Our Top 5 Games Of 2017

2017 has been a stellar year for gaming, from console exclusives to the release of the surprisingly excellent Nintendo Switch. There have been so many games that some don’t make the list because they haven’t been played yet. Despite this, there was more than enough to take up the year. Click the titles below for full reviews.

5. Horizon Zero Dawn

This came out right in the middle of the best games released this year but still managed to carve a space out. With the excellent bow mechanics and unique enemies, it managed to feel like Assasins Creed, Tomb Raider and Turok all rolled into a modern and refreshing package. Graphically it was a powerhouse and with excellent quests and signposting it set a new benchmark for open-world games.

4. Nier Automata

A game that did it’s very best to stop you getting hooked from the start. Nier Automata managed to be all things to all people by the end. On multiple playthroughs, the game reveals itself to be a great discourse on humanity, A.I. and our cruel nature yet on the surface it remained a spectacular third-person combo driven romp.

3. Super Mario Odyssey

Despite our joke review I could spend years breaking down how excellent and amazing Odyssey is. It simply is as close to a perfect video game as you can get. All that stops it being top of the list is personal preference. If you were to define video games as something played for pleasure to give you joy without esports and other factors then this is the poster child. A completely joyous experience that will stand the test of time.

2. Ghost Recon Wildlands 

The surprise entry. The recent Predator DLC just highlights what this game is all about. An experience that keeps growing an evolving because the core game is so much fun. If you want to feel like an elite special forces unit then this just hands it to you straight away, bullets thud into enemies and vehicles behave exactly like they should. Playing it evoked memories of GTA 3 and Vice City where the worlds were so alive and so much fun just to be involved in. Bolivia with a heavy Narcos inspired vibe is just the same, alive full of surprises and a great place to sink hours into. Some may say it is repetitive but when what you are doing feels so slick and professional it only becomes repetitive because it is the right and logical way to do something. You can go in all guns blazing but when stealth is handled so well it pays to be silent. Like the game itself, a sleeper hit in a crowded year.

1. Zelda Breath Of The Wild

Despite not being my favourite Switch game (Mario Rabbids take a bow) Breath Of The Wild is such a brilliant game it could be the only winner. With a completely free-form structure, it lets you play the game as if you are in the world. if you want to go straight for the ultimate bad guy? You can. If you want to set up a life in Hyrule and ignore everything? You can. There is no intended way to play the game it is solely up to you. By making you question what the linear path in a game is it manages to redefine everything. It could very well be Genesis for how we look at games moving forward.

 

In conclusion WHAT A YEAR.

Thank you all for reading, commenting and visiting. See you in 2018.