2017 Game of the Year: A Look Back at the Year"s Best Gaming Achievements

The Game of the Year award in 2017 was won by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The year 2017 was marked by significant achievements in the gaming industry, with the release of the Nintendo Switch console, which not only provided a new platform for gaming but also became the home for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, contributing to its success.

The achievements of 2017 set a high standard for future games and demonstrated the potential for innovation and excellence in the video game industry.

The year 2017 was a landmark year for video games, marked by the release of innovative titles and groundbreaking technologies that would shape the industry\"s future. It was a year that saw the advent of the Nintendo Switch, a console that blurred the lines between home and portable gaming, offering a unique and versatile gaming experience. This period also celebrated the release of numerous high-quality games across various platforms, highlighting the industry\"s creative diversity.

Among the standout titles, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild emerged as a masterpiece of game design, reinventing open-world gameplay with its vast, explorable landscape and pioneering mechanics. Its critical and commercial success underscored the game\"s impact, earning it numerous Game of the Year awards. Similarly, titles like Horizon Zero Dawn and Super Mario Odyssey pushed the boundaries of their respective genres, offering players rich narratives, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay.

The year also witnessed significant advancements in virtual reality (VR), with developers exploring new ways to immerse players in digital worlds. From indie gems to blockbuster hits, 2017 offered a plethora of games that catered to every type of gamer, setting a high standard for creativity and innovation in the industry.

2017\"s gaming landscape was further enriched by the competitive scene, with esports continuing to grow in popularity and scale, drawing millions of viewers worldwide. This year solidified gaming\"s status not just as a popular hobby but as a legitimate and lucrative sphere of entertainment.

In reflection, 2017 was a year of triumphs for the gaming industry, characterized by a blend of technological innovation, artistic expression, and community engagement. It set the stage for future developments and left an indelible mark on gamers\" hearts, proving to be a pivotal year in gaming history.

In 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild not only captivated the hearts of gamers around the globe but also clinched the prestigious Game of the Year award, solidifying its place in gaming history. Developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U, this action-adventure masterpiece set a new standard for open-world game design.

The game\"s narrative centers around Link, who awakens from a long slumber to defeat Calamity Ganon and save Princess Zelda, all set within the expansive and breathtaking landscape of Hyrule. Breath of the Wild was acclaimed for its freedom of exploration, allowing players to venture through its vast world in any way they chose, from climbing mountains to paragliding across the sky.

Its innovative gameplay mechanics, such as dynamic weather effects, a wide array of weapons and items, and the intricate physics engine, offered a level of interactivity and realism previously unseen. The game encouraged experimentation and curiosity, with puzzles and challenges that could be solved in multiple ways depending on the player\"s creativity.

Alongside its critical success, Breath of the Wild received numerous awards and accolades, including Best Action/Adventure Game and Best Direction at The Game Awards 2017. It was not just the game\"s technical achievements that were celebrated but also its artistic direction, with its visually stunning landscapes and captivating soundtrack, which contributed to an immersive gaming experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has left an indelible mark on the gaming industry, influencing numerous game developers and titles that followed. Its legacy is a testament to Nintendo\"s innovation and the enduring appeal of the Zelda series, continuing to inspire and enchant players with its magical world.

The 2017 Game Awards showcased a vibrant selection of titles across various categories, highlighting the year\"s best in gaming. Notable games competed for the top honor of Game of the Year, including Horizon Zero Dawn by Guerrilla Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment, Persona 5 by Atlus, PlayerUnknown\"s Battlegrounds by PUBG Corp., and Super Mario Odyssey by Nintendo EPD/Nintendo, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ultimately claiming the prize.

Other categories featured a wide array of genres and games. Best Narrative nominees included Hellblade: Senua\"s Sacrifice by Ninja Theory, Horizon Zero Dawn, NieR: Automata by Platinum Games/Square Enix, What Remains of Edith Finch by Giant Sparrow/Annapurna Interactive, and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus by MachineGames/Bethesda. Best Art Direction saw nominations for Cuphead by Studio MDHR Entertainment, Destiny 2 by Bungie/Activision, Horizon Zero Dawn, Persona 5, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The awards also recognized achievements in indie gaming, with Cuphead, Hellblade: Senua\"s Sacrifice, Night in the Woods by Infinite Fall, Pyre by Supergiant Games, and What Remains of Edith Finch competing for Best Independent Game. Best Mobile Game contenders included Fire Emblem Heroes by Intelligent Systems/Nintendo, Hidden Folks by Adriaan de Jongh/Sylvain Tegroeg, Monument Valley 2 by ustwo games, Old Man\"s Journey by Broken Rules, and Super Mario Run by Nintendo.

