2017 has been an odd year, even for someone who doesn’t live in the States. I’ve been reflecting the last couple weeks over this weird year. I sort of feel like I am just parroting everyone else who has said this, but at least we had a lot of kick ass games to distract us. There had been some really awesome games that came forward, and a lot that came forward with kick ass female leads. Actually most games I played this year were either by default, had a female protag, or had the option for a female. It's a nice change to be able to relate more so to the playable character in my games. Even the games that didn’t have female leads still had very strong stories, accessible to a variety of people. So, lets steer away from the conversation of cosplay for a bit as I go over some of my favorite games this year.
Mass Effect Andromeda - March 21
I’ll get this one out of the way. Despite this game being highly criticized, and having problems with it myself, I still really enjoyed it. What can I say, I’m a bioware fangirl. Combat was natural and fluid throughout the game, the open skills never tied you down to a “speciality” which gave me freedom that other Mass Effect games never gave me. As always they had characters I fell in love with in and out of game. It’s unfortunate that this game fell victim to pre-order culture. Industry and consumers need to stop being afraid of date push backs, and let game developers have more time to give us better products. Despite all the flaws that came with rushing this game, I still really appreciate it for what it is.
You can buy ME:A on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrafice - August 8, 2017
Hellblade is a short game, that took me a very long time to get through. It did some really great things in it’s gameplay that I would love to see implemented more in other games. Ninja Theory managed to take Senua’s story and psychosis and tie it into their game mechanics and puzzles in a really interesting way. There was constant breaking of the 4th wall, which incorporated you into the game, rather than just the player. It was an emotionally exhausting game to work through, but I think it was so worth it to see the love and passion that this small studio put into this game.
You can buy Hellblade for PC here at Humble Bundle
Dream Daddy- July 20
I played this game non stop when it came out. I loved the amount of representation this game had. I got to play as this awkward bindered bi daddy, and like, what other game lets you do that?! The art style was so cute, and the fact that all the daddies you could date had vastly different personalities, got me playing over and over again to experience everyone’s relationship.
You can buy Dream Daddy for PC here at Humble Bundle
Horizon Zero Dawn - February 28
HZD might be my favorite game of the year, which surprised me. It took a couple of months for me to get to this game. From looking at it, my brain couldn’t wrap around the different themes they seemed to be trying to shove into the game. It seemed like it would going to be incoherent and messy. I did however borrow it from a friend, wanting to give this female protagonist lead game a try, and then fell in love. Guerilla Games managed to blend the “primitive” post apocalyptic themes with robotic sci-fiction flawlessly. The more I played it the more invested I became in Aloy’s story. I can also really appreciate it as a trophy hunter, how easily they have made it to get 100% of the achievements in basically one play through.
You can buy HZD on PS4 here on Amazon Canada
Northgard - February 27
Technically Northgard is still in beta, but it's still on this list. In struggle of trying to find games that can run on my laptop that my partner and I could play together, we decided to grab this game on steam. In the game you make a little viking village and go head to head with other viking clans. The art style is to die and the soundtrack and effects just shows how much love has been put into making this game. It’s great if you like simulation/strategy games, but find that you desire something that is a little more simple and shorter than something like Civ or Stellaris. For under $25 I would say it’s on my must buy list.
You can buy Northgard for PC here at Humble Bundle
Prey - May 5
THIS YEAR WAS SO FULL OF GAMES I DIDN’T THINK I’D ENJOY BUT LOVE, and yeah, prey is for sure on that list. Female protage, check. WOC protag, check! Queer WOC protage!?!?! CHECK! Beyond the representation, the story kept me guessing throughout the entire game, with twists I didn’t see coming. The crafting system was also oh so satisfying. Being able to collect anything, and have a use for it catered to a very organized part of me. I am so excited to see what else Bethesda has in store for this franchise.
You can buy Prey on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada
You can buy Prey for PC at Humble Bundle
Pyre - Aug 3
Pyre is a strange mix of visual novel, and a ritualistic soccer game. Like previous Supergiant Games releases, Pyre has the company of a fantastic soundtrack, and art style. Within playing this game for an hours, there was already 3 characters I wanted to add to my cosplay to do list. The game is set up with most of the game play being within the rituals you must play and win in order to leave exile. Between the rituals you can stop by your companions and chat with them, giving them benefits later in the next challenge, and learn more about them and the world that Pyre inhabits. Pyre manages to continuously be challenging, without being overly difficult, and still rewarding with every challenge you finish.
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider- Sept 15
The Death of the Outsider was like finding an old comfy sweater you forgot exactly how comfy it was. When asked about it you go, hey yeah that sweater is pretty comfy. When you finally find it and put it on after months of not wearing it, damn, it’s so cozy. The stand alone DLC for Dishonored was exactly like that. Returning to the same world, it didn’t take me long at all to think to myself, gosh I love this place. DOTO also allows for a different view into the world Bethesda has created. You play as Billie Lurk, instead of someone part of the royal family. Which seems a little more fitting seeing that the Dishonored franchise is about the garbage that is the class system and aristocracy.
