Summary: Better late than never: We asked 25 of the smartest people we know–game developers, critics, professors of theater and history, comedy writers, political journalists, podcasters–for their favorite video game of 2017, and got 20 answers.<br> Counting Chris and JJ, that’s 27 people and 20 video games (21 if you count an honorable mention).<br> STARRING, in order of appearance:<br> Harvey Smith, creative director of Dishonored and Dishonored 2;<br> Zach Gage, designer of Really Bad Chess, Typeshift, and SpellTower;<br> Simon Parkin, author of Death by Video Game and contributor to the New Yorker;<br> Brett Douville, lead programmer of Skyrim;<br> Michael Abbott, theater professor at Wabash College;<br> Caroline Petit, Feminist Frequency writer;<br> Chris Remo, Idle Thumbs host and Campo Santo composer and designer;<br> Daniel Radosh, writer for The Daily Show;<br> Benjy Sarlin, political reporter for NBC News;<br> Patrick Klepek, senior reporter for Vice’s Waypoint;<br> Nina Freeman, level designer for Tacoma;<br> Nick Suttner, author of Boss Fight Books’ Shadow of the Colossus;<br> John Davison, founding editor of Rolling Stone’s Glixel;<br> Bob Whitaker, Louisiana Tech historian and host of History Respawned;<br> Evan Narcisse, io9 reporter and writer of Rise of the Black Panther;<br> Steve Gaynor, writer and designer of Gone Home and Tacoma;<br> Tom Bissell, author of Extra Lives and Apostle and writer on Gears of War 4 and Uncharted 4;<br> Winnie Song, designer at Square Enix Montreal;<br> Chris Plante, executive editor of Polygon;<br> Mike Drucker, comedian and former writer for The Tonight Show;<br> Theresa Duringer, founder of Temple Gates Games;<br> Stephen Totilo, editor-in-chief of Kotaku;<br> Peter Molyneux, creator of Populous, Black and White, and Fable;<br> Jon Lovett, host of Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It;<br> Ian Dallas, creative director of What Remains of Edith Finch<br> We have a Patreon at <a href="http://www.patreon.com/shallweshow">www.patreon.com/shallweshow</a>! We are eternally grateful to everyone who has made a pledge.<br> NEXT TIME, WE HOPE:<br> “Florence”<br> SHOW NOTES:<br> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shall-we-play-a-game/id1003517163?mt=2">Review us on iTunes</a><br> <a href="http://facebook.com/shallweshow">Like us on Facebook</a><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/shallweshow">Follow us on Twitter</a><br> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shallweshow/">And on Instagram</a><br> Email us at questions at shallweshow dot com<br> <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/groups/shallweshow">Join the “Shall We Play a Game?” Steam community</a><br> <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/curator/12047454/">Follow the “Shall We Play a Game?” Steam Curators page</a><br>
