GOTY 17 Countdown: Honourable Mentions

We're about to start revealing our games of the year in a countdown starting this week and running through until the end of the year. However, before we do that we'd like to recognise some of the great gaming experiences we've had in 2017 that perhaps didn't do quite enough or have the variety needed to force their way into contention for overall GOTY. After all, 2017 has been a fantastic year for gaming, with more 10s handed out on GR than ever before over the same period of time.

But now, without further ado and in no particular order, here are the games that the editorial team here at Gamereactor UK have enjoyed the most over the past twelve months that didn't make it onto the final game of the year shortlist...

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony - The third entry in the Danganronpa series took the existing Killing Game formula and made it even darker and twisted than ever, with plenty of surprises to keep players guessing. Dripped in a sleek new neon style and introducing even crazier characters, this game was definitely worth the wait for fans of the series.

Nioh - Souls-like is a cliched term these days, but Nioh took the challenging action-RPG style of From Software's game and made it their own with a whole load of tweaks and a unique historical Japanese setting. William's battle against demons and spirits was bolstered with post-launch DLC, and all in all, Nioh challenged us to bring our A-game each and every time we picked up the controller.

Nier: Automata - Platinum Games' Yoko Taro is known for his crazy ideas, and nowhere is this more apparent than Nier: Automata. It had us scratching our heads at times, but we'd also argue that that's part of the charm - we were always thrown off guard and surprised by what we encountered during the story, and it's an enjoyably unique action-RPG for that reason.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - When Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice released it turned heads, and rightly so, as Ninja Theory's immersive narrative explored mental health issues in a serious and respectful way via a tale of Senua's own suffering. With extensive research and the clever use of audio and visual effects, we saw into a mind affected by psychosis and witnessed a very moving tale unfold in the process.

Night in the Woods - It sounds ridiculous to say that a game where you play as a cartoon animal investigates very human issues, but that's exactly what Night in the Woods does. You explore themes of time and friendship as you return from college to your hometown, and that's without even mentioning the engaging characters and the mystery that lies in the woods.

Immortal Redneck - Games keep you hooked in a number of ways, but Immortal Redneck's hook relied on you entering the same pyramid, again and again, to defeat supernatural enemies and progress upwards, with every death improving your character just a little bit. It's funny, silly, but keeps you going with constant upgrades and that 'I can do a little better' mentality.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle - Eyes rolled when we found out our beloved Mario would be teaming up with Ubisoft's Rabbids, but critics were silenced when the game came out to immense praise. The Xcom style combat was both accessible and moreish at the same time, and the worlds it crafted were classic Nintendo - both of which made it a surprising success.

The Sexy Brutale - This time-looping murder mystery oozes style and thoughtful design, and we fell in love with some of the uniquely designed puzzles that challenge you with saving the lives of guests in a macabre casino. The Sexy Brutale might not be the longest game, but it certainly offers one of the most memorable experiences of anything we played in 2017.

Rising Storm 2: Vietnam - Building on the stellar work of its predecessor, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam mixed it with the more established names on the shooter scene. It's another fine effort that offered up intense and impactful gunfights. The only thing Antimatter needs to do now is add a layer of polish to its work and they'll truly be among the best in the business.

Golf Story - This charming little adventure game landed on the Nintendo Switch with very little fanfare, and it instantly warmed our cold, cold hearts thanks to its unconventional blend of golf and lite-RPG mechanics. There's lot to see and do as you explore this unique and heartfelt indie title, and it's a great fit on the small screen of Nintendo's new console too.

Project CARS 2 - Was there a better multi-discipline racer released this year? With Forza Motorsport 7 and GT Sport as its chief rivals, the odds were stacked against Slightly Mad, but the studio absolutely delivered, and this detailed and authentic feeling racer finds the perfect balance between simulation and accessibility. If you've got the rig for it, there's some stellar racing to be had on these particular roads.

Lawbreakers - It's a genuine shame that Lawbreakers flopped as hard as it did on release, because it's actually a refreshingly original shooter thanks to some interesting gravity-related mechanics. That's not all, though, as it also came with a bunch of varied classes and some well-crafted arenas, which all told made for a great shooter that somehow managed to miss the target with most people.

Old Man's Journey - This beautiful little mobile title takes the player on an emotional and reflective journey, along the way providing a gentle puzzle experience that has that special ability to challenge the player enough to make them think, but not so much that it breaks up the flow of the overall experience. Old Man's Journey is a truly charming indie, and it's the perfect game to enjoy on a lazy afternoon.

