The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

Skyrim has had an up and down existence. Its release was quickly met with widespread praise from critics, but some players realized it wasn't everything they wanted it to be. However, the real test of this game was time, and it's passed with flying colors. Six years down the line, Skyrim remains one of the most popular RPGs, and much of that is due to the wealth of content in its open world. It's populated with hundreds of quests and items, dozens of factions and races, and many more unique characters. It can be replayed again and again, with a main quest line, that, while great, only requires a cursory look if you desire. All of it is incorporated into the Elder Scrolls lore, with a laser focus on consistency and entertaining in-game literature to help it along. Despite this, it's in some ways simpler than its predecessors. It cuts out the fluff from the skills system, settling for a game that's accessible but, importantly, offers more freedom. And that's really what Skyrim is about. It's one of the ultimate iterations of 'play your own way'. You can be a mage, an orc, an archer, a thief or a dragon killer. If there's something you don't like, chances are you can get a mod to change it, or even one that adds hours more content. It's a formula that few games have managed to execute so well, and for that Skyrim deserves its place in the hall of fame.