5. Shadow of The Colossus
At the time of its release, Team Ico's sophomore title was hailed as a monumental achievement in the medium of video gaming, blending an emotionally compelling but mysterious storyline with breathtaking visual aesthetics and atmospheric sound design. But the game's biggest strength lay within its innovative gameplay and player's interaction with its environments. As the lone warrior Wander, the player must traverse a sprawling and beautiful landscape, searching for the eponymous colossi begins his attempt to thwart them all. The game's longevity stems from these long contemplative journeys, and then in its massive scale and rapid paced battles with colossi of increasing size. The battles themselves were in no way easy either, and could lead to prolonged sessions of extended gameplay. However due to its distinctive nature and deeply engaging elements, the game never felt like the endurance test it could have been under the tutelage of another development team.