Here at Gaming Age, we collectively reviewed hundreds of games over the past year, and played hundreds more just for fun. Here are the twenty best of them, as voted on by GA staff.
While grief isn’t a rare theme in video games — after all, what’s the whole God of War series, if not Kratos trying to work through the grief of his lost family? — seldom is that emotion shown the way Last Day of June displays it. This is a raw, heartbreaking story of love and loss, told via some of the most gorgeous animation you could ask for. (MP)
Read our review of Last Day of June!
Rarely do games stick with me long after I’ve finished playing. Yet here we are half a year after I finished What Remains of Edith Finch, and I still find myself thinking about the tragic ends suffered by the assorted members of the Finch family. In part, this is because few other so-called “walking simulators” can match this game for sheer visual inventiveness (the Cannery Scene is the one that gets most of the attention, as it transforms a drab, mundane fish cannery into a sumptuous fantasy world, but the one that has stuck with me most is the Bathtub Scene, which made me gasp out loud the moment it started). But it’s more than just that: What Remains of Edith Finch has a riveting, devastating story to tell, and somehow tells it in a way that’s neither maudlin nor morbid. Just a fantastic game from beginning to the all-too-soon end. (MP)
Read our reviewof What Remains of Edith Finch!
Having this while commuting made commuting more tolerable. (SY)
Read our review of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!
The Persona series has been around since the PS1 and really came into its stride on the PS2. Persona 5 continues to show why it is a must for any JRPG fan. Unlike most RPGs this game takes place in the real world. One of the few JRPG games where I can relate to some of the characters. The battle system is complex and fun. The art style is perfect for this game. (CL)
As far as sequels go, few are capable of surpassing the original. SteamWorld Dig 2 on the other hand, manages to blow past the first release from Image & Form in a way I did not expect. Everything about the game is bigger, better, and more memorable, which is saying something considering how much I enjoyed the first SteamWorld Dig. (DW)</i)
Read our review of SteamWorld Dig 2!
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War takes everything that made the original, Shadow of Mordor so successful and expands on it. The Nemesis system makes a comeback in a big way, going even more in depth than the original and making it something truly unique. Combat is more fluid, the story is more interesting and fan service abounds. If you can ignore the complete lack of canon and just appreciate it for what it is, this is a must play for any LOTR fan. (TN)
Read our review of Middle-Earth: Shadow of War!
A true step in the right direction for the series! I love the new characters! (CD)
Easily the best First Person Single Player game that I’ve played in years. Bethesda and Machine Games understand the value in a Single Player experience and it shows in every way. Top notch story, great controls and fantastic visuals/audio make this one of 2017’s best games. (BR)
Read our review of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus!
The first Destiny kept me hooked for years and Destiny 2, in many ways is an improvement. It has better graphics, bigger zones to explore, and more things to discover in those areas, like Lost Sectors. The gameplay is as strong as ever and the fun really comes when playing with a group of people you enjoy gaming with. The acting is fantastic throughout and the music is just as stellar as it has always been. I’m finding the post-game (and even the first expansion) to lack some of the replay value that I found in the first game. Perhaps it’s just too much like the original, or some of the reason to grind is just absent. No matter – it’s still a great game that I enjoy playing and hopefully will continue to over the coming months and years. (CM)
I’m a huge fan of the Xenoblade games and put major hours into the first two in the series. This one has a very slow start and it took about 3 hours before I really started clicking with it. The story is actually very interesting and I instantly became attached to the characters in my party. The vast continents and crazy landscapes return, making the game one of the more impressive looking on the Switch (at least in docked mode). The revamped combat system is a ton of fun once you learn the ins and outs and the game offers up a ton of stuff to do to keep you busy for well over 100 hours. My only knock is that it’s a bit too “anime” with some of its story threads. Oh, and the music? Easily the best soundtrack this year. (CM)
Read our review of Xenoblade Chronicles 2!
The inventive, incredibly original Xbox One console exclusive is most definitely made for those who grew up on those nail bitingly difficult 8 and 16-bit boss rush/side-scrolling action games. The retro cartoon animation really seals the deal. (JC)
Who would’ve thought that Ubisoft could strike gold twice on a game based on a TV show. It goes to show, when you have people that believe in the brand behind the scenes, great things can happen. This is one of the funniest games I’ve played in my entire life and the game is fantastic as well. (BR)
Read our review of South Park: The Fractured But Whole!
Yay! Nintendo remembered Metroid is a thing again! And hey, it’s nice to see MercurySteam rebound again after that last abysmal Castlevania game from a few years back. Samus Returns manages to fire on all cylinders for this Metroid fan, nailing not only the look and feel of traditional Metroid, but the sound too. Easily one of the best 3DS releases this year. (DC)
Read our review of Metroid: Samus Returns!
I like fighting games. I love comic books. And I’m pretty fond of NetherRealm’s output post Mortal Kombat 9. So yeah, Injustice 2 sort of encapsulates all of that in one robust package. It’s also easily one of my favorite fighting games of this generation, with some stellar single-player content to enjoy in a genre that rarely caters to the single-player crowd. (DC)
Read our review of Injustice 2!
Nioh is the first game that has scratched my itch for a From Software title without actually BEING a From Software title. It also very much scratched my itch for some new Ninja Gaiden, so double win for the talented folks over at Team Ninja. Nioh is an ultra-hard, dark, samurai RPG that takes you through meaningful levels and dungeons with vicious enemies and absolutely brutal boss battles. It originally released as a PS4 exclusive early in the year, then made its way to PC in the Complete Edition later on in the year. (TN)
Is this it? Have we finally broke the “Sonic Cycle”? Oh, Sonic Forces also came out this year, whoops. Still, it’s nice to have at least one great Sonic the Hedgehog game again. It’s also nice that Sonic Mania isn’t just a great Sonic game, but a great game in general. Worth seeking out even if the last time you played a Sonic game the controller had three input buttons, and all three just made Sonic jump. (DC)
Read our review of Sonic Mania!
I lost interest in the Resident Evil series after part 4. I actually enjoyed playing part 5 co-op, but the game had become such as action oriented affair that I felt it lost its survival horror roots. Part 6 was simply a bridge too far. However, Resident Evil 7 returns to what made the series great in the first place – legitimately scary stuff happens here! The change to a first-person viewpoint helps keep the game fresh and exciting and I really loved the various characters and the insane story. I ran for dear life and screamed like a little girl on more than one occasion – cementing this one in my Top 5. If you’re looking for a well-polished AAA horror game – pick this one up! (CM)
Read our review of Resident Evil 7!
Guerrilla Games’ epic PS4 adventure game met and surpassed expectations in nearly every way. A very likeable main character, fleshed out, well-balanced gameplay, an intriguing story from start to finish and a world you can get lost in for hours. The studio’s technological achievements on the PS4 make it the best looking game of the year, if not generation, as well. (JC)
Read our review of Horizon: Zero Dawn!
Nintendo has once again shown they’re the kings of the 3D platformer. Super Mario Odyssey builds upon prior games and keeps things fresh with the new Capture mechanic. It’s so much fun taking control of the enemies and each type has its own controls and gameplay features. The constant surprises that were revealed in each new Kingdom help make this one of the best Mario games of all time. It doesn’t hurt that the game features some amazing songs and stellar graphics. The constant call-backs to earlier entries and the original Donkey Kong help elevate it even higher. A masterpiece for sure! (CM)
Read our review of Super Mario Odyssey!
One of the most beloved franchises in existence gives us the most diverse and expansive game that the series has ever seen. Its a near perfect game that also happened to be a Nintendo Switch launch title. Talk about knocking it out of the park. (BR)
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