2017’s Top 10 Game of the Year Contenders So Far

Horizon Zero Dawn

(Guerilla Games – PS4)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

2017 is halfway over, but it’s already provided us with games worthy of the Game of the Year title. Let’s take a look at the best games the past six months have given us so far as we look forward to everything on the horizon. 

After Killzone: Shadow Fall, PS4 owners got ready to wait a couple of years before the next entry of the futuristic shooter. Then, one day, the studio decided to announce that they were working on something completely new, something they’d never done before; an open-world action-RPG. Guerrilla had shown that they could make great shooters and that they knew their way around a GPU, but action-RPGs aren’t exactly easy. Many studios try, and a majority fail to create something truly memorable. Throw in something as complicated as an open world and you have a recipe for disaster… or, in the case of Horizon Zero Dawn, a game of the year.

Horizon Zero Dawn managed to tick all of the prerequisite action-RPG boxes and then some. Lush open world that left players staring in awe? Check. Challenging combat system open to a variety of playstyles? Check. Meaningful quests that weren’t all about collecting bits and pieces? Also check. Where Guerrilla went above and beyond was with Aloy, the game’s protagonist. She was strong, yet relatable. Eschewing the modern tougher than nails hero approach you see in most games, Aloy was more human than your typical action protagonist. We got to see the world, reclaimed by nature and overrun with mechanical menaces as it was, through her eyes, and it left a lasting impression that instantly had it mentioned as a game of the year contender for 2017. 

Nier: Automata

(PlatinumGames – PS4, PC)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

Nier: Automata is probably one of the weirder games of the year so far, and that’s thanks to director Yoko Taro (known for the Drakengard series of which Nier is a spin-off). It’s classified as an action-RPG, which is simple enough, and it even checks all the boxes for the genre with its open world, quest structure, customization, and exceptionally fun combat. But Nier: Automata is also so much more than just your run-o’-the-mill action-RPG.

There are text adventures, bullet hell elements, twin-stick shooter segments, and even some rhythm-based battles. When you throw in the fast-changing camera angles, the experience becomes something much more dynamic than fans of the genre would expect. Helping all of those layers shine is a gripping story full of emotion and intrigue. Sure, androids becoming sentient and questioning their own “humanity” is nothing new, but there’s a lot of care put into how the story is delivered in Nier: Automata, from the various endings, to the three playable protagonists, to the proper dose of humor to balance out the heavy themes. It’s an experience that effortlessly delivers on all fronts and is a definite game of the year contender as we move into the second half of 2017. 

What Remains of Edith Finch

(Giant Sparrow – PS4, PC)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

Games that put story over gameplay aren’t exactly new, but over the past few years a wave of games which have been referred to, in my opinion unfairly, as “walking simulators” have bubbled up to the top of indie offerings. These games put players into the shoes of an individual as they discover notes, videos, and other queues that push a set narrative along. Actual interaction with the world is usually kept to a minimum, allowing the player to open doors, flick a light switch, or play with a specific object that happens to be laying around. What Remains of Edith Finch follows most of those same conventions, but adds a spark of life with how each story is told.

You play as Edith, a young woman who happens to be part of a cursed family who is revisiting the family home, full of rooms, hallways and makeshift additions. In each room of her old family home, she finds a connection to the final moments of other Finch family members, yet they’re all told in methods that are unique to each individual. It’s this that lets us know a bit more about that person, further tightening that personal knot that forms in the thread between the player and the game.

By the time it’s all over, you can’t help but feel joyful at getting to experience their lives and a bit sad at how it’s all over for them. What Remains of Edith Finch is a game that seems simple on the surface, but works hard to pull you into its embrace and hold onto you throughout its entirety, and that’s definitely worthy of some consideration for game of the year.

