When a video game is fine enough, you’re going to play through it once and leave it on the shelf indefinitely. When video games are good, however, they’re going to remain good for years and years to come. These are going to be the games you revisit time after time, finding the same level of enjoyment in them as you did on day one.
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As time goes on, these games become clearer and clearer in your mind the more you reflect back on the games of years past. For example, take these top 10 games from 2017 that we’re still playing more than five years later.
From massive battle royale games and long-awaited sequels to top franchises and the first entries in the now-iconic video game series, these top 10 games from 2017 are ones that we can’t keep from thinking about constantly.
They’re the games we’re always itching to play, even with an endless stream of new and great games released before and after the year in question. Console to PC, Microsoft to Sony, handheld to mobile, these are our ten absolute favorite games from 2017 with replay value like no others.
2017 in Gaming
What a great year for games 2017 was. The year brought numerous titles that would go on to be played for years and years to come. There must have been something in the water across the board because publishers and developers all around the world were able to churn out some of the most popular and continually relevant games of the 21st century during 2017.
Even five years later, looking back at this particular year reveals way more of note than just these top 10 games from 2017 we can’t help but revisit again and again. With the release of the Nintendo Switch and the Xbox One X, 2017 revealed a vision of the future of gaming.
It was a vision that focused on a future of 4K and high frame rate gaming, a future of innovative game mechanics and storylines, and a future of online multiplayer unlike anything seen thus far. What’s more, video games became more popular than ever in this particular year, topping $116 billion in sales across physical and digital releases.
That’s a 10% increase over 2016 alone. Also worth noting is the fact that nearly 45% of that $116 billion was derived from mobile gaming. Of this mobile gaming subsection, free-to-play games soared to remarkable new heights in terms of total annual revenue.
Despite claiming to be playable without spending a cent, in-game purchases and other microtransactions from free-to-play games accounted for a sizable chunk of that reported $50.4 billion in 2017. Whether it be mobile or console games, computer or handheld games, the video game industry in 2017 had seemingly never been stronger.
The end result? These top 10 games from 2017 that we’re still playing today.
Top 10 Games from 2017 We’re Still Playing
Sequels, standalones, and the beginnings of entirely new franchises… this is what defines 2017 in gaming. Looking through these top 10 games from 2017 that we can’t help but continually replay, it’s no surprise that a majority of these games are still played on the daily by superfans today.
Let’s take a look at our ranking below. Did your most replayed games from 2017 end up making the cut?
10. Destiny 2
Given the sheer replayability of the first Destiny game, it’s no surprise that Destiny 2 would be considered just as replayable. Following the same basic premise as the first game — you and your fellow players are tasked with defending Earth’s last safe city from various alien species — Destiny 2 elevates everything that makes the first game so fun.
- From the makers of the acclaimed hit game Destiny, comes the much-anticipated sequelAn action shooter that takes you on an epic journey across the solar systemHumanity’s last safe city has fallen to an overwhelming invasion force, led by Ghaul, the imposing commander of the brutal Red LegionTo defeat the Red Legion and confront Ghaul, you must reunite humanity’s scattered heroes, stand together, and fight back to reclaim our home
With several expansions added since its 2017 release, and plenty of new and original content being made available throughout, Destiny 2 remains as replayable as it is because of Bungie’s dedication to making it that way.
9. Divinity: Original Sin II
Another sequel on the list already? Yes, another sequel; but Divinity: Original Sin II is not just a sequel. It’s a universally acclaimed smash success, taking everything that made the first game a standout in 2014 and propelling it into the stratosphere.
Divinity: Original Sin II is largely considered to be one of the best RPGs of the 21st century, and for a good reason. It’s insanely deep, filled to the brim with different choices and customizations for players to make, resulting in an entirely unique gaming experience with every replay.
8. Cuphead
As far as indie game success stories are concerned, Cuphead has to be one of the most deserving. Studio MDHR likely had no clue just how successful their game would become after its 2017 release, but one thing is certain: they had to have known just how fun it was to return to Cuphead again and again.
Relying on throwback visuals and run-and-gun mechanics with no real beginning or end to the story, Cuphead practically begs you to play again as soon as you’ve reached the end of each stage. It’s undoubtedly one of the top 10 games from 2017 that we replay over and over.
7. Horizon Zero Dawn
Even though Horizon Forbidden West just dropped in October of 2022, we’ve found ourselves taking the first game for a spin on more than one occasion. Horizon Zero Dawn has such an immersive open world, it’s hard not to be drawn back to it and explore it for hours.
- In an era where machines roam the land and mankind is no longer the dominant species, a young hunter named Aloy embarks on a journey to discover her destinyExplore a vibrant and lush world inhabited by mysterious mechanised creaturesEmbark on a compelling, emotional journey and unravel mysteries of tribal societies, ancient artefacts and technologies that will determine the fate of this planet and of life itselfFeatures horizon zero dawn and the frozen wilds expansion
Its visuals and combat both stick with you long after you’ve exited the game, leaving you itching to play not long after you’ve moved on to another game. Horizon Forbidden West is great, and will surely become just as replayable as its predecessor, but Horizon Zero Dawn is definitely the blueprint.
