The 14 Best Games of 2018 So Far
Our favourite games of the year (so far)
We’re more than half way through the year – and even though the busiest time for news games is still to come, 2018 has seen some incredible releases.
Whether it’s because of the incredible epic that was God of War or the long-awaited Monster Hunter World – and not forgetting the many great indie games – there’s never been a better time to be a gamer. Whichever format you play on, there are amazing games abound.
The GameSpew team have got together to pick out the games that have stood out in 2018 for us so far. We’ve got a mixture of AAA and indie, and regardless of the game’s budget, they have all made a lasting impact on us. Read on to see our picks of the best games of 2018 so far…
Monster Hunter World
Release date: 26th January 2018
Available on: PS4 and Xbox One
Developer/Publisher: Capcom
Jack: Oddly enough, there’s a lot about Monster Hunter World I really don’t like. This boils down to what is almost a feature of the JRPG: barely anything is explained. Two weeks before a wedding I was horrendously anxious about, the groom introduced me to a couple of his friends from University through Monster Hunter World. One of those people in particular I now consider one of my closest friends, the wedding went great and I partly thank Monster Hunter World for both of those outcomes.
But regardless, once Monster Hunter World gets your claws into you and you get your head around its oft-convoluted systems, there’s no letting go. Assisting each other in our quest for materials to upgrade weaponry was great fun. The amount of time we spent on a couple of the elder dragons gave a great feeling of pride and accomplishment when we defeated them; it took me back to my early raiding days. Had I not been playing with friends, I doubt I would have played past the 10 hour mark, but in the end I had 80+ hours clocked into Monster Hunter World, and if I spend that many hours in a game, it must be doing something right.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Release date: 13th February 2018
Available on: PC, PS4 and Xbox One
Developer: Warhorse Studios
Publisher: Deep Silver
Chris: Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a game that I’d remained unaware of up until its launch, but I’m glad I took the plunge. It delivers everything that I loved about The Witcher 3; not grizzled ladies’ men, but rather a morally-complex world where your own problems really don’t matter. I loved that even though your character, Henry, was boiling over with rage at the death of his parents, nearly everyone rightly told him that they had bigger problems to deal with.
Combat, too, was refreshing if occasionally unwieldy. I love that you couldn’t wade in, sword flailing, and expect to come out on top. The world was smaller than Skyrim’s but it felt so alive, existing not merely to act as a sandbox for the player. I still delve into the game and I’m looking forward to the promised DLC that lets you experience the game from a female perspective.
Read our review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Crossing Souls
Release date: 13th February 2018
Available on: PC and PS4
Developer: Fourattic
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Robert: When I reviewed Crossing Souls, I gave it full marks for its imaginative take on the retro platformer. I stand by that review and still wholeheartedly recommend it to those who like any of the following: platformers, the 80’s, puzzles, impressive pixel art, or having fun.
Crossing Souls has some clever puzzles that make use of its interesting party swap mechanic, and it also challenges you with more traditional platforming sections. But most of all, Crossing Souls sells you with its story and character. I was expecting an overload of references (of which there are still many), but I was not prepared to feel the full force of an 80s adventure. It might not be on the same scale as some of the other games on this list, but to me, it still very much stands out as one of the best games of 2018 so far.
Read our review of Crossing Souls
Florence
Release date: 14th February 2018
Available on: Android and iOS
Developer: Mountains
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Kyle: Florence is a game about a young woman, Florence Yeoh, and her journey through the highs and lows of a romantic relationship. I first heard about it as friends of mine began singing its praises when it first released on iOS this past February. Made by Mountains, a small Australian team led by Ken Wong of Monument Valley fame, it’s a touching story that breaks narrative conventions as you experience small snippets of Florence’s life throughout a five year timespan. We don’t normally cover mobile games on GameSpew, but Florence made such an impact on me, that I felt it still worthy of being included as one of our best games of 2018 so far.
There were a lot of elements in which I related to Florence. Her relationship with her overbearing Asian mother felt all too familiar, as too did her lonely early mornings waking up in her single-bedroom apartment before finding love in a young musician by pure chance. Early conversations between the two transform from complicated puzzles to simple illustrations conveying the narrative arc of their relationship via inventive gameplay mechanics. Yet more than this, Florence touches on more than just love, but life – as cheesy as it is to say – and what lies beyond just the fleeting fancy of romance and affection.
