Half-Life 2 (PC, 2004)

This scene didn't actually appear in the final game, but the rest of Half-Life 2 certainly lived up to the hype.

Despite arriving well past its initial 2003 release date, Half-Life 2 made an earth-shattering impression. It saw the return of the silent, crowbar wielding figurehead of the resistance movement, an unwitting spearhead behind the people's liberation against Dr Breen's oppressive regime: Gordon Freeman.

Much had changed since Gordon's 1998 outing - the game sported a complete visual overhaul (not surprising, considering the six year gap) and with a revolutionary physics system, unforgettable water effects and a gravity defying "gravity" gun, Half-Life 2's new campaign was as timeless as ever.

The seamless blend of chapters helped push home the sentiment of a continuous, freewheeling story taking place over a dozen or so hours, while boat rides and flimsy buggies transported Gordon to his next port of call. Revamped enemy AI helped keep the gunfights as challenging as the original.

Half-Life 2 is still as impressive as it was four years ago. It's the definitive shooting experience with impeccable pacing. While the Steam authentication system is a mild blemish, Half-Life 2 still warrants fourth place.

Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360, 2008 )

Niko Bellic's exploits are as varied as they are fun, and the cohesive plot is wonderfully woven.

Having recently completed Rockstar's latest entry in the seminal GTA series, Niko Bellic's exploits -- the sociopath, deadpan-delivering protagonist of the game -- are fresh in my mind. And what exploits they are. From high speed boat chases to bank robberies to the enactment of revenge and streaky motorbike missions, the tasks are as varied as they are fun, and, with ninety-four story missions in total, you're not going to be completing this saga any time soon.

Not that you'll want to. Niko's story is such an immensely engaging one that you'll be disappointed when it's all over, but disappointed in the way that you wish there was more, not an unfulfilled disappointment. I never expected to return to the game after finishing the story but, lo and behold, I slipped right back into Niko's fitting form only some hours after the closing credits appeared. And yes, I was only 60% through the game as a whole.

There are still pigeons to shoot, side missions to complete and new vehicles to filch. But, for the time being, it's only fitting I reflect on the immensely satisfying ride I've been on for the last week. Without a doubt GTA IV provides one of the most exhilarating, absorbing and addictive campaigns I've ever experienced. It proves that sandbox games, when done well, really work. There's so much cohesion at work and the story is wonderfully woven with Orwellian precision. It's astounding Rockstar can get it right so continuously.

There are so many details in GTA IV that are worth sampling. You've probably read reviews by now, detailing the individual aspects of the game - no, hearing about them doesn't spoil the experience. GTA IV is a visceral beast; it has to be experienced first hand.

I'm not going to waste your time explaining in laborious detail why this is worthy of the hype. Take it from me, take it from the numerous print reviews and take it from the millions of fans that have snapped up this gem: it really is one unbelievable journey. And it's 5th on my list.

Dead Rising (Xbox 360, 2006)

Dead Rising can be immensely unforgiving, but it's that much more compelling as a result.

Some love it, some hate it, but there's no denying that Dead Rising makes an impression. Initially, you feel you're being confronted by a straightforward zombie slash-fest, but the game's clever RPG-st*le level up system soon becomes apparent. It's really the only game I ever wanted to replay, and it achieves this by not forcing you to restart from scratch, but starting again with the level you ended on your previous play-through. Since the game involves you finishing the story segments in the correct amount of time, it feels like an exercise in impossible trial and error first, but having accumulated a level in excess of thirty, you'll soon be breezing through many of the levels. Essentially, it's a game you almost have to play twice (maybe thrice) to achieve the proper ending. Some may disagree with this completely, but I found it oddly compelling.

It's helped by the fact that Dead Rising is imbued with oodles of charm. It's genuinely funny at times and dressing your character in ridiculous attire is just the first avenue of laughs. The shambling zombies are ridiculous at times -- and impressively animated -- but they're merely a hindrance. They don't need to be killed, but you'll find yourself needing to clear a path to reach your next destination, and this usually involves mowing down the fiends with an assortment of inventive weaponry.

