Ready Player Seventy-Seven: It's the top games of 2017! Eleventh Coint & Plick RESULTS

it was a lot more fun to watch than to play in my experience. i think i logged like 5 hours before giving up on it as Not For Me

https://i.imgur.com/DnLM8xB.jpg
30 - Northgard - 20 points / 2 Votes
Windows, Mac

TTA is a fantastic tabletop game. i'm sure the mobile version is super good if it's anything close to that (which it seems to be)

i thought splatoon 2 would be top ten, given the number of switch owners here and the popularity of the game.

I'm the one who voted for both Lone Echo and Superhot VR. Kinda hoping there'd be more VR representation this year.

Lone Echo is a first person adventure game set in space, with you playing a robot. As most of the action takes place inside a weightless space station, they've solved the VR locomotion problem the same way actual astronauts have solved it, by grabbing onto walls and flinging yourself wherever you want to go. It's very intuitive and very fun and doesn't get old even when the activities it makes you do are fairly straightforward. The game looks amazing; the first time I spacewalked was brainexplode.gif. And there's something about VR NPCs, especially one acted so well as there is here, that does create a weird sort of emotional bond that I haven't really felt in the same way in flat games. Brains are easily tricked.

Saying all that, VR is definitely still not ready. You need an actual gaming PC to run it (okay PSVR, but that's kinda different), it takes up a lot of room and there's faff setting it up. Most games on the platform are either ill-fitting or paper-thin; it doesn't help that VR is still a niche-within-a-niche so doesn't get as much press as it could. Not to mention you've gotta be kinda techy to set it up and my days fucking about with autoexec.bat and config.sys stand me in good stead. But oh, when VR works, it's still unlike any other gaming experience.

https://i.imgur.com/JYNnKGJ.jpg
30 - Universal Paperclips - 20 points / 2 Votes
Browser

lol nice

xp re: vr yes when it works it truly is a thing of beauty, and boy howdy i was a SKEPTIC going in too. i hope to build a rig that can handle it in the next year or two (it's $$$ tho!) and maybe shop around for a more comfortable headset... the oculus didn't fit over my glasses super well? maybe i could've fiddled with it a bit more. i was so sad when i tried without my glasses (after all ,the screen's right there, i should see perfectly right?) only for it to be blurry (no stupid, you're still trying to focus far away).

re: universal paperclips, y'all wild for this one, it's like... fine? not anywhere near as good as the potato one from last year.

Never played PUBG but I enjoy watching Aculite's videos. It seems like it requires a lot of practice before it starts getting fun.

i didn't see universal paperclips on the noms list, whoops! i would have thrown it a few points. if you've never played a clicking game, just run away, get away from me satan. but if you have ever lost a night to one of those kinds of games, you will almost certainly 'enjoy' universal paperclips.

man i was at work and started, but then when it was time to go home i stayed another hour, then i realized so i just locked my machine, and when i came back the next day, omg i was in driftwar hell. my drones were down to zero bc they sucked so bad. had to rebuild like 1000 by hand

Ah Northgard, I was one of the two voters for this one. I really love it, I believe it's recently developed a single player campaign story which I've yet to look into - I play it multiplayer usually.

https://i.imgur.com/JoveDXX.jpg
28 - Rec-Room - 21 points / 2 Votes
VR

I'm the one who voted for both Lone Echo and Superhot VR. Kinda hoping there'd be more VR representation this year.

vr has shown up a significant amount. def trending up

Catching up on my pity votes from yesterday:

54 - Everything - 10 points / 2 Votes
I think I gave this one point but figured it was worth a shout out. Sort of ambitious and lazy at the same time, which I can relate to. Probably works better as a screensaver, so just put it on auto-play and leave it running while you fold laundry or raise your kids or whatever.

61 - Hidden Folks - 8 points / 2 Votes
Where’s Waldo but you need to tap around to find/reveal dozens of tiny little characters. Very charming illustrations and all sound effects are made by one guy using just his voice. Playing it on an iPhone 6 probably ruined my eyes once and for all.

65 - Uncharted: The Lost Legacy - 7 points / 1 Vote
I liked that this was pretty short and efficient, especially after the padded length of the last Uncharted game. Also liked two women as the protagonists. Remember nothing else about it.

72 - Assassin's Creed Origins - 5 points / 1 Vote
Boring characters, story, quests, especially here in our post-Witcher society but wandering around Ancient Egypt (and a little Ancient Rome) was novel enough to keep me playing to the end. Riding a camel through oases and climbing pyramids and fighting hippos was a nice change of pace from beige post-apocalyptic rubble or, worse, LA (where I live).

https://i.imgur.com/nvDwZSe.jpg
28 - Metroid: Samus Returns - 21 points / 2 Votes
Nintendo 3DS

northgard looks great, i never even heard of it

i was so sad when i tried without my glasses (after all ,the screen's right there, i should see perfectly right?) only for it to be blurry (no stupid, you're still trying to focus far away).

