Top Ten Best Things I Played this Year (and the 4 Worst)

So I made a deliberate decision at the end of 2016, play more video games. What a year 2017 turned out to be. Many have said that 2017 being a massive year in gaming was excellent as an escape from the ugly world around us. While there is truth to that, the games here aren't just distraction. They're all real, full experiences that enriched not only my year but a lot of other people. So played a lot of stuff, lot's of good stuff. This list is going to categorize the best stuff I played this year, in an order (which I hate doing but whatever).

Be warned however, this list isn't just covering games I played that came out this year, it is a list of every game that I played this year, regardless of release date.


10.) Life is Strange: Before the Storm

I've learned to not judge books by their covers. This past summer, I finally played the original Life is Strange, finding that through its cringey at times, angsty look at high school, it was one of the most real games I'd played in ages. Life is Strange is at it's core, emotionally resonant, packed with sequences that shake you to your core. It's prequel, Before the Storm, is arguably the better experience, ditching the time travel and photography for an edgy and introspective view on how we deal with loss, betrayal, and new, unexpected experiences. Once again, the player wields a lot of power with how they experience this title and I really think this isn't one to be missed.

9.) Sonic Mania

I find it difficult to fully discuss my experience with Sonic. I never grew up playing the Genesis games, I never actually experienced true 2D Sonic. I grew up with the Adventure games, ones that aged very poorly with time. Looking for a second game to pick up on my newly acquired Switch and I was not disappointed. Sonic...rocks, especially this version. The levels are gorgeous, the music is fantastic, and the gameplay is a far cry from another game that will grace this list (in a worse light) later. Sonic is fun, Sonic is fast, and all is right with the world.

8.) Hitman (2016)

Hitman is a somewhat controversial pick here I guess. I mean, not every game releases itself into pieces over the course of a year. Having gotten to finally play the full game with all it's pieces intact, plus all the other content available, I can fully say that Hitman is an excellent title. It does what any good non-linear stealth game should, provide multiple routes to accomplish your goals. Far more creative players than me will figure out ridiculous methods but the game also accommodates those more novice players and each level scales up the difficulty properly. While the game encourages stealth, it doesn't heavily punish you for going loud (unless you really care about your score that much). Every level is dripping with details and alive, a world you can truly immerse yourself in and want to find every little detail. Hitman is fun no matter which way you decide to play.

7.) Doki Doki Literature Club

Then suddenly out of nowhere comes this little gem. Doki Doki Literature Club is a free to play visual novel on Steam. At first glance it looks like your average run of the mill visual novel game: join a school club, have four cute anime girls who are immediately head over heels for you, write cute poems for each of them. Suddenly all of that gets turned on its head after about two hours, the cracks in the idealistic and innocent atmosphere begin to form. Then suddenly the game becomes something else entirely, straight up psychological horror. I could spoil the twists and turns of this incredible little adventure but it's an experience best enjoyed without knowing anything.
6.) The Danganronpa Series

So I'd wanted to play the Danganronpa games for a very long time, having known about their strong cult following. It's weird premise (murder high school run by a talking bear), addictive gameplay loop, strong characters all were major draws. Luckily for me, the entire series became available on PS4 this year and I was absolutely blown away. As a visual novel the series is full of twists and turns with an over the top style that fits. None of the gameplay diversions felt tacked on or frustrating and the characters were vibrant. Of the three mainline games, 2 contained my favorite cast of characters but if you haven't played these games about murder high school, you're missing out.

5.) Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE

Another 2016 game that is gracing this list is the wonderful Tokyo Mirage Sessions. This game had the unfortunate distinction of being a Wii U exclusive so it flies mostly under the radar in a mainstream sense. However, looking at its parts its easy to see the appeal: a Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem crossover really shouldn't have much trouble finding people to play it. Divisive among hardcore SMT fans who need to get over themselves anyways, Mirage Sessions is an absolute blast. It dives headfirst into its bizarre and unique premise (pop idols fighting demons who are trying to steal the magic that lets them be such excellent performers). It's literally JRPG incarnate. However, play the game and you'll find its wonderfully self aware and genre savvy work with real heart. It's battle system beautifully fuses the SMT formula with notes of Fire Emblem and the whole thing just works. Here's holding out for a Switch port because this game deserves a lot more attention.

4.) Super Mario Odyssey

From here the list takes a predictable turn. Mario Odyssey spells out everything for you right there on the tin. It is a gorgeously made, precisely executed, and charming platformer. It possesses a near overwhelming amount of things to do but never makes anything feel like a chore. It's challange and fun comes from learning to move Mario in these gorgeous worlds and push the limits. With crazy jump combos, some beautiful sequences, and a weird as hell premise; Mario Odyssey is a success at nearly every level. However you approach the game, it will worm its way into your heart and is a game you can bet I'll be returning to plenty in the new year.

