Naturally, being a pretty big horror game fan, a good number of these are going to be in, or along the lines of, the horror genre. But there were a lot of interesting games to come out, so I've been motivated to play a lot of different types of games; and also with the launch of Keymailer, it's made the whole thing easier.
Overall, 2017 seemed to be a better year in gaming than 2016 - although there have been some pretty big fails this year. Independent companies have shined and greedy, mainstream, multi-million dollar companies have fallen hard. I'm personally glad about this. We have learned the effects of voting with our wallet this year. Now, of course I'm not saying all huge and well-known companies should fall. Some have released some damn good games this year!
For example, the first game on this list:
I'll be honest, this game surprised me. Everything from clips to the trailers made this game amazing, but still my expectations weren't high. Now, this definitely doesn't feel like a Resident Evil game, at all! If you go into this game with the mindset of playing the newest RE game, then you'll probably be disappointed. But you just want to play a pretty good horror game that looks gorgeous, then I wholly recommened this one.
This game feels like an actual survival horror game; it's not just full of action. The story is fairly basic, but the characters themselves are very multi-dimensional. They're not your typical bad guys, and each of them are terrifying in their own way. Also, there were a few pretty gorey moments.
The DLC was okay. There were two in particular that were really enjoyable: Bedroom and Jack's 55th Birthday. These were enjoyable for two totally different reasons. Bedoom was really intense and Jack's 55th Birthday was really goofy (like oldschool RE goofiness). However, playing blackjack with Lucas was totally infuriating - probably because I don't play blackjack very well.
I'm still looking forward to the Not A Hero DLC. They better have a really good explaination for Chris Redfield looking 20 years younger! (And it doesn't seem like they're going to) But regardless, it looks interesting and I'm interested to see what kind of new traps Lucas drummed up.
This one was difficult. I considered this being in the #5 spot. But overall, I concluded that I enjoyed this more than RE7. However, I definitely didn't enjoy it more than the first game.
I had really looked forward to this game for a very long time, but I grew skeptical ever since the first censorship news broke. But I absolutely love Red Barrels and I expected them to do their best - they're really messed up people (I mean that in the best way possible) and they can only work with censorship so much. I respect them for having standards (they said they wanted to have their game be available everywhere). Even though they had to "change" quite a bit of stuff, it didn't affect the quality nor the story at all. And that is absolutely okay with me! There was plently to gape at.
Aside from the censorship, there were some things I didn't like about the game. They were few, but oh boy! I really didn't like them. It did have more of an action feel than the first game, and there were some parts that just felt tedious. In one part, you had to push a cart to jump over a gate, all while Marta (I just called her "The Bitch") is chasing you. It wasn't scary, it was frustrating.
I loved the story. I grew up going to a religious school (my last two years of high school were in a public school), so I apperciated that aspect. The story was good just running through the game; but if you take the time to explore, you're rewarded with a lot of interesting lore. The game is delightfully terrifying and you're challenged with a lot of different environments (like sneaking underwater). For an independent company, the game looks and sounds gorgeous! The sound effects are excellent! Overall, it's pretty immersive and I'd love the opportunity to play in VR. I also love that there are many theories on the ending.
I hope there is DLC in the future, because I'll definitely play it!
TL;DR Robot orgies are okay, but hillbilly orgies are not.
Ruiner is a cyberpunk top-down shooter. The main character is a killer, whose brother gets kidnapped by The Boss. So, now you must kill The Boss and get your brother back, all with the help from a woman named "Her".
Another game on this list that has fantastic aesthetics! From the comic book style art, to the wicked effects, this game is gorgeous. The soundtrack is awesome too! Some of the gameplay is quite reminiscent of Hotline Miami, like the ability to pick up any gun or any melee weapon. There are also pretty brutal kills. There's an extensive skill tree, and each boss will make you use different skills. You can also complete side missions and meet some pretty interesting characters, like a character that is obsessed with Cats that work for the main government, Heaven, to spy on people.
This game is hard! Even on Normal it's a challenge. The first hour wasn't too bad. This game really eases you into the controls, but once the story picks up - things start to get difficult. Now, seasoned shooter players probably won't have a problem; they'll have a nice challenge. But I normally don't play games like this, so I'm having some problems. This doesn't take away from the game at all! The game is fun, visually stunning, and the story is intriguing; so I'm more than willing to stick with it. Plus, the NG+ will give me more of an opportunity to upgrade my abilities.
