Fallout 3

By 2008, Bethesda Game Studios already proved its mettle with four iterations in its Elder Scrolls franchise. But it was Fallout 3 that truly put the studio on the map that year. Open world and mind-bogglingly expansive, Fallout 3 dared you to do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted. It's a truly special western role-playing game, one with a deep, post-apocalyptic plot, memorable characters, and an emphasis on choice. Six years later, it still hasn't been outclassed by any game of its kind.