College studies got you down? What about just pure procrastination value? Or maybe, you just need to reward yourself for a week of hard work this year. Here are 5 video games coming out/released in 2017 that may suit your fancy for killing productivity.

1. Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?!

Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?! Is a relatively unique game. It puts you in charge of a crew on a spaceship, exploring the galaxy, upgrading your ship, and building weapons and new technology. Think of it as a more relaxed, more forgiving, slightly story driven version of FTL (which is one of my favorite games of all time). Also worth noting is the excellent soundtrack. It’s an uplifting soundtrack for a fun, potato-pun filled game. It also has cute cats, which was sorely missing in FTL. It was released on February 14th 2017 and can be had on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam or GOG (DRM free website, I highly recommend).

2. Mass Effect Andromeda

Mass Effect Andromeda is a highly anticipated follow-up to the popular sci-fi Mass Effect video game series. Mass Effect, like Bioware’s previous RPG games (Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age, Baldur’s Gate) was a huge shake up in the video game industry, combining compelling storytelling, gripping plots, unique character designs, and a hybrid of action and traditional role-playing. I was a huge fan of Mass Effect and it’s sequel, Mass Effect 2 – with over 100 hours between the two. Many fans, including myself, were disappointed with 2012’s Mass Effect 3. Andromeda will bring fans a new team of developers, five plus years of development time, and an entirely new story. Many are excited to return to a beloved series. Mass Effect Andromeda is slated for release on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 right after spring break, on March 21st, 2017. Be careful, this one will eat your time.

3. Middle Earth: Shadow of War

Middle Earth: Shadow of War is a surprise. Shadow of War is a newly announced sequel to the surprisingly great, surprisingly popular 2014 game, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor. Shadow of Mordor was a game set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings universe, where you played as a Ranger seeking revenge for your family. It was a surprising hybrid of an RPG (Role Playing Game), open-world adventure, and combo-based combat akin to Batman: Arkham Asylum. It was kind of whacky, as a Lord of the Rings fan, but it was really well done. The announcement trailer for Shadow of War contains spoilers from the first game, but has me as hyped as King Théoden’s Ride of the Rohirrim Speech (I actually cried at this point of the book, just an FYI). Gameplay footage for Shadow of War will be released on March 8th, 2017; the game will be launching on August 22nd, 2017.

4. Rising Storm 2: Vietnam

Rising Storm 2 is a new title from Tripwire Interactive, of Killing Floor and Red Orchestra fame. Known for their brutal realism, authenticity, and attention to detail; you can imagine that as a fan of the WW2 series of Red Orchestra games, that I may have squealed a bit with joy when they announced Rising Storm 2 would be set in Vietnam. The first trailers had everything – Huey’s, guitars, and more combat in the jungle. It will be launching for PC this year sometime in the first Quarter. So, uh, soon?

5. South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Snickers. Okay. The Fractured But Whole is a sequel to the breakout hit in 2014, South Park: The Stick of Truth. When The Stick of Truth was announced many years ago, most wrote it off – a turn-based, side-scrolling, juvenile humor South Park game? With RPG mechanics? Get the fuck out. Turned out great, actually. The humor was authentic. The gameplay was simple but felt appropriately humorous and challenging. The characters and voices were so good that it was pretty much a make-your-own South Park episode experience. The Fractured But Whole will be similar to the first game, expanding on it’s concepts and gameplay. It’s slated for release sometime this year on PC, Xbox One, and PS4. If you like South Park, or just turn-based RPG games, pick it up.

6. Hey wait a second, you said 5 games.

I’m sorry, but real quick… Stardew Valley may have released last February, but the clone of Harvest Moon is updating to include multiplayer. Yep, you’ll be able to run your farm with a buddy this year. This game should come with a warning label, as it will devour your time. If you loved Harvest Moon, you’ll enjoy Stardew Valley – and it will only get more fun with the addition of cooperative multiplayer. You can pick up Stardew Valley on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and soon, on the Nintendo Switch.

That’s it. That’s my list of 5 (okay, 6) games that will kill your productivity in 2017. This is just my list – there are a lot more games coming out in 2017. These are just my favorites to look forward to this year. If you are HYPED about any video game coming out this year, make sure to let us know!

Copyright © Judd Ike Eichorst (2017) All Rights Reserved.