18 Best Video Games Of 2017 (So Far)

6. Tekken 7

The legendary, the mighty, the all-round 'showing the young'ns how it's done' power of Tekken came thundering back into our lives in 2017, as Tekken 7 is everything fans, newcomers, hardcores and casuals have grown to adore over the last 23 years.

First up, it's supremely easy to pick up and play - such has always been Tekken's charm - but Namco and Creative Director Katsuhiro Harada went one further, fleshing out the backstory of Heihachi and Kazuya Mishima for the franchise's first proper story mode, tying in Street Fighter's Akuma. Yes, Akuma is now canon in the Tekken lore, and that ridiculous statement is by all means the tip of the insanity iceberg, as T7's campaign is one of the barmiest and enjoyable of them all.

Also introduced are stock countering options for all characters, arena transitions and - best of all - 'Rage Arts'; Tekken's version of Street Fighter/Mortal Kombat special moves. Trigger-able when you're down to one third of health, these Arts are eye-popping fireworks displays of pure power, letting you snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in spectacular fashion - providing you can nail the timing.

Oh, and as some nostalgic icing on the cake, Tekken 7 lets you watch ALL the cutscenes and trailers for the entire franchise's worth of entries in its Gallery mode, alongside changing the music to reflect each instalment, too. Want to play with the whole game's menus and character themes sounding like Tekken 3 or Tekken Tag? You can, and it feels wonderful.

Talk about the ultimate package.