Best Video Games of 2017

Gravity Rush 2

The Best Video Games of 2017

Gravity Rush 2 was one of the first PS4 exclusives of the year, and it didn’t disappoint. Picking up shortly after the events of the first game, the always personable Kat find herself in yet another gravity-filled adventure.

Kat and her friend Raven, soon out the gates, are pulled into a gravity storm and chucked out in Banga village, a depressing town where workers operate under a police state. Players will have to aid these people, as well as find Kat a way home.

The gameplay revolves around gravity manipulation once more, this time requiring players to strategically switch between three styles: Original, Jupiter, and Lunar. These will all alter Kat’s speed, strength, and jump abilities, and an intelligent combination of all three will be required to defeat the game’s variety of bosses.

The world itself is more engrossing than ever, with improved visuals, destructible environments, and plenty of side quests to dive into. Kat also continues to be a star, always positive and charming despire the hurdles thrown at her.

Gravity Rush 2 improves on the original with increased variety and improved visuals, though the story can be a bit confusing and the stealth sections aren’t super enjoyable. Regardless, this sequel continues the gravitational hero-gameplay that makes the series so unique, and is one of 2017’s best titles.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

The Best Video Games of 2017

Kingdom Hearts 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue is the final stepping stone between us and the ever-elusive Kingdom Hearts III. As such, it pulls together some key stories from the KH timeline, and dives deep into new content just in time for the third chapter.

2.8 is actually a collection of three titles. First is an HD remaster of 3D: Dream Drop Distance, originally a 3DS exclusive about Sora and Riku honing their skills after the events of KH II. The mobile titles fares surprisingly well on the big screen, full of Heartless-slaying action and some strong development for Riku. It’s considered to be one of the franchise’s best spinoff, leaving us off at a point closer to Kingdom Hearts III than II did.

The next title in the 2.8 lineup is Kingdom Hearts x Back Cover, a movie version of the mobile release. It covers much of the Kingdom Hearts story before the first game of the series, diving into the first Keyblade war, but still leaving us with more questions than answers.

The real star of the show here, though, is Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. This is an entirely new game starring Aqua from Birth by Sleep, and the closest story-wise we’re going to get to KH III. It also uses the same graphic engine as the upcoming title, bringing us as close to it as graphically possible, as well.

This 2.8 compilation is a joy to play and a must-have for Kingdom Hearts fans, finally tying up the pieces of the puzzle before the long-awaited third entry arrives. 

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

The Best Video Games of 2017

One of this year’s biggest–and most terrifying–games comes to us in the form of another Resident Evil title. This time around, the series is taking a first-person perspective, while retaining the most classic qualities of the franchise.

The story revolves around Ethan, a husband come to rescue his long-missing wife from a ruined Louisiana plantation manor. Unfortunately, he isn’t the only one roaming its halls. Alongside him through the journey is the Baker family, an utterly deranged collection of horrifying personalities. They have more dire plans than just killing you, although their freaky familial goals are at first unclear.

Leading the Baker pack is father Jack, one of the most memorable Resident Evil foes in recent years. He’s wacky, full of personality, and utterly anxiety-producing. He’ll stalk you down with brute force, all while tossing colloquial sayings over his shoulder.

The usual herb collecting and ammo scavenging make a return, along with puzzles and the occasional jump scare. Where Resident Evil 7 really shines, however, is in how all these pieces come together to create a genuinely unsettling experience rather than a cheap or actioney romp. Travelling through its world, you’ll definitely regret having entered it, and what more could a RE game hope to achieve? 

Yakuza 0

The Best Video Games of 2017

Yakuza 0 originally released in Japan in 2015, providing a prequel story for the long-running series. The game finally made its way over to the west this year, however, and while its graphics and mechanics may lag a couple of years behind, it’s a nonstop collection of fun.

The story focuses around Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima as they make their way through warring crime families, betrayal, and other dramatic turns. These protagonists are much younger than they have appeared elsewhere in the series, giving fans a chance to witness their early struggles in finding their place within the Yakuza.

The game’s brawls can be fun, with each character able to switch between various battle stances, though the action is never quite as smooth as one would hope. Similarly, the graphics tend to drag in places, not much holding their own against other releases of 2017. Nonetheless, Yakuza 0 shines in its tense story, as well as its wealth of comedic side content.

When you’re not avoiding the latest car bomb, you may find yourself visiting a cabaret club or teaching a punk band how to act tough. Maybe you’ll head down to the arcade and play some SEGA games, or whittle hours away fishing. The activities get weirder the longer you stay in Yakuza 0’s world, a fine backdrop to a story that weaves between drama and comedy almost seamlessly. 

