We talk about games that let us step into other environments, places to really lose ourselves in; those escapist sensations that make the medium what it is. But nothing caught on and really delivered on such statements quite like Skyrim, which remains quite possibly Bethesda's greatest work to date - and that really is saying something. Every pixel of the world was lovingly crafted by such a talented team of people, but it's when you have that Fallout 3-style "emerge from the underground and look over the valley" scene that it'll blow you away. Skyrim is another world to live in. It's got food resources you can stockpile and trade, smithing options to forge new custom weapons and items, a seemingly never-ending supply of characters to talk to or interact with, and a world that's rammed with caves, underground civilisations and overground threats. Then there's you, the Dragonborn, Dovahkiin, the chosen one at its centre, turning the biggest cog that moves every other piece in tow. A monumental achievement, Skyrim will remain so in the pantheon of gaming history for the rest of time. It's the best Western RPG by a landslide, one of the greatest games of all time, and easily the most epic open-world experience you can ever have. What's your favourite open-world game of the last five years? Let us know in the comments!
