It's consistently the most popular game on the world's largest gaming platform (Steam). This is the central tension of 'Battlegrounds,' and it starts immediately.īut don't just take my word for it: The game is only available on PC thus far (it launches for Xbox One on December 12) and it's only got one map, but over 13 million people have bought it. Do you head out to another nearby building, hoping they aren't in the same one? Do you wait near a window, keeping an eye on the building they're in, waiting for them to leave? Do you take off running toward another nearby town, hoping for better supplies? But what about that other player? You've lost them, and they could have a killer weapon. Maybe your building has a good weapon, or maybe it has a police vest for protection. You both land around the same time, see each other, and head toward separate buildings. Let's say another player lands near you in a town. Here's how that might play out: When and where you choose to leap out is the first choice you'll make of many.

And everyone starts unarmed, by parachuting onto the island from a nightmarish plane. The twist is that it's a 1-vs-100 death match on a massive, deserted island. The game is essentially a mixed first- and third-person multiplayer shooter. It's basically 'The Hunger Games,' but without the obvious dystopian hero story. Never heard of it? The premise is simple: Parachute to a deserted island with 100 actual people, scavenge for weapons, and fight to the death. 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' - 'PUBG,' as it's known - is the most fun I've had with any game in 2017. Read our full review of 'Horizon Zero Dawn' right here.īluehole Studios via SideArms4Reason/YouTube And I didn't even mention the giant metal dinosaurs. 'Horizon Zero Dawn' is a magnificent accomplishment of a game that stands out among standouts. Perhaps most important, I actually cared about the main character, believed her motivations, and wanted her to succeed. I found myself endlessly curious about the surprisingly deep lore of the game's world, its people and religions, and the main character's story arc. While playing 'Horizon Zero Dawn,' that list expanded dramatically - outside of delighting in the graceful, smart gameplay systems that underlie the game's narrative focus, I often laughed out loud at Aloy's smart quips (she's the protagonist you see above).

While playing games, I often experience a small handful of emotions: frustration, accomplishment, fear. They'll still be talking about how gorgeous it is, how smart and funny its main character is, how it succeeded commercially in the shadow of a new Nintendo console and a new 'Legend of Zelda' game. In 10 years, people will still be talking about innovative things that 'Horizon Zero Dawn' does.

New video games 2017 october