The year that was a mixed bag for gamers

While 2017 has generally been an awful year, the sheer number of excellent games has been quite astonishing. PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch have benefited the most from wonderful exclusives, while cross-platform AAAs have been significantly better than last year.

After playing through countless hours of video games. Without further ado, here are our seven best games of 2017.

Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Breath of Wild being game of the year was pretty much a given. Anyone lucky enough to own a Switch/ Wii U has likely sunk hundreds of hours into Link’s latest adventure, exploring the stunning pastures of Hyrule and attempting to defeat the terrify- ing Calamity Ganon. For the 19th main-series Zelda game, Breath of Wild feels fresh and exciting, the sum of all parts before. Nothing has come close to having this much content—then consider you can play the game anywhere on Switch. Chances are, we’ll be talking about this game’s greatness for years to come.

Super Mario Odyssey

“Although Odyssey borrows from past Mario instalments, there’s still something wholly original about the game. Almost everything feels fresh and exciting, helped particularly by the Cappy mechanic which somehow never gets boring, mainly thanks to the number of enemies you can become. I haven’t had this much fun with a game for quite some time. Considering how long the Mario franchise has been pumping out games, that’s nothing short of genius.”

Persona 5

“Persona 5 is a work of art and one of the best JRPGs I’ve played in a long time. The combat is stupendous, the characters are fantastic and the plot is second-to-none. Whether you’re infiltrating the place of a pervert, grinding levels or raising your stats the satisfaction of achieving your goals never wavers. It’s a world-class addition to the franchise and it’s set the bar for JRPGs everywhere.”

Horizon Zero Dawn

“Horizon: Zero Dawn is clearly a la- bour of love from Guerilla, and the whole experience feels slick and well polished. Through a combination of gorgeous graphics and artstyle, compelling gameplay and original premise, it easily joins the elite of must-own PS4 games.”

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

“Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus is a game that many expected to be decent, based on the excellent first game. This time around it’s had a bit more polish, and a whole load more narrative thrown in, which oddly, for a series that has traditionally been primarily about wall to wall action, shouldn’t really work, but absolutely does. The characters will stick with you long after you’ve emptied your last magazine, and it’s this that elevates a good shooter to a brilliant one. A must-have for those who want a pure, single-player experience.”

Nioh

“Nioh takes cues from the cult classic Dark Souls and its sequels to deliver a punishing romp through ancient Japan. It’s full of mystery and magic, and comes armed with a best-in-class combat system that hands a lot of customisable control to the player. Whichever style you choose to play, Nioh will push your patience to its limits, but the euphoria of coming out on top once you’ve bested the latest boss is without parallel. Just prepare to die, a lot.”

Assassin’s Creed Origins

“For many years, Assassin’s Creed was at the pinnacle of triple-A gaming, astounding critics and winning multiple awards. The series’ downfall began following the release of Black Flag. After a year off the series has returned and Origins marks a return to form, all thanks to a beautiful setting, engaging story, and massive world.” THE INDEPENDENT