Red Dead Redemption 2

Greatest story in video game history. The characters are complex and unforgettable, every mission and conversation adds to the immersion. The gameplay, while every mission is some form of "go here and shoot a bunch of bad guys" is significantly deeper than that. The free roaming is second to none. You can interact with nearly everything in this world, and every mechanic is deep enough to be a game on its own. Hunting (matching the weapon ammo to the animal's size to not damage the pelt, physically accurate migration patterns, searching for tracks etc..), survival and weight management, fishing, community and camp management, crafting, gambling, and exploration are too deep to begin to explain. The gameplay is not felt if you rush through the main story, and neither is the story itself. Arthur morgan, arguably the greatest character in fiction - Arthur's writing is a masterpiece. He spends most of his life believing in redemption as something you earn. By the time he learns that redemption is found in the choices you make, it's too late for him. He learns that loyalty isn't blind, it means protecting what's good, even if it means walking away from who you are. When he dies, the man he wished he'd be caught up to the man he became, but it was too late. Arthur's development is masterfully written, and his character is deeply tragic. Arthur's story stays with you because it isn't really about outlaws or the Wild West. It's about the fear that we might realize what truly matters only when we're running out of time.