Best games
Best Arcade games of 2017
The 19 best Arcade games released in 2017, ranked from 7,379 critic and player ratings.
The best Arcade game of 2017 is Super Mario Odyssey, with a critic score of 97/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2017.
- 19 games are listed on this page, carrying 7,379 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 19
01
S
Super Mario Odyssey
Explore incredible places far from the Mushroom Kingdom as you join Mario and his new ally Cappy on a massive, globe-trotting 3D adventure. Use amazing new abilities, like the power to capture and control objects, animals, and enemies to collect Power Moons so you can power up the Odyssey airship and save Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans!
97
/100
02
Finding Paradise
A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish.
93
/100
03
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Hit the road with the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 and play anytime, anywhere! Race your friends or battle them in a revised battle mode on new and returning battle courses. Play locally in up to 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode. Every track from the Wii U version, including DLC, makes a glorious return. Plus, the Inklings appear as all-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.!
93
/100
S
Super Mario Odyssey
Explore incredible places far from the Mushroom Kingdom as you join Mario and his new ally Cappy on a massive, globe-trotting 3D adventure. Use amazing new abilities, like the power to capture and control objects, animals, and enemies to collect Power Moons so you can power up the Odyssey airship and save Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans!
97
/100
02
Finding Paradise
A story-driven experience about two doctors traversing through a dying man's memories to artificially fulfill his last wish.
93
/100
03
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Hit the road with the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 and play anytime, anywhere! Race your friends or battle them in a revised battle mode on new and returning battle courses. Play locally in up to 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode. Every track from the Wii U version, including DLC, makes a glorious return. Plus, the Inklings appear as all-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.!
93
/100
04
Nex Machina
From the collaboration between Housemarque (Resogun, Alienation, Matterfall), and Robotron and Smash TV legendary creator Eugene Jarvis comes Nex Machina, an explosive arcade experience created with competition in mind.
89
/100
05
B
Cuphead
Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional cel animation (hand drawn & hand inked!), watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings. Play as Cuphead or Mugman (in single player or co-op) as you traverse strange worlds, acquire new weapons, learn powerful super moves, and discover hidden secrets. Cuphead is all action, all the time.
87
/100
06
Pyre
A party-based RPG/visual novel/sports game hybrid wherein the player, dubbed the Reader for their literacy by the group of scavengers who discovers them, is sent in exile to a lawless wasteland called the Downside and has to lead their ever-growing party of misfits to locations wherein many similar parties compete in Rites in order to attain freedom and be absolved of their crimes.
86
/100
07
Tooth and Tail
Lead the revolution with an army of flamethrowing Boars, mustard gas-lobbing Skunks, and paratrooper-puking Owls. Tooth and Tail is a Real-Time-Strategy game featuring Single Player, Online Competitive Play, Split Screen, Replays, and more. Build a base, lead your army, eat your enemies!
82
/100
08
Nidhogg 2
Return of the wurm! The next installment of the epic award-winning dueling tug-of-war is coming! Destroy your opponents with all new moves and weapons across ten different arenas.
80
/100
09
Rock of Ages 2: Bigger & Boulder
The greatest "giant rocks rolling through historical/artistic ages" tower defense game is back with Rock of Ages II: Bigger and Boulder. With an emphasis on the chaotic new 2-vs-2 multiplayer, new time periods, and improved graphics, physics, and destructibility powered by Unreal Engine 4, players will need to be ready for some intense rocking and rolling.
77
/100
10
Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is a free platform fighting game with over 100 million players that supports up to 8 players online in a single match with full cross-play. Frequent updates. 50 unique characters and counting. Come fight for glory in the halls of Valhalla!
75
/100
11
The Mooseman
74
/100
12
Snake Pass
71
/100
13
Mirror
70
/100
14
Immortal Redneck
69
/100
15
Nine Parchments
68
/100
16
NBA Playgrounds
67
/100
17
Peace, Death!
65
/100
18
Super Bomberman R
64
/100
19
Need for Speed Payback
61
/100
Nex Machina
From the collaboration between Housemarque (Resogun, Alienation, Matterfall), and Robotron and Smash TV legendary creator Eugene Jarvis comes Nex Machina, an explosive arcade experience created with competition in mind.
89
/100
05
B
Cuphead
Cuphead is a classic run and gun action game heavily focused on boss battles. Inspired by cartoons of the 1930s, the visuals and audio are painstakingly created with the same techniques of the era, i.e. traditional cel animation (hand drawn & hand inked!), watercolor backgrounds, and original jazz recordings. Play as Cuphead or Mugman (in single player or co-op) as you traverse strange worlds, acquire new weapons, learn powerful super moves, and discover hidden secrets. Cuphead is all action, all the time.
87
/100
06
Pyre
A party-based RPG/visual novel/sports game hybrid wherein the player, dubbed the Reader for their literacy by the group of scavengers who discovers them, is sent in exile to a lawless wasteland called the Downside and has to lead their ever-growing party of misfits to locations wherein many similar parties compete in Rites in order to attain freedom and be absolved of their crimes.
86
/100
07
Tooth and Tail
Lead the revolution with an army of flamethrowing Boars, mustard gas-lobbing Skunks, and paratrooper-puking Owls. Tooth and Tail is a Real-Time-Strategy game featuring Single Player, Online Competitive Play, Split Screen, Replays, and more. Build a base, lead your army, eat your enemies!
82
/100
08
Nidhogg 2
Return of the wurm! The next installment of the epic award-winning dueling tug-of-war is coming! Destroy your opponents with all new moves and weapons across ten different arenas.
80
/100
09
Rock of Ages 2: Bigger & Boulder
The greatest "giant rocks rolling through historical/artistic ages" tower defense game is back with Rock of Ages II: Bigger and Boulder. With an emphasis on the chaotic new 2-vs-2 multiplayer, new time periods, and improved graphics, physics, and destructibility powered by Unreal Engine 4, players will need to be ready for some intense rocking and rolling.
77
/100
10
Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is a free platform fighting game with over 100 million players that supports up to 8 players online in a single match with full cross-play. Frequent updates. 50 unique characters and counting. Come fight for glory in the halls of Valhalla!
75
/100
11
The Mooseman
74
/100
12
Snake Pass
71
/100
13
Mirror
70
/100
14
Immortal Redneck
69
/100
15
Nine Parchments
68
/100
16
NBA Playgrounds
67
/100
17
Peace, Death!
65
/100
18
Super Bomberman R
64
/100
19
Need for Speed Payback
61
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Arcade game of 2017?
Super Mario Odyssey currently tops the ranking with a score of 97/100 across 1,798 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.