I've considered a few things this year, as there have been a few questions come to mind while thinking about GOTYs. The first being that from here on out, I'll be considering early access games that reach their full release. I've always wondered if it's best to wait until full release, because I think that once you start selling a game it can (and should) be critiqued. However, for the purposes of GOTY considerations, I think judging a game by its full release is appropriate.
The other thought was that I have to accept my own limitations. There were lots of little games that I would have liked to at least try before considering GOTYs, but I either wasn't in the mood or I didn't find the time.
So keep in mind that this is one person's GOTY thoughts, and not an exhaustive critique on the entire year of gaming. Of course I try to play a lot of the big games of the year, but there are always going to be excellent games missing. Plus, it should go without saying that this is entirely subjective and even though everyone else loved Red Dead Redemption 2, I genuinely preferred the other games I've featured here.
Basically if you read last year's GOTY post, this one will follow the same format… enjoy!
God Of War (2018)
It's not very often that I agree with most major outlets when it comes to GOTYs, but it seems like the overwhelming opinion for 2018 was that God Of War (2018) stood well above the rest. I almost didn't even play it, because the hype had raised my expectations too far, but during a sale I had to pick it up and see what's what.
Additionally, I will also be the first to say that the notion of any game being perfect is an impossibility. Without exception there will be issues in every game that's ever made, it's just the nature of the beast. So when I say that God Of War (2018) is as close to a perfect game as I've played in a very long time, I hope that will speak volumes.
I already wrote a post about the game which goes into more detail, but the main reason it's my GOTY is down to how the game felt while I played. It reminded me of booting up Doom II for the first time and hearing those amazing 16-bit sound effects. I got the same thrill in my gut as I did after building a PC so that I could run GTA III on top hardware.
There's something undefinable about the way that a game makes you feel, but let's try and define it anyway. Of course these are subjective moments in my gaming history that had an impact on me, but it's worth noting that God Of War (2018) is so good that It's left its mark on me for a long time. Playing through the masterfully crafted campaign reminded what it felt like to play a game that exceeded expectations in every single aspect.
The blend between crafted linear sections and small open-world exploration is perfectly realised. There's enough freedom to feel like you have agency in the world, but the experience is guided strongly enough to be a true piece of craftsmanship. This is a game that shows how hard every single person worked to make it an excellent experience, and it's incredibly satisfying to find out just how well they succeeded.
However, the biggest accomplishment for my money is how well this reboot of the God Of War franchise manages to fit in with its predecessors. Part of me wasn't looking forward to the dissonance that would exist if this game had ignored the rest of the franchise. To then discover that the story provided a justifiable and realistic way to bring Kratos into this new world was more than a relief.
In fact, the writing overall is second to none in God Of War (2018). Largely because we already have an idea of what to expect from a game in the series, but there was no point when I felt like this game didn't belong. I had no idea how the whole 'dad' thing would fit in, or why this Spartan warrior is fighting Norse gods, but they made it work. It still baffles me at the cleverness of it all, and the amount of respect that's give to the franchise by making it all work instead of ret-conning the entire history of the games.
Overall though, this was by far the best time I had with a game in 2018. I think it's even the best time I've had in a game for a number of years, which might be a little hyperbolic, but it feels true as I write this. I'd love to dive into some deeper details, but there are so many special moments to be had throughout God Of War (2018) that I'd hate to spoil anything.
Just know this: if you were avoiding this reboot because you're worries it might taint the previous games in the franchise, don't worry. The two greatest achievements of God Of War (2018) are that it's a beautifully hand crafted game, and that it manages to fit within the existing universe of the series.
There were many great games released in 2018, but this was the greatest by a complete level of magnitude. It's not often we get to play something so polished and special.
Subnautica
This is the game that made me contemplate how early access games should be treated in GOTY considerations. Mainly because I've been playing Subnautica on and off for years, since well before its full release in 2018. However, there's no denying that the full release of Subnautica is one of the best games that were officially released throughout the year.
Technically, I haven't finished it properly yet, as there's still some of the campaign that I need to complete. Although, I already know how the game ends and what happens, because I followed the development of the game and what new parts were implemented at different points in its early access life. Unfortunately that means that when the final campaign was added to the game, all the new stuff was revealed in an update trailer that showed off the end-game content.
Despite any of that though, there's no denying that Subnautica is perhaps the best open world survival game made in recent years. We've all seen the litany of titles like The Long Dark and The Forest, that all task you with eating, drinking, sleeping, and surviving. While I haven't played many of them, the ones I have seen and tried have all maintained a certain level of jank that always puts me off.
At the same time along comes Subnautica, which is not only a stable and technically competent game, but it offers a lot more than your typical janky survival experience.
The game is beautiful and features a number of different biomes and alien life forms to explore and encounter. Progression has been masterfully designed in such a way that you always have an obvious goal that is attainable at your current level of skill and capabilities. What's more, the annoying survival systems of having to always find food and water, eventually become nothing more than minor inconveniences as you quickly find ways to deal with them easily.
I'll do a proper post eventually, but aside from anything else, this progression system in Subnautica is what really makes me love the game. It's clear that the developers have spent a lot of time thinking about the carrot-on-a-stick that guides players to new items and areas. Everything is wonderfully crafted to provide a solid experience that never feels like you're wasting time grinding through impossible barriers.
Plus, I love every minute I've spent in Subnautica, even though monsters and giant sea aliens terrify the crap out of me. I tend to avoid horror games as a rule, but I'm willing to take a few frights in order to experience all the brilliance this game has to offer.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
I can't deny that this is another game I haven't finished, but only because it's so huge in scope and possibility. Initially I was sceptical thanks to a lot of media writing it off as a janky mess that's too niche to be bothered with, but I'm so glad I persevered and gave it a chance.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is highly ambitious from the start. I haven't played other Kingdom Come games, so I'm not sure if it's typical of the series, but it feels like the Dragon's Dogma of authentic 15th century RPGs. As in: it's big, it's detailed, it's a little janky, but it's enticingly open and detailed.