Whoa

https://i.imgur.com/4A5elpV.jpg
27 - World of Warcraft: Legion - 21 points / 0.5 First-place votes / 1 Vote
Windows, Mac

stand tall, one ilxor who still plays wow

https://i.imgur.com/nOT1HZl.jpg
26 - Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy - 22 points / 2 Votes
Windows, Mac, iOS

https://i.imgur.com/s7E42lH.jpg
25 - Civilization 6 - 24 points / 4 Votes
Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS

^ this was a 2016 release, dunno how this one squeaked by me, but i'm rather cross with all of you, because also i voted for it (but just a few pts and in retrospect i wish i had thrown them to endless space 2 instead)

'Getting Over It' has generated Youtube videos that have definitely brightened my days

https://i.imgur.com/QIzf8UZ.jpg
24 - Earth Defense Force 5 - 25 points / 1 Vote
PlayStation 4

highest write in as far as i can remember and boy i haven't thought about EDF for a v long time

Forgot that came out

https://i.imgur.com/OPr8A23.jpg
23 - Pyre - 26 points / 2 Votes
Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4

Civ 6 came out on iOS this year & we usually allow new ports no?

I forget if I voted for it, but it'll be a standby for me in 2018.

general spirit of the law is you vote for it if you played that port this year. so theoretically all civ6 votes are for the ios port which i imagine isn't the case. that'll come up again tomrrow i'm sure.

https://i.imgur.com/Etk7UUl.jpg
22 - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - 27 points / 2 Votes
Nintendo Switch

I was the EDF voter, it's #2 in my ballot and had it been my first exposure to EDF it would definitely have been my GOTY. Being already a series convert, though, I saved my #1 for something else that will surely place in the top 10.

OR WILL IT?

YOU'LL FIND OUT DURING OUR THRILLING CONCLUSION TOMORROW!

So I'll also post now the NON-2017 GAMES OF 2017... only two came up more than once.

Dark Souls III (2)
Stardew Valley (2)
Hyper Light Drifter (1)
Danganronpa 1+2 (1)
Cook, Serve, Delicious! (1)
Crashlands (1)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1)
Torchlight 2 (1)
RimWorld (1)

Recap thru today...

22 - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - 27 points / 2 Votes
23 - Pyre - 26 points / 2 Votes
24 - Earth Defense Force 5 - 25 points / 1 Vote
25 - Civilization 6 - 24 points / 4 Votes
26 - Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy - 22 points / 2 Votes
27 - World of Warcraft: Legion - 21 points / 0.5 First-place votes / 1 Vote
28 - Metroid: Samus Returns - 21 points / 2 Votes
28 - Rec-Room - 21 points / 2 Votes
30 - Universal Paperclips - 20 points / 2 Votes
30 - Northgard - 20 points / 2 Votes
32 - PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds - 20 points / 1 Vote
33 - Mario Kart 8 DX - 17 points / 3 Votes
34 - The Sexy Brutale - 17 points / 2 Votes
34 - West of Loathing - 17 points / 2 Votes
34 - Yooka-Laylee - 17 points / 2 Votes
37 - Superhot VR - 17 points / 1 Vote
38 - Pinball FX3 - 16 points / 2 Votes
39 - Puyo Puyo Tetris - 16 points / 1 Vote
40 - Doki Doki Literature Club - 15 points / 2 Votes
40 - Wolfenstein II - 15 points / 2 Votes
42 - Through the Ages - 15 points / 1 Vote
42 - Splatoon 2 - 15 points / 1 Vote
42 - Tales of Berseria - 15 points / 1 Vote
42 - Sonic Mania - 15 points / 1 Vote
46 - Monument Valley 2 - 14 points / 1 Vote
46 - Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy - 14 points / 1 Vote
48 - Lone Echo - 13 points / 1 Vote
48 - Superflight - 13 points / 1 Vote
50 - Gran Turismo Sport - 12 points / 1 Vote
51 - Nioh - 11 points / 2 Votes
51 - Tekken 7 - 11 points / 2 Votes
51 - Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony - 11 points / 2 Votes
54 - Everything - 10 points / 2 Votes
55 - Meshi Quest - 10 points / 1 Vote
55 - NBA Playgrounds - 10 points / 1 Vote
55 - Picross S - 10 points / 1 Vote
55 - Accounting+ - 10 points / 1 Vote
55 - Little Nightmares - 10 points / 1 Vote
60 - Statik - 9 points / 1 Vote
61 - Shovel Knight: Spectre of Torment - 8 points / 2 Votes
61 - Hidden Folks - 8 points / 2 Votes
63 - Dragons Dogma: Dark Arisen - Console/PC - 8 points / 1 Vote
63 - The Norwood Suite - 8 points / 1 Vote
65 - Mass Effect Andromeda - 7 points / 1 Vote
65 - Uncharted: The Lost Legacy - 7 points / 1 Vote
65 - Cube Escape: The Cave - 7 points / 1 Vote
65 - Calculator: The Game - 7 points / 1 Vote
69 - Resident Evil 7 - 6 points / 2 Votes
69 - Thimbleweed Park - 6 points / 2 Votes
71 - Robo Recall - 6 points / 1 Vote
72 - Monster Slayers - 5 points / 1 Vote
72 - Hob - 5 points / 1 Vote
72 - Steamworld Dig 2 - 5 points / 1 Vote
72 - Assassin's Creed Origins - 5 points / 1 Vote
72 - Animal Crossing Pocket Camp - 5 points / 1 Vote
77 - Dead Cells - Computer - 4 points / 1 Vote

