Top 5
5. Red Dead Redemtion-Between games like Grand Theft Auto IV and Manhunt, Rockstar Games started to put itself in a sort of hole. By releasing the epically-good Red Dead Redemption, however, Rockstar managed to show the world that it's capable of far more than just blood, guts, gore and sex. Don't get me wrong – Red Dead Redemption has all of that in spades – but it also has deep characters, a great story, and a totally unique western setting that sits in stark comparison to the modern cities of the GTA franchise. Red Dead Redemption is a truly deep game that's worthy of your attention, especially if you have scores of hours to sink into a single title.
4. Portal 2-Some might complain that it's too early for Portal 2 to make our list -- it's only been out a few months as of this list's creation -- but they can shut up. Portal 2 is awesome. Once again, players are a test subject in the halls of Aperture Science and need to use a portal gun to solve crazy puzzles. And as awesome as the portal puzzles are -- you shoot once to make an entrance and once to make a connected exit -- it was the story of this game that really turned heads. Clever writing, interesting twists, comedy, and robot characters you couldn't help but love and loathe. Toss in multiplayer that could connect with PC players, and you have one hell of a game. That's why Portal 2 smokes so many on our list.
3. Grand Theft Auto 4- Millions upon millions of gamers live for a game like Grand Theft Auto IV. Set in an impressively large and diverse sandbox known as Liberty City, Grand Theft Auto IV puts you in the role of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant who comes to the United States for the very first time. It's in the seedy Liberty City that his exploits begin, as he claws his way up from obscurity to a force to be reckoned with. All of the classic GTA mechanics are here, from jacking cars to killing just about anyone you come across. But in size, scope and polish alone, Grand Theft Auto IV is a marvel worthy of any game fan's admiration.
2. Borderlands- There are few games on the list that outright surprised as many people as Borderlands did. A FPS-RPG from Gearbox Software, Borderlands' paltry story and shallow characters were easily eclipsed by its deep quest-based gameplay, sprawling environments and deadly enemies. One of Borderlands' greatest strengths, however, was its online cooperative gameplay as well as your ability to find literally limitless permutations of weapons in which to arm yourself with. Don't let Borderlands' laughable box art fool you; this is one hell of an engrossing game.
1. Call of Duty: BLack Ops- Call of Duty is the Goliath of the video game world. The series has sold millions of copies and catapulted itself from a solid, World War II shooter to the sprawling multiplayer playground and Hollywood-style campaign that we know today. Single-player is as exhaustingly fast-paced as ever with large set pieces that try to take your attention.