18 Greatest Role-Playing Games Of The Decade (So Far)

5. Mass Effect 2

Forget that sour taste Mass Effect 3 left behind. Back when Mass Effect 2 was in our lives, it was the finest sci-fi experience in the galaxy (or the Citadel).

Expanding on where the original left off, Shepard is immediately killed in the opening act and resurrected with a split-purpose: Explore the ramifications of his resurrection at the hands of the shady Cerberus organisation, and mount an offensive using all his past friends against The Collectors - a potentially world-ending race of warriors who appear to be abducting people for nefarious reasons.

It creates the perfect mix of characterful heart and big-budget bluster - just what you need for a story to have consequence and emotion beats on every level. Mass Effect 2 remains one of the greatest games of all time, and easily the best entry in the series... for now.