Hands down: Skyrim. It’s the fifth installment of the Elder Scrolls series. An offline singe player role playing game with a Fantasy backdrop. I know I sound like a huge nerd talking about this game, but from a more academic perspective this is a very interesting game also. I actually started playing the Elder Scrolls series because of an academic course I was following at the time.
Skyrim is unique because it gives you an huge immersive playing field and you can be (almost) anything you want. I know there are a lot of games who promise the same, but Skyrim delivers. I for one have chosen to be a Battle mage (NERD! I know….) who is bad to the bone. Sneaking around, stealing shit and murdering innocent town people. Kind of an obvious choice but there are also people playing as a pacifist enjoying the game without killing anyone. You can become a soldier, cook, alchemist, lumberjack, farmer, warrior, mage, thief, murderer etc. The possibilities are endless. This is one of the first games which really let’s you create your own story. You can follow the rigid and linear path of the main quests, but nobody says you have to.
When you are not into Fantasy, try to look past it and see the beauty this game really is.
P.S.: Want to know more about the game and what people are doing with it? Read the special Skyrim reddit version. People share their experience with each other and it gives a great insight in the way people experience this great game.