The ten best games of 2017 (so far) that you haven’t played yet

At the halfway point through 2017, you don’t really need people to write articles about how they like Nier and Horizon Zero Dawn and Ghost Recon: Wildlands and that new Zelda game on the Nintendo Switch. Exactly no one will be surprised that we think some of these games are the bee’s knees. The more valuable public service is calling out the games you didn’t know about, but maybe you should. After all, you don’t want your 2017 games of the year list to look like an NPD sales chart, do you?

So for the next ten days, in no particular order, I’m going to tell you about ten different games that I think are the bee’s lesser known knees.

Let’s get started.

July 10: Caladrius Blaze
This is definitely the shmup for Anita Sarkeesian to use if she wants to make a video decrying the representation of women in Japanese bullet hells. Review here.

July 11: Dynasty Feud
The Starcraft of people running around punching each other. Review here.

July 12: Age of Rivals
… isn’t afraid to do things that you can only do in a videogame. Review here.

July 13: Sumer
Worker placement that features minor platforming. Very minor. Some mild jumping and thematic elements.
Review here.

July 14: Desync
Desync holds up cards when you clear a level. 8. 8. 9. 8. 6. What? 6? No way. Imma try that level again. Review here.

July 17: Cryptark
Cryptark doesn’t care about exploration. It cares more about your plan. Review here.

July 18: Domina
Lazy days in Ancient Rome while other people do all the fussing and fighting. Review here.

July 19: Stars in Shadow
When it’s all over, what you remember are the attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion and the c-beams glittering in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. Review here.

July 20: Hover
You have to feed a pet. Jet Set Radio totally would have had this if they’d thought of it. Review here.

July 21: Immortal Redneck
A dumb shooter smart enough to be a good rogue-like. Review here.