MrS
Banned
2015 is underrated. Witcher 3, Bloodborne and MGS V are all 10/10 games. I don't think we've had 3 10/10 games this year.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Is 2017 the best year for games since 1998?
- Thread starter Doosi
- Start date
sotojuan
Member
I remember back in 2007 it was called the best year in gaming not only on forums but in websites and magazines.
It seems that the years considered "best" in gaming are usually two or three years into their respective generations (with 2017 being a little late).
His Majesty
Banned
Almost forgot, The Surge was also really good.
Persona 5 is probably a big chunk of people's GOTY (it is mine), and possibly only second behind BotW. There are some detractors, but really the biggest complaint is that it's not as good as Person 4, and even that is the minority. It definitely is not a consensus disappointment from what I've seen based on GAF, reviews and my personal opinion.
I don't know about comparing it to other years, but to me, it feels like a year where a lot of developers learned from the mistakes of previous generations. I feel like fans and developers are on a similar wavelength and it feels good.
A lot of games just smack of listening to fan-feedback while improving on old models. See: Sonic Mania & Breath of the Wild
You're also seeing a slight bit more mainstream love for titles that were completely niche last generation. See: Persona 5, Nier Automata, & Yakuza 0
There's also some new IP out of the west that feels genuinely fresh while also taking some of the best elements of beloved genres. See: Horizon Zero Dawn & Prey
Then you have some kind of nuts phenomenon: Player Unknown's Battlegrounds.
I'm not sure if we have a higher number of genuinely ground breaking games compared to previous years, but I just think that there's an overall "good feeling" about most releases coming out these days. A high diversity of genres, a lot of new & old, realistic & stylized, etc.
A lot of games just smack of listening to fan-feedback while improving on old models. See: Sonic Mania & Breath of the Wild
You're also seeing a slight bit more mainstream love for titles that were completely niche last generation. See: Persona 5, Nier Automata, & Yakuza 0
There's also some new IP out of the west that feels genuinely fresh while also taking some of the best elements of beloved genres. See: Horizon Zero Dawn & Prey
Then you have some kind of nuts phenomenon: Player Unknown's Battlegrounds.
I'm not sure if we have a higher number of genuinely ground breaking games compared to previous years, but I just think that there's an overall "good feeling" about most releases coming out these days. A high diversity of genres, a lot of new & old, realistic & stylized, etc.
Mass Effect
Member
2001? 2004? 2007?
RecRoulette
Member
A good Sonic game and (probably) a good Mario game are coming out in the same year, so it's pretty bananas.
Same. 1998 had
Half-Life
Metal Gear Solid
StarCraft
Ocarina of time
Resident Evil 2
Baldur's Gate
Xenogears
Grim Fandango
Parasite Eve
Suikoden 2
Marvel vs Capcom
Pokemon Yellow (if you want to count that)
2004 had
Half-Life 2 (which I still feel is inferior to 1)
San Andreas
Halo 2
Metal Gear Solid 3
Counter Strike Source
Unreal 2k4
Paper Mario TTYD
NinjaCoachZ
Member
Spieler Eins
Member
What's the point here? I'd guess over 90% of this forum are not part of the Japanese release calender.
Spaced Harrier
Member
It's the best year for Sega in a Long time too.
Yakuza 0
Yakuza Kiwami
Sonic Mania
Person 5 (sorta)
NinjaCoachZ
Member
2015 had a few really great games (Splatoon, Life is Strange, MGSV, Xenoblade X are my tops, haven't played BB or Witcher) but it was brutal how 80% of the most anticipated games either were forgotten really quickly (Order, Arkham Knight, Halo 5) or got delayed (BOTW, Uncharted 4, Persona 5...).
I'm cheeky.
Barry Burton
Member
I agree with this. From what I've played so far this year, I'd put only BotW in the same category as those three. Though I haven't gotten around to starting Horizon yet, so maybe that's two. Either way, this year hasn't been the best as far as the cream of the crop goes, but there is still time...
Rhomega Beta
Member
Nah, 2006 is still the best year.
Niceguydan8
Member
ThatStupidLion
Member
yes. this comes up every year. multiple times.
