2017 was an influential year for video gaming, with pioneers in numerous genres and the release of an entirely new console, the Nintendo Switch. Despite the release date for one of the most anticipated games of the year, Red Dead Redemption 2, being pushed back, a number of high profile Triple-A titles were still released. Here are six of the best video games of 2017 by category, ending with the highest rated game of the entire year.

Platformer

The clear best platformer game of 2017 is Super Mario Odyssey. When it came out in late October, Super Mario Odyssey was released to some of the highest-rated reviews I have ever seen a game released to. Everywhere I see this game, there is nothing but praise and kind words.  With a 97% on Metacritic, a 10/10 on IGN, and a 9.75/10 from Game Informer, it is one of the highest rated games of the year, and not without reason. One of the most beloved games of all time is Super Mario 64, and Super Mario Odyssey takes that same formula (open-ended worlds with collectibles and individual goals) and expands on it. One of the most innovative aspects of this game is the introduction of Mario’s Hat, Cappy, that can take control of any number of other beings, from a Slab of Meat to a T-Rex, the possibilities are truly endless. Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch could possibly be the best game of the second half of the year, not just the best platformer, but I digress. Because it’s a top title from a large company, you can find Super Mario Odyssey for sixty dollars, but it is worth every penny.

Cuphead is a platformer game by Studio MDHR in the cartoon style of Walt Disney and Fleischer Studios, and it is a refreshing take on the genre. It’s closer in style to a run and gun game (like Contra) than a traditional Mario style platformer, but the graphics are crisp and a faithful homage to the hectic, energetic, vibrant cartoons it’s styled after. With challenging boss fights and rewarding gameplay as well as a stellar soundtrack, Cuphead is a must-have for any fans of the tried-and-true side scrolling platformer genre. Cuphead can be found on Xbox, and Windows PC for just twenty dollars.

First Person Shooter

Destiny 2 is the second game in Bungie’s critically-acclaimed Destiny franchise, and frankly one of the best games I’ve played all year. The game is colorful, the story original, and the gameplay is fun. This is a vast improvement over the first Destiny, which was hard to follow and somewhat repetitive. When Destiny 2 was released in September of this year, I had low expectations, but it blew me out of the water (maybe because of the low expectations) and honestly was one of the most fun first person shooters I’ve played in a long time, and I have played a lot of them. Pick from three classes, the Hunter, the Warlock, or the Titan to get your Light back and save numerous planets and countless inhabitants of those planets. The stakes are high in this story, and it definitely feels like it. The game is supported by a cast of great voice actors, a good community, and a solid development team behind it. As with most of the games here, it is a Triple-A title, so it will run you sixty dollars, but you can pick it up used or on sale for less, and it is definitely a deal to look out for on any platform.

Activision has been a titan in the game industry for years (they also published Destiny 2), and Call of Duty is possibly its biggest franchise. This game, developed by Sledgehammer Games and Raven Studios, takes a page from the older Call of Duty games by getting rid of the regenerating health aspect, as well as returning to the original World War II setting, as evidenced by the title. The story has an interesting hook, and the classic Nazi zombies mode has returned with an overly difficult and complicated story that fans are all too eager to complete. The combination of nostalgia, emotional storytelling, and difficult gameplay make for an experience that is hard to match with any of the other recent Call of Duty games. I would suggest buying it used or on sale (as I would with most first person shooters) or it will otherwise cost sixty dollars on any of the three major platforms.

Survival Horror

Resident Evil 7 biohazard is a faithful return to the roots of the franchise as a true survival horror game. This game was one of the best moves from Capcom in awhile, even better than the Marvel Vs Capcom series. From what I’ve played of the game, it absolutely terrified me. It takes notes from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with the cannibal family hook, but it doesn’t do so in an overdone or cliché way. Without getting too into it, Resident Evil 7 is a scary game that hits its mark completely, and gives you the chance to progress from a helpless victim to a fierce combatant with a fighting chance. The reviews paint the game in a very positive light, and with good reason, it’s one of the best games I played this year, and it came out in January. Resident Evil 7 biohazard is still sixty dollars, but it’s a steal for what you get out of it.

Open World

The Legend Of Zelda is one of the most popular game series of all time. I have innumerable fond memories of this franchise, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the most visually stunning games I’ve played in a long time. It’s not the most realistic looking game, but the variety of areas to explore is fantastic. From beautiful snowy mountains to a large barren desert, and even a rainy jungle, the graphics do not disappoint. The game is all one usually expects from a Zelda game and more. With a massive map and expansive story, the chance of ever getting bored of this game are slim. In March, when Breath of the Wild was released on Wii U and the Nintendo Switch, it was (and still is) one of the biggest reasons to buy Nintendo’s new console. It takes the usual puzzle solving and adventure elements of The Legend of Zelda, and combines it with hundreds of items. It’s still sixty dollars, but it’s probably the best use of sixty dollars I can think of without thinking too critically. A number of game review sites gave Breath od the Wild a perfect score, including GameSpot, IGN, Game Informer, and Gamesradar. This is truly a masterpiece of a game, and definitely my game of the year.

There you have it, six of the best games of 2017. If you’re looking for a good game to kill the time in, I highly recommend any of the above games for it. 2017 was truly a year to be remembered for the gaming industry, and for a number of big game franchises it was a time for revival and success. Hopefully next year can compare to the huge releases of this past year, because it was definitely a good year for games.