3. Dragon Age: Inquisition

A quaint village tucked away in the woods

With respect to game world size, Dragon Age: Inquisition is the Dragon Age series’ most ambitious; while once again set in the continent of Thedas, it gives you two enormous territories to explore: Ferelden and Orlais.

With Inquisition, the franchise is also at its most visually splendid. Bubbling streams, windswept grasslands, fertile forests, scorching deserts, teeth-chattering tundras, snow-carpeted mountains – if these don’t please the nature lover in you, nothing will. And the manmade structures – from bucolic farmsteads and sleepy settlements tucked in the woods to intimidating castles and impregnable fortresses – are just as gorgeous.

Culturally, Thedas is diverse. It’s sort of like a younger, hipper Middle-earth, where dwarves shave their beards, elves aren’t their high-and-mighty selves, and the horned Qunari – your archetypal warrior race – are waiting at your front steps, ready to break down your door, invade your home, and shove their bad cooking down your throat.

Magic exists, but it’s heavily regulated by the Circle of Magi. Flout the rules and you could end up on the templars’ chopping block. Don’t forget the dragons! And the darkspawn who, every few centuries, corrupt a god and invade the world en masse in an apocalyptic event known as the Blight. Oh, what exciting times we live in!