18 Essential Landmark Titles Every Gamer Must Play

9. Grand Theft Auto V

Your grandmother might hate it, but that's because she doesn't appreciate it for what it is. As a technical achievement alone, GTA V is nothing short of astounding. With a completely free-roam environment measuring nearly 50 square miles (though official numbers are the subject of some debate), it represents such a significant advancement in the ability of video game technology that it is difficult not to be impressed by even without playing. Some diehard players may contest the proposition, but V is arguably the best instalment in the series to date. Though Rockstar still remain deaf to certain consumer requests, significant updates were made to the game style and mechanics. At heart, it's still a case of 'drive, shoot, and mess stuff up', but the impressively fleshed out story and characters make it a far more enjoyable game than any previous efforts. For once, side missions don't feel completely pointless, and the hugely expansive multiplayer is substantial enough to constitute a whole second game. Thus, the 8GB install is certainly justified, and its status as the best-selling video game of all time not entirely surprising.