OPINION: It's been another huge year for gaming, with the release of the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One X proving big hits with the fans.
Although there were a number of major disappointments and concerning trends throughout 2017, there were also several ground-breaking, brilliant games released.
Newshub's Daniel Rutledge (DR) and Finn Hogan (FH) round up the best below.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
One of the greatest games this year didn't come from a big studio and isn't even a full game, but rather the work of a crafty modder. He's taken the concept of Kinji Fukasaku's Battle Royale and adapted it into an extraordinary multiplayer experience that has to be played to be believed. (DR)
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
One of gaming's most beloved and long-running franchises made a glorious return on the Nintendo Switch. This simultaneously spoke to the series' roots while reinvigorating Zelda with one of the most impressively immersive open-worlds in gaming's history. (FH)
Resident Evil 7
Virtual reality is upon us but VR titles are rarely great - this one is by far the greatest use of the medium yet. It's also a timely, successful reboot of a classic series and the best horror game of 2017, hands-down. (DR)
Nier: Automata
This unabashedly bizarre sequel to a cult classic follows an android warrior through a ruined world in the distant future. The story might leave some players scratching their heads, but the stylishly frantic combat, brilliant level design and haunting soundtrack made it one of the year's most memorable releases. (FH)
Friday the 13th
This game is a real mixed bag - it's multiplayer-only and in order to work well, it needs eight players playing properly and not behaving like dorks. That's uncommon, but when it happens, it is extremely enjoyable. As a big fan of the film series, too, this was like catnip for me. (DR)
Pyre
The latest from Supergiant Games maintains the indie studio's reputation for beautiful art design while once again raising their own impressively high bar for immersive narrative. This story of exiles trapped in a hand-drawn vision of the afterlife couples slick core gameplay with deeply developed characters, and will stay with you long after the credits roll. (FH)
Horizon Zero Dawn
Guerrilla Games made a huge gamble with this, jumping genres and betting big on a bold, brand new piece of intellectual property. It worked. It's a hugely ambitious triumph that delivers an exhilarating adventure in an amazing world, with the polish only AAA games can afford. (DR)
Observer
This brooding indie title casts the player as a form of dystopian policeman navigating a sci-fi world which feels like a hellish mash-up of Blade Runner and Inception. With gameplay revolving around entering the subconscious of suspects to find answers to a sprawling mystery, this is a game that breaks new creative ground both in storytelling and level design. (FH)
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
A worthy sequel to extraordinary reboot The New Order, this has a great narrative tied together with solid shooter thrills. It's also indescribable just how cathartic it is to viciously slaughter Nazis in 2017 - it's exactly what we need in this crazy new phase of reality we've entered. (DR)
HellBlade: Senua's Sacrifice
Ninja Theory's latest makes our list for its inventive yet empathic handling of a central character with mental illness. The game follows a female warrior as she navigates a bleakly beautiful vision of Norse mythology while struggling with psychosis. It's equal-parts thought-provoking and spectacular. (FH)
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Whatever you play over the summer, we hope you have fun doing it - and play nice.
Newshub.
