So this here is a list of the games I purchased/received on Steam throughout 2017 as well as my thoughts on each. They are sorted from lowest to highest rating in my opinion. It would be good to see some other people chip in with their lists and thoughts too.
NOTE: I'm not going to included DLCs purchased in this list, simply the full game purchases.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon WildlandsThis is one of those games that I often forget I own. Earlier in the year, the SnC crew and I briefly romped through Bolivia, seeing the sights and killing the bad guys. While this game did offer some truly hilarious moments, extensive customisation and some stunning screenshot moments, it ultimately paled when put beside GTA Online, which offers all of the above and far more to a ridiculous extent. One day, we stopped playing and simply never went back to it.
Quake/Shadow WarriorA couple of classic FPS titles which I got simply for the sake of owning. I've barely touched Shadow Warrior but I played Quake almost to completion. It really opened my eyes to how much FPS games have changed, though sadly not for the better in my opinion.
Fallout 1 and 2Having been ultimately dissatisfied with Fallout 4's lackluster RPG elements, I started playing Obsidian's Fallout New Vegas again and was immediately giddy with the amount of fun I was having messing with the residents of post-apocalyptic Nevada. During my play through, the original two games went on sale for less than a pound each, so I grabbed them. So far, I've only scratched the surface of Fallout 1 and despite feeling incredibly clunky in its old age, it's easy to see that Black Isle Studios knew their shit when it came to RPGs. Awesome stuff.
Stardew ValleyI really didn't know what to expect with this game. I thought it would get really dull really quickly and that I would likely cast it aside before long. However, the pixel art and high ratings won me over and I purchased it in the Autumn sale. This game is absolutely wonderful. It just oozes with irresistible charm and it's definitely something I would encourage my daughter to play when she's a little older. The in-game days and seasons rolled by and drew me in the same way Minecraft did back in the day. I fell into a routine and was actually getting excited when I saw that there was an event coming up in town.
PlayerUnknown's BattlegroundsThere's no denying that this game has caused quite a stir, and with good cause. It's tense and unforgiving and you just cannot stop throwing yourself at it, against seemingly insurmountable odds. It's a series of thirty minute horror stories about being lost and outnumbered. Even when the game is at its best and you're playing with 3 friends, you are still up against 96 other people who want to murder your face. The game got its official release today and after 4 months of playing the beta every weekend I don't expect to be giving it up anytime soon. Yes it's buggy to an almost infuriating extent, but hopefully it will either be improved over time, or aome other studio's attempt will surpass it.
Divinity: Original Sin 2Remember that RPG itch I mentioned that Bethesda was failing to scratch? This game. This game scratched that itch so hard that it ripped right through to the bone. I have logged over twelve hours in the starting area alone and have barely put a dent in what this world has to offer. I'm not going to say too much about the plot, but after the events of the prologue you are stuck on a prison island and your ultimate goal is to escape. The number of potential ways to do this made my head spin and I got plenty of opportunity to explore each in detail, before ultimately stumbling into one by accident! But there are characters you can recruit (or play as if you don't want to make your own from scratch) that have origin stories and goals of their own, some of which conflict with the goals of other characters in the game causing tension and conflict. All this within the first act! I cannot wait to explore this world further and I definitely want to try playing it coop at some point.
Hollow KnightPeople who know me best already know that this is my Game of the Year because I don't think I've stopped talking about it since I got it. I confess that this is the first metroidvania game that I've sunk any reasonable amount of time into, but I quickly fell in love with it. The lore, the gameplay, the astounding hand-drawn artwork and stunning soundtrack. This world pulled me in so deep that I often find myself playing more than I should. I am currently at 66 hours played and at 98% completion on my first playthrough, but I guarantee as soon as I reach 100% and finally beat it I will simply start a new game and jump straight back into it. I'm eager to see what new things I can discover and how I can approach the various challenges with my experience from the first time round.
Absolutely sublime and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
monster_urby
