THE BEST, THE WORST, AND EVERYTHING ELSE

Another year in gaming has come and gone, and while in previous years we would normally throw up about 20 polls for you all to cast your vote for what you think is the best game within each, this year we decided to stray away from that and do what a forum does best, and that's to discuss our views and thoughts rather than just simply ticking some boxes.

To keep things simple and easier to digest, I'll be dividing the year into three month blocks so that we can progressively discuss all of 2018 rather than jump right in and try to wade through 365 days worth of stuff in one hit. As the top of the post implies, we don't have to simply talk about the best the year had to offer. It can be the worst and everything else that happened too, as not everything in a year can be the best nor is it always 100% good news. R.I.P. Telltale

So let's get on with what we're here for, and that is to discuss the best, the worst, and everything else 2018 had to offer us in video-games, starting with...

• Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker's Memory (PS4, PS Vita) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  
• Lost Sphear (PS4, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  
• Subnautica (PS4, XBO, Win, Mac) | Genre(s): Adventure, Survival
  
• Celeste (PS4, XBO, NS, Win, Mac, Linux) | Genre(s): Platformer
  
• Dragon Ball FighterZ (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Fighter
  
• Monster Hunter: World (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Dissidia Final Fantasy NT (PS4) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing, Fighter
  

• Shadow of the Colossus 2018 (PS4) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Civilization VI: Rise and Fall - Expansion (Win) | Genre(s): Strategy
  
• Rust (Win, Mac) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Survival
  
• Dynasty Warriors 9 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Hack & Slash
  
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Secret of Mana Remake (PS4, PS Vita, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Fe (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Metal Gear Survive (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Survival
  
• Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• De Blob 2 Remastered (PS4, XBO, NS) | Genre(s): Platformer, Puzzle
  
• Into The Breach (Win, Mac, Linux) | Genre(s): Strategy
  
• Moss (PSVR, Win VR) | Genre(s): Adventure, Puzzle
  
• H1Z1 (PS4, Win) | Genre(s): Battle Royale
  

• Scribblenauts Showdown (PS4, XBO, NS) | Genre(s): Party
  
• Warhammer: Vermintide 2 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action, Multi-Player
  
• Devil May Cry HD Collection (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Hack & Slash
  
• Burnout Paradise Remastered (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Racing
  
• Kirby Star Allies (NS) | Genre(s): Platformer
  
• Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Attack on Titan 2 (PS4, PS Vita, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Action, Hack & Slash
  
• Sea of Thieves (XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Multi-Player
  
• A Way Out (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Multi-Player
  
• Detective Pikachu (3DS) | Genre(s): Adventure
  
• Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (PS4, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings (PS4, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  
• Far Cry 5 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Shooter
  
• MLB The Show 18 (PS4) | Genre(s): Sports
  
• The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 (PS4) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Shining Resonance Refrain (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  

Notable Events

• Mad Catz announces their return as a brand after filing for bankruptcy in 2017 under new ownership with newly established Hong Kong company Mad Catz Global Limited.
  
• CES 2018 is held.
  
• Yuji Naka joins Square Enix.
  
• THQ Nordic acquires Koch Media.
  
• D.I.C.E. Summit 2018 is held.
  
• GDC 2018 is held.
  
• Vivendi formally ends its attempt to acquire Ubisoft, selling all of its 30 million shares of Ubisoft to other various companies.
  

So what do you think were the best games to release in this period, either overall or within a specific genre or category (the genres in the list are what the games are generally classified as, you do not have to strictly follow them nor make your categories based on any pre-set notion), and did anything happen in this period mentioned or otherwise that you felt to be pretty impactful either to yourself or the industry?

• Minit (PS4, XBO, NS, Win, Mac, Linux) | Genre(s): Adventure
  
• Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (PS4) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• God of War (PS4) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Nintendo Labo (NS) | Genre(s): N/A
  
• Gal*Gun 2 (PS4, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Fighter
  

• Pillars of Eternity 2 (Win) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): MMORPG
  
• State of Decay 2 (XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Survival
  
• Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (PS4, PS Vita, XBO, NS, 3DS, Win) | Genre(s): Platformer
  
• Dark Souls Remastered (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Detroit: Become Human (PS4) | Genre(s): Adventure
  
• Agony (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Survival Horror
  
• Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Fighting
  
• Yoku's Island Express (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Platformer, Adventure, Pinball
  
• Pokémon Quest (NS) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  

• BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle (PS4, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Fighting
  
• OnRush (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Racing, Vehicular Combat
  
• Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Beat 'em up
  
• Vampyr (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action, Hack and Slash
  
• Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido (NS, 3DS) | Genre(s): Action, Puzzle
  
• Unravel Two (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Puzzle, Platformer
  
• Jurassic World Evolution (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Simulation
  
• Paladins (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Shooter
  
• Wreckfest (Win) | Genre(s): Racing, Vehicular Combat
  
• Lego The Incredibles (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Mario Tennis Aces (NS) | Genre(s): Sport
  
• Lumines Remastered (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Puzzle
  
• The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Adventure
  
• Fighting EX Layer (PS4, Win) | Genre(s): Fighting
  
• The Crew 2 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Racing
  

Notable Events

• PAX East was held.
  
• Valve Corporation acquire developer Campo Santo.
  
• Cliff Bleszinski's studio Boss Key Productions closed down.
  
• Microsoft announced its acquisitions of Undead Labs, Playground Games, Compulsion Games, and Ninja Theory.
  
• E3 2018 was held.
  

What do you think were the best games to release in this period, either overall or within a specific genre or category (the genres in the list are what the games are generally classified as, you do not have to strictly follow them nor make your categories based on any pre-set notion), and did anything happen in this period mentioned or otherwise that you felt to be pretty impactful or notable either to yourself or the industry?

