Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines

This is a bit of strange one to make this list, and not because of the convoluted name. The truth is that if you'd asked anyone about this game on its release, they wouldn't say that it was one of greats. It barely sold, had numerous technical issues, and propelled its development team into financial failure. It was an unfinished game. Yet, incredibly it was all turned around. Not thanks to its dev team, but a dedicated and skilled fanbase. Unofficial patches fixed many of the issues that were criticized upon its release, and it soon grew a cult following. None of that would have been possible if the game beneath those bugs wasn't so compelling. The co-founders of Troika Games created the first Fallout game, and later Arcanum. Their talent is undeniable, and the initial failure was more due to budget issues than anything else. In Masquerade, you play a highly customizable fledgling on the hunt for the sarcophagus of an old and powerful vampire. Choice is one of the defining features, with class picks anywhere from a blood mage to a hulking warrior. Along the way, you'll have to decide where to put your limited attributes, which will influence how you can react with the story and solve quests. Behind it all is the tension that should come from a vampire game. The need to live in secret and keep your powers hidden from humans. There's always the need to watch your surroundings or risk losing the game, no matter how caught up you are in the admirable story. In short, it's the death throes of an incredible game studio, and remains one of its most memorable.