A Way Out
Release date: 23rd March 2018
Available on: PS4, Xbox One and PC
Developer: Hazelight Studios
Publisher: EA
Kim: From Josef Fares, the creator of Brothers, A Way Out took the concept of playing as a problem-solving duo to the next level. In A Way Out, you have to play with another person. You simply cannot play by yourself. That means either playing with a friend on the couch, or playing with a friend online (a clever system allows you to invite a player to join you, so you don’t both need a copy of the game). It’s a unique (and probably quite risky) thing to attempt, but A Way Out masterfully pulled it off.
There could be no other way to enjoy A Way Out than with another player. It simply wouldn’t work. Taking control of two inmates, Vincent and Leo, you’ve got to break out of prison. And after you’ve broken out, you’ve got to make your way through the world, back to their families, avoiding the police in the process. It manages to be both contemplative and action-packed, its story keeping you gripped from start to finish. But the way it forces you to work together with your co-op partner is like nothing else. Communication is key; certain segments of the game require you to coordinate button presses, and you must make decisions together to be able to progress. It makes me very excited to see what Fares and the team at Hazelight Studios can come up with next.
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Release date: 23rd March 2018
Available on: PC and PS4
Developer: Level-5
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Becca: I was passionately in love with the first Ni No Kuni game. It was one of the first RPGs I’d ever played and it was basically love at first sight. When Revenant Kingdom was announced I immediately felt apprehensive. Sequels are pretty widely known for not being as good as the first – and Revenant Kingdom had some big virtual shoes to fill.
In the end, Ni No Kuni II did not disappoint. With the change in combat style and the addition of the little kingdom building mechanics, Revenant Kingdom was well-rounded and entertaining. I loved the world, the characters, and the story – it’s one that grabs you almost instantly and immerses you entirely in the universe it so masterfully creates. It’s definitely one I will find myself revisiting often.
Read our review of Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
God of War
Release date: 20th April 2018
Available on: PS4
Developer: SIE Santa Monica
Publisher: Sony
Epic is the only way you can describe God of War, but not for the same reason you could equally describe the previous games in the series.
While the previous God of War games were epic in scale, with bosses so big you could usually only see tiny portion of them on screen at any time, the new God of War is epic because of its storyline. It manages to humanise Kratos for one, which is a mighty achievement, but it also matures the franchise, making it more than just about an angry man tearing up Greeks.
What’s best about God of War is the combat though. The Leviathan Axe is a wonderful new weapon that has weight to it, and alongside Krato’s new hand to hand skills and *spoiler* his Blades of Chaos, fighting enemies never gets old. In fact, it just gets better as you unlock new moves and power up new special skills. Playing God of War is 30 hours plus of pure heaven, which makes it undoubtedly one of the best games of 2018 so far.
Battletech
Release date: 24th April 2018
Available on: PC
Developer: Harebrained Schemes
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Kyle: A marriage between the turn-based strategy fundamentals of recent XCOM titles and the classic, detail-oriented design from the classic tabletop Battletech series, Harebrained Schemes’ Battletech somehow took me from someone with a passive respect for strategy games to a full-fledged believer. Throwing my mechs onto the frontlines of battle, their heavy footsteps causing small-scale earthquakes with each step, I’ve never been so enthralled to see my own soldiers die at the hands of better prepared enemy combatants.
Boasting a truly compelling single-player campaign, Battletech’s combat throws you head-first into the specific minutia of warfare yet able to ride the line between complete fantasy and hardcore simulation. Needing to pay attention to a mech’s position to the smallest detail, going so far as to calculate it’s degree of rotation and relationship to the environment, this is a game that asks a lot from its players. Yet, unlike many other games, it then offers you due reward for your investment, often with some of the most rewarding combat encounters I’ve seen in a game since the original Demon’s Souls.
Laser League
Release date: 10th May 2018
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Developer: Roll7
Publisher: 505 Games
Matt: I can’t stress enough how thoroughly enjoyable Laser League is. From the visuals to the beautifully hectic pace of the game, it shines at every angle. Whether alone, with a friend, or online, you’ll never feel bored or complacent. The balance of the classes and abilities are some of the best in any sports game, or across any genre, for that matter. The blistering speed with which each match is played constantly tests your ability to react quickly and efficiently. Even when you fail, there is still so much to love. Each second is precious, and each decision is monumental to the overall flow of the game.
I truly hope this game catches some traction and starts to find the recognition is so blatantly deserves. If this is ever a free game of the month, or sitting around on a Steam sale, you best believe it’ll soar. But you shouldn’t wait for that. Laser League is worth far more than its price of admission. A techno-sports fever dream that only gets better the more you play. I can go on forever about what makes this game so good. Perfectly executed on nearly every front, Laser League is something special and is without a doubt my personal best game of 2018 so far.
