Videos games have been part of the world for over 40 years, and each year billions are spent buying the latest games and consoles—some are classics that will live on in the memories of the players for years to come, while some miss the mark. So join me as I take a look at the best 5 games of 2017. 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Zelda games have always been an immersive world of becoming a hero, rescuing a princess and saving a kingdom from evil, but when Ocarina of Time was released on the N64 it brought the games to a whole new level.  Fast forward 19 years and Nintendo has once again brought us a Masterpiece in Breath of the Wild.

The game is the perfect blend of familiarity of the previous games and a fresh new approach for the new Nintendo Switch like weapon degradation which brings it a more realistic feel.  You can explore the kingdom of Hyrule while completing the story missions in a non-linear order. The game caters for all types of gamer with combat, side quests and over 120 puzzles to complete throughout the game.

It looks amazing and once you pick it up you wont be able to put it down for a very long time.  If you were contemplating purchasing a Nintedo Switch, this is the reason to do it.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

The Resident Evil franchise is a successful one but it had started to grow stale. The first three installments were brilliant and with Resident Evil 4 it changed the tone of the series to keep it fresh. But with 5 and 6 it became more focused on action, rather than the scares and suspense which made us fall in love with the game.

This is where Resident Evil 7 grabs us and reminds us why the franchise is successful.  Moving to first person view from the traditional third person and going back to the formula that made the originals successful was a masterstroke. Introducing us to the deranged Baker family, the game puts you in search of your missing wife as you take on the puzzles, challenges ad has you screaming in terror at the screen. The additional content you can purchase adds more to the story and feels worth the extra money you spent.  I haven't played it in VR yet but from friends of mine who have they say it adds a whole new dimension to the game.

Not only is Resident Evil 7 one of the best games of the year, but also one of the best horror games produced.

Call of Duty : World War II

I am going to be honest here, I am more of a Battlefield guy. COD always seemed to pale in comparison and I enjoyed the bigger battles in Battlefield. But with Call of Duty World War II it has certainly made me brave the twelve-year-old kids talking about my promiscuous mother and dive head first into the game.

The campaign is has a compelling story that leaves you invested in the characters, but as you would expect the online multiplayer is where it comes to life. It has new additions where you can take a breather (Headquarters) or for Battlefield fans like me you have War which lends a lot from Rush from Battlefield 1. 

War mode for me is the highlight as teams will disregard their kill/death ration in order to complete the objective. It brings a touch of Battlefield to the series with the grandness of scale and the realism and fast pace I felt that Call of Duty games lacked in the past. If Infinite Warfare made you question where the series was heading, Call of Duty WWII is the best response there could be.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Some games have stories that can suck you into the emotional wringer and spit you out crying and needing more, and with Horizon Zero Dawn you get this and more.

Set thousands of years after sentient robots wiped out organic life on earth, Horizon Zero Dawn places you in a re-emerging Earth that has been reclaimed by nature. But the robots still stalk the plains, and as the heroine Aloy you must overcome these (and other humans) to discover what actually happened all those years ago.

You will spend hours in photography mode taking pictures of the beautiful West Coast America vistas, and embrace everything you see while setting up trip wires and traps to help you on your quest. Not only is this one of the best games of 2017, but it is one of the most visually stunning of all time.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

When I finished Uncharted 4: A Thiefs End I was left feeling happy at the fact that Nathan and Elena Drake had finally settled down and were enjoying married life with their daughter—but part of me wanted more. After all, the Uncharted games are one of the best franchises in gaming history, and it is only natural to want to pick up your pad and go exploring again.

Step forward Uncharted: The Lost Legacy which gives us the the chance to further the games story with characters other than Nathan and Sully.  You take control of Chloe Frazer who we first met in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Nadine Ross from Uncharted 4: A Thiefs End and instantly you can feel the dynamic between them will make for a fun game. It still has the same puzzles, shooting, exploring dynamic of the originals, but it doesn't feel like a cash in which was my biggest fear, but a natural continuation of the franchise, and if you are new to the franchise you will enjoy this just as much as fans of the original.

Hopefully the future will bring us more of Nadine and Chloe's adventures, or even one from Sully and Nathan's brother Sam. But in the meantime, we can be more than satisfied that we have played this and it was awesome.

So those are the top five video games of 2017, but honourable mentions go to Mario Odyssey, Persona 5, Nier Automata, Assassins Creed Origins and Middle Earth: Shadow of War who all narrowly missed out on the list.

Do you agree with me, or am I totally wrong? Let me know in the comments and remember to like and share with your friends!