Another game that has an amazing amount of freedom. Of course, it doesn't have the vast environment of Breath of the Wild - the station is pretty easy to navigate and get used to (except when going outside). But it seemed like almost every time I re-entered a room or section of the station, I didn't know what to expect, what new challenge would meet me; whether it would be a new enemy, or a trigger in the story (like a video getting interrupted, or the power being cut off and needing to find a way out).
One of the best things about this game is that it encourages you to explore, and rewards you nicely for doing so. There are some side missions where you have to explore to complete the mission. See a light up in the distance? It's something; you can get to it!
One of the most annoying things was hacking bots to help me in combat, only to have them be corrupted later in the game. (If you don't panic when fire is constantly being sprayed in your face, then you're a better person than me.)
This game was listed in the spooky genre, but I didn't find it that spooky. Sure, the mimics were surprising, and there were a couple of times where I gasped, yelling "What the fuck is that??", but I never felt dread or was creeped out. The survival aspect is very prominent, however. You really have to conserve ammo, hunt for material, and strategize.
Unfortunately, since the last Steam update, the controller controls don't work and therefore, I haven't finished the game. (I am prepared for the "controller newb" comments xD)
What would be a "Skkyzelda's top video games" list without a Legend of Zelda game? An incomplete list.
BOTW has so much content in it (and that's not including the DLC). There's so much to explore and find. I'm still learning more about this game! The world is huge and it really feels alive.
This game is good lore and is very welcoming to newcomers of the series. I honestly haven't played it in a while, so I feel like that I can't talk in too much detail (excluding spoilers of course). But I'll be more than happy to restart it, and get back into it again. It's completely worth it. But all in all, if you want a completely free roam, non-linear Zelda game, this is definitely the one!
I was a little intimidated about this game at first. Well, most simulations intimidate me. But not only is this game gorgeous, but pretty fun to get into and explore, even though there are elements I still don't understand. This game is pretty forgiving in the sense that, when things go wrong, it's usually an easy fix; well, until you go bankrupt. But it takes a long time to go bankrupt ...unless you flood your city with poop :/
There's a ton of DLC. Even the main game has a lot of content. But there's a lot of ways to have fun with your city, including having tornadoes and hurricanes destroy it xD There's no story. You make the story. But it's a lot of fun! It's addictive! Go check it out!
Another game on my top 5 list from Bloober Team (Layers of Fear was last year). The main character is a detective, trying to find his son who may or may not be dead. He can also tap into people's minds, and basically experience what they've experienced - this is the role of the Observer.
This game has wonderful cyberpunk aesthetic. It definitely has an 80s cyberpunk feel mixed with a futuristic vibe as well. It's dark and filthy and I love it! It still amazes me that the same people who made Layers of Fear also made this game. They're both so drastically different looking games.
This is also labeled as a spooky game, but (again) I honestly didn't find it very spooky. Sure, there are abrupt, loud noises; and the long and narrow hallways are very creepy (and from my nightmares), but that's it. Of course, this didn't ruin the game at all (it is my #1).
I saw a lot of people complain about the "dream" sequences which were indeed the spookiest parts. People were saying that they were nonsensical and just there to be scary. In my opinion, that's kind of insulting. Sure, the sequences don't give you ALL the information, but there are a few pieces in each sequence where you can get a good idea of what people's roles/personalities are (with some metaphorical things mixed in).
The story is intriguing, but a little predictable. You can seriously get lost in all the maze-like hallways, and I found more places to explore every time I replayed the game. There isn't a ton to explore, but what is there is very well hidden.
I very much recommend this game. If you like the trailer, give it a try!
Mentions
Friday the 13th: The Game
I haven't played much of this, but of what I did play, I really enjoyed it! It feel pretty retro and the kills are fun!
Pokemon Utra Sun and Ultra Moon
The new pokemon look gorgeous, not to mention the whole region of Alola! But what really drew me to this game was the ability to groom and play with your pokemon xD
Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator
I played a little bit of this one too (by the time I'm writing this). It's a lot different than the other FNAF games. This one is cannon also (whether it's cannon to the games or the books, who knows right now). There are some cute parts and then some really scary parts too. I've always loved that combination. I'm planning on playing more of it.
If you want to play a FNAF game and haven't yet, I reccommend this one to start! Plus, it's FREE!
Agree or disagree? Have a list of your own? Feel free to leave comments! If you have a suggestion or would like me to post about anything else, please let me know! :)
I hope everyone has a great end of year and a good New Years Day! <3
