My Top 7 Games of 2018

As we build anticipation for the incredible line up of video games in 2019, it's a great of a time as any to look back on the ones that stood out to us the most throughout 2018. While I spent most of my time hitting the back log and replaying the Kingdom Hearts games (again), I did make way for some heavy hitters. I didn't get to every new game I wanted to, but I would be remiss not to mention the ones I did play in the most original fashion for an online blog - a ranked list.

A quick note - I'm currently playing Valkyria Chronicles 4 and Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, so while I would love to include both in this list, I can't since I did not finish them or play enough of either to honestly consider ranking them. However, both are fantastic and I had to give them a shout out. Onto the list!  7. Soulcalibur VI 

Definitely one of the best surprises out of the year, Soulcalibur VI offers a lot of interesting content in its singleplayer side while being super fun and a different, yet familiar Soulcalibur experience. What really won me over however, was the absolutely amazing and, at times, hilarious character creation mode. It's unlike any other fighting game I have played this console generation where, with the clever use of the character creator tool, players can match up Darth Maul from Star Wars against Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Or even Fred Flintstone against Black Panther. It's an endless pool of creative character creation and match ups that, honestly, convinced me to buy the game.

As for the single player content, there's PLENTY of it and I found myself really enjoying the challenges peppered throughout the Libra of Souls mode, which happens to be one of two story-based modes. I haven't dabbled too much into online gameplay, but I put it in over 20 hours into Soulcalibur VI's offline mode alone and I still keep going back to it because of how fun, fast, and incredibly satisfying the weapon-based fighting is.  6. Spyro Reignited Trilogy  

Talk about a blast from the past. It's a rare sight when a video game still captures their fun factor generations later, but here we have all three Spyro games in the Reignited Trilogy doing just that. The Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a perfect set of games that not only set a new standard for remakes, but perfectly capture a treasured time in video game history.

Judging by the reception of the Reignited Trilogy, it's awesome to see that cartoonish 3D platforming adventures still have their place among a medium growing into more serious and dramatic storytelling experiences. The remade Spyro games are a breath of fresh air, and had me reminisce the good ol' days before responsibilities mattered. I didn't expect this collection to make my list, but it goes to show how certain games are just timeless.  5. Guacamelee! 2 

Per my review, "Guacamelee! 2 is a genie disguised as a video game in that it will make all of your wishes for a metroidvania game come true. Now, don't go on thinking that it's the kind of genie that only grants three wishes. Guacamelee! 2 is a prime title in the metroidvania genre and has become one of my favorite games of 2018 for being such a tight, vibrant, and fun piñata to beat the hell out of."

While writing this list, Guacamelee! 2 was one of the first games I thought of. The first game was an ingenious creation of fun luchador brawling, great level design, and a hilarious sense of humor, and the sequel just ups the above and beyond. I couldn't recommend it enough.  4. Red Dead Redemption II 

What a journey Red Dead Redemption II took me on. The first few hours of play were... a bore to say the least. The next three hours had me contemplating dropping the game entirely due to bad controls, a snail-like pace for the story, and cumbersome mimics to realism that kept the game from being fun.

All of that, and I still don't consider Red Dead Redemption II a bad game. Why, you ask? Plainly, what it gets right is some of the most impressive feats in a video game I have seen. Most notably, the Western open-world and attention to detail is so captivating and dynamic that I wanted to keep coming back. After finishing the second chapter, I was wholly invested into Arthur Morgan, your playable character, and Dutch van der Linde and where their values and morals took them in the story.

It's just when I want Red Dead II to be just a game and not the realistic cinematic experience it's trying so hard to be is when I get frustrated. Red Dead Redemption II is the game that takes three steps forward and one, maybe two steps back because of hollow gameplay and bad controls. However, it's hard to ignore what it excels in - the writing, the complex characters, visuals, the open-world design, and a staggering attention to detail. Those elements of the game alone are worth playing through the negatives. 3. Marvel's Spider-Man 

Insomniac Games were not joking around when they set out to make the best Spider-Man game ever made, and man, did they hit the nail on the head or what? Marvel's Spider-Man is everything fans wanted it to be and the closest I have ever felt to feeling like Spider-Man in a video game. It has the best web-swinging because it emphasizes fluidity, style, and hitting that rare "just right" feeling.

It's one of those games you rather web-swing to your destination than use the fast travel mechanic, which isn't said often. Insomniac's level of detail for New York City and for all of Spider-Man's suits are jaw-dropping and completely perfect for its photo mode. The game delivers a clever, relatable, and experienced Spider-Man in an emotional and exciting story as well. When the credits roll, all you want to do is go back and play it again, which is exactly what I did. It's the best Spider-Man game and definitely the one of best Spider-Man stories ever written. 2. God of War  What a special, special game God of War is. There's no doubt that everybody wanted another entry in the famous series that started on the PlayStation 2. However, no one, and I mean NO ONE, expected the dramatic change in tone, combat, and storytelling, and for all of it to be arguably the best in the medium. It's considered one of the greatest gambles in video games since the original series was generally praised, well-known, and cemented itself as some of the best action games ever made.

However, Creative Director Cory Barlog and Sony Santa Monica had other plans for God of War - a very, very different plan. In the end, the risk payed off and delivered a Game of the Year winner. I was thoroughly impressed by the level design and graphic fidelity of the game. God of War's super-satisfying combat and narrative threads kept the journey truly epic and emotional. Also, the entire game playing out with no camera cuts? Good LORD what an achievement. 

I had no idea how they would turn Kratos, a once blood-thirsty, revenge-obsessed protagonist, into a sympathetic character who's trying to figure out how to be a dad of all things, but it worked. The series opened itself up to Norse mythology as well and deeply roots the story in that mythology, making it all the more interesting as you explore the open area. I'm looking forward to starting New Game+ for God of War once I finish Kingdom Hearts III next year.  1. Monster Hunter: World 

Once Monster Hunter: World sunk its teeth into me, it had me for good; and this is coming from someone who couldn't get into the series with past entries. The environments were masterfully built - filled with personality and wonder, yet danger around every corner. Every monster encounter is truly an experience including the way they move and sound, how they react to your presence, the music that underscores it all, etc. Your palms will sweat and your hunter instinct will make or break you, and I wouldn't want it any other way. Everything works together in a perfect symphony, making it so easy to be immersed.

My weapon of choice was the insanely cool insect glaive, but using other weapons brought a whole new level of strategy that was just so much fun to master.

Thanks to Monster Hunter: World and its incredible co-op experience, I got to spend countless hours hunting monsters with friends and even made some new ones along the way, which is one of the reasons why video games are so special. Thankfully, Capcom kept their promise to the community with periodic updates to the game with new hunts, festivals, and great collaborations. I'm so excited for its massive expansion planned for Fall of next year. 

With everything it has to give, Monster Hunter: World is undoubtedly my game of the year for 2018. I loved it so much that I'll take it a step further and say it's one of my favorite games of all time. 

I hope you enjoyed reading through my favorite games of 2018! Let me know which ones were your favorite!