Has-Been Heroes - Some games take a while to warm up to, but having spent upwards of 50 hours on Frozenbyte's Has-Been Heroes in 2017 we have to conclude that it does most things right. The Finnish developer has also made a bunch of improvements making this a thoroughly enjoyable tactical roguelike that takes just the right amount of pride in hitting you where it hurts the most.

Thimbleweed Park - The weird little town of Thimbleweed Park is full of character and characters. It's the setting of Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick's triumphant return and if you're the least bit interested in quirky well-written adventure games you owe it to yourself to get acquainted with Ransome the Clown, Dolores the programmer, and the rest of the quirky gang.

Last Day of June - Ovosonico's Groundhog Day-inspired love story of Carl and June is as touching as video games come. It looks and feels different from any other video game you've played and its story will grip you through an effective narrative and an equally heartwarming soundtrack.

Rime - It's been a long road for Tequila Works with Rime, originally unveiled as a PS4 exclusive at Gamesocm 2013, and ironically originally greenlit (as a concept) by Microsoft. At the end of the day we were treated to a wonderful adventure about a boy, a fox, and an island. It's a journey of discovery that harkens to the work of Team Ico, and if that description sounds appealing, you should probably check it out at your earliest convenience.

Torment: Tides of Numenera - Planescape Torment is heralded as the definitive CRPG in some circles, and its spiritual successor Torment: Tides of Numenera succeeds in living up to most if not all of what its predecessor delivered. An incredible world, layers upon layers of advanced technology built on top of each other, a living God, choices and conversations the likes of which you won't find anywhere else. Torment is a delight.

Little Nightmares - The creepy adventure of Six snuck out last spring and offered an interesting and memorable puzzle-platformer experience where new mechanics kept getting introduced along with the increasingly disturbing inhabitants of the underwater dwelling known as The Maw. The dollhouse perspective and the atmosphere stand out as the best reasons to give this one a try, especially if you're a fan of the likes of Inside and Limbo.

Sonic Mania - Sonic Forces may have gone down the same path as many titles starring the blue hedgehog before it, but there was a bright shining star of hope this year as the love letter to 2D Sonic titles known as Sonic Mania launched to critical acclaim. Nostalgia aside it may actually be the best 2D Sonic ever made, which tells you everything you need to know really.

Call of Duty: WWII - This year's Call of Duty saw the series back on form this year, even if the game's launch wasn't as silky smooth as Sledgehammer would have liked. The return to boots-on-the-ground gameplay resonated with a lot players both ahead of launch and after it, and WWII stands out as one of the best COD games so far this console generation.

The Binding of Isaac - Isaac's arrival on Nintendo's new console isn't his debut by any stretch of the imagination, but the Afterbirth+ update that landed this year made an already good game into an excellent one. The range of gameplay possibilities open to you are vast, and the procedurally generated worlds will keep you on your toes in this delightfully grim top-down shooter.

Destiny 2 - It might have been a rocky road for Destiny 2 following its September release, but at launch we were all mighty impressed by what Bungie had achieved, and the out-the-box experience was very good indeed. Best of all was the multiplayer, with the Crucible once again offering some of the very best PvP action going. Controvery aside, nobody does FPS mechanics better than Bungie.

Xcom 2 - It was already an excellent game, and the War of the Chosen DLC only improved Xcom 2 earlier this year. Thanks to new story events, factions, and gameplay mechanics, this chunky expansion breathed new life into one of the very best turn-based titles, and if you're up for defending the planet from gruesome alien overlords, Firaxis has got you covered.

Injustice 2 - This list of honourable mentions needs a fighting game, and so the question is which one we were going to choose between Injustice 2 and Tekken 7, both of which absolutely delivered in 2017. In the end we opted for Injustice, largely because of the stellar work that NetherRealm did with the DC license, adding a new dimension to existing characters.

Prey - Another game that just missed out on greatness, and therefore a place in our final GOTY countdown, is Arkane's Prey. Don't get us wrong, it's a very good sci-fi adventure that drips with style and offers plenty of substance, it's just not quite the masterpiece we hoped it would be ahead of launch. It's still worth checking out, though, and like every game on this list, offers a unique and engaing experience that we're happy to recommend.