The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

There have been many arguments over the years about Zelda and its status as an RPG. There's no doubting that it's an action-adventure game at heart, but with its latest iteration, the series strays further into role-playing territory. Though there's no experience system, it does feature skill points via shrines and spirit orbs, armor and weapon stats, and respecs. So, while the genre tag is still a debate for some, Nintendo's graceful implementation of these elements isn't. BoTW is a game of survival as well as story, forcing you to be conservative with your resources and your choices out in the wilderness. Items must be crafted, food must be cooked, and making the wrong decision will inevitably lead to death. The open world is a source of danger in this title, but also one of amazement. It's the biggest world the series has ever featured, and its complete with colorful environments of grass, sand, and rock. More important, however, is what inhabits that world: a cast of intelligent enemies and silent NPCs. There are constant surprises in store as the game subverts the genre and its predecessors. There's a hard to master combat system, head-scratching puzzles. Weaving it all together, though, is yet another iteration of Link's story - one that's up there with the series' best.