Top 5 Best Games of July 2017, According to Metacritic

5) Superhot (PlayStation 4) – Metacritic Score: 84

While it looks like a first-person shooter with a unique visual style, Superhot resembles a puzzle game far more than you might expect. The game’s main mechanic is that time only moves when you do so, with quick and precise movements, you need to take out the glowing red enemies with the tools and weapons at your disposal in each short level.

It may have come to PC more than a year ago but critics still praised the PlayStation 4 version for the unique, memorable moments it creates and the imaginative style that puts emphasis on trial and error to complete many of the stages. The slow-motion shooter is consistently fun and the puzzle style makes you think more than most other first-person shooters. The game is also completely immersive and thrilling in virtual reality on PlayStation VR.

4) Splatoon 2 – Metacritic Score: 84

Nintendo’s impressive 2017 continued in July with the release of Splatoon 2, the follow up to the popular shooter that made its debut on the Wii U. The vibrant game pits teams against each other and tasks them with covering the ground in their colored ink as well as taking out the other team’s Inklings.

While it doesn’t offer much that you wouldn’t find in the first game, Splatoon 2 offers something for every type of player. There is a laid back, unranked online mode as well as competitive matches, there is a fun single-player that features enemies and gameplay elements you won’t see online, and the Salmon Run mode is something you’ll want to keep going back to. It is colorful, chaotic, and the kind of online experience that you rarely see on Nintendo’s systems.

3) Pyre – Metacritic Score: 85

From the creators of Bastion and Transistor comes Pyre, a party-based RPG in which you lead your band of exiles to freedom through a series of mystical competitions in the campaign, or challenge a friend to a fast-paced showdown in the head-to-head Versus Mode.

Most of Pyre’s praise comes from how it combines elements of RPGs and sports games to create a truly unique experience. Then, the addition of a well told and emotional story brings it together as an entire package rather than a collection of stages. The world Supergiant has created is also beautifully designed and wonderful to look at. According to critics, even those that were put off by the style of Bastion or Transistor should consider picking up Pyre.

2 )Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age – Metacritic Score: 86

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, the remaster of the classic twelfth entry in the Final Fantasy series, makes the game far more beautiful and easier to play than ever. The Zodiac Age also makes the game’s mechanics feel more modern by reconstructing the battle design and introducing a revamped job system. Following Princess Ashe and Vaan, you embark on a heroic adventure to free Ivalice, their homeland.

While critics say that Final Fantasy XII stands up well against modern RPGs, they agree that the improvements made for The Zodiac Age make it the definitive way to play the game. The RPG systems are deep and engaging and the lick of paint makes it look fantastic, even so soon after Final Fantasy XV. The story is also epic and filled with lore. For fans of the original, or anyone that missed it, The Zodiac Age is worth picking up thanks to these improvements.

1) The End is Nigh – Metacritic Score: 87

The End Is Nigh is the long-awaited next game from the creator of Super Meat Boy. Once again, his game is a sprawling adventure platformer in which you take control of Ash, one of few “things” that have survived the supposed end of the world. You follow Ash through a future of pain and suffering on his quest to make a friend.

Although it is unsurprisingly challenging with the tough platforming, it doesn’t become frustrating due to the fantastic level design. It also isn’t a rehash of Super Meat Boy, as it tinkers with the gameplay, the style is unique and surprising, and it is filled with innuendos and secrets. It is a must-play for fans of Edmund McMillen’s last game and challenging platformers in general.