6. Super Mario Odyssey
Remember the sheer joy and wonder that came with playing Super Mario Galaxy for the first time on the Nintendo Wii? That’s what it feels like every time we return to play Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch.
- Mario embarks on a new journey through the unknown, running and jumping through huge 3D worlds in the first sandbox-style Mario game since Super Mario 64 and Super Mario SunshineJump out of the Mushroom Kingdom on a journey through mysterious places and new experiences whilst sailing between worlds aboard an airship;Number of Players: 2 players simultaneous; ESRB Content:…Find something interesting? Toss your cap at it and see what happens! There are lots of fun and surprising ways to interact with your surroundingsCompatible with the Nintendo Switch only
It’s not just one of the best Mario games or one of the best Switch titles, but it’s easily one of the best games to have come out of the 2010s (and maybe even the 21st century as a whole). It’s such a short game filled with so many rewarding Easter eggs that you can’t help but start it all over again from scratch every time you feel like taking a break from the heavy hitters.
5. Star Wars Battlefront II
A follow-up to 2015’s Star Wars Battlefront (itself a reboot of the Star Wars: Battlefront series from the mid-2000s), Star Wars Battlefront II takes everything that works well about Battlefront ’15 and amps it up to 11.
- A New Hero, a Story UntoldThe Ultimate Star Wars BattlegroundGalactic-Scale Space Combat
With the inclusion of a first-of-its-kind campaign mode that takes place between Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi and Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Battlefront II also delivers that addicting multiplayer mode that made the franchise such a success to begin with. It’s so fun to just play a round or two whenever you feel like diving back into the Star Wars universe.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Released for both the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch during that incredibly brief window when Nintendo had both consoles out at once, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be remembered for decades to come as the very pinnacle of Zelda games.
- Discover Hyrule as never before: by making your own path, choices, and consequencesIngenuity is the key to survival: find multiple solutions to tons of dynamic puzzlesSurprises hide around every corner: scavenge weapons, armor, plants, animals, and moreLive off the land: find weapons and armor, cook food, and brew elixirsUtilize special technology: the in-game Sheikah Slate controls, objects and enemies in fun ways
Even now, we find ourselves drawn back to it time and time again for its fantastic story, exciting boss battles, mind-bending puzzles, and its glorious open-world environment with a seemingly endless number of Easter eggs to uncover. It’s one of the top 10 games from 2017 that we’re still playing, and we don’t plan on quitting anytime soon.
3. Fortnite
If ever there was a game that needed no introduction, Fortnite would absolutely be it. It was initially conceived as a zombie survival game rather than a battle royale game, but Fortnite developer and publisher Epic Games soon realized this battle royale bonus mode was far more popular than the survival mode.
- HERO COMPLEX–Recruit and train commandos, ninjas, constructors, and outlanders to take on the monster horde. For the most dangerous missions, assign your best Hero Squads and take back Earth…DESIGN AND CONQUER – The revolutionary building system allows you to create extravagant forts while juggling frenetic combat. But build wisely. The monsters can smell design flaws like fresh meat.MASTER THE CRAFT – Use scavenged resources to craft ridiculous weapons. As you move your heroes up the skill tree, unlock schematics for even wilder weapons of DIY destruction.MAKE FRIENDS – With seamless drop-in, drop-out co-op play and procedurally generated maps, Fortnite is fun for shooters, builders, explorers, and ninjas alike.Battery: no battery used
Released in late 2017 before expanding far and wide in the years that followed, Fortnite is easily one of the top 10 games from 2017 that will continue to be replayed as long as it continues to be maintained and updated by Epic Games.
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Though Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U is massively replayable in its own right, this deluxe version released in 2017 — appropriately named Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — is the one that Switch players return to on repeat today.
- Hit the road with the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 and play anytime, anywhere. Race your friends or battle them in a revised battle mode for new and returning battle coursesPlay locally in up to 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode. Every track of the Wii U version, including DLC, makes a glorious returnPlus, the Inklings appear at all-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.Players can choose a new Smart Steering feature which makes driving and staying on the track easy for novice players and kids even at 200cc
Complete with more tracks, more games, better graphics, and all-around more improved gameplay, there are few other games more replayable than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Get your buddies over, pass around the controllers, or even face off in an online matchup.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the top 10 games from 2017 that people will be playing long after the Switch has been discontinued.
1. PUBG: Battlegrounds
As the number five best-selling video game of all time, it should come as no surprise that PUBG: Battlegrounds takes #1 in our list of the top 10 games from 2017 that we’re still playing today. It effectively set the stage for what a battle royale game could (and should) look like.
And even though Fortnite technically came first, PUBG: Battlegrounds has slight superiorities here and there that make it marginally better than this rival battle royale game. It’s easily our top pick, and with continual upgrades and new content coming out all the time, it’s well-deserving of the spot, too.
