#1. 2017
There is a very strong case to be made that 2017 is not only the best year of the eighth console generation, but the best year in the entire history of the games industry, period. And honestly, one single game would be more than enough to make that case- that game is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, of course, arguably one of the greatest games ever made, and what is likely going to be hugely influential for open world games for years to come. But there was so, so, so much more in 2017 to be wowed by.
Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla’s best work yet, and an excellent new IP that immediately became a PlayStation mainstay. NieR: Automata, a weird game that should have been the very definition of niche, but captivated one and all with its excellent storytelling. Persona 5, one of the best RPGs ever made, and the game that dragged the Persona series into the mainstream. Super Mario Odyssey, a celebration of one of gaming’s oldest and most recognizable mascots, and an excellent game in its own right. Hollow Knight, a showcase of just what a small indie team can accomplish, and probably the best metroidvania game we’ve ever played.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nioh, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, What Remains of Edith Finch, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Yakuza 0, Helblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Enter the Gungeon, Injustice 2, Destiny 2, Resident Evil 7, Cuphead, Call of Duty WW2, The Evil Within 2, Prey, Forza Motorsport 7… the list goes on and on and on. Hell, 2017 was even the year that the Nintendo Switch – one of the most innovative and instantly successful consoles ever made – came out. It truly had everything.
