Games of the Decade - 2017

Originally created by Naughty Dog in the nineties, Crash Bandicoot's trilogy was recreated by Vicarious Visions in a spectacular way that brought the series back to life with beautiful upgraded visuals and the near-exact recreation of the mechanics of the original games. Whether you get pulled in by the nostalgia or the fun gameplay, it looks like Crash is back and is here to stay!

Some people may say that the mechanics have dated but we at Aijou absolutely love the franchise and were more than happy to see it flourish once again. We are looking forward to see what the next title in the franchise will be.

Classic RPGs were a dying breed until Larian Studios brought us Divinity: Original Sin. Fast forward to the sequel, which was also a Kickstarter backed game, Original Sin II improved upon the core mechanics of the game in every single way that it's a new experience all- in of itself.

If you have yet to play a Divinity: Original Sin game yet, then when you do you'll quickly learn the art of trials, conviction, actions and consequences. No playthrough is the same and its this core dynamic gameplay that makes the Original Sin series special.

Even though Horizon: Zero Dawn may not have brought any new gameplay elements to the table, it took existing ones and put them together in such a way that it makes for a thrilling game. Exploring the world as Aloy, you journey through the land to uncover your past while battling Machines and other enemies, helping others and learning more about how to control Machines. 

With the upcoming PC release, we here at Aijou are definitely looking forward to another run through the gorgeous post-apocalyptic world and most importantly, getting that incredibly satisfying feeling when you take down one of those big Machines.

Being an action-packed game, NieR: Automata follows 2B, 9S and A2 as they fight to claim back their territory that has been overrun by powerful machines.

It is a beautiful game that puts an emphasis on mankind's path to destruction interpreted by your very own hands in a world of androids. With a strong narrative, frantic action, lots of RPG elements, plot twists throughout, multiple endings and inventive bosses, NieR: Automata was, without doubt, a complete game that everyone can enjoy from start to finish.

Northgard is part of that group of games, which will lure you in with your curiosity, only to get you hooked for hours on end. As a strategy game, it allows you to build up your settlement and going into battle with other clans. You can achieve map victories using various conditions but... Do not forget to keep your clan happy!

The difficulty might be a bit of a pain at first when you start getting into it, but once you start getting a hang of it, Northgard is a fantastic strategy game that can be played alone, with friends, or against friends. Oh and... Here is a future reminder: your clan wants better houses.

There are so many racing sims these days that it's hard to choose which game to get into. While it was a toss-up between this and Asetto Corsa, Project CARS 2 is considerably easier to access as well as incorporates more vehicles and tracks. The tyre model and weather system have been greatly improved from the original plus the AI has also been improved - but it's still not perfect.

Having said that, the online play is quite remarkable and the ranking system is finally one to take seriously. With Codemasters now the owners of Slightly Mad Studios, Project CARS 3 is boasted to b

Even though Sniper Elite 3 felt a bit disappointing after a very welcome back with the second title in the franchise, Sniper Elite 4 turned out to be a vast improvement, making it feel even more like an open world, giving players the freedom to choose their own path, whether they want to take things slow and stealthily or go loud and proud into battle with their sniper rifles.

The strategic element that Sniper Elite 4 brought forth by having a big open map with goals that need to be completed, only added to the immersion that you are a soldier fighting the Nazi army, bringing their doom slowly closer by picking their army apart one by one. And let's be honest... Who doesn't enjoy shooting Nazis with a sniper rifle?