2018 was a year of making moves, resulting mostly good and some bad. I left home in Los Angeles to explore a new foreign place called San Francisco. The climate change and abundant public transit was a culture shock for me but it’s still California so it’s not that different. Also the amount of people wearing tech startup backpacks with North Face/Patagonia puffer jackets is a sight to see. Have we all become public billboards? I’m looking forward to what 2019 brings in both games and life. But first, here’s my top video games for the year 2018.
Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter World was my first introduction to the Monster Hunter series. After hearing the hype from Diego and Spencer, I was heavily invested in killing monsters and ultimately progressing my player character with the rewards from the hunt. After playing the story missions solo, the real joy was playing with others online. Whether arm wrestling in the server lobby or chasing down the vicious Anjanath, the genuine comradery of tracking and ultimately taking down a fearsome monster in the wild is certainly a memorable way to begin the year.
Yakuza 6: Song of Life
After playing Yakuza 0 and Kiwami last year, I was excited to get into the finale of Kiryu’s story. Seeing the upgraded visuals and quality of life improvements to Yakuza series first hand was both impressive and step forward for future games. Fighting dudes on the street or freely roaming the streets of Kamurocho to partake in the various side activities without loading screens definitely reduced the tedium. While Yakuza 6 was less focused on its passive activities, the emphasis on story and the sheer dramatic, sometimes comical nature of Kiryu’s cast of characters made up for it. With Yakuza moving on to a new protagonist for the next game, it was sad to say goodbye to Kiryu but I’m confident this won’t be the last we will see of Kazzy-kun.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
I just obtained my entire party after playing 15-20 hours in Dragon Quest XI. I know I am only just scratching the surface of this 100 plus hour adventure but I’m already convinced that this is one of my favorite games of 2018. The wholesome characterization of the heroes and the classic turn-based gameplay coupled with Akira Toriyama’s recognizable visuals take this timeless classic to a new modern era.
Red Dead Redemption 2
The immense scope and human input required to create a thing such as Red Dead Redemption 2 left me with mixed feelings on selecting it as my top game of 2018. But ultimately recognizing the collective effort of the individuals working out this project rather than ignoring it swayed my decision. It’s a homage to the old-school Western dramas in the sense of its crushing reality as its characters come to terms with the end of an era. The story of Arthur Morgan and the Dutch van der Linde gang finds a balance with its action-packed story beats to the slower paced life in the camp. Personally, I just enjoyed playing poker, hunting, or fishing more so than the scripted set-piece moments. It’s in these times where I felt invested in the world building and the attention to every little excessive detail Rockstar developers put into the game.
Spyro: The Reignited Trilogy
When I think of games from childhood, Spyro immediately stands out. As a PlayStation kid growing up, Spyro was one of those games from childhood that resonated with me. So when the Reignited Trilogy came out, it was delightful to reacquaint myself with a world I haven’t visited since the late 90s. While I admire the first Spyro game, I feel the latter two sequels added more in-depth platforming (hovering) and vibrant, engrossing environments to interact with. Playing Spyro 2 with the new visuals and cutscenes add a new breath of life to the game. Ultimately, it was fun going back to each world and searching every nook and cranny for hidden secrets.
Pokemon Let’s Go: Eevee
Going into let’s go with no context or expectations, I was pleasantly surprised with the new changes brought into the series. Aimed at simplifying the catch-em-all mechanics, I was thoroughly impressed at the effort to introduce Let’s Go’s catching system as well as co-op multiplayer into the mix. As with Spyro, nostalgia was a key motivation for my purchasing decision here but I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting a familiar place with a new twist.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Okay so most of my friends who play Smash religiously are competitive players. I am not one of them. I enjoy the items and random chaos happening all over the map. That’s what makes Smash fun for me. So as a casual player, the “Everyone is here” and the Spirits “collect everything” modes certainly enticed me to grab the new Smash Bros. Spending endless hours battling with friends or playing through the story, Smash Bros. ultimately won me over in the closing of 2018.
