15 Awesome Video Games From 2017 You Probably Missed

6. Metroid: Samus Returns

Did you realise a Metroid game dropped last year? Sadly Nintendo didn't combine their announcement of Metroid Prime 4 by saying, "And by the way, we've just put out one of the best 2D instalments on 3DS", but that hasn't dulled this entry's shine one bit.

Combing all the lessons learned from every past 2D Metroid (even the melee attacks from hybrid franchise-killer Other M), Samus Returns is quintessential, perfected Metroid. You'll explore an environment one map square at a time and unlock weapon or suit upgrades to bypass locked doors, but the real upgrade comes in how Samus handles.

Firing in all directions, grabbing onto ledges so you can get the drop on opponents, countering enemy attacks and delivering gloriously pyrotechnic finishers - it all feels brilliant, connoting how Super Metroid might handle if it dropped today.