20 Best Video Game Exclusives Of The Generation

2. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

In 2017, we needed Breath of the Wild.

A beautiful, inviting, experimental and rewarding open-world experience that reminded you what video games were supposed to be: Fun.

Arriving in a year where microtransactions and money-hungry formulas were at their peak, Nintendo reframed the Zelda mythos as an amnesiac Link regaining his powers, one arrow headshot and swung sword at a time.

Other than distanced goals to aim for, your path along this expertly designed map is your own. Cutting down trees to make rafts, gliding from cliff edges, climbing any surface or just making camp for the night - everything contributes to the setup of a hero readying themselves for one final duel.

Above all though, Breath of the Wild was full of the right kind of purpose. It has a gamer's soul; made by people who care about the video game medium, for those who want to get lost in it.

For that I thank it, but even outside of this modern day context, BotW is easily one of the finest Zeldas of them all, too.