Uncharted

uncharted

It typically takes some time for game developers to figure out their path before they start to make really great games.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t flukes out there, but that’s generally how it goes.  In 2017, we started to see some really great games coming forward as early as January.  Those really great games continued until the end of the year.  There is always going to be a competition for which game is the best.  Everyone is going to have their own opinions also.  What we saw this year, was something interesting (but amazing).  And that is games for literally everyone.  From action-packed shooter games to deep role-playing games. In this post, I am going to explore the top 10 games of the year.  Hopefully, you at least agree with me on some of these titles.  But I’m happy to hear your favorites as well.

10. Farpoint

Farpoint might be the first VR game to utilize the strengths of the medium for both storytelling and gameplay.  When you immerse yourself in this world for just a few hours, you will immediately feel a deep connection to the characters. Moreso, perhaps than to those of other games.  Farpoint is a legitimate single-player campaign that rivals the size and scope of some other games in the genre.  In addition, it will keep you engaged from the start to finish.  Which is likely more than you can say about some other games.

9. A Hat in Time

A Hat in Time is a classic 3D platformer, where a young girl has to find enough fuel to power her ship.  She needs the fuel in order to get home.  The voice acting in this game is hilarious.  The worlds are incredibly odd and inventive.  You will be impressed (and maybe surprised) by how well the game is controlled.  Nintendo has cornered the market when it comes to perfecting the art of moving a 3D character.  But that doesn’t mean that this game doesn’t give them a run for their money.

8. Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is quite a bit different from the first game.  The story was slightly more cohesive.  There were some subtle (and not so subtle) improvements to the game’s core system.  Destiny 2 is a fun first-person shooter game.  Bungie does still need to make some quality of life adjustments, but it’s still a good game, regardless.

7. Nier: Automata

Nier: Automata is an action-adventure game about a group of androids who have been tasked with ridding the planet of the robot scourge.  There is a strong AI theme in this game as well.  More specifically AI, and what it means to be human.  This might be one of the best action combat games of the year.  But it’s also one of the most thoughtful games as well.  As soon as you finish the game for the first time, you’re going to want to dive right back in to see the second ending.

6. Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony

Although it’s not a follow up of the first two games, Danganronpa V3 feels like a culmination of the series.  A group of sixteen students are trapped in an academy and forced to participate in a killing game.  Dark secrets about the academy are revealed as the students drop like flies.  There is a big twist and an explosive ending.  Which is likely to satisfy you.  The entire series is a bit long overall, but this really finalizes the series for you.

5. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a fairly traditional Uncharted game. You climb ruins, solve puzzles, shoot bad guys and listen to two death-defying adventurers make witty quips from start to finish, but Naughty Dog has introduced enough original elements to keep the game fresh. The real strength of the game is its characters. As with all of the Uncharted games, gun fights break out fairly frequently.  If you’re a fan of the series and want to go on one last adventure, The Lost Legacy serves as a perfect postscript to A Thief’s End.

4. Persona 5

Persona 5 follows a group of high school students in Japan who uncover a dark plot that could put the fate of the world in jeopardy. But in between battling bad guys and saving the planet, it’s your job to live the life of a high school student.  Which means, taking the train to school, having a part-time job and studying for tests.  This balance is what keeps the game fresh no matter how long you play it.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This might have been one of the most anticipated games of all time, prior to its launch.  Nintendo really hit the bullseye with this one, which might make it the best Zelda game in the history of the franchise.  It might take you some time to find your footing with this game, but once you do, you are going to fall in love with it.

2. Super Mario Odyssey

This is the first true sandbox Mario game since Super Mario Sunshine.  What’s interesting about this game is that his hat allows him to take control of his enemies.  Which is much more entertaining than a jetpack that uses water as fuel.  This is what puts Odyssey on its own level.  Nintendo is kind of killing it this year – with two games in our top three.

1. Horizon Zero Dawn

This game was released in February, which set the stage for the rest of the year.  What’s so interesting about this game is how it balances a mystery with one of the best combat systems of any game.  Every encounter is thrilling, as the main character Aloy faces off against gigantic mechanical beasts with nothing but a bow, a spear, and some makeshift traps. Developers often struggle to pack open worlds with meaningful content, but that’s never an issue in Horizon. Secrets abound, enemies are around every corner and there are enough side missions to keep you busy for dozens of hours between the main missions. But the way that the world tells its own story is the game’s most impressive feat.