To all my lovely readers, it’s time for me to get a little personal with you. For me, 2018 has been a crazy concoction of struggle, triumph, loneliness and togetherness. I’ve had some crazy life changes, got a sweet cat, and honestly, as weird and cheesy as it sounds, I ended up way closer to figuring out who I am and who I’d like to be. It hasn’t been an easy one for me (or the world it seems), but one thing I can always count on to hold dear are the amazing stories and experiences games provide, and the people I have closest to me because of them. So before getting into my top games, I just wanna give a big heartfelt thank you to Tony, Tristan, and Will – my Pixelrater family, and to everyone we’ve crossed paths with. Y’all are awesome. Thank you.
Even with all the ups and downs, there were a few games that really stood out to me in 2018 that I couldn’t just walk away from. Here we go:
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Anyone who has been within 5 feet of me knows how much I love this lil purple dragon. Spyro was a huge childhood favorite of mine, and I’ve played through the first trilogy of games countless times even before this title was released. Even without bias, Spyro Reignited is what every remake should seek to be, true to the original (sometimes to a fault), beautifully re-orchestrated in all categories, and smart enough to mix in a bit of new content without tarnishing the original feel of the game. Bob’s Toys did an incredible job with Reignited, serving a beautiful blend of nostalgia, gorgeous updated graphics, and amazing control feel. Honestly, I’m so impressed at how close and how good moving around as Spyro feels. Each movement you make has the same timing, the same pacing- yet smoothed to be even more responsive, really giving the illusion that this title was just a re-skin instead of the truth – that they make this remake completely from scratch. It’s my childhood reincarnate and boy is it a joy to play.
Monster Hunter: World
As discussed in my original review, Monster Hunter: World truly is a refreshing evolution of the series, with changes that centralize the focus of the game; the hunt. MH:World is a game that I still play and go back to, even 150+ hours on my character. While fun in single player, the multiplayer co-op is where this game SHINES. True to the core of the series, the adrenaline rush of knocking a larger than life monster down is that much sweeter when hacking away with your bestie or even randos. The matchmaking is smooth and straightforward, and can get you out of difficult scenarios if needed. The intense and exhilarating feelings of accomplishment paired with the ability to play your way (due to so many different weapon types and play styles) are what solidifies MH:World’s top 5 spot this year. If that wasn’t awesome enough, MH:World has been continually adding content, keeping things fresh leading up to its upcoming expansion in 2019. I, for one, can’t wait.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Where to even begin? I realize this choice is polarizing within the Pixelrater squad, with us split on how much we enjoyed the slow-simmer satisfaction Red Dead Redemption 2 brought to its players. I thoroughly enjoyed having the time to slow down and smell the flowers, and found the pacing of the game to be a welcome reprieve from the majority of all-action-all-the-time games. Set in a sublime and sparingly untouched Wild West, RDR2 captivated me. Breathtaking landscapes, insanely intricate detailing, and an Oscar-worthy overall story tipped this game well above the average this year. It’s been so fun to just explore and enjoy the game at my own pace. Honestly, GOTY for just the insanely realistic horse animations alone. And the RDR2 App??? There is nothing more satisfying to me than turning my HUD off completely and navigating through the map on my iPad. With RDR2 Online, they expanded on the single player experience with a kind of zany and in some ways more realistic depiction of life in the Wild West. They did so many things right with this title, and even though it may not be the game for everyone, I am having a ball living out all my cowboy fantasies.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
If escaping into a Ghibli-esque video game sounds amazing to you, look no further than Ni No Kuni 2. Immersive, zany, and heartfelt, NNK2 delivers on an incredibly fun and lighthearted JRPG adventure – and you don’t have to have played the first NNK to enjoy this sequel. The story is, admittedly, pretty freakin bonkers – it starts off with the President of the US facing the apocalypse? death? warfare? and being magically transported to a new world, where he becomes young again and befriends an usurped boy king. The game follows their journey gaining allies and fighting their way back to the crown. The gameplay is quick, addictive, and smooth, and the story is simple yet funny and fulfilling. There are so many fun small treasures in the gameplay, from being able to build your own little town and wage large-scale battles, that give NNK2 a unique and varied style. The cel shading is absolutely gorgeous and the entire game has a youthful and fun vibe. Wholesome and well-rounded, No No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom has cinched a top spot in my heart.
Super Smash Bros.: Ultimate
Yes, it hasn’t even been a full month that Super Smash Bros: Ultimate has released, but it has, without question, earned a top spot on this list this year. I honestly haven’t throughly enjoyed a Smash installment so completely since Melee. Super Smash Bros: Ultimate is jam-packed with an impressively large list of things to do, whether playing single player or multiplayer. Its various fighters give so much uniqueness to each match, and even the most veteran Smash players will find difficult matches and activities that test their limits. Each of the game modes available have an exciting and unique flair to them, and I am VERY MUCH enjoying the World of Light mode, where you collect spirits and duke it out under difficult and strange fighting conditions. It’s also been really fun trying to hone in on a character and fighting style that speaks to me, and with a roster boasting every character who has ever been in the series (with a few newcomers), there is no end in sight to how much enjoyment I’m getting out of this game. It feels like the best of Smash and, rightfully so, is completely deserving of its “Ultimate” namesake.
Destiny 2: Forsaken
There is no better feeling first-person shooter than Destiny. I’ll say it again for y’all in the back: There is no better feeling first-person shooter than Destiny. This year, with Destiny 2: Forsaken, we’ve finally had the content that we have been craving all along. Destiny came back from being, admittedly, completely stale and has served up a generous helping of some insane and otherworldly storylines, thrilling standard and seasonal content, and new powers and ways to play the game. Sure, it’s had it’s ups and downs as most MMO and MMO adjacent games do in terms of balance issues and item drop rates, but even so, I was absolutely hooked. Destiny 2: Forsaken pulled me in and I would not have found a better way to spend my time. Running through the new content with a bunch of buddies is an absolute blast, and the times I’ve spent with folks in game, both friends and strangers, has been some of the most entertaining this year. Find a posse and enjoy the loot, guardian.