Tension levels are ramped to unassailable heights when you're racing against the clock. Although you'll curse the unforgiving gameplay system, you'll also applaud it, since it makes Dead Rising that much more unforgettable. There are many people who simply don't agree with the trial-and-error manner of it, but it creates something that's quite unlike any other contemporary.

Ultimately the raw invention and inspiration behind Dead Rising are real winners. It's one of the finest 3rd-person action/RPG/comedy/zombie/ games I've ever sampled. Wait, it is the finest one, and its fifth on my list for this reason.

I've just finished the story mode of GTA IV. The last mission is pretty difficult, but not considerably harder than anything else I encountered.

It took me 35 hours to finish the 94 mission story-mode campaign. I'm still only at 60% game completion. And you know what the best thing is? I'm keen to get back and continue playing. I assumed that once I had finished all the story missions, I'd have exhausted my love for the game; but no, I'm itching to slip back into Niko's shoes.

This is one unmissable game.

Indigo Prophecy (2005, PC)

Superb characters help to sell Indigo Prophecy as one of the most absorbing stories ever presented in gaming form.

I had always held high hopes for Indigo Prophecy. Even before its release I identified that Quantic Dream's ambitions would likely elevate the traditional "adventure" genre to new heights and pave the way for a new breed of game. While multiple endings sounded standard fare, I was interested in sampling their envisioning of a new "kind" of game.

And what a game it proves to be. While Simon Says s*tyle action sequences sound childish, they work well. The illusion that your actions really impact on the path of the game are more evident initially, but, to the developer's credit, the illusion doesn't completely diminish at any point.

Towards the end the narrative descends into convoluted madness, but this barely tars the brilliance presented beforehand. The story works better when its kept simple, but the characters remain convincing throughout, and its adult themes (love, sex, murder) are presented maturely and with a great degree of panache.

It might not be a traditional adventure game, but ironically, it works as one of the best I've ever played. The experimental gameplay and action themes meld surprisingly well, and you find yourself identifying with main character, Lucas, despite the seemingly un-identifiable situation he finds himself in.

Solid production values help to make the story that much more convincing, since the visuals are more of a backdrop than the main draw. But the fact that it still looks good today, and the fact that the voice-work and music is of a Hollywood standard hardly hurts matters, either.

Ultimately, Indigo Prophecy was an immensely satisfying ride when I first completed it, and, having gone back to it today, I find it no less absorbing.

Absolutely stellar, this is a worthy number 7.

Medal Of Honor: Allied Assault (2002, PC)

The beach assault is a defining moment in FPS gaming.

Frightened faces, a heaving boat and innumerable foes. Medal Of Honor's Omaha beach landing may not have been the game's opening mission, but it was certainly the most memorable.

A resounding World War 2 opera, Medal Of Honor: Allied Assault fully immersed me within the world of First-Person Shooters. Was it the kinetic gunfights? Was it the intelligent AI? Or was it the visual spectacle on offer? A bit of everything, I suspect. Either way, I eagerly devoured every one of the game's hellish scenarios that were recreated with diligence and precision: The beach landing a particularly good example of this. It the game's defining moment, ripped straight from Saving Private Ryan, yet no less impacting. Without it, the game would have been an entirely solid FPS -- yet, the beach assault solidified Medal Of Honor's place in the annals of FPS excellence. It really defined how far games had come since the early days; their ability to recreate a celluloid moment with unnerving creativity.

The shores of Normandy were by no means the only standout moment, of course. Trudging through the rubble of a ruined French town with a sniper rifle or infiltrating a mustard gas factory donning a gas mask were other stellar moments, but with the Omaha Beach Landing in place, Medal of Honor could do no wrong. Admittedly, the rest of the game rather pales in comparison, but this is hardly surprising.

Prior to its release, Return To Castle Wolfenstein was touted as the next "big thing", but Medal Of Honor snatched away this mantle -- and with good reason. It stands as the best in its protracted series (evidently down to the team disbanding shortly afterwards and forming the creative force behind Call Of Duty, a spiritual successor of sorts). It was will always stand in a light of its own, the first FPS I truly enjoyed, and 8th on my list.