Persona 5

(Atlus – PS4, PS3)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

Persona 5 is all about getting into and changing the hearts of those who would do harm to others, which is fitting since Atlus toyed with our hearts for so long before the game was released. It had been years since Persona 4 was released on the PS2 and, sometime after, the Vita, and fans were eager to take control of a new rag-tag group of teens full of angst and a desire to save the world. When Persona 5 was finally announced, everyone was on board. The art style, the stealth action, the heist setup of each dungeon, and Morgana, an adorable cat companion, seemed like a recipe for success. But it kept getting delayed for one reason or another. Yet, when the game finally released back in April, we forgot all about how our hearts were aching and fell in love with the masterful JRPG put before us.

From its striking art style which perfectly captures the tone of each dungeon (called Palaces in the game) to the fact that it isn’t afraid to tackle some seriously heavy themes, Persona 5 is one of the best JRPGs we’ve seen in a long time. Thanks to an enjoyable cast of characters, a myriad of options, and an inviting world, it’s easy to get sucked in and lose well over a hundred hours in the game without batting an eyelash. Something only the best games are able to do to players. It offers just what fans of the series expected with a fresh new flair that is sure to provide a longevity that may even rival its predecessor. If that’s not game of the year worthy, I don’t know what is. 

Night in the Woods

(Infinite Fall – PS4, PC)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

At first glance, Night in the Woods looks like your typical, animal filled, happy-go-lucky indie game. While it’s true that it is definitely filled with animals, the town of Possum Springs is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals such as cats and birds, Night in the Woods is anything but happy-go-lucky or typical. It’s a deep, thought-provoking experience that is sure to stay with you after the credits roll.

You play as Mae, a college dropout who finds herself back in her hometown reconnecting with people she hasn’t seen in years. When a tragic event unfolds before her eyes, everything immediately becomes something other than what it seems. There’s an underlying darkness to the world and a haunting presence behind the scenes. As the player, you’ll have to decide how to confront what hides in the shadows while also balancing your life back home. It’s a rewarding game that you owe it to yourself to play if you have either a PC or a PS4. Once you do, you’ll see just how it could contend for game of the year. 

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

(Capcom – PS4, Xbox One)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

Resident Evil helped to make survival horror a household genre when the series started on the PS1 back in the ’90s. Since then, we’ve gotten some great experiences, but the series had definitely lost its way, especially within the main numbered series. Fans were losing hope that we would ever get a new, legitimately scary entry that put survival at the heart of the experience, but then Capcom decided to hunker down and get its act together. From that simple action came what is not only one of the best entries in the series, but also a game of the year contender for 2017, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

For starters, Resident Evil 7 is actually frightening, and that’s thanks to the developers skipping a ton of zombies and, instead, going for one seriously twisted family. Each family member is fully fleshed out and if you say your heart didn’t skip a beat every time you saw one flit past your screen, you’re a stone cold liar, especially when it comes to Jack, the father of the nightmarish Baker family. But it was more than just a scary group of country folk, by the end of it all I actually ended up caring about them, even though I fought tooth and nail to kill them whenever I could. And fighting itself was a challenge, especially on higher difficulties. Resident Evil 7 took the survival horror genre quite seriously (though it lightens up at the very end), and that leads to the most tense experience the series has offered to date. And don’t even get us started on VR. 

Nioh

(Team Ninja – PS4)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

With Dark Souls finished (for now at least), many were wondering who could possibly fill the void with a brutally difficult action-RPG that taught valuable lessons through death? Team Ninja, the studio that brought the world the modern version of Ninja Gaiden and Hyrule Warriors, decided to take a stab at it for Nioh but with their own special flair.

Gone are the dragons and knights in shining (blood-spattered) armor. Instead, this is a world of samurai and demons. It’s not just its setting and aesthetic that help Nioh stand out, it’s the combat, too. Nioh uses most of the same mechanics as its Souls inspiration, but when it comes to combat it’s more reminiscent of Ninja Gaiden. Action focuses heavily on Ki management, allowing you to pull off violent, beautiful strings of attacks if you have the skill to do so, and it also supports a much more aggressive playstyle. You aren’t blocking and waiting for openings, you’re creating them, using parries, dodges, magic, and firearms to break down enemies. It’s challenging in all the best ways yet also fun and rewarding, keeping the action at a high pitch throughout the experience.

