And now, into the top five.
5) BioShock
One of the most beautiful, enjoyable and thought-provoking games I have ever played. From the very start it grips you and does not let go. You hear Andrew Ryan's inspirational speech and then see the city he created, and what that city became. You meet several extraordinary characters in various stages of insanity and see the collapse of a civilization. The weapons are varied and great fun to use, and the plasmids are even better. The Big Daddies are among the most iconic enemies in any game of this generation and you can see yourself grow as they turn from an object of terror into just a minor inconvenience in your journey. The plot twist is one of the best I have ever seen, and requires no suspension of disbelief at all. The environments are fantastic and the city feels like it was once alive and is now abandoned.
BioShock is a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and although its sequel was a bit of a letdown, hopefully Infinite can be even half as groundbreaking as the game that started the franchise.
(Former) Lead Moderator and (Eternal) VGC Detective 
Essay Pro