The most recent example for me would be Far Cry 4 if only for Pagan Min, who is not simply one of the best villains in a video game, but one of the most complex and intriguing characters to ever grace a game (especially after that secret ending).
It's far from a perfect game, as the gameplay at its core is familiar, safe and doesn't do anything spectacular that sets itself apart, and the golden path storyline is far less interesting than what's going on behind the scenes with Pagain, but there is a wealth of things to do, riding elephants, dive bombing convoys from a helicopter with a wingsuit, and that amazing setting with those Shangri-la and Himalaya sections adding a nice bit of flavor to the overall experience and breaking the tedium, which can build up while you're exploring to be honest.







