The recency with which I beat this game might be having an effect, but I can’t think of a 2012 title I enjoyed more than Dishonored. I had low expectations for Corvo Attano’s quest for vengeance; while playing the first prison break level, I was convinced that Mark of the Ninja was the better stealth game. But once the gates to the dilapidated city of Dunwall opened up, I fell in love with the game’s moral and strategic freedom.

Having the ability to Blink out of a guard’s sight was a godsend for a pacifist player like myself, and the Agility upgrades let me explore the city almost exclusively via rooftop hopping. The ending is a point of contention for many, but I was completely satisfied by my peaceful path to justice. I’d put Dishonored on the same hallowed pedestal as Half-Life 2 and BioShock for the ways it makes you connect with your silent protagonist, challenging you to mix conventional and innovative methods of attack as you explore a truly inspired environment.