Your 2018 Game(s) of the Year!

[SkyPikachu]

• Best game(s) of 2018.
  1. Reverie
  2. Iconoclasts
• Best game you played in 2018 that didn't really come out in 2018. (Games I've beaten or played a lot of)
  1. Mad Max
  2. Mirror's Edge Catalyst
  3. Rayman Legends
  4. Super Metroid
  5. Littlebigplanet Vita
  6. Knack
  7. Crash Bandicoot (1) HD
  8. Driver San Francisco
• Biggest disappointment of 2018.
  1. Playstation announcing PS+ going down to 2 games a month instead of staying at 6
  2. No Animal Crossing Switch Announcement (Yet)
  3. No Virtual Console Announcement (Yet)
  4. No Metroid Prime Trilogy Port (Yet)

[Kong Wen]

Celeste and Monster Hunter: World are definitely on my list so far.

I haven't even played it yet, but I'm slotting God of War in here somewhere because the game is getting incredible reviews and looks fantastic. It's going to be an industry darling, and hard to beat in some of the bigger, "official" GotY contests.

Borrowing it from my brother here soon, so I'll have an actual informed opinion.

[SkyPikachu]

Celeste and Monster Hunter: World are definitely on my list so far.

I haven't even played it yet, but I'm slotting God of War in here somewhere because the game is getting incredible reviews and looks fantastic. It's going to be an industry darling, and hard to beat in some of the bigger, "official" GotY contests.

Borrowing it from my brother here soon, so I'll have an actual informed opinion.

It’s more of an experience than a game. I actually haven’t played it much lately though to be fair i have a month of game pass right now so trying to try as many games as possible.

The gameplay isn’t overally fun while the story so far is great and the visuals are too.

I have no doubt it will win GOTY unless RDR2 blows everyone away but it’s more a good interactive story than a game.

It’s not bad by any means though.

[SkyPikachu]

• Best game(s) of 2018.
  1. Reverie
  2. Iconoclasts
  3. God of War
• Best game you played in 2018 that didn't really come out in 2018. (Games I've beaten or played a lot of)
  1. Fable Anniversary
  2. Mad Max
  3. Mirror's Edge Catalyst
  4. Rayman Legends
  5. Super Metroid
  6. Super Lucky's Tale
  7. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
  8. Littlebigplanet Vita
  9. Knack
  10. Crash Bandicoot (1) HD
• Biggest disappointment of 2018.
  1. Playstation announcing PS+ going down to 2 games a month instead of staying at 6
  2. No Animal Crossing Switch Announcement (Yet)
  3. No Virtual Console Announcement (Yet)
  4. No Metroid Prime Trilogy Port (Yet)
• Biggest disappointment of 2018 that didn't really come out in 2018.
  1. Mighty No. 9
  2. Re-core

[Kong Wen]

I haven't even played it yet, but I'm slotting God of War in here somewhere because the game is getting incredible reviews and looks fantastic. It's going to be an industry darling, and hard to beat in some of the bigger, "official" GotY contests.

It’s more of an experience than a game. [...] it’s more a good interactive story than a game.

Not really sure what this means. It's not like a visual novel where you press X to change the page and keep reading. It's a linear action game, like the other games in the series. I'm not seeing any major startling gameplay departures so far. There are minor progression puzzles, combo-based combat, a level/gear progression system... all pretty typical gameplay elements.

[SkyPikachu]

I haven't even played it yet, but I'm slotting God of War in here somewhere because the game is getting incredible reviews and looks fantastic. It's going to be an industry darling, and hard to beat in some of the bigger, "official" GotY contests.

It’s more of an experience than a game. [...] it’s more a good interactive story than a game.

Not really sure what this means. It's not like a visual novel where you press X to change the page and keep reading. It's a linear action game, like the other games in the series. I'm not seeing any major startling gameplay departures so far. There are minor progression puzzles, combo-based combat, a level/gear progression system... all pretty typical gameplay elements.

The gameplay elements isn't mind blowing and I believe the visuals and the story is it strongest point so for anyone wanting a gameplay driven game I feel wouldn't enjoy it plus there's a lot of "cutscenes" though they don't actually cut away it's still story driven moments with no talking or just where you're walking forward slowly.

[Kong Wen]

It’s more of an experience than a game. [...] it’s more a good interactive story than a game.

Not really sure what this means. It's not like a visual novel where you press X to change the page and keep reading. It's a linear action game, like the other games in the series. I'm not seeing any major startling gameplay departures so far. There are minor progression puzzles, combo-based combat, a level/gear progression system... all pretty typical gameplay elements.

