10 Biggest Game Of The Year 2017 Contenders So Far

7. Night In The Woods

Indie games often don't get the credit they deserve as genuine contenders for Game of the Year, but Night in the Woods is undoubtedly one of them.

Much like Thomas Was Alone, the strength of Night in the Woods comes from its characters and story. Mae and her friends are all deeply layered and interesting characters with backstories and motivations all their own. The themes of the story are also all going to be familiar to anyone who valued their teenage years, making it hugely relatable and personal.

Although the story here is clearly the standout aspect of Night in the Woods, the gameplay is also very entertaining. As Mae, players can wander around her hometown and explore to their hearts content. The world is pretty open and explorable, with lots of neat little things to find strewn about.

Night in the Woods is worth getting purely for the characters and story alone. It's masterfully told, and has genuinely interesting characters unlike any in other games. Definitely the best indie game to release since Journey.