Game of the Year Awards 2017

“Though the premise for the story sounds relatively straightforward, what happens within these parameters is anything but. The New Colossus has a lot of cutscenes and dialogue, with an overall larger focus on storytelling than its predecessor. Fortunately, this is a story worth paying attention to, as it boldly tackles racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism and all of the nasty stuff that has been normalized under a fascist regime. Scenes will go from funny and light-hearted to brutal and heartbreaking in a flash, with abrupt tonal shifts, vivid imagery and dialogue that would make the likes of Quintin Tarantino proud.” – Tim Reid

Honorable Mentions: Horizon Zero Dawn, Yakuza 0, What Remains of Edith Finch

“Cuphead’s aesthetic is unique and feels authentic. It’s easy to look at the game and drool over the hand-drawn animations, and each boss battle has its own unique setting. There are many moments where the bullet-hell nature of Cuphead means you’ll be so focused on maneuvering the character and looking for safe space, you’ll hardly have time to appreciate the art of the game. It almost makes you wish that you were watching someone else play Cuphead so you could fully enjoy the game’s art-style.” – Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: Persona 5, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pyre

“It wouldn’t be an Uncharted title without it pushing the processing power of the console to its limits. Even using a launch PS4, the game looks absolutely astounding, with amazing colors and lighting, beautiful scenery and gorgeous vistas, and fantastic effects. And equally as impressive is the attention to detail in the environments and the facial animation of the characters, which is impeccable and packed with lifelike detail.” – Alex V

Honorable Mentions: Horizon Zero Dawn, Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Forza Motorsport 7

Composed by Kristofer Maddigan, the Cuphead OST features nearly 3 hours of original jazz, early big band, and ragtime music. Each song is played by live musicians, including a 13-piece big band, 10-piece ragtime ensemble, a solo pianist, a vocalist, a tap dancer, and a few surprises.“The music is fun and true to the time period of the 1930’s animation.” – Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: Destiny 2, Nex Machina, Persona 5

“Hellblade is one of the best arguments to-date for why binaural sound recording in video games should be looked into more. The ability to isolate certain sounds to particular ears allows Senua’s many voices to pour in from every angle, affording a constant sense of disorientation that communicates well the degree of strain the protagonist is under. Turning corners would often be met by frets of paranoia, and my attempts to find my way around were constantly berated by jeering laughter. In many cases the voices appeared to quarrel amongst themselves, which left me constantly doubting their intentions.” – Charlie Nicholson

Honorable Mentions: Forza Motorsport 7, Horizon Zero Dawn, Star Wars: Battlefront II

“Much of Senua’s odyssey surrounds the corrupted “Hela”; a torturous alter-world of jumbled memories, fears and – somewhere deep in there – reality “as is”. The world changes as Senua grows more distressed; illuminated Norse runes spatter the field of vision, while various auditory hallucinations gnaw Senua constantly in attempt to confuse, frighten and mock her actions. Pathways might suddenly disappear from sight, requiring you to use special archways to see things clearly, or a malicious voice may purposefully lead you down the wrong path. As a result, you’re left in waters similarly uncertain to those of the game’s heroine; an effect entirely befitting of a game that seeks to explore intense psychological stress.” – Charlie Nicholson

Honorable Mentions: Prey, Resident Evil 7, Yakuza 0

“The New Colossus has a lot of cutscenes and dialogue, with an overall larger focus on storytelling than its predecessor. They are all well produced with excellent voice acting. The resistance are made up of a diverse cast of well developed new and returning characters who add a lot of texture to the narrative, and the villain is thoroughly evil and highly memorable.” – Tim Reid

Honorable Mentions: Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Horizon Zero Dawn, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

“Ever since Heavenly Sword, Ninja Theory has been something of a motion capture extraordinaire, and the expertise certainly shows through the integration of Melina Juergens. Alone an expertly vulnerable play of fury, exasperation and (more heartbreakingly) sheer numbness, Jeurgen’s performance is impressive considering the constraints motion capture acting presents, but her presence within the tormented world of her character is so well transcribed into Unreal Engine that it never once felt forced or out of place.” – Charlie Nicholson

