David Morgan — Staff Writer
Hollow Knight
If Cuphead had missed the 2017 window I have full confidence Hollow Knight would be the beautiful hand-drawn game everyone would’ve been raving about this year. The controls and mechanics are spot-on, the map is one of the biggest I’ve seen in a 2D game (and most fun to explore), and the worldbuilding makes the whole thing feel like a perfectly self-contained universe. It’s like A Bug’s Life meets Castlevania. If you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, Hollow Knight is easily one of the best ever made. Period.
Sonic Mania
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. That’s why, as someone who has never played a classic Sonic the Hedgehog game in its entirety (or even majority), I’m here to tell you that Sonic Mania is a fantastic game without it. It’s so satisfying to pick up, to see and hear again and again, that it’s easily one of my most revisited titles this year. Top-notch level design makes it easier than ever to zip through levels and not see them all. I’m still finding nooks and crannies I missed, which is why Sonic Mania will be in my rotation for the foreseeable future.
Nex Machina
This year Housemarque tragically announced a departure from the arcade twin stick shooters they are so well known for. If you didn’t buy Nex Machina, I’m holding you directly accountable for this news. It’s one of the most stylish, satisfying, crazy (not with a k, but almost) games to release this year, and reminded me why gameplay will always be king. There’s no fluff, no story, just arcade shooter action. This synth-pounding, voxel-spraying title should’ve been a must own for almost everyone, which is why it’s so much sadder that we won’t see another like it from the studio.