There was no single, objective winner among 2017’s shooters. For a story-led campaign, start with Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus; for competitive battle royale, choose PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG); and for loot-driven online progression, consider Destiny 2. The strongest pick depends on whether you want a campaign, multiplayer competition, co-op, or a different platform experience.
How to choose among 2017’s best shooters
Contemporary awards and reviews recognized different strengths rather than producing one consensus ranking. Game Informer named PUBG its Shooter of the Year, while The Game Awards 2017 recognized PUBG for Best Multiplayer Game and Wolfenstein II for Best Action Game. Best Action Game is not a shooter-specific category, and each award reflects its organization’s judgment.
| Game | Best fit | What the contemporary sources establish |
|---|---|---|
| Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus | Story-led single-player campaign | Game Informer’s Best Campaign; GameSpot review score of 9/10; The Game Awards 2017 Best Action Game. |
| Destiny 2 | Loot-focused online play and gunplay | Game Informer’s Best Gunplay; TIME described it in 2017 as a loot-based massively multiplayer online shooter. |
| PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) | Competitive battle royale | Game Informer’s Shooter of the Year, Best Competitive Multiplayer, and Best Innovation; The Game Awards 2017 Best Multiplayer Game. |
| Call of Duty: WWII | World War II campaign and familiar multiplayer package | GameSpot review score of 9/10; ranked first among 2017 best-selling video games by units sold in the ESA’s 2018 report using NPD tracking data. |
| Splatoon 2 | A colorful Nintendo shooter option | Included in GameSpot’s retrospective of the variety of 2017 shooters; the sources cited here do not establish an award or review score for it. |
Scores and awards are contemporary editorial assessments, not results of a controlled head-to-head test. Use them as context for a preference-based shortlist, not proof that one game is best for every player.
Best 2017 shooter for a campaign: Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
If you want a shooter built around a single-player story, Wolfenstein II is the clearest recommendation. Game Informer selected it for Best Campaign in its January 2018 shooter awards, and GameSpot gave it 9/10 in its 2017 retrospective. The Game Awards listed it as Best Action Game, a broader category rather than a shooter-only award.
#1 Best Overall
- The story, characters, voice acting, gameplay, and music that made the original a sensation return, remade for modern consoles
- This evolutionary leap breathes new life into every cutscene, and rebuilds every corner of the world
- Incredible new graphics bring the wild growth of the jungles, forests, and swamps to life in exquisite detail
- Characters are rendered in fine detail so that facial wrinkles, pores, & separate eye & iris movements are visible, allowing for rich animations
- Any injuries to his actual body will leave their mark permanently, telling a story of each player's unique journey
That combination makes it a strong starting point for campaign-focused players, but the recognition should not be read as a universal ranking: the awards came from different organizations and categories.
Best for battle royale competition: PUBG
Choose PUBG if your priority is competitive battle royale multiplayer. Game Informer named it both Best Competitive Multiplayer and Shooter of the Year, and also recognized it for Best Innovation. The Game Awards 2017 named it Best Multiplayer Game.
Game Informer reported more than 30 million players and more than 3 million concurrent PC players often in 2018. Those are figures describing the game at that time, not a current player count.
Best for loot-driven online play: Destiny 2
Destiny 2 suits players looking for an online shooter organized around loot and ongoing progression rather than a purely self-contained campaign. TIME characterized it in 2017 as a loot-based massively multiplayer online shooter, and Game Informer selected it for Best Gunplay.
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Rank #2
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- 【Wireless Connectivity】: With 2.4GHz wireless game controllers, you can play your favorite games from the comfort of your couch without any wires getting in the way.(The package does not include AAA batteries.)
- 【High-definition HDMI Output】: Connect the game stick to your TV using a mini HDMI cable to enjoy retro video games on the big screen in high definition.
- 【Easy Operation】: Simply connect the game stick to the power supply, plug it into the TV, and switch to the HD channel. No complicated setup or installation required.
