It was a great year for entertainment, especially when it comes to the world of video games.
Last year has pushed the boundaries of gaming through great storytelling and character work, gameplay, world building, genre, graphics, sound design and replay ability.
Here are the top five best video games of 2018.
5. “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe”
As an enhanced version of the original “Mario Kart 8” for the Wii U, “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” brings an even better version of the game for the much superior Nintendo Switch.
The game has new features, enhanced game modes and new outfits for characters and vehicles. The racing in the game is amazing along with the new flying mechanics, graphics, sound design, different driving modes and replay potential.
4. “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate”
“Super Smash Bros.” was the best game to come out for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. It is a culmination of every character and stages, plus new ones from the previous Super Smash Bros games and refines every aspect of the game that continues to make it stand out in the fighting genre.
With polished gameplay, massive roster of characters and stages and replay ability, Super Smash Bros Ultimate is the perfect celebration of the history of Nintendo and offers great fun for the player.
3. “Marvel’s Spider-Man”
“Marvel’s Spider-Man” from Insomniac Games for the PlayStation 4, gave us the definitive Spider-Man experience in gaming. The player will be in awe and get lost just by the game’s incredible web swinging with its perfect recreation of New York City. Most missions, particularly the main story, were a fun experience.
But what made Marvel’s Spider-Man one of the absolute best adaptations of Spider-Man was not just the story, but the complete understanding of what makes Spider-Man/Peter Parker one of the greatest comic book characters, which is the consequences and sacrifice of being a superhero. With a new but unique take and complete understanding of the character, Insomniac Games have created the best Spider-Man game and possibly the best superhero game ever made.
2. “God of War”
“God of War” is a perfect game that reinvigorated the franchise. After completely wiping out all of Greek Mythology in the previous six “God of War” games, protagonist Kratos steps into the world of Norse Mythology.
But Kratos must face a new, a more compelling challenge, raising a son. With his son Atreus, Kratos travels across the Norse realms to spread the ashes of his diseased wife all while rekindling his relationship with Atreus and by fighting the Norse gods and monsters that oppose him.
“God of War” completely reinvents the formula of the “God of War” franchise with new and innovative gameplay mechanics that involve Atreus as a partner, a world a little more open than the previous games, exploration, more grounded but still massive and epic boss battles and quieter moments that complement the themes of story.
Also, the connections the game makes with the previous games in the franchise are not done for nostalgia but are made in service of the story and the growth of the characters in what is arguably the best video game story of 2018.
1.“Red Dead Redemption II”
Red Dead Redemption II is a masterpiece of gaming. It is a living and breathing world with tons of variety. Its story and character work are cinematic and superb. The gameplay expands from the original game by bringing a more innovative flare with some of the most realistic mechanics ever conceived in a video game. The missions, side missions and the world present the player with colorful characters and new ground to explore. The graphics are breathtaking, the score is astounding and the sound design is excellent.
“Red Dead Redemption II” is everything that a prequel should be. It builds upon what was established in the original game and even though the player knows how the story is going to go down if he or she played the original game, the game still manages to emotionally shake and surprise in ways that the player never sees coming. “Red Dead Redemption II” has some of the best and most complicated characters in a story of the Old West dying and the consequences and meaning of civilization. The game is perfect across the board.
