2017 is shaping up to be one hell of a year as far as video games are concerned. If you’re a gamer looking to spend some extra cash, then you’ve certainly come to the right place, because below I’ve complied a list of 16 of the most downright awesome looking sci-fi and fantasy games hitting stores this year. Getting the list down to 16 wasn’t easy because there’s so much cool shit hitting stores before December, but I think you won’t be disappointed with my choices.
Just please don’t hold me accountable if you start to feel you wallet getting lighter after reading. It’s not my fault that video games are so much damn fun.
16. Conan Exiles
Most of you will probably already be well acquainted with Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian series, as both Marvel and Dark Horse have delivered some fantastic comics set in the unforgiving Hyborian Age.
If you want to spend a little extra time in the age undreamed of, then you can play an early build of the open world Conan Exiles from Norwegian developer Funcom on Steam Early Access before the release of the full game at a later date.
It has everything from giant monster battles to genital enlargement, so you really can’t go wrong with Conan Exiles.
15. For Honor
Ubisoft’s For Honor takes place in a Medieval fantasy world populated by samurai, knights and Vikings. Needless to say, they don’t exactly co-exist peacefully.
Featuring both a single-player campaign and extensive multiplayer options, For Honor has already accumulated tons of great reviews, so pick up a copy and unleash your inner savage.
14. Berserk and the Band of the Hawk
Kentaro Miura‘s dark fantasy manga Berserk follows a mercenary named Guts who has an insatiable appetite for bloodlust. Developed by Dynasty Warriors veterans Omega Force, the game adaptation Berserk and the Band of the Hawk features Guts going up against hoards of human enemies and monstrous creatures, resulting in extreme amounts of bloodshed.
This ultra-violent adventure arrive sin Japan last October and hits western shores on February 21, 2017.
13. Injustice 2
If you thought that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice didn’t have enough of the two flagship heroes duking it out, then I suggest you buy Injustice 2 when it arrives on May 16 so that you can have them punch each other to your heart’s content. In addition to Bats and Sups, the two on two fighting game will also include the full Justice League lineup, with Aquaman, the Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman also being playable.
But it’s not all able the heroes, with some of the already confirmed villains including Harley Quinn, Atrocitus, Gorilla Grodd, Brainiac and Deadshot.
Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon returns to direct, although seeing as Injustice 2 will be going to a T-rating, don’t expect to see Bane tearing out Blue Beetle’s spinal cord.
12. Super Mario Odyssey
Do I really have to say anything about this one? It’s the next main entry in the Super Mario franchise. I think it’s pretty damn obvious that it’s gonna be a masterpiece.
We don’t know too much about the plot of Odyssey so far, other than that it will once again feature Mario’s arch-nemesis Bowser being up to his old shenanigans, and that at least a section of the game will take place in a realistic-looking version of New York City (here it’s called New Donk City). Gameplay-wise, it’s gonna be less linear and more open ended than previous titles, so we look forward to exploring the big Apple as everyone’s favourite plumber when Super Mario Odyssey releases on the Switch towards the end of this year.
11. Halo Wars 2
It’s been just under eight years since the release of the original Halo Wars, so we’re long overdue a sequel dammit! At least we don’t have too long to wait, as Halo Wars 2 lands on Xbox one and PC on February 21.
The RTS will take place shortly after Halo 5 and will feature armies the armies of the United Nations Space Command going up against a new alien military force known as the Banished. The Creative Assembly, who are behind the development of the Total War series, assisted Halo veterans 343 Industries in the development of Halo Wars 2, so we should be in safe hands.
Over 65 million games have been sold in the Halo series, which has equated to more than $3.4 billion in revenue. With the brand being such a hot commodity for Microsoft, we probably don’t have too long to wait for the inevitable announcement of Halo 6.
10. Star Trek: Bridge Crew
Prepare to boldly do where no man has gone before when Star Trek: Bridge Crew enters out galaxy on May 30th. Set in the alternate reality established in the 2009 film (known as the ‘Kelvin Timeline’), it has you taking control of the U.S.S. Aegis as you scour unexplored regions of space in search for a new home planet for the now endangered Vulcan species.
Unlike most VR games, which can be completed in the time in takes to microwave a Hot Pocket, Red Storm Entertainment have promised that Bridge Crew will feature a full-length campaign in addition to generated missions. Sounds like Star Trek fans will have a reason to enter the Final Frontier once again.
9. Mass Effect: Andromeda
Star Trek: Bridge Crew isn’t the only awesome space exploration game we’re getting this year. Gamers can also look forward to Mass Effect: Andromeda on March 21. Set between the events of the second and third games in BioWare’s beloved sci-fi RPG series takes place in the uncharted Andromeda Galaxy, which is ripe with undiscovered planets and alien species.
The combat has been heavily redefined and will be faster and less static than the earlier games, and there will also be tons of side quests to embark on across the game’s gigantic open environments. Sounds like we’ll have good reason to immerse ourselves in the Andromeda Galaxy next month.
8. Sonic Mania/Project Sonic 2017
Aside from a couple of scattered exceptions, most Sonic the Hedgehog games released since Sega ceased manufacturing consoles and became a third-party developer back in 2001 have been nothing to write home about. So the blue hedgehog’s two upcoming outings should both be approached with cautious optimism.
