My 5 Best (Video Game) Moments of 2017

A huge part of the reasons people love video games is the stories that come out of them, whether they’re our own stories, or impactful beats from the game’s own narrative. Below are five moments from games this year that have really stuck with me.

Garage Fight with Jack-Resident Evil 7

The friend I’m playing with and I lose our shit as we slowly realize that we’ve entered a boss fight and now have to start dodging a huge man with a chainsaw in a garage.

We went about the fight in a different way  than walkthroughs recommend (I found this out later when trying to find the answer to a puzzle) and because of that, Jack ended up getting in the car and driving circles around us, waving the chainsaw and screaming. Both of us broke into terrified laughter. The scene was so ridiculous we couldn’t help but laugh, but it was also still really scary. Jack’s separation from reality becomes so apparent in this moment, but it’s still not leaning into any of the stereotypical Resident Evil tropes that throw it over the edge of being too ridiculous. There is clearly something wrong with Jack, and that in and of itself is creepy enough on its own.

When I think about Resident Evil 7, this fight is the first thing that comes to mind. It does such a good job of demonstrating that something is really, really off about Jack, and also prepares you for the real boss fight that comes down the line. The encounter seems so random, but it actually introduces you to mechanics that you’ll need later on in a clever and unexpected way.

Snowcastle-Butterfly Soup

(Spoilers for Butterfly Soup follow, so go play it then come back)

You can feel Min’s anxiety as you enter the ice cream shop with Diya. They’re on basically their first date, but neither is really sure of what’s going on. Watching Min use Noelle’s suggestions to impress Diya, made me squee a bit. It was so cute to see Min trying so hard, and reminded me of gestures I made as a young gay. When Akarsha and Noelle’s spying was revealed, I cackled because that’s such a typical teenager thing to do. Of course Noelle is there to make sure Min doesn’t do anything to upset Diya, and of course Akarsha is there to see what ridiculous shit will happen.

When Min finally bites the bullet and kisses Diya, I cheered out loud. I was so happy to see her finally go for it and that Diya was getting what she wanted without having to make the move herself. The table breaking was a perfect touch; crawling on a table to make out with someone is such grade A impulsive teenager shit.

Snowcastle perfectly captures the awkward excitement of young first dates and friends’ involvement in your relationships at that age. It made me cringe and warmed my heart, which are kind of the best reactions you can hope for in a scene of teen romance.

Your Conversation with Amanda About her Friends-Dream Daddy

Amanda has been acting weird for a while now, avoiding you and barely speaking when she does find herself in a room with you. But finally, she’s reached the final straw and the dam breaks.

She tells you what’s been going on with her friends, and with her crush. Listening to her story, my heart went out to her thinking about all the times I struggled with friends and relationships when I was her age. This moment also drives home that Dream Daddy is ultimately about being a dad. Not knowing how to make your daughter feel better, you bake her a cake to ease into the conversation. Your dad listens to Amanda talk without interrupting, and once she finishes, you get to choose how you want to respond, but ultimately you’re supportive of her. You help her get through her problems without necessarily telling her what she should do.

This scene helps the two of you become close again, and relieves a lot of both your fears. It’s a sweet reminder of well-intentioned awkward talks, and the insecurities that often come with youth.

Talking with Gregg in the Woods-Night in the Woods

(Mild spoilers for Gregg’s arc in Night in the Woods. Please, go play this game!)

This moment was extra poignant for me because it happens out of nowhere. Mae and Gregg are out in the woods, messing around like they always do. They have a knife fight and shoot a dummy with a crossbow. Then Mae encounters Gregg standing by a pond, looking out at it wistfully, and the tone completely changes.

Gregg gets really quiet and sad. You really have to push him to start talking, but once he does, you experience probably the most insightful moment of character development for him in the game. Through this one conversation, you find out about Gregg’s own mental illness, his anxieties about his relationship, and one of the first hints about what an awful childhood Angus had.

There aren’t many quiet moments with Gregg, he’s generally loud and excitable, only looking to play music or commit crimes. That’s why this moment stood out so much for me. For once, Gregg’s defenses are down and he’s able to be honest with his best friend about the very real anxieties he’s facing about who he is as a person and a partner. It’s real, and sad, but it’s also hopeful because Mae is able to talk Gregg through those feelings and help him come out the dark thoughts he’s been having. Not only does it give some depth to Gregg, but it also shows that Mae is capable of being sensitive to other people’s problems despite her usual tendencies to stick her foot in her mouth and misread a room.

The End-Wolfenstien II

(Spoilers for the end of the game below. Seriously, how have you not played this yet?)

BJ creeps through the back of a TV studio, Frau Engel’s interview audio playing in the background. Everyone is so distracted by her banter with the late night host that no one notices him slipping through the bleachers or climbing up the scaffolding to the side of the stage. Then, BJ grabs Frau Engel and slams a fucking axe into her face repeatedly until she dies. Nothing goes wrong, there’s no tricks or plot twists that save her and ruin your plan. Frau Engel dies, plain and simple. And I fucking cheered.

Then the speeches start. The resistance hijacks the broadcast and begins speaking about all the pain, suffering, and subjugation the Nazis have wrought, with the repeat call to “join us”. Everyone on your team lays themselves bare, showing the pain of what they’ve experienced in their pleas, as well as the righteousness of what they’ve been fighting for. They’re not terrorists and monsters, they are the people fighting for your freedom, at tremendous cost to themselves and their families, both biological and chosen.

Maybe this ending was too clean, too convenient. But I haven’t been this satisfied with an ending in a long time. It’s not just the resistance who needs a win at the end of Wolfenstein II, the player does too. You slog through so much brutality and loss to get to this point, and finally all that work feels like it’s actually paid off without your side having to take a hit. It is a net gain for the resistance. and a tipping point. Your group has come far enough to start changing the tide, and this is just the beginning.