of tools with patcher and its amp sim as well but if you need something a bit more sophisticated Gig Performer is useful for live switching on FX and synths.

Kirchoff is a decent EQ option that has a lot of people switching from fab filter I hear.

Like you I am just getting back into music again and I find my money going towards guitar related acquisitions

I am looking at hardware myself for the compressors that I want to use with my guitars and I am looking at using Source Audios Ultrawave and or attack.

I already have an SY1000 and making payments via Zzounds for that hardware multi FX guitar modeler and synth but my gk pickup lacks adequate tracking seems the pickup of the gk and the strings will not align perfectly so I am going to have to invest in a new guitar and use an internal ghost pickup which is major $$$ for me right now.

I want to add on fractals axe fx 3 for its modeling and FX plus the strymon volante, the Poly Beebo for reverbs since it can do convolution reverbs from a pedal and then I have a lot of desire to add Meris Hedra for its unique pitch FX. Mono FX wise there are several I want and morningstars new ML10X is the switcher to use. I will want a univibe probably a dry bell but I may opt for something more expensive. The need for a few fuzz pedals as well as more source audio units like LA Lady, Vertigo and maybe a Ventris is on my list. Electroharmonix has attack decay and the ravish sitar on my list. If I get rich then Auotmatone by Chase Bliss is my top overdrive on my wish list. Jam pedals offers hamonius monk and the weird effect that sounds like a seagull as in the song Echoes by Pink Floyd

 

The "seagull" effect was made that way, with just his wahwah pedal inverted and the Binson Echorec:
Echoes “seagull” effect tutorial | Gilmourish.com

 

Soothe. Lot of clones, nothing even close to.

 

You may have a winner for best answer right there. Or UVI Shade. The longer list could benefit from some xfer OTT. (upwards compressor thing)

 

Nils Schneider - Nils K1v v1.2.5 VSTi - Win/Mac/Linux (ROMpler) Free
Nils' K1v is a classic rompler that emulates the Kawai K1, a famous japanese classic from 1988.
www.nilsschneider.de/wp/nils-k1v/

EDIT: Thank you @mild pump milk, for the current version number - I changed it.

 

Last edited: Sep 19, 2022

1.25

 

My choice for the most versatile, essential plugin would be the Toneboosters EQ with its dynamic features on each band.
It's similar to the FabFilter EQ but more affordable.

 

Next Attempt....

Versatile Plug-Ins that can replace (many) others:
FirComp(Dynamics)
Nebula(IR of hardware Units) FabFilter Trio, Karma FX, Infiltrator, Stutter, MXXX (Multi-FX)
UVI Relayer, U-he MFM2 (Delay)
UVI Shade (Mixing Tool/Eq/Filter)
RC-20(Retro-Colouring)

Suites/Modular:
Tracktion, Reaktor6, PlugnScript, HofaSystem, Kilohearts Suite/Snap,

Unique/handy Plug-Ins/Tools that do something special:
Trackspacer(EQ kinda), Knorr (Bass Enhancer),
Mongoose, Panther, Side Filter (Stereo Modulation)
Lowender, Bassroom, Little Foot (Bass Mixing)
LFO Tool, Side Kick (Modulation)
Sculpt (Bus)
MODO Bass (Physical modeling)
Fault (Pitch)
Manipulator (Vocals)
ShaperBox (Sound Shaping)
Drum Replacer
Surfer EQ (non static EQ)
smart:EQ ("intelligent" EQ)
Freiraum EQ (seperates Harmonic and inharmonic Components)
Soothe (Restoration)
KnockKnock (Drums)
DS-10 (Drum Shaper)
DSEQ (Anti-Harshness)

---> look into: Zynatpiq, Unfiltered Audio

Chords/Arps/Seq:
Phrasebox, Blue Arp, Cthulu, Thesys

Instruments/Synth: Vital, UVI Falcon2, MODO Bass, Virus DSP56300 emulator, Sublab, FM8, Kontakt, Karma FX, Omnisphere
Punch2, Kick2 (Drum)

Best "classic" Plug-Ins:
Decimort (Bitcrush), Antresol (Flanger)
Squashit, Rift, Cramit (Distortion)
Uvi Sparkverb, UVI Plate, Unveil (Reverb)
MultiTransient, Transector, Transgressor2 (Transient)
Action Filter, WOW2 (Filter)
Pro-Q3 (EQ)
VHL-3C(Vintage Filter)
VLA-FET(Vintage AMP)
Nomad Drum Tools (Drum BUS)

--->everything Fabfilter

other/Scripts:
Joiners JSFX

Standalone/Tools:
Melodyne (Pitch Mod)

 

Last edited: Sep 19, 2022

MetaSynth is pretty unique.