2018 was a year filled with games I simply did not play, mostly on the console. That being said, my limited free time still found a whole host of games that impressed, dazzled and consumed me. From genres I thought I’d never enjoy, to games that acted as rebirths of classic eras in PC gaming. These are my favorite games of 2018…
Unavowed
I’d be lying if I called myself a fan of point and click games. More often than not, they tend to outstay their welcome, swiftly being turned off. That was until Unavowed showed up.
There’s a level of childlike wonder throughout the game, as the player is treated to a banquet of myths and legends tied neatly into a modern urban setting. Surprisingly, Unavowed gracefully interjects a truly dark, and adult, story into proceedings. This, of course, would mean nothing without an engaging cast of characters. Wadjet Eye Games didn’t just simple create pixels with names simply there to propel the plot, they crafted actual people. People you want to learn about, talk to and spend time with.
By the time the 9-11 hour experience draws to a dramatic close, I found myself mostly saddened. Not because the game had ended, but because I’d no longer be interacting with the cast.
The closest we’ve gotten to a Guillermo del Toro story in a video game.
Dragon Ball FighterZ:
This game allows you to sit in a room full of friends at 28 years old and screaming like Cell in tandem. For that reason alone it deserves all the praise. It’s also just a really really fun fighter….Z
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
In a time where ‘RPG’ seems to mean picking a perk from a tree and that’s about it, Kingdom Come is a godsend. Sure, it’s rough and janky, but the level of ambition on display is staggering. Similar to ‘Eurojank’ titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, there’s immense amounts of soul oozing from the game.
Kingdom Come isn’t for everyone, but that’s exactly why it works. Learning the mechanics of the game, the way of combat. It’s glorious. A true nudge towards the old-school PC RPG ways, I find it hard not to champion Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
Yakuza 0:
It’s Yakuza, on PC, looking fresh in 1080p. One moment you’re having a dance off, the next you’re battling inner turmoil and questioning the worth of loyalty. Wonderful.
Dead Cells
You’re going to die. But don’t worry, it’s supposed to happen. Dead Cells is a finely balanced dagger that cuts ever so sweetly. The sheer amount of variables in the shape of weapons and their effects creates a hugely robust playing experience. That’s before we’ve even dipped our toes into how each enemy has resistance and weaknesses. What looks like a simple action-platformer, is really a vast set of cogs moving in tandem with one and another. The player’s ability to switch the cogs around is where Dead Cells flourishes.
Combat is fast, visceral and never a chore. Movement is silky smooth, fitting perfectly with the level design and combat mechanics. Everything just works, with each death providing a fundamental lesson in how the player can improve. In short, Dead Cells is sheer magic.
Monster Hunter World
Capcom’s Monster Hunter series has been making bigger and bigger waves in the West for some time now. Monster Hunter: World signals the first major steps by Capcom to truly ‘sell’ the series to a whole new audience, complete with improved accessibility. It’s the perfect starting point for newcomers, as well as a new adventure for veterans, even if they may feel a little left behind.
Hunting with friends is as fun as ever, with the higher ranked hunts providing a true challenge. The grindy nature the series largely still remains, but the hunts themselves are worth the work.
Plus you get to dress up cats.
The Messenger
A love letter to 8-bit platformers and video games in general. It’s everything most ‘retro-inspired’ games want to be, and more.
Vermintide 2
Your friend can set everything on fire while the other blindly swings a mace around while another dives forward as a nearly nude Dwarf.
It’s Vermintide 1, but bigger, better and with a working loot system…sorta.
Post Scriptum
Battlefield 5 wanted to be 2018’s big World War 2 multiplayer shooter. It failed. Post Scriptum is the World War 2 multiplayer shooter you should care about. From the same bone structure as the phenomenal Squad, Post Scriptum boils away all the bullshit of most modern shooters made to make you feel great. You’re part of a team, a cog in a larger machine. Alone you are worthless, together you are mighty. This is the ethos that defines the tactical nature of the game, a ethos that drives it to the forefront of must play multiplayer shooters. Every weapon is steeped in historical accuracy. Firefights echo through your ears as the dance of combat prances across the screen.
This is everything a modern multiplayer tactical shooter should be. Rich in depth, robust in offerings and jammed packed with atmosphere. It may only be in Early Access, but Post Scriptum is miles ahead of any multiplayer offering that came out in 2018.
Project Warlock
It’s short, it’s cheap and a hell of a lot of fun. Retro shooters are all the rage these days, with so many trying to recapture that 90s flavour. Only a select few have managed to replicate while being more than a novelty. Project Warlock is a fine example of showcasing a love for a genre and respect for an era, all while holding its own.
Wearing its heart on its sleeve, Project Warlock is a brilliant jaunt through multiple bullet-ridden stages. The marriage of a solid art direction and great sound design allows the game to flow so smoothly. As an extra finishing touch, there’s a ton of visual filters to play around with, changing the games look to mirror that of a Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum or even a Gameboy. It’s a novel option, but a fun one neverthelessnever the less.
Close off the mind, stretch out the trigger finger, Project Warlock hits every note so very sweetly.
