I've been a fan of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise since the original, and Call of Pripyat is truly astounding. An increased number of gear customization options means you can build on your personal strengths and outfit yourself according to your play style, making the experience that much more enjoyable. Whether you're roaming the deserted city of Pripyat, the vast swamps of Zaton, or a subterranean laboratory, Call of Pripyat's incredible atmosphere immediately sucks you in, leaving you disoriented when you surface for air many hours later.

An orgasmic blend of medieval empire management, trade-route economics, and flesh-rending quasi-simulation combat, Mount and Blade Warband has sucked over 100 hours out of my life, and will no doubt glue me to my monitor for hundreds of hours to come.