The RPGs that have lived most in my imagination and therefore I’d probably call my favourites are the Mass Effect Trilogy (if we’re allowed to class them as RPGs, particularly after the first game) and Dragon Age: Origins.
I like that praise, “lived the most in my imagination.” For me that would probably be Skyrim. I wouldn’t call that a great RPG, passable at best, but unlike lots of people I crafted a very specific character and took him on a very specific journey.
In short, he started out as a humble thief. Eventually he learned some enchantment and illusionist magic to become basically an arcane trickster. He worked his way into assassination, though always indirectly killing his targets, usually with a frenzy spell. After that, he enjoyed dipping into necromancy before finally reaching his apotheosis as a vampire and only then did I start the main quest line. I was probably 50 hours into the game before I actually killed anything myself.
I really appreciate that the game was flexible enough to allow me to craft a very specific character and play in a very specific way. Again, I wouldn’t consider Skyrim a great role playing game, but it gave me the tools to do some fun role playing.
