2017 video game releases

2017 has begun and I’m already prepared to weep in pain while looking at my bank account. This looks like it’ll be the year the PS4 really sets off with a fair few exclusives, while the launch of the Nintendo Switch promises a flurry of excellent releases. This is just the games I am most excited for – there are certainly plenty more. Let me know in the comments what you’re most looking forward to!

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard – 24th Jan (PC, PS4, XB1)

Regardless of what you may think of the available demos for Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, one things is for sure; this title sees a departure from the action-orientated previous two titles. For many fans of the series, that is a welcome departure. At worst, it should result in some good scares and at best, a return to survival horror superiority.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue – 24th Jan (PS4)

The staggering amount of Kingdom Hearts titles is confusing, to say the least. But for those who have managed to keep up, this one will be a must-play. As well as a HD remaster of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, this instalment includes two new pieces of content, Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage and a new cinematic, Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover.

Horizon Zero Dawn – 1st Mar (PS4)

The first intellectual property released by Guerrilla Games since 2004’s Killzone, Horizon Zero Dawn looks set to impress. This action RPG is set in a distant future, where giant robotic dinosaurs are plundered by a lone huntress. With a mixture of traps, weapons and stealth the gameplay looks varied and relatively complex. It might sound pretty ridiculous but the result looks astonishingly beautiful.

NieR: Automata – 10th Mar (PC, PS4)

Although loosely based on the NieR series, this reboot from PlatinumGames looks to be bringing a new sense of style and sophistication. The hack n’ slash action gameplay manages to be be dazzlingly fun, whilst also having a level of difficulty that feels rewarding. Oh, and did I forget to mention you play a white-haired combat android who faces off against robots on a post-apocalyptic Earth?

Mass Effect Andromeda – 23rd Mar (PC, PS4, XB1)

The successor to Mass Effect 3 jumps the timeline forward some 600 years, which makes it a nice entry point for those new to the series. Not a huge amount is known about the title, but the Mass Effect series has historically been widely praised. No doubt Andromeda will be no different.

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 & 2.5 Remix – March 28th (PS4)

This collection of six games brings nothing ‘new’, per se. What is does bring is everything you need to introduce yourself to the series on the PS4 in a neat little HD package. If you missed out on Kingdom Hearts back in 2002, this is your opportunity to get acquainted.

Persona 5 – 4th Apr (PS4)

The past decade has seen perhaps a drop in popularity for JRPGs. Persona 5 looks set to change that with its sensational sense of style. If you enjoy a story driven game and turn-based battle systems, the estimated 100 hours of gameplay you’ll get from Persona 5 will be more than worth your money.

Launches without release dates

• Nintendo Switch.
  Set to launch in March. Titles we’re likely to see on Nintendo’s next home console include Mario Kart, Splatoon and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
• FFXII: The Zodiac Age.
  This HD edition of FFXII is a golden opportunity to replay this classic title.
• The Last of Us: Part II.
  The Last of Us reached huge critical acclaim for a good reason. The second instalment is already highly anticipated by many.
• Detroit Become Human.
  If you enjoyed Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain or are a fan of choice-driven games this will be worth checking out. A 2017 release is looking increasingly unlikely, however.
• Shenmue III.
  Fans have been left on a cliffhanger since the ending of 2001’s Shenmue II. Pegged for a December release, a delay to 2018 is possible.