First we have the 2D sidescroller Sonic Mania, which will serve as a throwback to Sonic’s early adventures back in the ‘90s. This will be followed a currently untitled 3D platformer which finds the spiky Erinaceinae and his friends taking on giant robot overlords in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi environment.
Both are currently set for release for this year, so we’ll just have to wait to see if these hit the heights of Sonic: Generations or the lows of Sonic 2006.
7. Friday the 13th: The Game
May Paramount burn in hell for cancelling their upcoming Friday the 13th film after Rings tanked at the box office. We may not be getting a new film anytime soon, but Jason Voorhees will soon be back in action in the new Friday the 13th game.
Developed by Gun Media and funded via Kickstarter, Friday the 13th: The Game has players taking control of either the hockey mask-clad killer as he stalks the pesky teenagers at Camp Crystal Lake in a brutal game of cat and mouse. You’ll also be able to play as the campers, with failing to escape the camp on time resulting in being on the receiving end of Jason’s machete.
Best of all,there will be classic skins of Jason as he appeared throughout his various incarnations, so whether you prefer the potato sack look of Part 3 or the full zombie version featured in Part 6, the choice is yours.
Jason will hunt will prey when Friday the 13th: The Game arrives in the fourth quarter of 2017.
6. South Park: The Fractured but Whole
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be offended, you’ll laugh some more. The sequel to South Park: The Stick of Truth sees the foul-mouthed children of the Colorado mountain town becoming superheroes and acting out their very own civil war after disagreements over how Cartman’s ideas for a planned film franchise.
If you’re easily offended, then you’d better avoid this like the plague, but if you’re in the mood for a foul-mouthed, vulgar adventure, then look for South Park: The Fractured but Whole in the next fiscal year.
5. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III
After THQ closed back in 2011, Games Workshop decided to lend the Warhammer license to anyone who pitched an interesting enough idea rather than to allow a single publisher to retain exclusive rights, which explains the huge influx of Warhammer games as of late.
And while this will inevitably mean that some of the recent games have been stinkers (Speed Freaks, anyone), we’ve also had some instant classics, with the likes of Total War: Warhammer and Space Hulk Deathwing being at the top of the list.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III looks like it will also be something that fans all adore. Developed by Relic Entertainment, who were behind he two previous installments, it will have armies of Space Marines, Orks and Elders duking it out to take possessions of a newly discovered weapon of catastrophic proportions.
As with most recent Warhammer video games, there’s also going to be a fair bit of gore, as you can see in the video below. After all, in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.
4. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
I’m kind of cheating with this one as it was released on PS4, Xbox One and PC last year, but as Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is hitting the Nintendo Switch later this year I felt that it deserved a mention.
Adapted from the third bestselling manga series of all time, Xenoverse 2 features no fewer than 68 playable characters who each come with their own powers and skill set. When you’re not pounding the heck out of your opponents, you’ll also be able to immerse yourself in the huge open world Conton City in addition to honing and upgrading your abilities.
The reviews for the game were nothing short of spectacular, so if you’re planning on picking up a Switch, this is definitely a worthy purchase.
3. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
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Disney’s acquisition of Marvel meant that most previous video games featuring characters from the house of Ideas were eventually de-listed an removed from sale. Thankfully though, they finally gave in and allowed Capcom not only to re-release Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, but also to develop a new entry in the classic fighting game series called Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.
The two on two brawler will once again feature beautiful cel-shaded visuals (it resembles the pages of a comic book), with the currently confirmed Marvel characters being Captain America, Captain Marvel and Iron Man. Although it’s pretty safe to say that we can expect to see the entire Avengers roster and probably a few X-Men when Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite arrives later this year.
2. Horizon Zero Dawn
You probably know Dutch developer Guerrilla Games for their incredible FPS series Killzone, although for their next title they’re ditching the linear first-person approach and going all out with a huge third-person open world.
Horizon Zero Dawn is set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monstrous giant robots. You play as Aloy, a young woman who will do anything to survive in thus harsh, monstrous world. And those giant robots sure don’t mess around, so you’ll need to have all you wits about you to even dream of making it out alive.
Horizon’s visuals and the size of its open world push the PS4’s hardware to its limits, as Sony clearly spared no expense with what they are hoping will be the first installment in a new AAA franchise. So if you want a sequel, you’d better be planning on buying the game when it arrives on 28 February 2017.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
After the complete and utter disaster of the Wii U, Nintendo really can’t afford another screwup. So it makes sense that they’re marketing the absolute shit out of the Switch (something they never did with the Wii U, as most people still think that it’s an add on for the original Wii instead of a new console), with one of the main games that they’re currently focusing on being The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which will be a launch title when the system hits stores on March 3, 2017.
The 78 million selling Zelda series has always been one of the most acclaimed video game franchises in existence, so it’s safe to assume that Breath of the Wild will be nothing short of a masterpiece. Not only will there be a greater focus on traditional RPG elements and full voice acting (a first for the franchise), but the game’s world will be the biggest of any Zelda yet, with so many things to see and so that real-life will have to take a backseat. But who needs reality when you can explore the land of Hyrule?
Are you looking forward to any of these video games? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments section below or send us a Tweet!