3. Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls series had been a gem long before Skyrim came along. One of great depth and visual beauty, it was 2011's behemoth that changed everything for Bethesda. The sheer scope of the environment and the possibilities is about as limitless as any video game can have hoped to be up until this point, and regardless of how many hours you clock up, you'll still have something to do. On a level untouched by any of the previous Elder Scrolls games, the world feels genuinely alive, and interaction isn't simply a necessity but a desire. It's consistently being touted as the
Greatest Game Ever Made, and the arguments for that title are entirely justifiable. Within just two days of release, almost 3.5 million sales had been made, and the figures only rose from there. But perhaps the biggest thing Skyrim has going for it is its customisability. With an endless supply of mods available to download and install, the game continues expanding long after you've finished it (if you ever feel as though you've gotten anywhere close). Oh, and something, something, something... arrow to the knee (it's been a while).