Through sheer mechanical execution, the laboriously-detailed world of Grand Theft Auto deserves to be commended, regardless of the myriad of elements that elevate it even further into the pantheon of legendary titles. From the voice-acting that brings to life three intersecting main characters you'll want to play as just as much as each other, to refining vehicular controls to a point of perfection, to gunplay and traversal mechanics that make any combination of the former a total delight to play, GTA V is in a league of its own when it comes to innovation. Telling a story that lampoons various modern-day traits and pop-culture stereotypes with the subtlety of a nuclear bomb, Grand Theft Auto is just as much a name in satire as the likes of South Park and Family Guy. Their ability to take situations we all wish we could control from the other side of the TV screen and inject them with a glorious escapist player agency is what has consistently made the GTA series so successful, this year dominating every other entertainment medium to become the greatest selling property of all time. From taking part in one of the many bank heists in the game that owe a large debt to Michael Mann's Heat, to exploring the wilderness north of the city to refine your hunting skills, or just diving in a lorry and barrelling down the freeway as your own personal revenge against monday morning's traffic jam, GTA unleashes our darkest desires and packages them as a fantastic explosion of good times and memorable moments. Rockstar continue to have an exemplary track-record when it comes to consistency, and GTA V pushes the bar ever-higher for free-roaming games, even surpassing everything that's currently available on next-gen consoles in the 'wow' department. However there is just one more game that deserves a higher spot on this list...
