A quick run down of what I thought was hot shit in 2017, maybe 5 games, maybe 10, well see how this list evolves.
You know what, at the risk of running counter to popular opinion (heaven forbid!) I didn't think this was a particularly wonderful years for games for me personally, but lets see what ranked... I could be wrong, look at my 2016 opening statement.
XCOM 2... War of the Chosen that is. This is Game of the year.
This is X-Com 2 experience you were promised, personally I was reasonably pleased with vanilla X-Com 2, technical hitches aside, but WOTC adds an incredible layer of flavour, technical challenge and tactical nuance, it would be impossible to recommend the base game without it. I devoured this update, and there are arguments it could be XCOM 3, but as an enhancement alone its fantastic.
In short, I think this game is incredible. Much like MGSV, It manages to pivot into a more 'contemporary' open lateral game format, while maintaining the unique elements of the franchise that make up a Zelda game. Exploring Hyrule has never been this engrossing.
This is incredibly surprising to me, as this is kind of my ante-game:
MMO, soulless shooter(actually not true, the shooting is really good), loot grinding, co-operation!
Having not played the D1 one, I didn't really have any desire to play this at 1st, but through a discount on my birthday and a sufficiently tempting price point - I've been looting, grinding and co-oping with the best of them and really enjoying it.
It's a me.. and despite doing this for a billion years, I'm still getting it right, not unlike Zelda, Odyssey is a joyous expression of adventure and exploration, with a myriad of activities to preform, creatures/objects to possess and moons to discover, this a really dense Mario experience that pays respect and homage to all of the plumbers (ex plumber?) 3D adventures.
Xcom meets Mario..meets Rabbids? Amazingly, it gets a lot right, its stripped down mechanics are great,keeping combat fluid and engaging and there is enough customisation and tactics to keep you involved strategically. The extra flavour might fall a bit flat and its possibly too long, but its a charming and unique switch experience.
