Best action-adventure games of 2017: Open world, tight gameplay

Action-adventure. We love action-adventure, and not just become we can lump in there any game we can’t really define.

It’s because we love action, and we love adventure, but it’s always the best when the two come together. Ah, it kinda rhymes.

We had some amazing games this year. We saw the triumphant return of some fan-favorite series, as well as imaginative, original IPs that simply blew us away.

Even so, we had a hard time nailing down this final list. There were tears, yelling and quite a few last-minute changes, but I think the following games represent the very best of both action and adventure.

Here are our picks for the best action-adventure games of 2017:

Horizon Zero Dawn

Developer: Guerrilla Games

Publisher: Sony

Platforms: PlayStation 4

What can I say about Horizon Zero Dawn except for “Holy %^$@, this game is awesome!”

When it was just announced, I was somewhat skeptic about it. It looked fine and all, and it seems kind of shallow. But once I started playing, I discovered a rich world I just wanted to keep exploring, and a story so interesting and intricate I still think about it months later.

Let’s not forget the giant robo-dinosaurs. Facing off against a Thunderjaw or a Stormbird is an experience that sticks with you, and the way the game lets you experiment at how to efficiently take down each different machine is pure joy.

Oh, and I absolutely love every animation in this game. I spend long minutes running through the snow in The Frozen Wilds DLC just to appreciate Aloy’s new “running in snow” animation. Basically, I like everything about Horizon Zero Dawn, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Guy Yuval, Senior Editor

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Publisher: Ubisoft

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Assassin’s Creed Origins isn’t on this list because it’s an exceptionally good game. It’s here because it’s an exceptionally good Assassin’s Creed game, and I thought that was worth noting.

The AC series has been on a downward spiral ever since Assassin’s Creed 3, and the fact Origins turned out as good as it did, is quite a feat. True, I had plenty of not-so-good things to say about Assassin’s Creed Origins in my review, but when it comes right down to it, I enjoyed playing it.

Heck, it’s the first Assassin’s Creed game I actually wanted to go back and play after finishing the main story. Since Assassin’s Creed 2, anyway.

Bayek is a great protagonist and his story is both touching and exciting.

The combat is fun, climbing on things is fun, and as long as you don’t have to travel through an empty desert, Ancient Egypt is an interesting setting.

Thanks to Assassin’s Creed Origins, I’ll be back to play the next game in the series, and I was ready to give up on it completely.

Guy Yuval, Senior Editor

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Developer: Monolith

Publisher: Warner Bros.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a great sequel to a great game. It got the wrong kind of attention when it came out, thanks to the ever-popular loot boxes, so I had my doubt it will be as good as its predecessor. Boy, was I happy to be proven wrong…

Shadow of War took the winning formula of great combat, fun exploration, and unique encounters, and improved it in almost every aspect. Middle-earth has never been this vivid and alive, and the whole thing is just oozing with action.

Sure, there are some drawbacks and the game does require some grinding towards the end, but the outstanding nemesis system, the cool setting, and smooth action more than compensate for that.

If you love action games and enjoyed Shadow of Mordor, this sequel is defining one of the best games to play in 2017.

Tomer Rubinstein. New Editor

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Developer: Naughty Dog

Publisher: Sony

Platforms: PlayStation 4

It might be a bit of an exaggeration, but Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is my favorite game in the Uncharted series so far. Before you start booing and throwing things, just hear me out.

Uncharted 4 was one of the best games of 2016, and with good reason – it is an amazing game. But The Lost Legacy takes everything that was already mindblowing in A Thief’s End and adds tons of meaningful character interaction and slightly more open environments.

I loved every bit of dialog between Chloe and Nadine, from the cheerful banter to the yelling and death threats. Opening some of the environment was definitely a smart move since now you can move forward at your own pace, while still enjoying the series iconic cinematic feel.

Beyond that, The Lost Legacy looks and sounds amazing, and the gameplay is full of the same tight and fast-paced action we’ve come to know from the series.

The Lost Legacy is Uncharted at it’s best, and I hope this wasn’t the last we’ve seen of the dynamic duo that is Chloe and Nadine.

Guy Yuval, Senior Editor

Yakuza 0

Developer: Sega

Publisher: Sega

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3

I’ve wanted to play the Yakuza series ever since I was young, so naturally, I jumped on the opportunity to play Yakuza 0 when it came out in the west. Not only because it was the first Yakuza game on the PS4, but because it’s a prequel, and I could play it without playing the other games first.

And I’m glad I did since Yakuza 0 quickly turned out to be the best game I’ve played. Yes – the best.

Yakuza 0 is an amazing action game that combines martial arts with street fighting. You can use items around you as weapons, various weapons as weapons, and even your enemies as weapons.

It has a suspenseful story, with intricate characters and often chilling dialogue. But the thing I love most about it is the direction. The camera work during cutscenes, the subtle facial expressions and hand gestures that tell so much about how a character is feeling, and more.

Kazuki Hosokawa is a master at making a big game out of the smallest of details. That’s why Yakuza 0 is my best game of 2017.

Avi Kaisermann