The LoadingXP Staff’s Best Games of 2018

2018 was an excellent year for video games, with both hugely-anticipated titles and notable indies releasing every month throughout the year. The LoadingXP staff have played a lot of games in 2018- some great, some less than memorable- but now we are finally weighing in with the best of the year.

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Kyle: God of War

God of War is a stunning achievement that masterfully reworks everything we’ve come to expect from the franchise. Its combat is intimate, visceral, and satisfying, and the new Norse mythological setting is brimming with personality and interesting areas to explore. Its most impressive feat, however, is how it completely reinvents Kratos as a character. His bloodthirsty tale of revenge became quite monotonous over the series’ previous six installments, but he has more heart and purpose here than I ever could have imagined. Couple all of that with an unbelievable one-shot camera technique that other studios are sure to mimic and you have one of the best games of the generation. In fact, it’s one of the best games of all time.

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Harry: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

For me, playing Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is like getting wrapped up in a nice, cosy bed at a five-star resort. It revels in traditional JRPG design but does so with a flare and polish that makes it still feel like a fresh experience. The world of Akira Toriyama has never looked so alive as it radiates character through its vibrant environments and iconic monster design. Furthermore, this world had me completely immersed with a story that smartly chooses which tropes to keep and which ones to subvert, a philosophy that it echoes in its gameplay. Dragon Quest’s strength has always been how its fairy-tale style of storytelling can touch every emotion within, and Echoes of an Elusive Age had me laughing, crying and everything in between while offering some jaw-dropping plot twists that I dare not spoil. Dragon Quest XI is an instant classic and a gold standard for modern JRPGs, and after 60 hours I’m still being drawn back to the adventurous land of Edrea.

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Fynn: God of War

My pick for my game of the year has to be God of War.

Having not played any of the prior God of War games I was hesitant at first but I found it excels in every way an action/adventure, story-driven game can. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, and nothing else came close this year.

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Travis: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is no doubt my top game of the year. 

The Super Smash Bros. franchise is the crowning achievement of each Nintendo console, and Nintendo did not disappoint with the franchise’s newest installment. Ultimate is the most realized version of Smash Bros., with a larger than life roster and stage-list. On top of this already insane amount of content, Ultimate has a robust and unique list of single-player modes. The result of this breadth of content is a game that provides endless hours of entertainment for competitive and causal players alike.

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Steve: God of War 

God of War is an insanely thrilling action/adventure game offering a rich journey, in which each aspect combine forming a masterpiece. Kratos has matured into a father and noble warrior. He’s locked into an internal struggle, within his own heart about his relationship with his son. A wealth research and effort was poured into developing combat, collectibles and gameplay. The quest creation is superb, and the story narrative is so in-depth, in terms of knowledge of Nordic lore.

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Tori: Far Cry 5

I absolutely loved Far Cry 5, probably more than most people. And, yes. I even enjoyed those twisted endings.

Though Far Cry 5 didn’t do too much to shake up the franchise in terms of the gameplay (Hope County, like the other settings throughout the series, is still a playground for explosions and destruction that allows you to customize your play style), its heavy narrative of cultism and religious extremes has stayed with me all year. With Far Cry 5, it felt as though Ubisoft Montreal took all the best aspects of Far Cry, amped them up, then dropped them in middle America. The action is nearly constant, even in those moments where you really don’t want to fight, and Hope County is brimming (almost overflowing) with activity in every corner. I had this great sense of tension playing through the game, forcing confrontations with Joseph Seed’s family, while ultimately working my way up to the cult leader himself.