LIVING GAME

RUNNER-UP OVERWATCH

Developer/publisher Blizzard Entertainment Format PC, PS4, Xbox One Release 2016 Two years on, and the unconventional team shooter is going from strength to strength. New heroes have balanced and progressed the meta, and shown that Blizzard is far from out of ideas (a hamster in a weaponised mecha-ball, anyone?). Meanwhile, the esports scene is thriving. As far as phenomena go, this one is giving World Of Warcraft a run for its money.

RUNNER-UP DESTINY 2

Developer Bungie Publisher Activision Format PC, PS4, Xbox One Release 2017

Forsaken puts Destiny in its best ever shape. It is now packed with things to do, that are worth doing for more than the dangling carrot of a Legendary reward. Yet Destiny 2’ s turnaround is about more than one release: Bungie has changed its ways, too. It’s now more open in its communication and frequent in its new content releases, and its game is all the better for it.

WINNER FORTNITE

Developer/publisher Epic Games Format Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One Release 2017 What a difference a year makes. Fortnite’s PvE component launched into early access in July 2017 with barely a whimper. Fast forward 12 months and it is a true pop-culture phenomenon, the stuff of tabloid scare stories, its emotes referenced in goal celebrations at the World Cup Final. PUBG felt like lightning in a bottle; Fortnite is something else entirely.