Today sees our titles that captured our imaginations, but just fell short of making our top ten list – Here are our Game Of The Year 2017 “Best of the Rest” games!
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Ben: Assassin’s Creed taking a year off, as clichéd as it sounds, has done wonders for the franchise. Origins is a refreshing game that has reinvented what it means to be an AC game, whilst feeling familiar at the same time. A fantastic title, with a bunch of interesting new mechanics, and makes Assassin’s Creed feel relevant again in 2017. It’s such a big game that I can’t see myself ever finishing it though!
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Andy: A bold, dark statement, completely self funded and published by the immensely talented Ninja Theory which proves that high concept AA titles can still be succesful in the modern age of gaming. Immensely haunting with a story that will stay with you long after you turn your console off.
Middle Earth: Shadow of War
Robin: Shadow of Mordor came at a time when the Assassins Creed series was at a fairly low ebb. It was basically Assassins Creed in Lord of the Rings clothing – doing everything you would have wanted from that series, and a whole lot more. The innovative nemesis system has been improved and deepened for the sequel, and even though it might not revolutionise gaming, spending more time building an army of orcs is a welcome opportunity.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Deb: As a rule, I hate the Rabbids and am not a fan of other titles such as X-COM, so a combination of the two with Mario seemed like an odd thing for me to be interested in. At first I was dubious as to whether I would be into it, yet I decided to give it a chance, of which I’m glad I did! It’s crazy, colourful and heaps of fun and it works really well together. The design is cute and the weapons are very cool too. Whilst I may still not be tempted to give X-COM a go, Mario and co. vs Rabbids was just my cup of tea and I’d certainly like to see more!
Thimbleweed Park
Nick: Ron Gilbert’s throw back point and click adventure breathes some life into a 30 year old genre with self-aware quips and engaging puzzles. The game understands that it’s out of its own time and succeeds because of it. Whilst it may not be up with the classics of old, it certainly rejuvenated a feeling that has long been lost and brought a game with plenty of puzzles and enjoyable moments along with it.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Ben: Building on The Stick Of Truth’s mechanics, TFBW takes the combat to the next level. It’s not going to blow anyone’s mind, but if you’re a fan of South Park, it’s a fun romp through the quiet little mountain town, and with a surprising length to it (Quiet down, you in the back), it’s a game that has much to love about it.
Nick: For fans of the South Park series, there won’t be many games that make you chortle to yourself as much as The Fracture But Whole does. But where the previous game faltered, this one brings with it a solid and much more complex RPG combat system that creates a full package worth investing in.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Nico: Resident Evil went back to it’s roots in Biohazard. A terrifying story and some brilliant scare tactics make this a must have for fans of the horror genre.
Sonic Mania
Ben: It’s a good Sonic game. In 2017. That alone should give you an idea of just how special this is. A true throwback, with enough easter eggs to enjoy it all the way through, Sonic Mania is a fantastic title that, ironically, has its perfect home on the Switch.
Little Nightmares
Deb: A horrific masterpiece sums this game up quite nicely. The best way I can describe it is if Tim Burton and R. L. Stine decided to make a game, this would have been their child. It’s spectacular dark and whimsical tale and is focused around a single small little girl who has to traverse a horrific version of Howl’s Moving Castle under the sea, The Maw. It is the creepiest and most grim experience I have had in a long while and is the most terrifying game of hide and seek imaginable! The gameplay may be simple, but it is exceptionally ingenuitive and the most emotionally provocative experience I have played in long time. Despite it petrifying me, I am absolutely enamoured by it and it is another title I highly recommend everyone experiences!
And that’s our list! Join us tomorrow as we run through numbers 10 to 6! It’s gonna be a good one, will your favourite make the top ten?
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