The first thing that hit me is the authenticity of the setting, which goes to great lengths to teach you about the time period. It's weird at first to hear everyone greet you by saying things like "praise Jesus", but it's correct for the era and the more you get into character, the more it feels appropriate. I'd almost like to see a game written in medieval English (a la Chaucer), but I suspect that would make an already niche game lost in obscurity.
You start out as a blacksmith's son, living in a small town that gets attacked and burned to the ground. Turns out that there are two kings fighting it out for the crown, and you're stuck in the middle of it as peasants often are. Hence the game is about living in this world and gaining the skills and means to avenge your family and prosper.
There are a huge number of systems playing out during your adventures that serve to solidify the fact that you're one person in a living world. People live their lives and are simulated as such; going to work, sleeping, resting, etc. The vast world is alive with towns and people who have things to do and occupy places in the hierarchy of their feudal system.
An example of the detail is that you have to consider how clean you are and what you're wearing when you talk to other people. Asking a noble for help will probably fail if you're dressed in torn clothing. However, maybe threatening someone while you're covered in blood and dirt is a good way to intimidate them.
I'm still uncovering different ways to approach situations and resolve quests and problems, as I've only just scratched the surface. The main reason this is only a runner up is that I don't feel like I've played enough to categorically say how good Kingdom Come: Deliverance actually is.
What I do know, is that this is a game I'll be sinking some serious time into before I'm done. There's so much history to learn and so many mechanics to master, it feels like the authentic version of what I always wanted Skyrim to be. Where Skyrim was fairly simplistic in its open world systems, Kingdom Come: Deliverance feels like it's bursting at the seams.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
These are games that I spent some time considering and weighing up against each other for the best games of 2018. Basically I couldn't write this post without at least pointing out the following titles, as each of these came incredibly close to the top spots.
In order of release:
Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)
I never played the original, but I very much enjoyed my time with this remake. I'm not sure if I'd ever put a remake higher than an honourable mention, so that might say something for how good this game is. Either way I really liked how unique Shadow Of The Colossus (2018) was as a game and how interesting its overall design turned out to be.
Far Cry 5
Ever since Far Cry 3 I've kind of been rolling my eyes a little when I think about the franchise, but this one hooked me right back in. The introduction of AI partners and different regions to be conquered reminded me a little of Ghost Recon: Wildlands, which I also loved. However, for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I was playing as a douche bag, surrounded by douche bags. Instead I kind of wanted to join a cult by the time I was done.
Frostpunk
I'm surprised that anyone is able to add another spin to the city-building strategy genre, but Frostpunk managed to pull it off. The game can be quite challenging at times and manages to make you feel like you're always balancing of the knife edge of success and failure. Every fan of city-builders should have a crack at this game. It actually does something new and unique within a somewhat saturated genre.
FAR: Lone Sails
For me, this was the Limbo, or Inside, of 2018. I love simple games that do everything really well and never ask you to endure frustration in order to progress. The real genius of FAR: Lone Sail's mechanics is that there are only a few interactions throughout the entire game, but they're enough to keep you interested. Not to mention the beautiful art and excellent soundtrack.
Wreckfest
Another game I've been playing for a long time, but it had its full release in 2018. This is the same developer as the FlatOut series of racing games, which are famous for their destructibility and insane crashes. Only fitting then that this would be called Wreckfest, as it's essentially the FlatOut spiritual successor, providing an unmatched level of car crashing detail. It's one hell of a good time, and quite a unique racing experience.
Marvel's Spider-Man
Honestly, I thought I was going to kind of dislike this game immensely. I'm not really a fan of super-hero games, and I'm not even a fan of the Marvel movies that everyone seems to love. All I heard about this game was the hype that fans posted online, so I had no idea what to actually expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. It didn't blow my mind, but I had a great time and enjoyed swinging around the city enough to go for the relatively easy platinum trophy. I may not be much of a Spider-Man fan, but it's hard to deny that this game is a good time and does very little wrong.
THE LIST
As usual, let's finish with a big list of the games released in 2018 that I actually played. I mentioned it at the top, but there are some obvious absentees like Assassin's Creed: Odyssey and Return Of The Obra Dinn, which I never got around to playing. Unfortunately there's no avoiding it when you're just one person giving their thoughts.
Also, while I'm pretty sure that I've included everything I've played, I might have missed something. It's hard to find a comprehensive list online of every game released each year, so some of them might get lost in the pile.
If you've read any previous GOTY posts then this is much the same. I've included the platform I played each game on, and if I've written a post about a game the title will link there if you'd like to find out more.
Subnautica (Win)
Railway Empire (Win)
Shadow Of The Colossus (2018) (PS4)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (PS4)
Fe (Win)
Gravel (PS4)
Far Cry 5 (Win)
God Of War (2018) (PS4)
Frostpunk (Win)
Super Mega Baseball 2 (Win)
House Flipper (Win)
FAR: Lone Sails (Win)
Wizard Of Legend (Win)
Quarantine Circular (Win)
Detroit: Become Human (PS4)
Onrush (PS4)
Wreckfest (Win)
The Awesome Adventures Of Captain Spirit (Win)
The Crew 2 (PS4)
Graveyard Keeper (Win)
Not Tonight (Win)
Two Point Hospital (Win)
Tree Bonsai (Win)
Marvel's Spider-Man (PS4)
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider (Win)
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game (Win)
Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4)
Grip: Combat Racing (Win)
Hitman 2 (2018) (Win)
Farming Simulator 19 (Win)