Read our review of Laser League
Unforeseen Incidents
Release date: 24th May 2018
Available on: PC
Developer: Backwoods Entertainment
Publisher: Application Systems
Jack: I’d kept a keen eye on Unforeseen Incidents for a while because of the fascinating hand-painted art style by Matt Moiselle. It reminded me fondly of the works of Sylvain Chomet, but dialled back slightly and much sharper. I had no idea what to expect from the game itself, but was elated to find it does the art style justice. The writing is sharp and generated laughs a few times from myself. Solid voice acting all round really helps to engage you in the world of Unforeseen Incidents, and its characters.
From start to finish, Unforeseen Incidents is a solidly put together point and click title that rarely devolves into combining every item in the hopes of progress. This mystery to solve is thrust upon a normal, simple, regular handyman, Harper Pendrell, by a dying woman. I adore the simplicity of Harper as a character to be thrust into this story of deception, mass panic and disease.
Detroit: Become Human
Release date: 25th May 2018
Available on: PS4
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony
Becca: Despite the controversy surrounding Detroit: Become Human, I still really enjoyed it. In fact, not only is it my favourite game of the year so far, it is my favourite Quantic Dream game to date. Detroit: Become Human has an intriguing story that begs a lot of questions. How close are we to a future of living with androids? How will we treat them? What will their presence do to society? Detroit allows for an in-depth look at a very probable future.
Its biggest strength lies in the game’s messages and how players decide to interpret those messages. Also, being able to control the actions of its three characters is an absolute roller coaster ride of anxiety and emotions. Being able to see the paths you could’ve taken at the end of each chapter really encourages you to play through it again, making different choices. And I have. And I will continue to for a long while.
Read our review of Detroit: Become Human (which doesn’t quite align with Becca’s thoughts!)
Yoku’s Island Express
Release date: 29th May 2018
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Developer: Villa Gorilla
Publisher: Team17
Kim: A combination of pinball and metroidvania may seem like an unusual pairing, but somehow, it works. Yoku’s Island Express is just that – a metroidvania-style platform game that manages to flawlessly combine pinball into its gameplay. It’s beautiful, it’s serene, it’s engaging in all the right ways.
In Yoku’s Island Express, you play as the titular Yoku, a wee beetle who’s been tasked with delivering letters to the residents of Mokumana Island. For some inexplicable reason, he’s attached to a ball several times his size, and it’s with this ball that he can traverse the island easily: by using it as a pinball and flinging him around the island’s tunnels. It’s such an unusual, pleasant experience that Yoku’s Island Express deserves attention. It’s absolutely gorgeous with a stellar soundtrack to boot, and its unique blend of gameplay is such a refreshing twist on tried-and-tested methods.
Read our review of Yoku’s Island Express
Onrush
Release date: 5th June 2018
Available on: PS4 and Xbox One
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Deep Silver
Kim: I love Onrush. But I also kind of hate Onrush. It makes me unnecessarily sweary when I lose and get crushed by an opponent. But that’s all part of the fun of the game. It’s fast-paced, crazy, non-stop adrenaline-fuelled action, and it gets into your veins and demands you keep playing.
With a sizeable single-player campaign, and as much online play as you can possibly squeeze in before bedtime, there’s plenty of content to go at. There are eight vehicle classes, and races come in different forms across several incredibly varied maps. I’m not a big lover of online games, but there’s something about Onrush that keeps me coming back. It’s not perfect, but the fact that it’s just so much fun to play certainly means something. After all, that’s what video games are supposed to be all about, right?
Vampyr
Release date: 5th June 2018
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Developer: Dontnod Entertainment
Publisher: Focus Home Entertainment
It has been ages since we’ve had a good vampire game. I guess Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines was the last great one. That’s why I’m glad that Dontnod Entertainment’s Vampyr turned out so well.
An open world action RPG, Vampyr stands out from the crowd because the decisions you make in it have a real impact. Whether you fight to save the people of London is up to you, but the consequences of your actions won’t always be forseeable. You might think you’re doing someone a kindness by erasing their memory instead of killing them, for instance. But the result may end up being equally as bad. Then you’ll rue perhaps not pursuing the third option, though there’s no way to back and undo your decision.
Alternatively, you could just play Vampyr like a monster, consuming the blood of every person you encounter to make yourself more powerful than you could ever imagine. That’s the magic of Vampyr; it’s up to you.
