Game of the Year Awards 2017

"With PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, I am in a position I don’t think I have ever been in before. Going into this review, I have put well over 200 hours into the game, having picked it up shortly after it made its way onto Steam Early Access and played it semi-regularly ever since. Over this time my opinion of PUBG has fluctuated significantly, going from adoration to contempt and everything in between. At the end of the day, it is hard to deny the game has a strong pull and is very addictive, offering up some of the highest highs gaming has to offer, while also allowing for some spectacular personal failures that might cause you to lose some sleep." - Tim Reid

Honorable Mentions: Divinity: Original Sin 2 , Finding Paradise, Darkwood

"Horizon Zero Dawn is a PlayStation 4 exclusive from the creators of the Killzone franchise, Guerrilla Games. In this unique setting, where machines have replaced much of the traditional animal kingdom, players will assume the role of a young tracker and hunter Aloy who ventures out to learn the truth of her past, and where the machines came from. The title does have 4K support and visual enhancements on the PS4 Pro, and is quite a lovely looking game. It doesn't reach its grand RPG aspirations, but the highs are so memorable and entertaining that it's easy to forgive the shortcomings." - Alex V

Honorable Mentions: Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Nioh, Persona 5

"A well-crafted effort, Cuphead comes highly recommended. It’s so hyper-focused on the minutia of its controls, those who are looking for a satisfying gameplay experience are bound to love it. It may not be the deepest experience around, but in terms of pure gameplay quality, Cuphead is a must-play for those seeking a challenge thanks to excellent controls and a unique visual presentation." - Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: Forza Motorsport 7, Tacoma, Halo Wars 2

"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was likely a must-own game for many fans before they read any reviews, and even before a clip was shown or any gameplay revealed. The good news is that even if this was on your list since the initial announcement years ago, you got a pretty great game out of the deal. It really is a joy to play, and will be sure to satisfy those who've had it circled in their calendars all these years; but even if you've never been a fan of the franchise, this is an excellent place to start. It’s nice to see that even after all this time, Hyrule still has plenty of magic left in it." - Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: Super Mario Odyssey , Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Splatoon 2

"Uncharted: The Lost Legacy knows its formula and sticks to it well. It takes everything that Uncharted 4 did so well, and incorporates it into a new journey. It may be smaller in scale and follows in very familiar footsteps, but the gameplay, characters and presentation remain some of the best in gaming today. If you’ve somehow missed Uncharted 4, this is still worth picking up as a full-featured game with a full multiplayer suite and a great price." - Alex V

Honorable Mentions: Battlefield 1: They Shall Not Pass, Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, Forza Horizon 3: Hot Wheels

"Despite some superficial similarities to other recent multiplayer focused games, LawBreakers is ultimately its own beast with challenging, deep gameplay that succeeds thanks to the unique movement system, low- gravity combat and fun, varied classes. It rewards individual skill above all else, and if you are the kind of person who becomes frustrated by teammates performing poorly in a team-based game, this kind of focus on solo talent could be a huge plus." - Tim Reid

Honorable Mentions: Observer, Elex, Detention

"Though it borrows a few elements from other games, Horizon Zero Dawn is greater than the sum of its parts and a very promising new IP. It's almost two games in one. It offers an entirely unique world and a thrilling experience as an action game, complete with a great story and likeable characters. Chances are you haven't played a title quite like this before, and for action fans in particular, it is well worth checking out." - Alex V

Honorable Mentions: Cuphead, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Night in the Woods

"Several years later and Larian Studios have done just what I hoped they would, making a sequel that retains the strengths of previous game while addressing just about every issue I had with it, and then going even further with additions like full voice acting, something not generally found in the recent wave of cRPG games. There is an overdose of top-notch content to be found within Divinity: Original Sin 2, with a deep, dense, slightly verbose adventure that almost completely fixes the failings of its predecessor, and has some great features like online and local co-op for the entire game." - Tim Reid

Honorable Mentions: Destiny 2, Nier: Automata, Resident Evil 7

"Bloober Team have stepped up with Observer. Not only is it a weirdly unsettling horror game, it's a good adventure with an incredible setting. The cyberpunk environments are rich with detail and thick with atmosphere, raising favourable comparisons to the Blade Runner movie. As a horror game, it succeeds without relying heavily on brash jump scares. While you may be drawn to Observer just to experience the nightmares, the game’s best feature is actually the grounded science fiction world built around them, and together they make for a game that is hard to forget." - Ben Thomas

Honorable Mentions: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Resident Evil 7, Sonic Mania