Fbh
Member
Don't know if the best but at least for me it's among the top 3 of all time
I just can't remember the last time I struggled to keep up with all the new releases I really wanted to play.
So far I've played
The Last Guardian (this one isn't even from this year!)
Nioh
Horizon
Persona 5
Still have to play (some of which I've already purchased)
Nier Automata
Gravity Rush 2
Yakuza 0
Rime
Resident Evil 7
Hell Blade
Breath of the Wild
Dark Souls 3 DLC
Prey
Pyre
Owlboy
Right now there are enough 2017 games out for me to play until at very least early 2018 or more. In over 20 years of gaming I've never had this happen to me
I just can't remember the last time I struggled to keep up with all the new releases I really wanted to play.
So far I've played
The Last Guardian (this one isn't even from this year!)
Nioh
Horizon
Persona 5
Still have to play (some of which I've already purchased)
Nier Automata
Gravity Rush 2
Yakuza 0
Rime
Resident Evil 7
Hell Blade
Breath of the Wild
Dark Souls 3 DLC
Prey
Pyre
Owlboy
Right now there are enough 2017 games out for me to play until at very least early 2018 or more. In over 20 years of gaming I've never had this happen to me
Retro_Stew
Member
Well, for me it is.
XBox had zero games in 1998. They're not essential to having a great year.
Persona 5 and Zelda are on that level, and Mario could end up there too. Though Bloodborne will still probably be the best of the gen.
Don't be cute.
I think 2018 and 2019 will be better. The number of titles I'm looking forward to those years... far too many compared to 2017.
I'm not saying 2017 is a bad year or anything. I've had a fair number of games I've loved. A lot of memorable ones too. Titles like Nier Automata, Yakuza 0, Persona 5, Breath of the Wild all great games and still have Super Mario Odyssey and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 this year as well (apparently).
2018/2019 brings me, personally, Granblue Fantasy Re: Link, Anthem, Monster Hunter World, Yakuza 6 (and possibly the next Yakuza), Ni no Kuni 2, Code Vein, DBZ Fighters, Fire Emblem Switch, Pokemon Switch, Metroid Prime 4, Kingdom Hearts 3, FFVII Remake + titles yet to be announced.
I also don't want to forget the year Smash Bros U, Xenoblade Chronicles X and Dark Souls 3 came out as well. 2014-2016 were pretty solid there too just... not as much, in ways.
Edit: I think that nostalgia makes it hard to agree that it's the best as well... hard to top Earthbound and Chrono Trigger releasing the same year (or other years like 1999, 2000 or 2006).
I'm not saying 2017 is a bad year or anything. I've had a fair number of games I've loved. A lot of memorable ones too. Titles like Nier Automata, Yakuza 0, Persona 5, Breath of the Wild all great games and still have Super Mario Odyssey and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 this year as well (apparently).
2018/2019 brings me, personally, Granblue Fantasy Re: Link, Anthem, Monster Hunter World, Yakuza 6 (and possibly the next Yakuza), Ni no Kuni 2, Code Vein, DBZ Fighters, Fire Emblem Switch, Pokemon Switch, Metroid Prime 4, Kingdom Hearts 3, FFVII Remake + titles yet to be announced.
I also don't want to forget the year Smash Bros U, Xenoblade Chronicles X and Dark Souls 3 came out as well. 2014-2016 were pretty solid there too just... not as much, in ways.
Edit: I think that nostalgia makes it hard to agree that it's the best as well... hard to top Earthbound and Chrono Trigger releasing the same year (or other years like 1999, 2000 or 2006).
Barry Burton
Member
2004 was really top-heavy, with Half-Life 2, MGS3, Prime 2 and San Andreas. But my recollection was that there wasn't a whole lot outside of those few really good games that came out towards the end of the year. I don't consider it anywhere near on the same level as 1998, 2001 and others.
I think 2010 and 2011 are a bit underrated. A lot of great games both years, and a lot of variety to them.
Not at all, it's actually done almost nothing for me so far. 2015 on the other hand was the best ever for me: Bloodborne, The Witcher 3, Undertale, Rocket League, MGSV, Halo 5 Arena, Super Mario Maker, and more were all fantastic, some of which being my favorites ever.
