During 2017 I managed to get a fair few hours playing games compared to some other years, I even had the added benefit of having an extra platform to play them on with my purchase of a PS4. I won’t bother doing an arbitrary number of games for each platform but instead, I’ll do my favourite game of each and a runner-up. The platforms I’ll be commenting on are; PS4, Xbox One, PC and Mobile (Android). These games might not have been released in 2017 but they are ones I played in 2017 so they fit the criteria.
PS4 – Doom (2016)
The game I played and enjoyed the most on PS4 this year was actually a smash hit title from 2016, that I never got around to playing. Doom was the reboot that the first person genre needed. It was an absolute spectacle from start to finish with its flashy push forward combat feeling like the original games and yet still seeming surprisingly fresh. The graphics were outstanding and the framerate was solid on PS4 leaving nothing to be desired. The customization elements it had were great accents to an already excellent set of weapons that really catered to a few different playstyles. Doom is a game I’d confidently recommend to anybody who is a fan of games, even if they usually aren’t big on FPS games.
My runner-up this year on PS4 would have to be The Last Guardian, I never played Ico or Shadow of the Colossus but after playing this they are definitely on my list to play for 2018.
Xbox One – Smite
Smite is the game I’ve put the most hours into for the past several years, having played since late 2015. It is a MOBA but similar to League of Legends or DOTA2 in only the fact that it is teams of 5 or 3 with towers and differing roles, Smite features gameplay far more akin to an action game with every character utilizing “skillshots” and aiming rather than the click to attack mechanics of its competitors in the genre. It is a game under constant improvement with some of the best free-to-play monetization in a game I’ve ever seen. I’d highly recommend trying it, it’s also available on PS4 and PC if they are your preferred platform.
My runner-up on the Xbox One this year would have to be Battlefield 1, another game from 2016, however, I think the patches it received during 2017 really turned the game into the best version of itself.
PC – Hearthstone
Hearthstone is another game I’ve sunk an unnecessarily high amount of time into over the past several years but it continues to be my most played game on PC consistently every year since its release. I came into Hearthstone with some trepidation as an ex-Magic The Gathering player thinking the mechanics would be too simple, but the classic Blizzard polish on top of some really great core gameplay, coupled with constantly evolving meta-games make it fantastic to jump in and out of. I’d recommend this to anybody who is a fan of trading card games or even puzzle games.
My runner-up on PC would be PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, I didn’t get the chance to play this as much as I would have liked but what I did play was fantastic. A truly innovative concept took the world by storm and the game executes it very well. Few games end up being as intense an experience during multiplayer as PUBG.
Android – Pokémon GO
Mobile games have been something I’ve typically neglected to play many of over the past few years but since my move to focusing on mobile development, I have tried to expand my horizon and play more. They typically haven’t held my attention for very long with the slight exception of a few really great games but Pokémon GO has been a daily game for me throughout the year, getting better and better with each patch. It is far more accessible now than it was during its first release with gyms having mechanics to reduce the ability for strong Pokémon to reign supreme for months at a time. If you tried this during its initial release and found it lacking, I would suggest giving it another go now. Or even if you haven’t tried it, try it. It really is a game for everybody.
Runner-up on mobile would have to be my own game, Super Blasty Blasty.
Also published on Medium.