Is 2017 officially THE best year in gaming history?

I love the easy questions!

no

Personally? No way, not even a little bit. The only game I was at all interested in playing was Pesona 5, and, despite ultimately loving that game, I found it rather disappointing (my complaints generally mirror the stuff Alex has talked about on the Beastcast). Horizon is of no interest to me whatsoever, while Nier looks interesting but not something I want to pay full price for. I've never been a Zelda fan; this one being so different might change my mind on that, but It's not a $60 gamble I'm willing to take. I can't even really remember what else has come out this year.

As so many people in this thread have said, '98 is where it's at.

Every year is the best year for Video games.

So far it's a very good year, but playing the extremely praised Horizon Zero Dawn have been nothing but a drag. I feel like the people shitting on the witcher 3's combat and then praising this game need to reevaluate a lot of things. The graphics are amazing, the setting is pretty damn good, but the combat is infuriating, nothing but dodge rolls, no side step or block.

However Persona 5 has been a joy and overall as stated earlier I feel like so far this is a very good year, though far from the best. Who knows though come end of the year.

Also @fezrock is right, 1999 is the year.

I don't know if anything will ever match the sheer weight '98 had, but it's safe to say it's the best year of this generation, and the best year since at least 2011.

@tothenines: I agree regarding Horizon. Awful combat which makes up a huge part of the game.

The first half of this year has been great but the last half is looking really weak. The only game I'm really excited about is Yakuza Kiwami.

what puts 98 on top is really the PC games, so some might not feel as strongly, but lets run it down (list ordered by release time):

Undoubted peaks of their genre:

1. Final Fantasy tactics
2. Banjo-Kazooie
3. Starcraft (and brood war)
4. Fallout 2
5. Grim Fandango
6. Half Life
7. Ocarina of Time
8. Thief the Dark Project
9. Suikoden II
10. Baldur's Gate

Start of powerhouse IPs:

1. Unreal
2. Gran Turismo
3. X-men vs Street Fighters
4. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six
5. Pokemon Red/Blue
6. Metal Gear Solid
7. Dance Dance Revolution

Other cult classics:

1. Panzer Dragoon Saga
2. Xenogears
3. Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
4. Megaman Legends
5. Spyro the Dragon
6. Oddworld Abe's Exoddus
7. Star Wars Rogue Squadron
8. Sonic adventure
9. Resident Evil 2
10. Caesar III

Almost every game listed here has been remade for current gen, or spawned recent sequels, or have fans asking for sequels or successors. Even better, so many of the games were new IPs/new mechanics.

Nope. So far last year was way better.