2007 is close with Super Mario Galaxy, Halo 3, CoD4, Rock Band, Bioshock, Mass Effect, and God of War 2.
2007 is close with Super Mario Galaxy, Halo 3, CoD4, Rock Band, Bioshock, Mass Effect, and God of War 2.
Also in 1998
Tekken 3 (PS1 release)
Fallout 2
Spyro the Dragon
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
Pokémon Red and Blue (western release)
MediEvil
Final Fantasy Tactics
Gran Turismo
Thief
Mass Effect
Member
and
Metroid Prime 2
Burnout 3
Need for Speed Underground 2
MGS: Twin Snakes
KOTOR 2
World of Warcraft
Fable
Katamari Damacy
and a few others. Plus the DS launch (even though the launch games weren't great)
blasphemy!
bananafactory
Banned
It's better.
If Super Mario Odyssey is great (which I think it will be), I will have to agree.
I've never seen this before. At least not on GAF.
cyber_ninja
Member
Fixed it for you.
OT. This year is shaping up to be quite memorable, but it's not the best imo.
Mass Effect
Member
bet you no one was saying this in 2014.
And tbf, 2015 was looking like an exceptional year until some big games got delayed (Uncharted, Zelda) and others disappointed (Halo, The Order). Same thing happened with 2016 too. Both were still good years though. Better than 2014 anyway...
deriks
4-Time GIF/Meme God
It's almost like games are getting better every year...
I have to disagree with the OP's sentiment, but Injustice 2 has made this a very good year for me.
Feel better now?
Feel better now?
Colonel Mustard
Banned
Between big releases and smaller stuff, I've gotten more play time/enjoyment this year. If Odyssey is as good as it looks and Xenoblade 2 is as good as the original, then 2017 will probably be one of the best years in recent memory.
This year has been great for couch co-op/local multiplayer as well. My girlfriend and I (as well as friends we have over) have put a ton of time in to ARMs, Jackbox Party, Death Squared, Mario Kart, Overcooked, Flip Wars, Bomberman, etc. Games like this have become instant buys because of the play time they get. The ACA Neo Geo releases are a favorite for my brother and me, too. SHMUPs and beat em ups were our favorites as kids.
This year has been great for couch co-op/local multiplayer as well. My girlfriend and I (as well as friends we have over) have put a ton of time in to ARMs, Jackbox Party, Death Squared, Mario Kart, Overcooked, Flip Wars, Bomberman, etc. Games like this have become instant buys because of the play time they get. The ACA Neo Geo releases are a favorite for my brother and me, too. SHMUPs and beat em ups were our favorites as kids.
Megatron
Member
2016 was a dumpster fire. Thank god that year is over. One of the all time worst for gaming.
2017 is phenomenal.
2014 is unfairly hated on. Its much stronger than people think. It had to follow up a fantastic 2013, so maybe thats part of it.
Devilgunman
Member
Yup, not sure how many time yes have to emphasize this, 2017 is the greatest gaming year in history of gaming ever.
Absolutely! Granted a lot of it is because this year caters a ton to my interests in gaming. (Nintendo + Sony 1st party, classic platformer revivals, JRPGS) Two major games ended up disappointing me (Yooka Laylee and Marvel Infinite) but I don't even really care since there's so much great stuff to play.
Tyrant Rave
Banned
It's probably my favorite year of releases ever honestly. So many games that are up my alley, which is a huge change over some previous years. 2015 had me questioning if I was really still interested in video games long-term, and this year turned me around. I've been playing sequels for the most part, but they have all been so good and short in between. Even games you won't see on every websites' GOTY lists, like UNIST or Project Diva, have provided me with so much entertainment. Long-term support for my favorite online shooters, like Overwatch and Rainbow Six, has also been awesome.
Crazy to think there's still more coming too. I could have formed my GOTY list months ago with all the things I've played already. And there's still big games like Gundam VS, Mario Odyssey, and Wolfenstein 2 coming.
Crazy to think there's still more coming too. I could have formed my GOTY list months ago with all the things I've played already. And there's still big games like Gundam VS, Mario Odyssey, and Wolfenstein 2 coming.