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Even with all the jank and roughness around the edges (to put it nicely) I never expected to be consumed by a third person shooter like this. It was fun to mess around with friends, but this game also provided some of the most intense gaming experiences of my life. Every shootout was a blast and few things in gaming this year was as satisfying as taking a fully stocked double barrel shotgun and unloading it into multiple people. I loved the feel of the guns and the rush of every match as player by player was whittled down to the last man standing. I didn't win much. However, that never bothered me as I jumped right back into a match looking for another new and exhilarating experience. The new additions with the vaulting and the new map leading into 1.0 may seem like small things but for me they only bolstered my rising opinion of the game. I never thought I'd say this in such a year of magnificent games, but PUBG is my GOTY. It's the most fun I've had with a game and for me this year just saying that phrase means so much to me.
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None of the Nier/Drakengard games are without their flaws (throws angry fist in the air at you dragon rhythm game final boss from hell), but I would be lying that I didn't consider a game like Nier one of my all time favorite games. While flaws are always seen as a detriment to a game, when it nails certain aspects right I tend to absolutely adore it in spite of itself. Automata continues this adoration that I have with this beautifully imperfect series. The combat isn't all that, but it is certainly more refined, thanks to Platinum's touch, than Taro's previous efforts. Okabe's soundtrack is again one of the best of all time. Finally, while I found the original Nier more memorable overall in retrospect, Taro's story here on existentialism and player agency peaks in ways that no other games can really match. For me Taro and crew knock it out of the park again. I certainly he gets more chances to prove how creative a mind he is to gamers.
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The addition of Cappy to Mario's deep lore enabled me to experience some of the mechanically sound platforming ever put to pixels. Mastering jump techniques made me feel like the ultimate Mario player and some of the more creative and challenging levels left me with one hell of a happy grin from ear to ear. Maybe it isn't wholly groundbreaking as I first thought it might be, but it creates so many singularly great, memorable, and fun moments that I just never wanted to put it down. Thank you for making me a happy kid again Mario.
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Just the simple act of being able to climb a god damn mountain was so refreshing in the latest Zelda. The divine beasts didn't always hit for me and the story/voice acting was underwhelming, but as a pure gameplay experience the exploration of the world of Hyrule is virtually unmatched by previous open world game. The 120-ish hours I spent climbing mountains and exploring every nook and cranny left me wanting this grand adventure to never end.
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I never played the original SteamWorld, but I'm glad I didn't miss out here. The feeling of digging and exploration satisfied my OCD itch and the platforming felt as tight as any other game out there. This is probably my surprise game of the year. A ton of charm and a ton of fun.
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Lost Legacy took everything I loved about 4 and refined it to a near perfect core. The pacing was immaculate and I thought it was cool how much it opened up the world in certain sections. It was great how they stepped away from Drake and allowed other equally, and sometimes more, likable characters to get their well-deserved due.
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Other than Morgana not shutting up, this game's style powered me through a great adventure. It probably was a tad too long and some of the dungeon designs were a bit overkill in length. However, when it hits it is as entertainingly stylistic and enjoyable as a game can get. I appreciated the combat and the scope and some of the bosses made for several great and memorable experiences.
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As a fan of the Yakuza series it was great to see 0 make strides in accessibility for fans. The series' well known twists and turns in its story continue here while providing a much more thoroughly enjoyable gameplay exprience. Plus Nugget was in the game so that makes it an auto top 10 game for me.
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Horizon did have some failings in regards to its open world (JUST LET ME CLIMB SOMETHING), but the thrill of combat with the large dinosaur creatures and finding out the lore behind the world kept me thrilled and intrigued throughout my adventures with Aloy. Hopefully the developers can trim the fat from this game in a sequel and deliver more successful story beats in the future.
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Taking Rabbids into an X-Com-like strategy game sounds like a recipe for disaster. This game, however, delivers one hell of a fun experience from beginning to end. The combat techniques and differing abilities of the characters make it a blast to put together a strong team and shoot the hell out of enemies. It's one hell of a satisfying feeling to put together a perfect run and have every move lead to the total annihilation of enemies. The bosses themselves are extremely creative and fun and the soundtrack is impeccable. I just put a Rabbids game in my top 10 in 2017. Fuck you 2017!
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