8. Dark Souls II
Being the sequel to the game that catapulted the Souls series from its status as the digital version of self-harming into a title that has some of the most rewarding gameplay seen in years, it only meant that part two had some gargantuan shoes to fill. Sadly although it delivered on expanding the combat, weapon and overall character options from the first two games, developer FromSoftware seemed to double down on the idea of boss fights being the main draw of the series, making for a slew of them that pop up every five minutes - essentially killing that sense of exploration and round-the-corner dread that made the first Dark Souls so unique. If you approach part two without any of the baggage of the first game though - or maybe you could just get past how different in overall 'feel' the two are - it makes for another fantastically unique take on the RPG genre, applying roguelike elements to ensure even death is a key mechanic in the game. Nobody will get through Dark Souls II without dying, but it's the feeling of going up against an insurmountable world doused in monstrous foes that really personifies the franchise and picks out the most resilient gamers to conquer its lands. Embrace the feeling of clenched teeth, lick your wounds and re-spec your spells, FromSoftware's game-changing masterpiece is a cruel taskmaster with a few sequel-tweaks that also make it one of the best role-players in decades.