Hello everyone, hope you’re all doing well, and welcome to part four of my Best Of 2018 List! I’ve had a tough time deciding which titles deserve to make the cut when so many good ones have been released this year. I’m trying to include something from as many different genres and styles as I can, without excluding any of the heavy hitters. Looking back at all the great titles makes me realize what an amazing time it is for gaming. It seems like every year the bar gets raised a little more, as developers continue to push the boundaries further and further. Putting together this list has been a lot of fun, and I want to thank everyone who’s been reading them as they’ve come out. This is the final part of the list, with the remaining four games that will round my picks for the Best Of 2018. From what I know about upcoming releases for next year I can already tell there’s a lot more in store for us to look forward to. So let’s wrap this up, and get into the last four games.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy - November 13th, 2018
The Spyro Reignited Trilogy was developed by Toys For Bob, and it’s a collection of three completely remade classic platform games. Back in the PlayStation 1 era Sony was trying to create a mascot for the brand, and one of their most successful was Spyro. Three games were made for the PS1, Spyro The Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage, and Spyro: Year Of The Dragon. Toys For Bob have recreated these three games right down to the smallest detail for modern consoles, and they did an incredible job. You can tell they really cared about making this as good as it could possibly be, while keeping all the core gameplay elements in tact. You play as Spyro, a little purple dragon, as he travels to different worlds collecting gems, helping his friends, and defeating all types of enemies that threaten the dragon kingdom. The first game is a simple platformer that focuses mostly on collecting gems, while the other two games get more complex, adding more characters and mechanics.
I remember playing the original games years ago on the PS1, and having such a great time with them. But looking back on those classic titles today you can see that they didn’t exactly hold up that well. Games have come a long way in terms of graphics, gameplay, and overall quality. When I finally got to play the Spyro Reignited Trilogy I was very impressed by the level of care and detail that went into making this. Not only do the games look beautiful, and handle smoothly, but the developers have added in new animations, new voice acting, new music, and just did a fantastic job of bringing these old classics into the modern era. I’m really happy to see this new trend of remaking these old games, introducing them to a whole new generation of players, and making them relevant again. It’s also nice to take a break from such in depth, complex titles, and just be able to have fun enjoying games from a simpler time. This was such a pleasant surprise, and it definitely belongs on the list.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee - November 16th, 2018
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee are RPGs developed by Game Freak and are Nintendo Switch exclusives. There are two different versions of the game that allow you to choose between the two title characters as your starting Pokemon. This is the first game in the series to be released on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s the first time a Pokemon game has been released on a home console. It’s a slightly new take on the series designed for younger players, or anyone new to the franchise. These are enhanced, remade versions of the 1998 game Pokemon Yellow, featuring new motion control mechanics, and a new optional Poke Ball Plus controller. The game takes place in the Kanto region and includes all 151 original Pokemon creatures for you to capture, and battle against. Unlike previous entries in the series this one let’s you see the wild Pokemon roaming around the land, instead of random battle encounters in grass or caves.
As the first Pokemon game to be available on home consoles you can tell the developers wanted to make it as accessible as possible. They wanted anybody to be able to enjoy this game, not just the hard core fans that have played every single release over the years. This was a little off putting for people who were expecting a new main line entry to the series, but as someone who’s never played a Pokemon game before I really appreciated being able to ease into this massive world that’s been established for years. Even players who have experience with Pokemon Yellow were happy to see the famous Kanto region brought to life with a fresh coat of paint, and a beautiful, bright, colorful art style that wasn’t available on the old handheld consoles. Finding and catching all these classic creatures with the new motion controls, and being able to battle with them against other trainers is a very fun, addictive gameplay loop that keeps you coming back for more. I had a great time with this game, and I had to include it on the list.
Subnautica - December 4th, 2018
Subnautica is an open world survival adventure game developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment. You play as a passenger aboard a large spacecraft traveling to the outer reaches of the galaxy, when suddenly something goes wrong, and your ship crash lands on the nearby planet known as 4546b. Luckily you manage to survive by using an escape pod before the ship makes impact. Once you exit the pod you realize that the entire planet is nothing but ocean, and the only way to survive is to brave the dark depths of this alien world. Played in first person perspective the game requires you to search for resources in order to craft new tools, gear, and devices that will allow you to reach new areas, and hopefully find a way back home. You also need to maintain your food and water intake so you don’t die. As you explore the vast ocean of 4546b, and all it’s various underwater biomes, a fantastic sci-fi story begins to unfold that kept me engaged right up to the end.
One of my biggest fears in life is being stranded out in the ocean. Just knowing how deep down it goes, and the possibilities of what might be just beneath the surface is a terrifying notion. This game captures that feeling perfectly, to the point where I had a hard time playing it at first. The only way to progress is to craft new gear that allows you to go thousands of meters down into the dark, murky depths, and there’s some horrifying creatures awaiting you there. Overcoming that fear and taking the plunge was such an amazing experience I didn’t want to stop playing. Usually I don’t like survival games where you need to constantly worry about food and water, but the way Subnautica goes about this is very user friendly, making it fun instead of tedious. You get to craft an underwater base anywhere, and any way you want, with loads of options, as well as a submarine and mech suit. This is by far the best survival game I’ve ever played, and it no doubt belongs on the list.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - December 7th, 2018
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a fighting game developed by Bandai Namco Studios as an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch. This is the fifth installment of the incredibly popular franchise, and has already become a huge success for Nintendo. It features a whopping 74 characters to choose from in the entire roster, some that are famous Nintendo mascots, and quite a few from other third party games. Out of that number 63 of them are returning fighters from previous Smash games, where 11 of them are completely new to the series, with more coming soon in the form of downloadable content. There’s a large selection of arenas to fight in as well, giving the player lots of options. You can have matches with up to eight fighters at a time, where the goal is to try and knock your opponent out of the arena. Each player has a percentage meter that fills up when they take damage, making them easier to send flying out of the ring.
Ever since the Super Smash Bros. on Gamecube was released this series has been a phenomenon in my group of friends. Even some people who don’t normally play games couldn’t help but pick up the controller to join in on the fun. Everyone was so hyped as Ultimate got closer and closer to finally coming out, and now that it’s here people seem to be really enjoying it. Now, I have to be completely honest with you guys, I’ve never been a fan of fighting games. I prefer titles with a good story, and character progression in order to keep my interest in them, plus I’m just not all that great when it comes to this genre. The fact that Ultimate has a single player campaign is intriguing to me, so I’ll probably check that out at some point, but Smash Bros. really isn’t my kind of thing. That being said, it’s such a heavy hitter in the gaming world that everyone seems to be crazy about, and it surely deserves to be on here.
This brings us to the end of my Best Games Of 2018 List. It was tough choosing these 16 games, but it’s also been a lot of fun looking back at all the amazing titles we’ve got to enjoy throughout the year. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read these, I appreciate the support, and I hope you enjoyed them. Let’s hope next year is even better!
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