You can buy DOTO on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada
You can buy DOTO for PC at Humble Bundle
You can help support this blog, by shopping through the amazon and humble bundle affiliate links above, at no extra cost to you!
Mass Effect Andromeda - March 21
I’ll get this one out of the way. Despite this game being highly criticized, and having problems with it myself, I still really enjoyed it. What can I say, I’m a bioware fangirl. Combat was natural and fluid throughout the game, the open skills never tied you down to a “speciality” which gave me freedom that other Mass Effect games never gave me. As always they had characters I fell in love with in and out of game. It’s unfortunate that this game fell victim to pre-order culture. Industry and consumers need to stop being afraid of date push backs, and let game developers have more time to give us better products. Despite all the flaws that came with rushing this game, I still really appreciate it for what it is.
You can buy ME:A on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrafice - August 8, 2017
Hellblade is a short game, that took me a very long time to get through. It did some really great things in it’s gameplay that I would love to see implemented more in other games. Ninja Theory managed to take Senua’s story and psychosis and tie it into their game mechanics and puzzles in a really interesting way. There was constant breaking of the 4th wall, which incorporated you into the game, rather than just the player. It was an emotionally exhausting game to work through, but I think it was so worth it to see the love and passion that this small studio put into this game.
You can buy Hellblade for PC here at Humble Bundle
Dream Daddy- July 20
I played this game non stop when it came out. I loved the amount of representation this game had. I got to play as this awkward bindered bi daddy, and like, what other game lets you do that?! The art style was so cute, and the fact that all the daddies you could date had vastly different personalities, got me playing over and over again to experience everyone’s relationship.
You can buy Dream Daddy for PC here at Humble Bundle
Horizon Zero Dawn - February 28
HZD might be my favorite game of the year, which surprised me. It took a couple of months for me to get to this game. From looking at it, my brain couldn’t wrap around the different themes they seemed to be trying to shove into the game. It seemed like it would going to be incoherent and messy. I did however borrow it from a friend, wanting to give this female protagonist lead game a try, and then fell in love. Guerilla Games managed to blend the “primitive” post apocalyptic themes with robotic sci-fiction flawlessly. The more I played it the more invested I became in Aloy’s story. I can also really appreciate it as a trophy hunter, how easily they have made it to get 100% of the achievements in basically one play through.
You can buy HZD on PS4 here on Amazon Canada
Northgard - February 27
Technically Northgard is still in beta, but it's still on this list. In struggle of trying to find games that can run on my laptop that my partner and I could play together, we decided to grab this game on steam. In the game you make a little viking village and go head to head with other viking clans. The art style is to die and the soundtrack and effects just shows how much love has been put into making this game. It’s great if you like simulation/strategy games, but find that you desire something that is a little more simple and shorter than something like Civ or Stellaris. For under $25 I would say it’s on my must buy list.
You can buy Northgard for PC here at Humble Bundle
Prey - May 5
THIS YEAR WAS SO FULL OF GAMES I DIDN’T THINK I’D ENJOY BUT LOVE, and yeah, prey is for sure on that list. Female protage, check. WOC protag, check! Queer WOC protage!?!?! CHECK! Beyond the representation, the story kept me guessing throughout the entire game, with twists I didn’t see coming. The crafting system was also oh so satisfying. Being able to collect anything, and have a use for it catered to a very organized part of me. I am so excited to see what else Bethesda has in store for this franchise.
You can buy Prey on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada
You can buy Prey for PC at Humble Bundle
Pyre - Aug 3
Pyre is a strange mix of visual novel, and a ritualistic soccer game. Like previous Supergiant Games releases, Pyre has the company of a fantastic soundtrack, and art style. Within playing this game for an hours, there was already 3 characters I wanted to add to my cosplay to do list. The game is set up with most of the game play being within the rituals you must play and win in order to leave exile. Between the rituals you can stop by your companions and chat with them, giving them benefits later in the next challenge, and learn more about them and the world that Pyre inhabits. Pyre manages to continuously be challenging, without being overly difficult, and still rewarding with every challenge you finish.
Dishonored: Death of the Outsider- Sept 15
The Death of the Outsider was like finding an old comfy sweater you forgot exactly how comfy it was. When asked about it you go, hey yeah that sweater is pretty comfy. When you finally find it and put it on after months of not wearing it, damn, it’s so cozy. The stand alone DLC for Dishonored was exactly like that. Returning to the same world, it didn’t take me long at all to think to myself, gosh I love this place. DOTO also allows for a different view into the world Bethesda has created. You play as Billie Lurk, instead of someone part of the royal family. Which seems a little more fitting seeing that the Dishonored franchise is about the garbage that is the class system and aristocracy.
You can buy DOTO on PS4, PC, and Xbox One here on Amazon Canada
You can buy DOTO for PC at Humble Bundle
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You can help support this blog, by shopping through the amazon and humble bundle affiliate links above, at no extra cost to you!
