1) Fallout 2: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game

Okay, yes: Fallout 2 altered how I viewed America and its politics, and it was my introduction to the series. But objectively, I see it as the pinnacle of what Fallout has to offer: a zany, post-apocalyptic game with an incredible amount of choice and a smart critique of American ideals, all packaged in a more cerebral game genre than any of the modern titles. (It’s a turn-based RPG.)

This is a game in which you can lose countless hours to exploration…or beeline to the final boss within 30 minutes of starting. It’s a game in which you can become a porn star or a made man, just for funsies. Oh, and the conversations! It’s such a joy to speak to everyone you come across and learn a little more about its world. My favorite moment? Talking to the AI responsible for ending the world in the great war.Fallout 2 offers the sort of freedom and versatility that most modern games that brag about “choice” and “consequences” just can’t touch.

This post originally appeared in 2014, and has been updated.