Highlighting the evolving landscape of gaming, the Best Ongoing Game category featured Destiny 2, Grand Theft Auto Online by Rockstar Games, Overwatch by Blizzard, PlayerUnknown\"s Battlegrounds, Rainbow Six: Siege by Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft, and Warframe by Digital Extremes, reflecting the industry\"s focus on games that continue to offer fresh content post-launch.

The Game Awards 2017 marked a significant moment in the gaming industry, drawing an impressive 11.5 million viewers worldwide and showcasing a broad spectrum of gaming excellence. Hosted by Geoff Keighley at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the event was celebrated for its inclusion of a diverse range of games, from indie titles to blockbuster hits, highlighting the industry\"s creative depth.

The introduction of The Game Awards Orchestra added a new level of sophistication and entertainment, enhancing the overall experience for both attendees and viewers. This year\"s awards were notable for several groundbreaking moments, including:

• The award for Game of the Year went to \"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,\" also securing Best Game Direction, underscoring Nintendo\"s impactful return to form and innovation in game design.
• Josef Fares\" memorable off-script moment captured the audience\"s attention, emphasizing the passionate and unpredictable nature of the gaming community.
• Performance capture pioneer Andy Serkis presenting the Best Performance award to Melina Juergens for \"Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice\" highlighted the evolving relationship between technology and storytelling in games.
• Carol Shaw, a legendary game designer, received the Industry Icon award, celebrating her pioneering work and lasting impact on the industry.
• Significant game announcements, including \"Bayonetta 3\" and \"From Software’s\" next project, kept the audience on the edge of their seats, demonstrating The Game Awards’ role as a platform for major reveals.

Overall, The Game Awards 2017 not only celebrated the year\"s best in gaming but also set new standards for how games are recognized and presented to the world, highlighting the growing influence and reach of the gaming industry.

The gaming industry in 2017 was marked by significant trends and innovations that redefined interactive entertainment. Among these, the emergence of narrative-driven experiences stood out, with games like \"What Remains of Edith Finch\" and \"Hellblade: Senua\"s Sacrifice\" offering deeply immersive stories that could only be told through the unique medium of video games. These titles showcased how games could handle complex themes with sensitivity and depth, moving beyond traditional gameplay mechanics to emphasize storytelling and emotional engagement.

Additionally, the resurgence of survival horror through \"Resident Evil 7: Biohazard\" demonstrated the genre\"s potential for innovation, returning to its roots while incorporating modern VR technology to enhance immersion and fear. This year also saw Nintendo\"s \"Super Mario Odyssey\" and \"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild\" pushing the boundaries of open-world game design, offering players unparalleled freedom to explore and interact with vibrant, dynamic worlds.

2017 was further notable for the introduction of The Game Awards Orchestra, adding a layer of grandeur to the celebration of gaming achievements and highlighting the industry\"s artistic achievements. Moreover, indie games continued to make a significant impact, with titles like \"Cuphead\" receiving acclaim for its unique art style and challenging gameplay, underscoring the diversity and creativity within the gaming community.

The year\"s innovations were not just in game design but also in how games were presented and celebrated, with The Game Awards 2017 setting new viewership records and featuring memorable moments that underscored the gaming industry\"s cultural relevance and vibrant community.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild\"s triumph as the Game of the Year in 2017 set a new benchmark for open-world game design, encouraging future titles to innovate and push boundaries. This masterpiece from Nintendo was universally acclaimed for its expansive freedom, intricate physics-based gameplay, and profound interaction with the game world, inspiring developers to reimagine player exploration and engagement.

Its impact extends beyond just the open-world genre, influencing games across various categories to prioritize immersive storytelling, environmental interactivity, and player-driven narratives. Games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Super Mario Odyssey, both released in the same year, also embraced these principles, offering rich, exploratory experiences and detailed worlds full of wonder and surprise.

Furthermore, the success of Breath of the Wild underscored the potential of hybrid gaming platforms, as demonstrated by the Nintendo Switch, blending portable and home gaming into a seamless experience. This has led to a broader acceptance and exploration of hybrid gaming models and technologies in the industry.

Indie titles such as Cuphead and Hellblade: Senua\"s Sacrifice also received significant recognition, highlighting the industry\"s growing appreciation for artistic expression and narrative depth in games, regardless of the scale of production. This shift has paved the way for more diverse and innovative storytelling, expanding the medium\"s capabilities to convey complex themes and emotions.

In essence, 2017 was a landmark year that not only celebrated remarkable achievements in game design and storytelling but also influenced the direction of future game development, setting new standards for creativity, immersion, and innovation in the gaming industry.

2017\"s gaming landscape was a year of unparalleled innovation and storytelling, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild leading the charge. Discover how this year set new standards for future titles, blending creativity, technology, and narrative in ways that continue to inspire gamers and developers alike.