2018 was another terrific year for gaming, with many new releases receiving critical acclaim, a few of which will be fondly remembered for years to come. From web-swinging through New York to slaying giants, there was no shortage of adventure these past 12 months. Having said that, here are the best of the best, my favorite video games of 2018:

Number 5: Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee

The newest entries in the Pokémon series are the best that I’ve played in the past ten years. Let’s Go combines the iconic settings and characters of the original games with the improved mechanics of newer Pokémon titles and the mobile phenomenon Pokémon Go, and the result is something that feels both foreign and familiar at the same time. This is a definite high point in one of the most successful gaming franchises in history.

Number 4: Spider-Man 

Insomniac Games brought the best elements of Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham series to a new universe for the Webhead, and it manages to feel like a classic comic arc even while taking a few liberties with the character’s lore. The combat is amazing, the web-swinging is spectacular, and it has many fans (myself included) already eager for more. Spider-Man has quite a few great video games under his belt, and Insomniac’s newest take is one of the best.

Check out the co-review Lauren and I wrote here.

Number 3: Shadow of the Colossus (2018)

Shadow of the Colossus blew gamers away when it was originally released on the Playstation 2 in 2005, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest games ever made. I had never played any version of it until this year’s PS4 remake, but it didn’t take me long to see why it’s so beloved by the gaming community. The unique storytelling, poignant soundtrack, and puzzle-like boss battles against the breathtaking colossi each warrant such high praise alone, and it’s been made even more impressive thanks to the PS4 Pro’s stunning graphics. Shadow of the Colossus easily lives up to its prestigious reputation, and is an absolute must-play for anyone who owns Sony’s newest console.

Check out the co-review Lauren and I wrote here.

Number 2: God of War

The original entries in this long-running series are still some of the best hack and slash combat games out there, but the 2018 sequelboot took the title character Kratos in a more mature direction, and focused on storytelling. The Ghost of Sparta is no longer just a ridiculously violent, one-dimensional raging demigod, but one of the most believable characters in all of gaming (not to mention one of my favorites). Following Kratos and his son Atreus through the world of Norse mythology was an exhilarating journey filled with blockbuster-like action sequences, incredible world building, and gorgeous visuals. God of War is the best in the series, and one of this console generation’s finest.

Read my full review here.

Number 1: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

I’ve been a huge fan of Smash Bros. for almost two decades, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is, well, the ultimate version so far. A staggering roster of 70-plus characters, over 100 stages, hours of music, and countless other unlockables make the newest Smash feel like a playable highlight reel of Nintendo’s legacy. From Donkey Kong to Pokémon to Splatoon, over 35 years of history is on display in almost every facet of Ultimate. And while it may not have the same visual fidelity or level of storytelling that God of War and Shadow of The Colossus do, it’s even more fun to play. Smash has always had intuitive controls that are simple enough for most gamers to get comfortable with fairly quickly, but take time to truly master, and Ultimate’s continue that trend. I’m still enjoying Super Smash Bros. Ultimate just as much as I did when I first starting playing it, even after putting an almost embarrassing amount of time into it… And to be honest, I’m just getting started.

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