The best AAA games to look out for in 2017

2016 has been a bit of a gloomy year all round, especially for AAA games. The shimmering exception to this has been Blizzard’s sleeper-hit multiplayer shooter Overwatch.

The initial promise of many new games seemed to fizzle out upon release, being unable to live up to the hype or indeed the better games that had preceded them. Yet there is a glimmer of hope for next year. The games due for release in 2017 shine like a beacon through the darkness of the winter months, with the potential to make next year a standout one for games.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

The sequel to one of the most-loved gaming series ever created, Mass Effect: Andromeda expands on the universe explored by Commander Shepard. Here we move on to a new galaxy, Andromeda, with new characters, a new ship, and new threats to face. Players will assume the role of either a male or female Commander Ryder.

Unlike previous Mass Effects, where players could play as either a male or female Shepard, both Commander Ryders will appear side-by-side in the game as brother and sister. The teaser trailers and gameplay leaks have been nothing short of astonishing, with 4K footage showcasing a new ship, the Tempest. Bioware has confirmed the return of dialogue wheels, and the first game’s Mako buggy is available to explore the hundreds of new planets you’ll discover. Even though the game is not due out until March 2017, players can sign up for the Andromeda Initiative now, and unlock exclusive content for the game.

Nier: Automata

2010’s cult title Nier was never released on PC, but Square Enix is bringing this sequel/reboot to the platform in February 2017. The action/RPG starts when an army of machines takes over the Earth, forcing humans to flee to the Moon. Players control an android member of the resistance, tasked with reclaiming the planet. With a manga art style, and gorgeous, post-apocalyptic open worlds to explore, this passion project should have a broad appeal to gamers. Platinum Games is helping with the development, so expect fast and furious fighting with a mix of melee weapons and guns to help defeat the giant robots roaming the land.

Resident Evil VII

A sequel among sequels that needs no introduction, Capcom nearly killed the Resident Evil series off with the last entry and a series of related spin-offs. The developer has gone back to the game’s horror roots, reinventing the game from the ground up. The major change is the switch in perspective from third-person to first-person to add an extra layer of juicy creepiness to the gameplay, splattering the camera with blood for added effect. If you cannot wait until Jan 2017 to scare yourself senseless, Capcom has released a demo, the Beginning Hour, which you can play now.

All of these AAA games feature amazing graphics, and will require a high-end spec machine to run without compromise. Although system requirements are not yet available, current high-end gaming machines such as an ROG GX800 or ROG G701 will eliminate any doubt. By the time these games are released, be on the lookout for the upcoming small form desktop behemoth, ROG G31 Edition 10 is more than capable of running them at their highest settings. With two NVIDIA GTX 1080s in SLI powering the upcoming 240Hz ROG Swift PG258Q, these games of the future will look how they were meant to be played.

Showcased at COMPUTEX 2016

 

By Andrew Rainnie