• Red Faction Guerrilla: Re-Mars-tered Edition (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Shooter
  
• Octopath Traveller (NS) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  
• The Banner Saga 3 (PS4, XBO, NS, Win, Mac) | Genre(s): Tactical Role-Playing
  

• WarioWare Gold (3DS) | Genre(s): Action, Rhythm
  
• Dead Cells (PS4, XBO, NS, Win, Mac, Linux) | Genre(s): Roguelike, Metroidvania
  
• Overcooked 2 (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Simulation
  
• Madden NFL 19 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Sports
  
• We Happy Few (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Episode 1: Done Running (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Adventure
  
• World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth (Win, Mac) | Genre(s): MMORPG
  
• Guacamelee! 2 (PS4, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Fighting, Platformer, Metroidvania
  
• Shenmue (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Shenue II (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• F1 2018 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Racing
  
• Donut County (PS4, XBO, NS, Win, Mac, iOS) | Genre(s): Puzzle
  
• Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (NS) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Sports
  
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 (PS4) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  

• Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  
• NASCAR Heat 3 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Racing
  
• NBA Live 19 (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Sports
  
• SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy (PS4, NS) | Genre(s): Fighting
  
• Spider-Man (PS4) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• NBA 2K19 (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Sports
  
• Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition (PS4, XBO, NS, Win, Android, iOS) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  
• NHL 19 (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Sports
  
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Country (NS) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Valkyria Chronicles 4 (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Tactical Role-Playing
  
• The Walking Dead: The Final Season – Episode 2: Suffer the Children (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Adventure
  
• Life is Strange 2 - Episode 1: Roads (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Adventure
  
• FIFA 19 (PS4, PS3, XBO, X360, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Sports
  

Notable Events

• EA announces acquisition of Industrial Toys.
  
• Sumo Group Plc acquired The Chinese Room.
  
• The International 2018, a Dota 2 tournament with the largest prize pool in esports history, was held at the Rogers Arena in Canada.
  
• Gamescom was held in Cologne, Germany.
  
• A mass shooting occurred at a Madden NFL 19 tournament in Jacksonville, Florida with the shooter, a participant in the tournament who lost, killing two people and injuring ten others before committing suicide.
  
• Capcom Vancouver shut down.
  
• The 2018 Tokyo Game Show was held in Tokyo.
  
• The UK's largest games show, EGX was held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England.
  
• Telltale Games announces major studio closure, laying off more than 90% of its staff and multiple games being cancelled.
  

What do you think were the best games to release in this period, either overall or within a specific genre or category (the genres in the list are what the games are generally classified as, you do not have to strictly follow them nor make your categories based on any pre-set notion), and did anything happen in this period mentioned or otherwise that you felt to be pretty impactful or notable either to yourself or the industry?

• Astro Bot Rescue Mission (PSVR) | Genre(s): Platformer
  
• Forza Horizon 4 (XBO, Wun) | Genre(s): Racing
  
• Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (PS4) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Mega Man 11 (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Action, Platformer
  
• Assassin's Creed Odyssey (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Super Mario Party (NS) | Genre(s): Party
  
• Mark of the Ninja Remastered (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Action, Stealth
  
• WWE 2K19 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Sports
  
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Shooter
  
• Luigi's Mansion (3DS) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• The Missing: JJ. Macfield and the Island of Memories (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Puzzle, Platformer
  
• The World Ends With You: Final Remix (NS) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Lego DC Super-Villains (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Sports
  
• Overload (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Shooter
  
• Starlink: Battle for Atlas (PS4, XBO, NS) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Warriors Orochi 4 (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Hack and Slash
  
• Return of the Obra Dinn (Win, Mac) | Genre(s): Adventure, Puzzle
  
• Soulcalibur VI (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Fighting
  
• Gwent: The Witcher Card Game (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Card
  
• Just Dance 2019 (PS4, XBO, X360, NS, Wii U, Wii) | Genre(s): Party, Dance
  
• My Hero One's Justice (PS4, XBO, NS, Win) | Genre(s): Action
  
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Role-Playing, Survival Horror
  
• Deltarune (Win, Mac) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  

• The Quiet Man (PS4, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! (NS) | Genre(s): Rhythm
  
• Moonlighter (NS) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• The Forest (PS4) | Genre(s): Survival
  
• Tetris Effect (PS4) | Genre(s): Puzzle
  
• Hitman 2 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Stealth, Puzzle
  
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Platformer
  
• Fallout 76 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (NS) | Genre(s): Role-Playing
  
• Battlefield V (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Shooter
  
• Farming Simulator 2019 (PS4, XBO, Win, Mac) | Genre(s): Simulation
  
• Darksiders III (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  

• Just Cause 4 (PS4, XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  
• Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom (PS4, XBO, NS) | Genre(s): Platformer
  
• Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (PS4, PS Vita) | Genre(s): Rhythm
  
• Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (PS4, PS Vita) | Genre(s): Rhythm
  
• Subnautica (PS4, XBO) | Genre(s): Adventure, Survival
  
• Ashen (XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action Role-Playing
  
• The Last Remnant: Remastered (PS4) | Genre(s): Adventure, Role-Playing
  
• Katamari Damacy Reroll (NS, Win) | Genre(s): Puzzle, Action
  
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (NS) | Genre(s): Fighting
  
• Below (XBO, Win) | Genre(s): Action-Adventure
  

Notable Events

What do you think were the best games to release in this period, either overall or within a specific genre or category (the genres in the list are what the games are generally classified as, you do not have to strictly follow them nor make your categories based on any pre-set notion), and did anything happen in this period mentioned or otherwise that you felt to be pretty impactful or notable either to yourself or the industry?

As we've now covered every quarter, what did you think of 2018 overall for gaming?