The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Metacritic Score: 97 (Switch), 96 (Wii U)
To nobody’s surprise, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still one of the highest rated games of the year. It’s even taking up two spots at the top of Metacritic’s gaming charts. Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch is currently the highest rated game on Metacritic with a score of 97, while Breath of the Wild for the Wii U takes second place with a score of 96.
Breath of the Wild marked an extraordinarily strong return for the Legend of Zelda series with a gorgeous art style, dynamic gameplay, and an immersive world that left gamers immediately captivated. It’s a game that offers something fresh and new for longtime Legend of Zelda fans while also presenting something delightfully familiar. Quite frankly, giving this game the proper amount of praise could take hours, but just understand that there’s a reason why more than 60 publications have given Breath of the Wild perfect scores.
Persona 5 – Metacritic Score: 93
Persona 5 only recently hit shelves and it very quickly found itself being praised as one of the best games of the year. Many publications have already started mentioning Persona 5’s potential to be Game of the Year and it’s one of the few games where User Ratings on Metacritic are just as high as critics’ scores.
Persona 5 scored 94 out of 100 by critics and earned 9 out of 10 from users. Spending just a few moments with the game makes it obvious why. The latest addition to this beloved series is best described as a “chill, feel-good JRPG” that does an exceptional job of “indulging in our perfect high school fantasies.” Persona 5 offers a ton of diverse gameplay, a highly stylistic look , a major improvement on dungeons when compared to previous games and a satisfying combat system.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Metacritic Score: 93
Whenever a new Mario Kart game is released, it’s almost guaranteed to emerge as one of the highest rated games of its time. Mario Kart has a formula that has been proven to work time and time again with characters that have been loved for years. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, however, takes things to a new level by actually introducing some new features. Mario Kart’s Battle Mode has gotten a major revamp, new items will add even more chaos to the race, and the overall performance has been improved when compared to the original Mario Kart 8. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe repackages an already wildly successful franchise and presents it in a way that feels new and exciting all over again.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove – Metacritic Score: 91
This complete edition of Shovel Knight brings the original 2014 version of the game to life along with all the additional content that was created later through the aid of some successful Kickstarter campaigns. Despite being initially released for Nintendo’s latest console, the game is still all about paying tribute to the good old days of 8-bit gaming. The original Shovel Knight received a ton of critical acclaim so it’s no surprise that a new edition packed with even more content is one of the highest rated games for the Nintendo Switch so far.
Bayonetta – Metacritic Score: 90
The beginning of this year seemed to be all about taking old games and making them feel new all over again. Whether it’s 2009 or 2017, Bayonetta is a franchise that just never seems to miss the mark. Both Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 were showered in well-deserved praise and critical acclaim, so it’s only right that it finally received a port for the PC. Even gamers who have already dedicated hours of their time playing Bayonetta when it came to PS3 or Xbox 360 should definitely give it another go on PC. The cinematic and stylish action game is even more captivating than it has ever been, and it serves as a stunning reminder of just how timeless this classic title really is.
Horizon: Zero Dawn – Metacritic Score: 89
Whether you’re looking for gameplay that will have you captivated for hours at a time, a world so diverse and vast that exploring it is exciting enough to be a game on its very own, or a story that straps you down to an emotional rollercoaster filled with mystery, Horizon: Zero Dawn is the game you’re looking for. It was easily one of the most highly anticipated games of 2017 and it lived up to every bit of the hype.
In fact, Guerrilla Games may have given the PS4 one of its best exclusive games yet. Sure, Aloy may fall flat at times as a protagonist but the overall experience is truly unforgettable and incredibly enjoyable. The real surprise here isn’t that Horizon: Zero Dawn is one of the top games of the year but rather the simple fact that it earned a B+ rating of 89 when it certainly seems A+ worthy.
What Remains of Edith Finch – Metacritic Score: 89
What Remains of Edith Finch doesn’t offer a ton of content or hours upon hours of gameplay, but every second of the game is absolutely enchanting. The game only takes a little longer than two hours to get through, but it packs a lot of touching moments in such a short amount of time. It’s nearly impossible to play through the game without feeling chills and goosebumps take over your body as you realize just how profound it really is. The best part is that while the game is pretty short, it does offer a decent amount of replay value that just might pull you back in for another two hours.
NieR: Automata – Metacritic Score: 88
NieR: Automata may not be sitting at the top of the gaming charts on Metacritic but it’s definitely a top contender for the best overall art direction. NieR’s world is beautifully decrepit and absolutely fascinating. That alone was enough to hold a conversation about NieR being one of the best games of 2017, but the true beauty of the game doesn’t stop with just looking and sounding pretty. NieR offers intense battles, a captivating story, a phenomenal soundtrack, and a mix of various types of gameplay that seriously keeps you on your toes. Playing the game simply feels like a different experience depending on where you are in the journey, creating a sense of spontaneity that makes NieR stand out among the competition. Simply put, it’s a must-play title for anyone who loves a good RPG.
Orcs Must Die! Unchained – Metacritic Score: 88
To be honest, this seems to be a grand example of a game benefiting from the sheer lack of reviews that have been submitted for it. This isn’t to say the game isn’t good. Orcs Must Die! Unchained is a game that’s enjoyable enough. It offers quite a bit in the way of strategy gameplay and manages to keep maps feeling interesting and unpredictable. To see it standing as one of the highest ranked games on Metacritic, however, is still surprising nonetheless.
With a score of 88, it doesn’t drift far behind the likes of What Remains of Edith Finch and Horizon: Zero Dawn despite the fact that both of these titles seem to offer a lot more innovation. Either way, it managed to get a perfect score from Gaming Age who praised the title for the amount of sheer fun it delivers to the player. Other outlets were impressed by the game’s multiplayer options and just how much content it offers free of charge.
Published: May 1, 2017 10:00 am