For Honor

The Best Video Games of 2017

If a samurai, viking, and knight were pitted against one another, who would win the fight? What was a simple debate one might have with friends is now the premise of For Honor. This third person combat game thrives on the versatility and complexity of warrior battle, urging users to manage not only their stamina but understand how to block, guard break, and parry attacks to success. Button mashing won’t get you too far here in the slow, strategic intimacy of 1v1 duels.

These battles can be found either online or in the rather surprisingly entertaining single player campaign. While the latter can serve as a fantastic way to learn the mechanics beyond the tutorial, battling against human opponents is the real test of one’s skill. All three playable factions feature four heroes that have distinct mechanics, combos, and weapons that allow the each to feel wholly different from the rest. The mighty Shugoki, for example, uses his kanabo club to beat his opponents down with raw force, while the speedy Peacekeeper can stack on bleed damage for quick kills.

It’s this variety and the intensity of battle that makes For Honor so much fun to play, as there will almost always be a playstyle to master further. Even though there are only currently a handful of multiplayer modes, each one is a fun and unique way to practice your fighting skills. If you are looking for something new in the multiplayer realm, consider picking up For Honor, as its melee combat is some of the best in modern gaming.

Nioh

The Best Video Games of 2017

Nioh is a game that at first glance may seem like a simple knock off of From Software’s Dark Souls series, as the title features challenging combat, unique multiplayer elements, difficult bosses, and a punishing death system. Yet, for the few elements it borrows, Nioh confidently takes a step in a different direction that allows it to carve out a unique experience that is wholly its own.

Much of this is thanks to the deep and gratifying combat mechanics that reward players who are willing to master the various combos and tricks to make the most of their gear. Along with this are three different stances that each of five different weapons can utilize, allowing players the freedom to approach situations based on their playstyle. Combine this with the various magical and ninjutsu based abilities, and you get one of the most engaging moment to moment games of the year so far.

This is only enhanced by the absolutely wonderful level design that takes players everywhere from trap filled mansions to poison filled caves. There is also an engaging forging system for those who want to squeeze every bit of use out of their gear and a rather entertaining (all be it wacky) story. Nioh is a action/RPG that should not be missed if you own a PlayStation 4. There is enough substance to keep players going for dozens upon dozens of hours, plus it has a pipe smoking, staff wielding, giant ninja toad, and who honestly doesn’t want that? 

Horizon Zero Dawn

The Best Video Games of 2017

Guerrilla Games stepped out of its box big time with their new IP, Horizon Zero Dawn. Leaving behind the grey worlds of their Killzone shooter series, the studio created one of the most immersive titles of 2017, and a stunning start to a new PlayStation 4 exclusive.

Horizon’s world is that of a distant future, where humankind as we know it has vanished, leaving behind only relics of their technological civilization. Now, humans have returned to a tribal way of life, and the earth is overtaken by nature and animal machines. None of these tribes seems to know what exactly happened to the “Old Ones” or why these machines have begun suffering from corruption, but our protagonist Aloy isn’t satisfied with that. She ventures off to find answers, taking players on a journey through a dangerous and mysterious world.

The game really couldn’t have turned out much better. The graphics are the best we’ve seen on the PlayStation 4 so far, combat is strategic and smooth, Aloy is natural and likable, and the story manages to stay compelling throughout the campaign. There’s also miles of land to explore, tons of collectibles, and a slew of interesting side quests to undertake. It all pools together into a world where one minute you’re admiring the subtle snowflakes on a mountaintop, and the next tearing the missile launchers off of a robotic T-rex.

At the end of the day, if you’re looking for the grandest video gaming experience of 2017, you definitely want to consider Horizon Zero Dawn. 

Night in the Woods

The Best Video Games of 2017

Night in the Woods was a surprise release this year, a title that had been delayed many times and had no set launch date when it suddenly appeared on Steam in February. Now that it’s arrived, though, Night in the Woods has turned out to be an emotional tale that’s extremely difficult to put down.

Its cartoon stylings and animal characters shouldn’t fool you — Night in the Woods is incredibly emotionally complex, with a striking authenticity in the struggles and conversations of its cast. The star of the whole affair is college dropout Mae Borowski, who returns to her hometown and must find herself amidst its troubled stories. Her friend group has changed greatly since she left, and rejoined, are a collection of adulthood’s greatest sufferings.

These animal companions and their sadly realistic lives are surrounded by the town’s increasingly dark mysteries. There’s something in the woods, in Mae’s dreams, and lurking through the streets. This story string and the many side activities–including platforming and a rhythm game–scattered throughout keep the adventure from becoming too monotonous, especially considering all the backtracking you’ll have to do. Still, it’s the lives of these characters that make Night in the Woods unforgettable. Their hardships and dialogues are piercing and dense for the entire, stammeringly human ride.