Divinity: Original Sin

This title presents a modern-day prequel to the popular CRPG, Divine Divinity. Though it borrows from the setting and genre of the original, it also pushes the series to new heights. Original Sin takes the top-down turn-based RPG and breathes life into it with skillful writing. The game's overarching plot follow two Source Hunters, tasked with eradicating an evil magic and therefore saving the world. Though you can play the game solo, it's greatly enhanced by a friend in co-op, each of you able to control your own character. There's a good effort to make the world feel immersive by combining the lore of the originals and the greatly improved graphics and sound. The real writing expertise is not in the plot, however, but in the dialogue. The game is full of little quips, moments of self-awareness, and seriously unpredictable twists. Quests, though repetitive, always have a context that makes them feel worthwhile. You'll be faced with options to react at various points throughout, possibly creating conflict between you and your friend. In some cases, that could lead to a degraded gameplay experience, but Divinity incorporates rock, paper, scissors matches which may leave you resentful, but will at least keep you from bickering. Thousands of little quirks like that are what makes this game so fresh and interesting. In a genre that has a habit of rehashing the same thing, Original Sin dares to be different, and that defiance of conventions is its greatest strength.