It's demeaning to suggest playing the most popular games in the world across all formats? What the fuck am I reading?
I chose one specific idea - the top charts - to show that there are a ton of games without sexualisation. That's all I did. It's a fair point. If we want to discuss narrative only games then let's make it clear that the discussion is about that and not video games as a whole.
If a female friend wanted to start gaming, I'd suggest she start with my favourite games, which are Nintendo games. Oh shit, have I demeaned her? Please help.
It's not though.
Your suggestion, for this list, is to stick with games that have so little to say or are so competitive focused that characters or narrative don't factor into them. "Stay in this nintendo box and you'll always be safe", "stay in this mobile box, the nature of the games are so milquetoast and basic that you'll never have to question anything","stick with these shooters, characters and design will never factor into it because of the playing field that needs to stay even".
Top Sales are a bad identifier when most of the games responsible for said sales are the result of simply being competitive first games. Would you actually tell someone who's vaguely interested in video games to start with FIFA or CSGo?
I mean, hell, if your suggestion really would be, "just stick with nintendo" I guess I can't fault you, those games are generally excellent. But it's a bad solution for someone looking for a more interesting, more diverse experience than annual shooter X, Bi-annual platformer Y. Going by sales is bad. So let's go by critical acclaim.
Code:
97
Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)
User: 8.9
Oct 27, 2017
3.
96
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (WIIU)
User: 8.1
Mar 3, 2017
4.
93
Divinity: Original Sin II (PC)
User: 8.3
Sep 14, 2017
5.
93
Persona 5 (PS4)
User: 9.1
Apr 4, 2017
6.
92
What Remains of Edith Finch (XONE)
User: 7.0
Jul 19, 2017
7.
92
Undertale (PS4)
User: 6.3
Aug 15, 2017
8.
92
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)
User: 8.5
Apr 28, 2017
9.
91
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Switch)
User: 7.9
Mar 3, 2017
10.
90
Bayonetta (PC)
User: 8.4
Apr 11, 2017
11.
89
Lone Echo (PC)
User: 7.2
Jul 20, 2017
12.
89
F1 2017 (PC)
User: 7.5
Aug 24, 2017
13.
89
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood (PS4)
User: 7.6
Jun 20, 2017
14.
89
Rez Infinite (PC)
User: 7.0
Aug 9, 2017
15.
89
Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)
User: 8.3
Feb 28, 2017
16.
89
Injustice 2 (XONE)
User: 7.9
May 16, 2017
17.
89
88
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen (PC)
User: 7.7
Aug 29, 2017
19.
88
88
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (XONE)
User: 6.1
Oct 27, 2017
21.
88
NieR: Automata (PS4)
User: 8.7
Mar 7, 2017
22.
88
SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch)
23.
88
Cuphead (PC)
Here's the top 20 games of the year as according to metacritic (Edith Finch and zelda were on there twice so I eliminated number 1). Granted Metacritic is subjective at best, but it's a way to build a better list to review. This is a much more interesting list, there are a lot more surprises, nothing is left out for being niche or lower budgeted. I've played most of these, and can attest that these are generally excellent games in a year of excellent games.
Of this list of 20, 25% of games indulge in objectification of it's characters in way or another. 1/4th of games in a particularly upstanding year of games, including probably the strongest line up of female protagonists to date.
The solution to the problem of objectification shouldn't be, "just don't play those games, you have other things to play". There is nothing wrong with asking developer to be more mindful of how their characters are treated in game. It is not a bad thing to point the needlessness of 2B's exploding skirt and labeling it "just a bit of pandering", because that's what it is, a bit of pandering. There is a scene in Wolf 2 that I will not spoil because WOWWWIE IT IS SOMETHING, but it is there for little reason other than to revel in some good ole american "sensibilities" (It's sexual pandering). We need to stop vilifying people who complain when they are pushed away by the idea of objectification being a fun, harmless notion. It's fine if you don't care, but we're not here to discuss how you don't care. We're here to discuss why this thing is so pervasive, what purpose does it serve, and why, in a particularly good year for video games, ~1/4 of games still have dumb shit in the ways of sexualization, objectification and pandering that we have to step over in order to enjoy an otherwise excellent work.
Yes, Nintendo games are good. Mario and Zelda are probably my number 1 and 2 games of the year. But to suggest to ignore some of the best games of the year because, "you have other things to play" is a mean spirited thing to say. Chastising people for their opinions on others' creative visions is not how this industry grows, it's how it stays stagnant.
