A throwback to the magical world of Skyrim

Anyone who spends some time on the internet is probably introduced to the game Skyrim, whether he knows it or not. Reference and memes based on the game are spread all throughout the internet.

Before I say anything more a disclaimer: I have only played the vanilla version at the moment. (I am going to start a new heavily modded game soon though ^-^).
Skyrim was officially the first pc video game I had played. I remember being overwhelmed at the vastness of Skyrim. The best thing about it was how all of it was open unlike some games where a certain region was unlocked after some quest or action. I could go anywhere I want, do anything I want (as long as it was not hurting a chicken in Riverwood or anywhere) and despite there being a main quest, I could ignore it till whenever I want and deemed appropriate.
With countless factions, companions, and ways to carry out gameplay the game is godsend for a role player (even without mods). You can go to college, get married (amazingly even between the same sex), join an assassin guild, spend your life as a hunter hunting rabbits and deers or just as adventurer roaming everywhere. You can have a build of a warrior, thief or mage (and countless different types in that too) and even be a mixture of the above mentioned.
Granted the vanilla version seems a little bleak but for a land in political turmoil between Nazi elves and a (arguable)racist Nord majority (personally I favored the Storm cloaks), resurgence of giant flying fire breathing lizards, and more monsters than people, it has moments when I just stop my gameplay and admire its sheer beauty.