- 【Ideal Gift For All Ages】: The nostalgia stick game console not only provides hours of fun for kids, but also evokes fond memories of childhood for adults. It's a perfect gift for any occasion, including birthdays and holidays.
Best for a World War II campaign and multiplayer: Call of Duty: WWII
Call of Duty: WWII is a straightforward option if you want a World War II setting with both campaign and multiplayer. GameSpot rated it 9/10. Reviewer Miguel Concepcion wrote that it “delivers practically everything that one looks for in a pick-up-and-play shooter set in the Western Front of World War II,” while also praising its multiplayer modes. That is a critic’s assessment, not an objective measure of quality.
It was also a major commercial release: the ESA’s 2018 report, based on NPD tracking data for 2017, ranked it first among best-selling video games by units sold. That ranking is historical U.S. market context, not a claim about global sales or current popularity.
Other ways to match a 2017 shooter to your play style
For cooperative play: Ghost Recon Wildlands
Game Informer named Ghost Recon Wildlands Best Cooperative Multiplayer and described its campaign as playable cooperatively with four players. It is the most directly supported pick in this group if playing through a campaign with friends is the priority.
For a Nintendo shooter: Splatoon 2
GameSpot’s retrospective includes Splatoon 2 among the year’s varied shooter releases. The available contemporary source material here does not establish an award or score claim, so treat it as a platform-and-style option rather than a winner by review consensus.
For VR: Robo Recall
Game Informer selected Robo Recall as Best VR Shooter. That makes it a relevant 2017 pick if you are specifically looking for a virtual-reality shooter; confirm compatibility with your headset and platform before purchase.
Rank #3
- 【Huge Game Library】: The wireless classic TV game console system comes with over 200 built-in games and 29 Interactive & Sport Game, so you can play all your favorite classic games without the need for downloads or an internet connection.
- 【Wireless Connectivity】: With 2.4GHz wireless game controllers, you can play your favorite games from the comfort of your couch without any wires getting in the way.(The package does not include AAA batteries.)
- 【High-definition HDMI Output】: Connect the game stick to your TV using a mini HDMI cable to enjoy retro video games on the big screen in high definition.
- 【Easy Operation】: Simply connect the game stick to the power supply, plug it into the TV, and switch to the HD channel. No complicated setup or installation required.
- 【Ideal Gift For All Ages】: The nostalgia stick game console not only provides hours of fun for kids, but also evokes fond memories of childhood for adults. It's a perfect gift for any occasion, including birthdays and holidays.
For an ongoing shooter-service format: Overwatch
Game Informer named Overwatch Best Shooter As Service. This is a publication-specific award category, useful if you are interested in an ongoing multiplayer game rather than a campaign-only experience.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What 2017’s shooter awards and sales figures do—and do not—tell you
The awards point to different strengths: Game Informer recognized Wolfenstein II for campaign, Destiny 2 for gunplay, PUBG for competitive multiplayer and innovation, Ghost Recon Wildlands for cooperative multiplayer, Robo Recall for VR, and Overwatch for shooter-as-service. These are that publication’s editorial choices, not a shared industry ranking.
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Check platform and edition before buying
The year-end roundups covered games across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and VR, but a historical platform list does not confirm present-day compatibility, availability, or edition details. Check the current listing for the exact platform you own before buying. TIME’s 2017 article listed a PlayStation 4 version of Wolfenstein II, but that historical listing does not establish current stock or price.
Quick Recap
- Pick by the play experience you want: campaign, battle royale, loot progression, co-op, or VR.
- Verify the platform and edition on a current retailer or platform store listing.
- For online-focused games, check current access and service details; historical descriptions do not confirm present-day status.
Sources
- Game Informer: Best of 2017 Shooter Awards
- GameSpot: Best Shooter Games of 2017
- TIME: The 10 Best Video Games of 2017
- Entertainment Software Association: Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry
- The Game Awards 2017 archive
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
