Some Cool Games I Played in 2017

I’m broke.

Okay, not really, but I don’t have the means to play every new game that catches my eye each year, or even anywhere close. So I have to pick and choose the ones I actually buy each year very carefully, especially if I want to cash in when they’re new.

2017 was, as many of your favorite creators have likely been saying, an absolutely fantastic year for gaming. It had its pitfalls in the form of some monetization fiascos, but from my perspective, it more than made up for it with a tidal wave of masterful single-player games.

I’m not even sure if I played 10 games this year, nor am I prepared to choose favorites, so the following list isn’t ordered by which is best; I’ll just go chronologically. So let’s start with…

Horizon: Zero Dawn

This is your first clue that this isn’t ordered by quality. Horizon could easily be my Game of the Year. It had appealed to me ever since it was revealed; the visual style, the gameplay, and the characters all looked fascinating. And oddly, this game was a slow burn for me. I played it sporadically throughout the year, and still haven’t completed the main story. And for most of that time, I may have said it was a bit underwhelming.

Until, that is, I found out the significance of the title.

I was almost past the point of believing that this game could blow me away. But once I learned the secrets of this world’s past, and discovered the meaning of the phrase “Zero Dawn,” I was astonished. It’s not necessarily the most original concept one could find in a sci-fi story, but its execution was simply wonderful. It has one of the best, most fascinating cutscenes I’ve ever seen in a game like this. Ashly Burch’s performance is absolutely electric. And somehow it tied the entire game together for me. It took all the different threads of gameplay and story layered throughout the game and brought them all together in a fantastic way. And I can’t wait to see what remains.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

I’ve already said my piece on this game. Though, the videos I made on this game earlier last year are probably pretty out of date. I still see some good in it, and I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad game, but it’s hard to ignore the disrespect with which my favorite franchise seems to have been treated. A rushed development cycle, an understaffed studio, and a single-player campaign ripe for expansion that was neglected in favor of the lackluster multiplayer mode; it all means this game left a sour taste in my mouth that, at the time, my affinity for the previous games prevented me from actually tasting.

Prey

Prey seemed to fly under the radar this year. Some called it an uninspired Bioshock clone, and from a certain perspective, I can understand that sentiment, but I don’t share it. Prey was a dense, rich survival-action-horror experience filled to the brim with content. I liked the setup of a character waking up in an alien-infested space station with a mystery to solve, I liked the world it built, and I liked most of the characters within that world. And overall, I had a hell of a good time with Prey.

Injustice 2

I suck at fighting games. But for some reason, I love the Netherrealm games’ story modes. And Injustice 2 is no exception. My friend Truth the Equalizer and I played this on our channel Aqua Society Gaming, and I really enjoyed myself. I get some juvenile satisfaction out of beating the hell out of DC characters as other DC characters, and I can listen to Kevin Conroy talk as Batman, literally for days. I can’t stand up to anyone worth their salt in multiplayer, but I’ll throw myself into the multiverse every once in a while and have some fun.

Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy

This was my hype-train installment for the year. I had been looking forward to the Crash Bandicoot revival with blind, untethered enthusiasm since it was teased at E3 the previous year. And by all accounts, I was not let down. Is it perfect? Probably not, but it does what a nostalgia-seller should do in spades: it looks and feels exactly how I remember the original games being when I was a kid.

Sonic Mania

A similar game in concept to N. Sane Trilogy, a sort of modernization/revival of a classic franchise which benefits from the nostalgia of its user base, I enjoyed the hell out of Sonic Mania. However, my experience was different with Mania, in that this is the first and only Sonic game I’ve played thus far. I thought the momentum-based platforming was fun and intuitive, the music was incredible, and the colorful, stylish visuals were breathtaking.

Cuphead

I had been waiting for Cuphead for years. I’m not very experienced with 2D Shoot-Em-Up games, but Cuphead captured my imagination. The visual style is in a league of its own. The gameplay is extremely engaging. The soundtrack is a masterpiece just as much as the game itself. The level of dedication from Studio MDHR is admirable and inspirational. And the way it keeps you coming back for more is fascinating.

Just one more try. One more, I swear.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

This game stands on the same footing as its predecessor for me. Neither of them are quite as good as DOOM. But The gameplay in Colossus, while sometimes incredibly challenging, was aggressive, and chaotic, and fun above all else. The story wasn’t the most memorable I’ve ever played in an FPS, but BJ Blazkowicz and most of his merry band of Nazi-killing misfits were a very entertaining bunch.

A Hat In Time

Other than the wacky red Bandicoot, I didn’t have much experience with collect-a-thon 3D platformers growing up. And for some reason, I’m appreciating them more and more as I grow into adulthood. So this year, in addition to Crash and Sonic, I picked up A Hat in Time to scratch my itch for some pure, unbridled childhood joy. And this is a lovely little game. It’s got laughs, it’s got engaging visuals, and some great platforming mechanics. I’d be happy to see developer Gears for Breakfast get more work in the future.

Super Mario Odyssey & The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

I’m grouping these together because I got them at the same time and I play them as two sides of the same coin: that coin being the Nintendo Switch. I love the Switch; I think it’s neat, and I think it takes a massive leap forward in a way that the Wii U never could. My previous piece on Mario Odyssey basically sums up my feelings on that game (spoiler alert: it’s fun as hell). And Breath of the Wild struck a bolt of lightning through my heart in a way that few games ever have, at least at first. I’m not as enamored with the rest of the game, but the opening hours of that game are truly, truly special. It’s the reincarnation of that perfect game to wake up to on Christmas morning, and immerse yourself in an adventure.

So there you have it. I actually played more games than I previously thought I did in 2017! Turns out I did have enough for a top 10, but I could never really pick a favorite. Comparing the objective, or even my own personal value, of these games to me is a pointless exercise. I’d rather celebrate them all as they are; as their own work. 2017 was a great year, and I can’t wait for what 2018 has in store! Check back soon for some games I’m anticipating in 2018!