2017 is coming to a close, and it has been a hell of a year for us gamers! Now, This Guy, enigmatic social butterfly that he is, doesn’t always get a chance to hit each and every game on his wish list. But, he’s had ample time with his Xbox One, a brand that hasn’t (usually) let him down in 15 years. So, with so many great games on the shelves, disc and digital, This Guy wants you to know what’s really worth playing in the new year. So, here’s his Top 5 Xbox Games of 2017. . .

 

Honourable Mention: Resident Evil: Biohazard

This Guy never really got into the Resident Evil series. You’ve seen one global zombie outreak, you’ve seen them all. And standing still during combat in a shooter just didn’t sit right with him. The same cannot be aid with Biohazard, the 7th in the main chronology of the series. This game takes you deep into the swamps of Louisiana to the Baker residence. Not your average nuclear family, the Bakers have been infected with a powerful virus that has mutated them into horrifying creatures. You must explore the Baker property, save the girl, avoid the monsters, and try and figure out what the hell happened. It’s a genuinely scary FPS survival-horror that seems only tangentially connected to the rest of the RE series. But the scares and the thrills more than make up for it. And it’s gonna look even scarier when it’s enhanced for the Xbox One X.

 

5. South Park: The Fractured But Whole

The Stick Of Truth surprised fans and detractors alike when it hit the scene a couple years ago. The story of a new kid and his magical butt hole captured hearts around the world. In The Fractured But Whole (Ha!) the boys cast aside their robes and wizard hats for spandex and power tools. It’s time to play super heroes! FBW takes all the great RPG elements of SoT and dials them up to 11, now with new classes to choose from, and multiple choices for gender, race, and sexuality, the game is obviously having a lot of fun, but as a side effect also gets to be a lot more inclusive. A lot of great show material was saved for the sequel, and the greatest thing about a games based on a show like South Park is that it can look exactly like the show. The combat has also taken on a tactical squad system, which is actually one of the unexpected highlights.

 

4. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Xbox games with Nazis aren’t hard to come by. But when Wolfenstein was resurrected in 2014 it set a new benchmark for the genre. Great visuals, an all new timeline for the story, and just nonstop Nazi-killing action. It’s fun for the whole family. The New Colossus builds on all of that with terrific new characters, and just smooth, smooth, smooth gun play. Not to mention a great message: Nazis suck. Like so many other great Xbox games, New Colossus has been enhanced for the One X with a 4k patch. If you thought those SS uniforms looked snazzy before, you’re in for a treat.

 

3. Middle-Earth: Shadow of War

Shadow Of War takes all the promise of Shadow Of Mordor, and its tremendous “Nemesis System” and delivers a brand new experience, with even more in depth orc politics, and an awesome siege battle setup. Yes, the sieges do get a tad repetitive toward the end (when you’re forced to complete a ridiculous number in a row), but if you can get past that, everything that leads up to it is just tremendous. The combat and is solid and fun, in the vein of the Arkham games, and the story gives a fresh take on a few of Tolkien’s less explored characters. Overall, a fantastic addition to the growing list of must-play Xbox games.

 

2. Cuphead

Yes, this IS the only actual exclusive on the list, and yes, that is unfortunate. Xbox games that are truly “Xbox games” are few and far between this year. But, Cuphead just can’t be beat when it comes to hugely anticipated games that deliver in spades. Take on the role of Cuphead (and his pal Mugman), two buddies who run afoul of the Devil in his casino, and find themselves tasked with delivering a list of souls to save their own. What follows is an onslaught of boss battles that would make the Dark Souls devs weep. For the record, This Guy died 407 times throughout his playthrough (the big pool said s0). ut every single death was worth it just to experience the sheer euphoria of seeing that final achievement unlock. Now to go back and do it on hard. . .

 

1. Prey

This might not be everyone’s pick this year, but Prey just ticked all the right boxes for This Guy. Solid FPS action? Yep. A creepy open-world setting in space? Yep. Surreal, mind-bending narrative that hooks you from the start? Yep? Numerous powers, including the ability to turn into a cup of coffee? Yep, yep, yep! It’s equal parts Bioshock, Alien Isolation, with a light peppering of Dishonored 2. Ultimately, when it came time to sit down and try it out, This Guy’s other Xbox games went on the shelf for a long time, while every moment of Prey was enjoyed to the max.