Baldur's Gate 2 (2000)

This faultless improvement on the original title still has a scope beyond many of today's biggest RPGs. Created at BioWare's heights, this game throws you into a D&D inspired world where the protagonist is the subject of a series of magical experiments. Escaping from your cage and into a high fantasy environment, you'll be met with hundreds of hours of quests, fighting and story, but it's not the usual low effort approach. In Baldur's Gate 2, every task is meticulously crafted, down to the characters, dialogue, and themes. There are few repetitive quests and little hand holding. You'll probably die countless times, but each feels like a learning experience rather than a frustration. Those encounters also drive the story, pulling you intro intricate plot threads that will eventually blend into a satisfying and cohesive whole.