20 Best Video Game Storylines Of The Decade (So Far)
15. Mass Effect 2
While it drops much of the Reaper arc that makes up the bulk of the story in the Mass Effect trilogy, this second game in the franchise is all the better for it. Without having to worry about a galaxy destroying menace (at least, not immediately), you're able to spend the majority of Mass Effect 2 getting to intimately know its universe.
From squad specific quests to the eventual suicide mission that the entire game builds to, everything you do in this second game results in you becoming that bit more invested in the galaxy you're supposed to be saving.
And for once, the rest of your squad in this RPG become more than just their combat stats, as loyalty missions send you out on personal quests that flesh out their characters in often powerful ways. It means that you become attached to every member of your team - which only makes it even more crushing when you no doubt get some of them killed at the end of the game's campaign.
Without this dedication to relationships and character, the entire title would have fallen flat; Mass Effect 2 only works on the assumption that you've bonded with your squad, but thanks to the quality of the stories you have no trouble losing yourself in their imaginative and impactful side-quests.