Xenoblade 2 is a pretty special mess of a game... still thinking about it a lot months after i finished it

it also sold incredibly well for a jrpg so maybe Nintendo will give monolith more resources for the next one rather than taking them away - it came out after release that the game was made with a skeleton crew while half the studio helped Nintendo finish Zelda

I’m not even done with XC2. It’s delightful anime nonsense and my protag has so many wives

The combat is also super rhythmic and soothing, generally a success I think.

Can't remember if I voted for Pyre. I've barely touched it but it's pretty cool. Sort of like Banner Saga meets NBA Jam?

I voted for Universal Paperclips. Best 'Black Mirror' episode of the season.

So I'll also post now the NON-2017 GAMES OF 2017... only two came up more than once.

Dark Souls III (2)

there was the DLC that did come out in 2017, maybe those votes were for that instead.

fwiw it showed up near the top of my list. they really delivered with that final Souls content. i remember beating DSIII and getting to that last area with the breathtaking imagery of all the castles twisting together and folding in on themselves and really hoping they would do something w that. it was such a treat when they did but also threw in a level from DS2 for good measure (laid out on its side a crumbling into post-post-post-apocalyptic ash of course)

27 - World of Warcraft: Legion - 21 points / 0.5 First-place votes / 1 Vote
Hi Yeah this is me, I'm aware no-one else here is playing it but they've continued to build better mousetraps. I should have talked last year about what they did with the design in Legion, in 2017 they provided not-one-not-two-but-three great raids and two level-cap stories - along with a lot of extra daft things to enjoy. Also I got to raid competitively again, and stick my face into guild drama.

34 - Yooka-Laylee - 17 points / 2 Votes

This was good solid Banjo-Kazooie fun.

46 - Monument Valley 2 - 14 points / 1 Vote

This seemed as good as the first to me - maybe a little more muted in parts, but that's partly the point.

46 - Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy - 14 points / 1 Vote

This is solidly in the Professor Layton tradition, the plot is quirky, but the game is all about the puzzles - there's 180 of various types in the game itself, then a new one daily for the next year.

voted for Samus Returns, it was solid and very welcome after the last few dreadful Metroid games, but not really up there with the best of the series unfortunately or even other contemporary 'Metroidvanias'. the structure of the original Metroid 2 definitely limited the world design, but the environments were a little uninspired and it lacked enemy variety. on the positive, it had some of the better shooting and combat in a Metroid

Andrew, I still play wow! Mythic+ has been super fun. Especially for people that exclusively PUG (like me).

there was the DLC that did come out in 2017, maybe those votes were for that instead.

There's a separate section for "non-2017 games of 2017," separate from the DLC which also got votes (I think from those two people no less)

Sort of like Banner Saga meets NBA Jam?

well fuck you just sold one more copy

Heyy! Yeah, them turning their magpie eyes towards Diablo has definitely paid off.

https://i.imgur.com/vHn2F3i.jpg
20 - Nex Machina - 27 points / 1 First-place vote / 2 Votes
PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows

https://i.imgur.com/T2Troe4.jpg
20 - Destiny 2 - 27 points / 1 First-place vote / 2 Votes
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

https://i.imgur.com/S9NIvO6.jpg
19 - Fire Emblem Heroes - 29 points / 1 Vote
iOS, Android

yes this was all the way me

this game is 100% my new MPQ and it's so much... kinder? and the microtactics gameplay is surprisingly deep and just very very good. idk how easy it is to jump into now (actually probably fairly easy), just so worth it. it doesn't make you feel like ass for not paying money.