As the time to bid 2017 farewell draws near, we can all agree on one thing; this was one of the hottest years of gaming. We saw the launch of a slew of AAA titles and some of them took the gaming industry by storm. So like every year, a few of the games will definitely be given the status of the Game of The Year. So let’s discuss which games are worthy of the title.
Here are my contenders:
- Nier Automata: If there were one game that literally took us by surprise and inspired to replay it over and over, it would definitely be NiER Automata. Everything from the gameplay to combat was by far one of the most enjoyable of everything that launched this year. Plus I can’t think of a second game where the second replay had so much more value to it. I mean yes, there are games where second replays gave you perks and content like the Souls series, but NiER Automata is in a league of its own. Also, as far as gameplay music goes, I think this is the only game after the Witcher 3 that really lets you enjoy the in-game music. Truly a contender for a GOTY award even if the PC port was a bit iffy to play.
Image Credit: store.steampowered.com
- Horizon Zero Dawn: Horizon Zero down is one of those open world combat games that bring something refreshing to the otherwise stale genre. It redefines itself by introducing machine like feral animals which the protagonist hunts by an arsenal of bows and arrows fused with elemental substances. The best part, however, is the in-game combat. It’s easy to get into a fight, but there’s absolutely no guarantee that you’d win. Also, the game’s plot encourages you to play through it more and more and, resulting in a very satisfying 40 odd hours of the campaign. Plus the graphics are probably some of the best that we have seen this year among in game. Adding it up, this is a very strong contender for the 2017 GOTY award.
Image Credit – store.playstation.com
- Persona 5: Come on now, you had to expect this on the list. Persona 5 is everything that the series is loved for along with its own nifty little additions; all dialed up to 11. Fans of the previous Persona games will be delighted to play this along with newer players, who have a love for anime and battling outlandish monsters. Every single location has its own smart puzzles and combat is the familiar turn-based system that persona players are used to. Persona 5 is one of the most enjoyable games that you can play, and it will go down in history as one of the few games to remain enjoyable even as time passes. So, a definite GOTY contender and oh did I mention, how much I love the in-game menus and UI?
Image Credit – news.softpedia.com
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Zelda has been a pioneer in the open world exploration game genre. So, it’s no surprise that the newest errant should make it into the GOTY contender list. Breath of the Wild has a mesmerizing open world filled with intricate puzzles and opportunities for combat. This is the first Zelda game that is the truly open world, and we couldn’t have been happier. The graphics, the gameplay everything about the game is just stupendous, and you have to experience it first hand to actually understand it.
Image Credit:twinfinite.net
- Nioh: The end of Dark Souls (for now) was truly saddening for long-term Soul’s veterans like me. We don’t know if we would get another souls game in the future, but for now, the game series is all but done for. But, if like me, you mourn the passing of Dark Souls, then Nioh will certainly fill your quench for Souls like combat with an equally interesting underlying story. Nioh is essentially a spiritual successor to the Soul’s game, but it is entirely based in around a Japanese theme.
The combat, the menu’s and everything else is largely similar to the souls and presents the player with an equally crushing difficulty that the souls series was famous for. And although Nioh cannot replace the love that I have for the Souls, it definitely is captivating in its own way. For me at least, a true GOTY contender.
Image Credit: gamerant.com
2017 is not yet finished, and we may yet see some really amazing games in the few days that are left. This list is in no way meant to be final or carry confirmation of the GOTY awards. It is just my views on some of the games that I have truly enjoyed so far this year. So sit tight and await the end of the year because we may yet see some amazing games before the year ends.
