Every podunk Youtube channel and blog is making its own best games of the year list, so I figured I should as well. So as not to fall behind.
1) NieR: Automata
Come for the hot android girl, stay for the existential crisis-inducing feels
I didn’t review this game because there was no point. Everyone has already declared NieR: Automata the best game of the year, and rightly so. I can’t disagree with that judgment. NieR has everything: android booty, robot-killing action, and a thought-provoking story. It’s also great having an irreverent, doesn’t-give-a-shit guy like Yoko Taro around in the increasingly self-important land of game developers. Or maybe that attitude is only prevalent here in America.
NieR: Automata also wins my “best soundtrack of the year” award. Yoko Taro and co. can throw that award on the pile with the others.
2) Persona 5
hnnngh so cute
I did review Persona 5, though once again I have to say that my review was completely unnecessary. People who don’t even like JRPGs loved this tale of high school students with magical powers who fight demons in a shadow world. I loved it too, but only 99% as much as NieR, so it gets second place. It also wins my “second best soundtrack of the year” prize. It’s really too bad Persona 5 didn’t come out in 2016. (Actually, it did come out in 2016 – but the NA release came six months later, so as far as I’m concerned it’s a 2017 game and it still loses to NieR.)
3) VA-11 HALL-A
Make way for best girl
I have sort of a love-hate relationship with “indie games”. Some of them take a brilliant idea and fuck it over with bad gameplay mechanics, while others have a decent sense of how to construct a game but can’t help pretentiousnessing all over the place until you’re fucking sick. VA-11 HALL-A is a game with a good concept executed well, one that’s fun and has great, memorable characters. You might not like it because it’s more or less a visual novel with a bartending minigame attached (if you’re the “games must have ACTUAL ACTION” type) or because it features a very young-looking sexbot character (if you’re the overly sensitive SJW type – never mind that this character is really one of the most interesting in the game and explores some of the possible morality issues surrounding her very existence. I did know a few people who dropped the game for this reason.) But if you don’t like this game, you’re wrong. Yeah, I know, opinions and all. But you’re still wrong. VA-11 HALL-A is a great game, and you’re wrong if you don’t like it.
Wait, this game – this actually was released in 2016, wasn’t it?
Well, shit. Never mind. It still deserves to be on this list.
4) Gravity Rush 2
The gravity-bending heroine of the first Gravity Rush returns to the PS4 for more adventures. Gravity Rush 2 is a good game. Once again, if anyone tells you differently, they’re wrong. Also, Kat is a really cute character.
There’s an important plot reason why Kat’s wearing that maid outfit, okay? Leave me alone.
5) ???
Okay, it’s time to admit that I haven’t played many of this year’s newest and hottest games. I’ve been playing a lot of Stella Glow lately, but it came out in 2015. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Horizon Zero Dawn but for some reason I don’t feel a great desire to play it. It would probably be on this list if I’d bothered with it.
Anyway, have a happy new year. Or not. Whatever. Does it even matter anymore?
Everything is bad for you 