Injustice 2

(NetherRealm Studios – PS4, Xbox One)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

It’s not very often that you see a fighting game in contention for game of the year. Most follow a very strict formula of just beat up the person on the other side of the screen until it says you win. Sure, they each have some unique aspect that makes them recognizable – Mortal Kombat has its gore and fatalities, Injustice has a roster of DC heroes and villains, etc. – but in the end, they’re just great fun games that don’t often try to be much more. NetherRealm apparently felt that it was time for something different, and so Injustice 2 is much more than just a sequel to a loved fighting game, it’s an evolution that proves fighting games don’t need to stick to the same formula all the time.

Another thing you don’t hear very often is that a fighting game has an amazing story, but Injustice 2 really does. It’s a branching storyline that shows a war of virtues between Batman and Superman, and it’s quite gripping, avoiding any corniness normally found in fighting game narratives. It also gives you a choice as to how the story plays out, which is a theme that is woven throughout the entire game. You can choose how the story goes, choose how to outfit your characters, choose some of their abilities. It’s like a fighting game and a full blown RPG had a love child, and the result was Batman kicking the crap out of Superman in chromed-out armor. That’s a baby we’d take care of, and we’re glad that NetherRealm took the time to make it. 

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

(Intelligent Systems – 3DS)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

The Fire Emblem series has quickly risen to popularity in recent years, becoming one of Nintendo’s flagship series. For the most recent entry, however, Intelligent System decided to take a step back and look at the past, completely remaking the second game in the series with Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Echoes ditches many of the recent trademarks of the Fire Emblem series, like the weapon triangle and unit pairing, in favor of adhering to the design of the original Fire Emblem Gaiden.

You follow two separate protagonists, Alm and Celica, who journey across the continent of Valentia trying to restore peace to its war-torn nations. The story presentation for Fire Emblem Echoes is better than ever, with all story scenes completely (and excellently) voiced. You’ll also get to explore the world a bit this time around with fully explorable towns and dungeons. Despite the big differences in combat, Fire Emblem Echoes still has a challenge, and the new system that revolves around attack and defense scores really changes the way you think about tactics. A new addition called Mila’s Turnwheel even lets you turn back time in battle, making the difficulty more approachable for newcomers. Fire Emblem Echoes is a lengthy tactical RPG that any fan is sure to be able to sink some time into. Its simple but engaging story, meaningful new additions, and twist on traditional gameplay easily make it one of the best games of the year. Just like the original Fire Emblem Gaiden, Echoes feels distinctly different from any other game in the series, but it still retains the heart of what makes a Fire Emblem game.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

(Nintendo EPD – Switch, Wii U)

2017 Game of the Year Contenders

Come on. You knew there was absolutely no way that we could talk about the best games of the year so far and not bring up the game that single-handedly led to the sale of millions of Nintendo Switch consoles. Link has gone on many adventures over the past few decades, but none have been on the scale of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

For the first time, The Legend of Zelda is a completely open game. And this isn’t in just a “you can explore large areas type of way.” Pretty much anything you see can be explored or climbed. Feel like climbing a mountain for no particular reason? Get your stamina up and go and do it. Want to ignore the main questline and seek out Shrines or other goodies? Nobody is stopping you. Hyrule is your playground, and Nintendo made sure to put in all of the mechanics necessary to enjoy it to its fullest (including snowboarding). But the freedom isn’t the only draw, the world is beautiful and alive, even with Ganon’s calamity hovering on the horizon. The world is inviting, and full of mystery and the puzzles are captivating. Breath of the Wild shows everything that the series can be, while also proving the capabilities of the Switch. A difficult two-pronged responsibility that it handled with grace.

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