Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Open-world action game set in Mordor during the 60 years between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. You're Talion, a ranger killed alongside his family, now bound to a vengeful spirit. Combat borrows from the Arkham series—rhythm-based melee with counters that build combo multipliers. The standout feature is the Nemesis system: every orc captain has a name, rank, and memory. They remember your encounters, adapt tactics accordingly, and pursue their own power struggles even when you're not watching. Kill a captain's bodyguard, and he'll taunt you about it next time. Lose a fight, and that orc gets promoted while you respawn. Side quests and random events fill out the map. RPG elements include experience points and unlockable skills. If you want a revenge story where enemies feel like persistent rivals rather than disposable mobs, this delivers.