2. Atmosphere
What's the use of having a grand setting and interesting characters if you don't do anything with them? While the story of Dragonborn might leave a little to be desired, here is a game that is absolutely dripping in atmosphere. For every second of our playthrough, we sense that Solstheim is in the most dire of straits, and just as you seem to fix one ill, another one arrives, causing us to wonder whether peace will ever come to the island. Rather than stick to moral platitudes, we get a feel for the shifting and varied perspectives of the island's residents, from the forlorn many to those filled with indignant rage. So well constructed is the tone of the story and the vibe of the island that we're compelled to take down the apparent first Dragonborn causing all this trouble, Miraak, as soon as possible. Well, as soon as we've finished hoovering up all those addictive sidequests, anyway.