Quality writing and storytelling: if a game's story is front and center, I'd rather have Grand Theft Auto V quality writing opposed to Assassin's Creed qualtiy writing. I want to be immersed in this awe-inspiring story, with excellent characters and chilling writing that makes you laugh or gives you goosebumps, whichever the situation calls for; whether it be told through numerous cutscenes (Metal Gear Solid series (especially 4), The Walking Dead), its gameplay and/or environment (Portal 2, Bioshock, and Half-Life 2), or a pitch perfect balance between the two extremes (Uncharted 2 and 3, The Last of Us, every Grand Theft Auto after 2). If you're gonna tell a story, make damn sure I don't force myself to sit through it.

Extraordinary gameplay: gameplay, with mechanics and controls that are fun to play with. Now, that is not too much to ask, but you'd be surprised by just how many games fail at what is essentially their only task. Doesn't matter what genre it is, or whether it's linear or open, just as long as it is better than "it's not broken".

Polished presentation: doesn't need to be realistic, but it should be a pristine audiovisual experience, that sets out to and tackles whatever audio or art-style it represents with the utmost gungho. Tip to developers: you don't need millions of dollars to make an immersive, outstanding experience.

Length does not matter to me, because if the game is so good, I'll probably play it more than a few times (I replay Journey damn near every month; best $15 I've ever spent). I'd much rather have an incredible 15-hour experience (Uncharted 2) than a lethargic, repetitive 300-hour one (Skyrim).

#5. Grand Theft Auto IV

#4. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

#3. Bioshock

#2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

#1. Portal 2

No games are precisely perfect, but sometimes games come along that couldn't possibly be any better, and are the main reasons we play video games. These games are known as masterpieces. Games that we personally feel are the height of their respective genres, and some of the very finest games known to us. Below is my full, disclosed list of games I awarded a perfect score, be it a 5, 10, 40, or a 100.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Portal 2

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

The Last of Us

Journey

Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto III

Half-Life 2

Go ahead and share your list of games you've awarded the highest possible score in your book.

Edit: Resident Evil 4, Shadow of the Colossus, and Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+ have all been added to the list.

First game I played on PS3 was Castlevania: Lords of Shadow over at a friend's house, followed by Red Dead Redemption and half of MGS4. First game I played when I bought one a few months later was Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction, followed by the MGS HD Collection and the entirety of MGS4. Tools of Destruction and MGS4 both remain two of the most graphically gorgeous games I've ever played.

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I never understood what some people meant when they say that the MGS series has bad gameplay. I thought they had great gameplay for their time, while 4 has all-around excellent controls. V should be no different.

After masterpieces like MGS3 and 4 (and 2... and 1), I have no reason to doubt Kojima's ability to tell a great story, and have polished gameplay to send you through it.

@jg4xchamp: Mediocre is a word I'd associate with Fallout: New Vegas, not Adam Sessler.

GTA V is a masterpiece, but IV is a superior game.

@Jankarcop: No, he's at rev3.