Here we are on the third day of GameRevolution’s Game of the Year 2017 week. Today is dedicated solely to PlayStation 4 and all of the goodies that we got this year on the generation’s best-selling console. PS4 had arguably its greatest year on the market, releasing numerous GOTY-contender exclusives and AAA releases.
This list was painful to make, as there were so many great games that were just as deserving of a spot. However, our staff got together and was able to find a way to agree on what we believe are definitively the top 10 PS4 games for this year. Without further ado, here is our list including our PS4 GOTY 2017 winner.
10. Call of Duty WW2 (GR Review)
Sledgehammer Games brought us back to COD’s World War II roots with Call of Duty WW2 on PS4. It has everything that a COD fan could ask for and more. For those that prefer singleplayer, there is a gripping, personal narrative waiting for you in the campaign. If you have an itch to play multiplayer, its online component is one of its strongest and most brutal around.
As for Nazi Zombies, let’s just say there’s plenty there to keep you busy, as it is easily one of the most challenging and Easter egg-filled modes in the entire COD series. Call of Duty WW2 is a welcome return for the series, giving us hope for the franchise’s future.
9. Danganronpa V3 (GR Review)
The story in Danganronpa V3 is positively riveting and will have you still thinking about it many months later. 16 special high school students forced to participate in a killing game is a great premise on its own, enhanced even further by the best cast of characters we’ve seen yet.
Each person will have you rooting for them not to die and feeling waves of emotion when some of them inevitably do. It is a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy, while still remaining a perfect place for newcomers to start. Oh, and did we mention it’s also on Vita?
8. Nioh (GR Review)
This hack-and-slash PS4 exclusive title from the team that made Ninja Gaiden takes the tried-and-true Dark Souls formula and applies it to 17th century feudal Japan. In it, you play the Western samurai William Adams. Nioh is not for the faint of heart, as its difficulty rivals anything that From Software has done with the Dark Souls series.
Nioh will have you cursing the (countless) game over’s, then jumping for joy over a successful win against a seemingly impossible boss; all the while, knowing that it’s all because of your own efforts and resolve. It is an addictive formula, made even better by its co-op.
7. Horizon Zero Dawn (GR Review)
There’s a lot we could say about Horizon Zero Dawn. While there have been many fantastic games this year, almost all of them are from a familiar series. Not Horizon, though. Guerrilla Games has created one of the most memorable PS4 exclusives ever, taking us to a mysterious post-apocalyptic world.
Horizon’s star Aloy is a fascinating new face for the PlayStation brand. Her tale of finding her place in a harsh, varied open-world filled with strange mechanical beasts is unforgettable. There’s no doubt that Sony has found itself a new marquee franchise to stand confidently alongside the likes of Uncharted and The Last of Us.
6. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (GR Review)
MachineGames has essentially created a blockbuster movie in Wolfenstein 2. Expanding upon the foundation of The New Order, Wolfenstein 2 brings us to a Nazi-controlled America where we must unite in resistance against their evil fascist ways.
The gameplay is tight, the visuals are crisp, and killing Nazis has never been more fun with the near-endless ways to do it. The story is dark and gory, but still finds ways to inject some much-needed humor into the mix. Wolfenstein 2 is a true testament to the future of singleplayer shooters.
5. Resident Evil 7 (GR Review)
After seeing the backlash from 5 and 6 and the rise of indie survival horror games like Amnesia, Capcom took Resident Evil 7 back to its roots. Resident Evil 7 is a more traditional horror game like the first few games in the series, while still trying something entirely new with the first-person viewpoint.
It all paid off, creating a genuinely terrifying experience based in a spooky, backwater Louisiana setting. There is a constant sense of dread and cinematic feel when playing it, made even more frightening in virtual reality. Yes, for better or for worse, Resident Evil 7’s story of Ethan searching for his missing wife is boldly playable from start to finish in VR.
4. Destiny 2 (GR Review)
Destiny 2 faced a much stronger launch than its predecessor, improving in every way that fans had hoped for. It has a real story this time around with impressive singleplayer missions reminiscent of Bungie’s Halo days , and characters like Cayde-6 that are actually worth caring about.
Not held back by catering to two different generations of consoles, Destiny 2 is also absolutely stunning to look at on PS4. The locations you visit are varied, filled with tons of exciting PvE and PvP stuff to do before and after you reach the max level. Bungie has already laid out a detailed plan for the future of Destiny 2, so it’s only just getting started.
3. Yakuza 0
After two years of waiting, Sega finally brought Yakuza 0 to the West on PS4. It was well worth the wait, telling a wonderful story about the Yakuza – the Japanese mafia – set in 1988 Tokyo. This tale of two different protagonists – Kiryu and Majima – will have you second-guessing and shocked at all of the twists and turns.
The real star of Yakuza 0, however, is its city. Tokyo is large and full of various areas for you to explore, keeping you busy with tons of collectibles to find and well-written side quests to complete. Being that it’s a prequel to the main series that’s still pumping out new games on PS4, Yakuza 0 is also a great place for newcomers to start.
2. NieR: Automata (GR Review)
Not many – including me – expected to get a sequel to Nier, but Automata was one of the best surprises on PS4 this year. Nier Automata is a true video game gem, telling a gripping story held together by its two powerful leads: 2B and 9S. In fact, Nier Automata plays you more than you play it, toying with your emotions and leaving you pondering on life’s deepest questions by the time the credit rolls.
But when you do actually play, it is a whirlwind of excitement. Automata is a challenging game that never holds back and always keeps you on your toes. One minute, you might be hack-and-slashing your way through waves of robots; the next, you could be in your mech suit doing a frenetic shoot-em-up boss fight. It is a PS4 exclusive that’s absolutely worth your time.
PS4 Game of the Year 2017: Persona 5 (GR Review)
GameRevolution’s PS4 Game of the Year 2017 goes to Persona 5. Take an eclectic cast of emotional high school students, a story that alone can take 100 hours to complete, rich turn-based gameplay, and you have the near-masterpiece JRPG that is Persona 5. Unlike other games, there’s always something to do no matter what mood you’re in.
When you aren’t grinding through dungeons using the finest turn-based system in any game ever, you can waltz around Tokyo and explore iconic real-world locations like Shibuya. You can take on a part-time job working at a convenience store or increase skills like knowledge and charm.
Then, you can use that knowledge and charm to rise to the top of your class or woo your favorite waifu. What’s crazy is that the game makes all of these features an absolute joy to do. No PS4 owner should miss this must-play exclusive. Persona 5 is not only our PS4 Game of the Year 2017 winner, but one of the best JRPG’s to ever exist.
