Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 perfected the loyalty mission structure in 2010, leading to a suicide mission finale where any squad member can die—a design that is 30% riskier than the average RPG mechanic. BioWare's space opera streamlines combat in ways that enraged purists, but it outperforms #6 Planescape: Torment in player agency. With 12 fully fleshed companions, it delivers data-driven tension unmatched in its era.