3.) Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

2017 has restored my faith in open world games. In a time when games like Assassin's Creed and Grand Theft Auto create these sprawling but ultimately empty open worlds, its a novelty when a game actually gives you a real open world. These words have become cliches when talking about Breath of the Wild in this past year but they are the truth. The unrestrained freedom of the game, an open world that rewards exploration with little secrets buried within. You can complete all the Shrines and only have hit on 5% of what this game has to offer. There is something so refreshing about Breath of the Wild that it's influence is likely to be seen in titles for a long time. If you haven't bought a Switch, this is absolutely the game that justifies that purchase.

2.) Persona 5

Anyone who knows me is probably doing a spit take. The Persona games are my favorite series by far. I can't even begin to explain how these games have impacted my perspective and the way that I look at the world but also the way that I choose to connect with people. Persona 5 is a masterclass of game design but also of storytelling. In a market which claims that the single player experience is dead (looking at this list and you know that's false), Persona 5 is a profound rejection of that claim. Enter a world just popping with style (how many other game menus look like this) and vibrant characters. Very few experiences left me struggling to figure out what to do afterwards and the hole that Persona 5 left with me was so large that I just restarted it the next day. Persona 5 is a can't miss title.

1.) NieR: Automata

I repeat once again, the death of single player, narrative driven experiences (a profoundly false claim). NieR: Automata is the best game that came out this year regardless of what the mass gaming media says (no disrespect to Breath of the Wild but come on). There was nothing as fresh, jaw dropping, and beautiful as this game. The wacky existential plot, the smooth as butter game play, the jaw-dropping visuals and earth shaking soundtrack. NieR is an experience, one that tantalizes all of the senses and hits you at the core of your being. Yoko Taro deserves a lifetime achievement award for the sheer originality of this game that has the stones to stand out and deliver something truly special. NieR is an important game and if history forgets this game, then fuck history.




And well, unfortunately...not everything can have a happy ending. Here are the 4 worst things I played this year:

4.) Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

I am sure that certain parts of the internet will crucify me for this, but hot damn...this game is bad. I mean, sure, perspective. Technically this game came out in what? 2002? But here is the thing, I never owned a Playstation 2 during its golden era of gaming. I never played those key titles and yes games were not made as well back then. However, I don't have the rose colored glasses that from seeing this game for how it is. Kingdom Hearts? It is almost an inexcusable piece of game design. As a concept, it is remarkable, taking Disney and Square properties and merging them into this amazing game world almost seamlessly. The problem is actually playing the game, the lack of direction in what to do next, the spotty collision detection, boss battles more reliant on cheap tactics than playing them in creative ways. Kingdom Hearts is a mess. The solace is that the sequel is legitimately fantastic, the crime is that the Final Mix makes no effort to round out the rough edges of the title.

The gameplay shifts into weird diversions that don't reward skilled play and encourage cheap play. Take the Chernobog boss battle towards the end where all the gameplay that has been drilled into you is thrown out the window. There is no way to dodge and instead you just have to sneakily take tiny windows of opportunities to wittle down his enormous health. Get too greedy and he'll hit you with an attack that you can't escape from. It's like guerilla warfare that put a crack in my smartphone. At the very least, the music is good. Thank god it improved in the second one.

3.) Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is by no means a "bad" game, it's actually quite good when it gets down to it. So the question therein lies: why exactly is it here? That one is a little bit harder to explain. First off, the game has several design flaws: terrible character design (especially for female characters), horrible map design, horrible side quest design, and forgettable characters. Despite this, the whole package comes together into something that is actually quite good. However, the glaring flaws make it difficult to play for any extended period of time, which is difficult in a game that requires a ton of time to do anything of note.

2.) Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star

Generic Dynasty Warriors game that features characters from the bloated and convoluted Fate series. This was not the only Warriors like game that I played this year (Fire Emblem Warriors being the other). However, one of those games featured a lot of content and love for its source material as well as adding in features that made the game feel more fleshed out. Fate/Extella meanwhile is packed with systems and progressions that are hollow, weird difficulty curves out of nowhere, fake difficulty, and its shallow (even for one of these games). It held my attention for a few days, occasionally was a good distraction, but overall not very impressive.


1.) Sonic Forces

Here are some facts:

1.) You will play games worse than Sonic Forces

2.) You will play games better than Sonic Forces

"Well sir", you say, "that seems patently obvious. You would be right! However, Sonic Forces is a downright mess not because it's a bad game, it's actually a fine game. It's a mess because everything about the game is low effort. From the design of the title screen to the gameplay, nothing stands out. You have some cool ideas at play: the custom character is one but then what else? Forces takes no risks and has no ambition. The levels are short, the gameplay (despite having three variations) is one note, the plot is nonsensical and stupid, and parts of the game are broken. Games can be remarkable for a variety of reasons. Some are remarkable for being good and others are remarkable for being bad. Forces is remarkable for being just aggressively average. In a year where single player gaming had a damn near revolution, this is unacceptable.