#50 BEST GAMES OF 2017 PS4#
#50 BEST GAMES OF 2017 SERIES#

Luckily, the original PlayStation 1 games were amazing for their time, and they've been faithfully recreated in the N. No other game has ever nailed the same fast-paced, rhythmic platforming that snakes so seamlessly between two and three dimensions.Īfter languishing in limbo for almost 10 years, we were clamoring for a new Crash Bandicoot game, even if it was just a remake. If you missed the boat back in the 90s, it might not seem like a remaster of a mascot platformer really belongs on a best-of-2017 list, but there's something really special about Crash Bandicoot. But the huge, gorgeous planets are a pleasure to explore, the combat has been polished to perfection and you'll inevitably get really attached to your ragtag crew. It's loaded with bugs and animation issues, the side quests get a bit dull and repetitive, the story isn't as emotionally engaging and your choices don't seem to matter as much as in the originals. But the planets of the Andromeda galaxy aren't as habitable as scans suggested, and the locals don't really appreciate being invaded by aliens from the Milky Way. Picking up 600 years after the last game, Andromeda places the player in charge of an initiative to find a new home for the human race – as well as the Asari, Turians and other species from the series. There's no doubt it was a little disappointing and didn't quite manage to reach the high bar set by the original trilogy, but it's probably worth sticking out on the strength of the characters you meet and worlds you explore. The fourth entry in the Mass Effect franchise is a bit of a mixed bag. These things happen randomly in the wild too thanks to the weather and day/night cycle, making the world feel almost as dynamic as something like Minecraft.Įven after about 100 hours in the game we're still discovering new things, and we have no plans to stop looking. You can take out an entire camp of monsters by starting a brush fire, or luring them into a pond and zapping them with electricity. But the best part is that most encounters are entirely unscripted, with events instead playing out according to an incredibly detailed physics system. This version of Hyrule is easily the biggest and most beautiful world Nintendo has ever created, and it's ridiculously easy to lose dozens of hours just poking around its countless nooks and crannies. Rather than progressing through temples and dungeons in a set order, players are plopped into the middle of a huge open world and let loose with only the barest of directions. The crown jewel in the Switch's launch lineup (and probably its lifetime library as well), Breath of the Wild feels like the culmination of every other Zelda game that came before it. We've already seen the release of the Frozen Wilds DLC and the game's success will probably spawn a string of sequels.

#50 BEST GAMES OF 2017 PS4#

All in all, this PS4 exclusive was easily one of the best games of the year on any platform. The game just looked beautiful on screen, so much so it's one of the few games I've actually bothered playing around with the impressive photo mode that made it easy to create stunning screenshots. Set in a future post-apocalyptic world populated with robot dinosaurs, the core gameplay of taking down these varied techno beasts never got old, while the story holds your interest throughout, thanks in large part to a lead character that is actually likeable.Ī simple crafting system and logical leveling system also contributed to proceedings, and let's not forget the visuals, which were fantastic. And rightfully so – Horizon Zero Dawn delivered addictive gameplay wrapped up in an engrossing story that followed the adventures of an interesting protagonist. In an age when publishers shy away from new IPs and sequels dominate, it was nice to see a game released that bucked that trend and proved an immediate success. And if you're feeling particularly brave, the PS4 version is playable in PlayStation VR. To sweeten the deal, the game got a bumper crop of DLC, including two new story chapters released just last week.

The cower-in-a-corner gameplay calls to mind indie horror darlings like Outlast and Amnesia, and it's awesome to see that get the big-budget treatment. Fighting back only slows them down long enough for you to run and hide, which is a great way to ramp up the terror factor and make you feel utterly powerless. There, you're stalked by the deranged Baker family, who are as relentless as they are immortal. Players take control of everyman Ethan Winters, who winds up trapped in a derelict plantation house in Louisiana.

#50 BEST GAMES OF 2017 SERIES#

Taking the series back to its roots, Resident Evil 7 is not just the best Resident Evil game in years (or maybe ever), it's one of the best horror games, period. Resident Evil basically invented the survival horror genre, but over the years it mutated into just another mindless zombie shooter.

50 best games of 2017