5 Game Worlds of 2017 You Need to Explore

2017 is soon coming to an end, and although there are many games that are yet to be released in the upcoming couple of months, there have been quite a number of amazing games already this past year. It’s been a big year for Nintendo especially, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey both being launched to world-wide critical acclaim.

There have also been a number of impressive game world concepts brought to life in 2017. Games like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and What Remains of Edith Finch are both characterized by an elaborate journey through dilapidated houses, the former just slightly scarier than the latter. But there are also other ambitious game worlds that deserve some of the spotlight.

The below are games which have sprawling game-worlds that span an entire city, island and levels. One of the choices, Castle Builder 2, is bizarrely an online slot game which spans several different lands and castles. Each of these games can be played on different platforms, and are diverse in gameplay.

Rime

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Developed by Tequila Works, you are a young boy washed ashore of a small island. You spend the game exploring and discovering the stretch of beautiful world around you. All you’re armed with is your own intelligence.

The player has to overcome a few puzzles and obstacles in other to keep proceeding in the game, and unlocking different areas of the island. The ultimate goal of the game is to reach the tower’s peak and find out what secrets lie hidden there.

Vampyr

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Picture the scene: it’s 1918, just after the end of the 19th century and before WW1. You’re in London, and the Spanish flu is everywhere. You’re also a freshly turned vampyr called Dr Jonathan Reid. The game has received praise for expertly blending fiction and fact in order to create the perfect setting.

Throughout the game, you must stalk the streets and many areas of London feeding on humans, while also trying to find a cure for your wretched curse and save all of the people of London.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Developed by Ubisoft, The Fractured But Whole is the much anticipated sequel to The Stick of Truth. Just like the iconic show and previous game, The Fractured But Whole is set in the fictional town of South Park, in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Once again, the player takes up the role of the ‘New Kid’, who also happens to have a super-powered butt.

Together with Cartman, Kenny, Kyle and Stan, you’ll navigate through the criminal side of South Park as part of the super-hero entourage ‘Coon and Friends’ (Coon is Cartman’s super-hero name). The player gets to fight different baddies and explore various areas of the beloved fictional town.

Castle Builder 2

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac, Android, Apple

Castle Builder 2 is a surprising entry from the online casino world. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to gamble to play.

In this slot game, you can play as one of three different characters. Each character has unique strengths that can help you navigate through the vast world of Castle Builder 2. Your job as a ‘castle builder’ is to collect different materials from the slot game, and help build a castle for the exotic land you’re exploring at the time. Finally, a prince and princess will come to live in the castle. The gameplay is obviously different from the normal video game, however the graphic and design quality of this game is no joke.

Cuphead

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One

Heavily inspired by the aesthetics of 1930s cartoons, Cuphead is largely a run and gun action game with a ton of boss battles thrown into the mix. You can play as either Cuphead or Mugman, in either single player or local cooperatives.

As you defeat bosses, you’ll traverse new worlds with different scenery and interactions, as well as acquire new weapons and skills. It’s been both lauded and criticized for its difficult gameplay, but it’s easy to forgive that when playing such a fun game.