Top Games of 2018

2018 has been a bit of a twisty turny year for the industry. From the sad news of Tell Tale Games closing down to reading about IGN firing one of their reviewers for plagiarism, there's never been a dull moment on my news feed. In terms of games though, its been pretty steady if occasionally unremarkable. In some cases you have to look a little bit harder to find some true gems, especially since 2018 marks the year when Battle-Royale games exploded in popularity with Fortnite leading the charge. So in the spirit of a Battle-Royale, it felt apt to whittle down and rank the best games of 2018 until only ten were left standing - here is that list:

10. Overcooked 2

I put the original game on my best of 2016 list and this sequel serves up more of a good thing. Up to four players take charge of a restaurant as you collectively cook and prepare orders. While it starts off friendly enough, the kitchen inevitably falls into chaos as chopping boards teleport around the workplace, ingredients fall into lava and your girlfriend drops a completed dish into a swamp. Friendships will be tested since communication and cooperation are the only means you and your team-mates can rely on if you want to successfully get through the 40+ levels. If you were a fan of the first then its an easy recommendation, but with an easier difficulty level overall I could argue this one is better suited to newcomers. Either way, get some friends round, get a few beers in and boot this game up and you're guaranteed to have a good time.

9. Donut County

If a more charming game than Donut County came out this year then I'd like to see it.The concept is irresistibly daft: You play as a hole that goes around eating things, the more you eat the bigger you get, so you'll start off nibbling on sticks and flower pots before you start devouring barnyards and airplane hangers. It would be horrific if it weren't for the happy-go-lucky tone of the game which keeps your conscious clear while you separate a families to sate the hole. Beyond this though, the game has an almost meditative quality since it's simply relaxing to clean the screen of objects and messiness. Like any good doughnut, the game is short but sweet and its hard to resist going back for another helping.  


8. Guacamelee 2

 The Luchador Juan returns in this brawling metroid-vania. Instead of whips and axes you'll be doing suplexes and uppercuts to get through hoards of the undead in order to save the 'Mexiverse.' Yes, the game's story is written with it's tongue buried deep in its cheek, but the demanding gameplay is no joke. Combat sections can be as tough as they are flashy and dimension hopping platforming will challenge even veterans of the genre. Guacamelee 2 doesn't shake things up enough to feel like a truly great sequel, but if you liked the first game then there's a lot to love here. 


7. GRIS

An elegant puzzle-platformer with a truly gentle level of difficulty, GRIS puts an emphasis on the player journey. The gameplay and story are intentionally minimalist but you will feel a real sense of flow and purpose as you accompany the nameless singer on her journey to bring colour back to a monochrome world. The music and the artwork are the things that'll really keep you pushing forward through this gorgeous world. Every new zone is stunning and the game has a wonderful habit of surprising you with it's wonder every ten minutes. The world is a beautiful place, and GRIS is all about reconnecting with that truth.



6. Octopath Traveler

 

A delight for the eyes and ears, this RPG centres around the tales of 8 distinct characters as they learn about their place in the world. While it lacks a cohesive story that involves all the characters, the combat is what keeps me coming back. Each character has their own class and the innovative 'break system' gives each battle a compelling tug-of-war rhythm, once you've mastered the combat it becomes remarkably rewarding. If you've got an old school RPG itch that has gone for years unscratched, then this is just the ticket.

5. The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

The game is a playable day-in-the-life of Chris, a young boy who believes he has superpowers. While Chris loves to indulge in his fantasy world, the reality of his life is truly painful. An alcoholic Father and an uprooted school-life are just some of the tragedies Chirs has had to endure, and by exploring Chris' household you may begin to understand why he's chosen a life of escapism. It's impressive just how easily the game taps into themes of innocence and imagination and it may very well remind you of your own childhood and the make-believe games you used to play on a lazy Saturday morning. What makes this experience even more impressive is its price tag of nothing. You can download and play this game for free right now.


4. Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Boasting a roster of 76 fighters, it makes all those photo-shopped 'dream character select screens' from the Internets golden days look modest. Everyone really is here in the biggest Smash Bros game ever and this comprehensive installment offers the most polished gameplay in the entire series. Between fighting (online and off), completing challenges and playing through the all new 'World of Light' adventure mode, there is an overwhelming amount of content here. With even more fighters promised in the future, this one is sure to keep multiplayer fans happy for a very long time. 


3. Celeste

I hasn't been since Super Meat Boy that I've sworn so loudly while playings 2D platformer. As Madeline, you are blindly determined to climb Celeste mountain, even though an old lady warns you that bizarre things occur to those who try scale it. As Madeline learns about herself, so too will you discover how far you are willing to push yourself to complete some fiendishly difficult platforming sections alongside ever evolving game mechanics that'll engage your brain and challenge your thumbs in all the right ways...

Also her best friend is called Theo, so I may be a little biased with this one.

2. Florence

Even as I'm writing this, it's a little difficult for me to fathom putting a mobile game so high on this list, but after a lot of reflection it does more than enough to earn such a high spot here. You join a young woman called Florence who is stuck in a monotonous daily routine, pretty quickly though she starts to develop a crush on a local busker and both of their lives start to change rapidly. All of Florence's story and gameplay is expressed through simple tap and swipe motions - you'll assemble puzzle pieces to hold small talk or shake around polaroid pictures to develop holiday memories. While simplistic, its the message that each action conveys that really drives the experience home since each chapter of the game is paired with an emotional truth, some will warm and others will break your heart. The fact it can be played on your phone means it's genuinely accessibility and its universal themes of love and loss means that is truly a game that anyone can play an appreciate.

1. God of War

This is a story about a Father and Son. Sure you get to decapitate some demons along the way, but the game never loses sight of that core relationship which grows organically across the adventure. You travel across a wildrenss steeping in Norse mythology to spread your wife's ashes atop the highest mountain in all the realms, but even this seemingly innocuous task is fraught with peril and has attracted the likes of malicious Norse Gods. It's also a game which is greater than the sum of it's parts, the combat is good but not great and the upgrade system doesn't feel immediately impactful, but none of that manages to tarnish the heart of this remarkable game. Brutal, cinematic and powerful it's my pick for the best of the year.