Honorable Mentions: Rachel Amber – Life is Strange: Before the Storm, Mae Borowski – Night in the Woods, Aloy – Horizon Zero Dawn

“While the words “unique gameplay” are thrown around a lot, it’s rare that developers are actually inventing a new type of game. Usually the mechanics and systems are easily described by a tradition of what came before them. Even something like Supergiant’s previous effort Transistor felt somewhat familiar in terms of its mechanics. But Pyre is an invented sport, like Blood Bowl or Quidditch – something riffing on familiar sports motifs, but new nonetheless. It asks so many interesting questions of the player all while inventing gameplay mechanics and fast-paced action that I think some long-running sports franchises would be jealous of.” – Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, What Remains of Edith Finch, For Honor

“That landscape is what makes Breath of the Wild something special. It’s a game that begs to be experienced with pauses to make camp out in the wilderness, or to have strange ruins catch your eye and distract you from the main quests. I loved finding the safe havens of Gorons, Zoras, Gerudos, and Rito throughout the world and learning about the traditional Zelda races, but after every dungeon was complete I always found myself excited to be back on the road, wandering the kingdom again, scaling towers to unlock a little bit more of the map and see what lay beyond the next horizon. I loved exploring the world so much, that I even found where it ends.” – Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: Horizon Zero Dawn, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Prey

“Though it can certainly be very frustrating to play for the better part of thirty minutes only to die from an unseen sniper without firing a single shot yourself, the flip side is that when you do have a good round and the many variables align in your favor, PUBG can offer up some of the most intense and exciting moments gaming has to offer. Quick matchmaking and a huge playerbase allow PUBG’s Battle Royale mode to shine, with each round playing out differently thanks to a randomized ever-shrinking play area keeping things fresh after hundreds of hours.” – Tim Reid

Honorable Mentions: Splatoon 2, Cuphead, Destiny 2

“The craftsman-like expertise of Cuphead’s gameplay is truly impressive. I’ve played my fair share of 2D side-scrolling action games and this is about as good as it gets when it comes to the second-to-second action. As you master Cuphead, you truly feel like a champion. Each fight pushes back, testing your skill, and it can be a struggle to get to that victory screen, but as you perfect your ability to control the little animated protagonist, the reward is a delight. Cuphead demands perfection, but gives you the tools to actually perform flawlessly. This kind of well-crafted challenge is difficult and it’s astounding to see Studio MDHR execute it with an almost nonchalant attitude.” – Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: Horizon Zero Dawn, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Prey

“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

“I have to call out how well Destiny 2 still works in the moment to moment gameplay. The way the shooting and movement handles is excellent. The weight of the weapons makes the shooting feel powerful and the damage feel satisfying. The speed of the action allows you to dodge enemy shots, but also feel in control of the character. The spacial design lets you dodge to and fro on perilous platforms while firing at enemies with little worry you’ll fall off the edge. The hang time of jumps and boosts gives you time to pull off impressive headshots. There’s even occasional vehicles to drive. Destiny 2 feels great, and at this point, Bungie are such veterans of the shooter genre, it feels like they’re showing off.” – Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Prey, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

“As an action game, Horizon Zero Dawn is a highly original and involving take on monster combat, offering players with tons of tools to take down the menacing machines. While things are quite chaotic facing multiple machines out in the wild, it is still thrilling fun. But it’s the encounters against large machines, one on one, that are so highly memorable and produce the sorts of adrenaline rushes that players often yearn for in action games.” – Alex V

Honorable Mentions: Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Nioh, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

“DIRT 4 is the ideal rally simulation with genuine unpredictability and lasting value. It is mostly a strenuous rally simulation that rewards time and effort, with a near endless number of procedurally generated rally stages. The mixed assemblage of hairpins, hills, and hazards produces a few similar corners, but it’s still a great addition over a limited number of unchanging tracks. The career progression is excellent with a small amount of team management added for good measure. The multiplayer side of things is quite good, and the online challenges will keep you coming back for more.” – Ben Thomas