The gameplay elements isn't mind blowing and I believe the visuals and the story is it strongest point so for anyone wanting a gameplay driven game I feel wouldn't enjoy it plus there's a lot of "cutscenes" though they don't actually cut away it's still story driven moments with no talking or just where you're walking forward slowly.

By that definition, 50% of games are not games, just story-driven experiences. Just because an action-heavy, gameplay-heavy adventure game also has a good narrative doesn't mean it's not a game.

[SkyPikachu]

Not really sure what this means. It's not like a visual novel where you press X to change the page and keep reading. It's a linear action game, like the other games in the series. I'm not seeing any major startling gameplay departures so far. There are minor progression puzzles, combo-based combat, a level/gear progression system... all pretty typical gameplay elements.

The gameplay elements isn't mind blowing and I believe the visuals and the story is it strongest point so for anyone wanting a gameplay driven game I feel wouldn't enjoy it plus there's a lot of "cutscenes" though they don't actually cut away it's still story driven moments with no talking or just where you're walking forward slowly.

By that definition, 50% of games are not games, just story-driven experiences. Just because an action-heavy, gameplay-heavy adventure game also has a good narrative doesn't mean it's not a game.

I never actually said it wasn’t a game and it’s just my opinion/take on it. It’s still fun nonetheless.

[Kong Wen]

I'll sort these into proper categories as we get closer to the end of the year, but 2018 really picked up steam, and there are a lot of strong contenders for a variety of "best ____ of 2018" awards here.

Top Contenders:

Celeste
Monster Hunter: World
God of War
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Runners-up / Participation Trophy:

Hollow Knight (2017 on PC)
WarioWare Gold
Secret of Mana (remake)
Pit People (spent a long time in early access)

To Be Played & Determined / Unreleased:

Owlboy
Red Dead Redemption 2
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
Mega Man 11
Spider-Man
Guacamelee! 2
Into the Breach
The Messenger
Octopath Traveler
Night in the Woods
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
The Swords of Ditto

[SkyPikachu]

• Best game(s) of 2018.
  Unranked due to lack of games
  • Reverie
  • Iconoclasts
  • God of War
  Yet to play
  • Celeste
  • Unravel Two
  • Spider-man
  • Red Dead Redemption 2
  • Hollow Knight
  • Mega Man 11
  • Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu
  • Pode
• Best game you played in 2018 that didn't really come out in 2018. (Games I've beaten or played a lot of)
  1st - Fable Anniversary
  Runners up (I'll make a 2nd/3rd/4th/5th at the end of the year)
  • Mad Max
  • Mirror's Edge Catalyst
  • Rayman Legends
  • Super Metroid
  • Super Lucky's Tale
  • Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
  • Littlebigplanet Vita
  • Knack
  • Crash Bandicoot (1) HD
  • Super Mario 3D World
  • Skate 3
  • Shovel Knight
  • Pokemon Platinum
  • Super Meat Boy
  • God of War
• Biggest disappointment of 2018.
  1. Nintendo's 2018 lineup
  2. Playstation announcing PS+ going down to 2 games a month instead of staying at 6
  ---
  
  Considering Nintendo's 2018 lineup is 99.99% set for the rest of the year I thought I'd change up my biggest disappointment of 2018 to "Nintendo's 2018 lineup" this was a terrible year personally I bought my switch for 1st party games and the games launching this year were pretty average.
  
  Super Smash Bros - This was clearly their big game and I honestly have never gotten into the series the game just feels button mashy to me (like all fighting games) So while this is fantastic for a lot of people this is a nothing game for me and Nintendo can't put all it's eggs into one basket.
  
  Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee - Maybe I'll love this as I'm going to rent it from the library but it just seems like a half assed version of the game that's going to suck.
  
  The World Ends with You: Final Remix - I was going to buy and or rent this but ended up not after everyong said it's unplayable docked. This was the game I was hyped for and it's a huge let down.
  
  Super Mario Party, Ninteno Labo, Mario Tennis Aces - Filler crap
  
  Octopath Traveler - I heard this was decent
  
  Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido - This was a case of cool story and poor gameplay.
  
  Kirby Star Allies - Kirby filler heard it was bad.
  
  In the end you're looking at 1 good launch game so far with 2 other yet to launch lets assumed Smash is good and Pokemon is average and you've got 2 good games for the year. 1 in a genre I hate. Really sad. Also no VC. Added online but didn't improve anything and the switch still feels like it's in alpha. It's really been the low light of the year.
  
  Compared to last years Zelda, Mario, Mario + Rabbids, Splatoon 2, Free online and excusing the terrible software due to it being launch year.