A year full of wonderfully executed, unanticipated games.
2017 proved game developers have more to offer than just gun blazing action. Games were not afraid to be powerful messages, tackle complex ideals or be a microcosm of our real world angst.
Developers proved that given the time and freedom they could bring their most ambitious creations to life.
Before we continue, I just wanted to clarify. These are not opinions they are 100% fact and completely objective. If you don’t like these games I fart in your general direction.
These are 10 of my favourite games from 2017.
10. Everything
Weird and wonderful, Everything is a game that sits us outside the box so we can examine ourselves. A unique take on philosophy as you are given the freedom to roam and explore as you delve into what makes up everything.
9. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Punching Nazis in the face has never been more satisfying.
Delivering possibly the best video game villain of 2017, Wolfenstein is a culmination of a fantastic cast and direction, coupled with pure FPS antics.
8. Prey
Prey feeds of paranoia. An understated nod to the power of scientific ambition and the power of a player’s imagination. A refined balancing act of chaos and stealth makes Talos I feel every bit as unnerving as its System Shock roots.
7. What Remains of Edith Finch
If you slowly wandered through your family home, what memories would you stir up? This typically tragic exploration of family and memories is mesmerising to the last moment. It’s a gripping tale that contrasts the mundane and the astounding moments of life.
6. Destiny 2
It just feels right.
The seamless slash of movement, the crunch of a melee and the precise pop of an aliens head. Bungie worked to ensure Destiny 2 was a more refined beast than its predecessor, streamlining systems and loot to create an accessible blend of first person shooter and role playing game.
5. Super Mario Odyssey
Odyssey is a shameless celebration of Mario, bundled into the most refined Mario package to date. Whilst the game nods to the history of Mario it takes, a leap forward and expands on the seams of the Mario universe to create a genre defining modern platformer.
4. Cuphead
Masterful execution requires masterful execution. The 1930s artwork, the steamboat soundtrack, the razors edge precision; all the elements you do not have time to ogle at between each mounting demise.
3. Hellblade: Sensua’s Sacrifice
A blur of reality and illusion as you tackle grief and fear. Hellblade is an emotional roller coaster that few others have dared tried to achieve. Puzzles and combat accentuate Sensua’s decent down the rabbit hole, as you unravel the ruthless yet delicate ebb of her story.
2. Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds
Without Player Unknowns mods and eventual release of PUBG, the battle royal genre wouldn’t exist. PUBG has led from the outset of conception and with it created a tidal wave of fan base and following no one could have anticipated. The unique tension and anticipation in each game blend into something truly exhilarating.
1. Horizon Zero Dawn
A gorgeous yet vicious world unfurls as you and Aloy explore it for the first time, together. Horizon Zero Dawn is the pinnacle of character narrative and a triumph of and action adventure with the intelligence and bravado to boot. Guerilla Games have crafted a world and tale so captivating your time will wash away as you explore the expansive plains in Aloys shoes. The game is a tribute to the dedication and effort the developers have poured into it, and that’s what makes it my favourite game of 2017.
Games I wish I played: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pyre, Nier: Automata, Rumu, Persona 5, Assassins Creed: Origins.