Honorable Mentions: Forza Motorsport 7, Project Cars 2, Gran Turismo Sport

“Just as Creative Assembly refined Rome 2 into Attila, they have done the same with Warhammer II, learning from their mistakes and crafting another outstanding strategy game. Even though I still miss some of the more diverse battle types seen in previous games in the series, the more exciting campaign and host of tweaks and refinements push this sequel into the highest tier of Total War entries. As someone who is relatively indifferent towards the Warhammer universe and was not fully grabbed by the first game, I was fully engaged by the sequel and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any fan of Total War, or strategy games in general.” – Tim Reid

Honorable Mentions: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection

“This intimate examination of rural decay and its effects on those who are left behind is a game with plenty to say – and that counts for a lot with me. Visually engaging and well-written, it begs for the player to bring their own perspective and ideas to the table. Night in the Woods intelligently uses pacing that bucks conventional structure to develop relationships and give the story a slice-of-life feeling. Even when things start going crazy in the final chapter, with what initially appears to be an other-worldly plot point, the narrative throws in another twist and ties the narrative back to the game’s central themes. It’s smart and creative, and… well, I’m not entirely sure there’s all that much to do while you’re playing it. I also think that’s kind of the point.” – Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: What Remains of Edith Finch, Outlast 2, Tacoma

“The great quest and world design allows for thoroughly enjoyable exploration and experimentation with the game’s many systems, and the turn-based combat is some of the best you’ll find in any RPG. Not everyone will have the time and patience to break into Divinity: Original Sin 2, but those who do will surely be enraptured by its vibrant and morally complex world, characters and seemingly endless quests. It is rare that a game fires on so many cylinders, and once you are past the significant but not impossible learning curve, progressing through the game proves satisfying and rewarding.” – Tim Reid

Honorable Mentions: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Persona 5, Xenoblade Chronicles 2

“FIFA 18 is a solid continuation of this authentic and highly polished sports franchise that still manages to make meaningful strides forward. In its second year on the Frostbite engine, players look very life like and the lighting inside the stadiums is impressive. The crowds offer more life and variety, from the cheers of scoring a late equalizer at home, to drowning the stadium in whistles if the visiting team takes too long with the ball. Changes on and off the pitch are notable, whether it’s the new manager mode cutscenes, a new chapter of The Journey, or addicting new ways to play FIFA Ultimate Team. And if you’re a fan, these tweaks are likely enough justification to empty your wallet, as is the annual tradition.” – Alex V

Honorable Mentions: MLB The Show 17, The Golf Club 2, NHL 18

“After roughly 36 years of existence, you’d think that the Mario franchise would be on the decline or that audiences would have felt franchise fatigue. Through either the magic of marketing or Nintendo’s pure genius designers, Mario remains just as relevant today as he did back at his inception. Super Mario Odyssey is a strong testament to not only Nintendo’s seal of quality, but to the company’s ability to craft a delightfully goofy, charismatic and (above all else) fun adventure. It evokes a lot of the same wonder that Super Mario 64 did all those years ago while bringing the typical Nintendo polish that we’ve come to expect. Odyssey may not reinvent the wheel, but it certainly perfects it.” – Peter Glagowski

Honorable Mentions: Cuphead, Little Nightmares, Hollow Knight

“Not only is it fun, but it holds a lot of gameplay opportunities for different kinds of players. If you’re hungry for tough and unforgiving multiplayer, there’s an experience to be had. If you’re in love with fighting games, there’s all sorts of ways to test your skill. If you just love DC comics, the story mode is well worth playing and the love the game has for the universe is pretty obvious. Injustice 2 is a rock-solid game and something I think all fighting fans should check out. It might make you wonder why DC is having such a hard time getting the movies to be this good.” – Josh Hinke

Honorable Mentions: Tekken 7, For Honor, Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite