10 Phenomenal 2017 Video Games You're Already Missing Out On

4. Yakuza 0

Grab it if you like: Metal Gear Solid's OTT plot-twists, Tekken Force mode, Shenmue.

Sometimes you love a game and a franchise so much, it's hard to do justice other than holding up screenshots like the above and screaming, "You must see this in action."

Still, Yakuza 0 is the latest instalment in the long-running franchise, yet it's a prequel, providing career-origins for series mainstay Kazuma Kiryu and his best pal/long-running allegiance-switching nemesis Goro Majima. Whilst on its face, Yakuza appears to be this serious The Raid-style tale of martial arts and backward gang-stabbings (and it is indeed that too), there's an irreverent tone that brings to mind Metal Gear Solid's most lovably whacky moments and reveals.

Yes, there's brutal fighting, weapons and environmental finishers, but there's also pool, darts and karaoke minigames. Tons of hilariously off-kilter side missions pepper the regions of Japan you inhabit, but not before you've dove into the licensed Sega arcades and played some of their emulated 90s classics (thereby trading in-game credits to purchase a plush toy for your collection).

Yakuza is an open-world game with some very personable touches - one that's enamoured scores of fans to its charms, and one that I guarantee you'll enjoy if any of these features have at least made you curious.