Welcome to the my personal list of games I enjoyed this year. That’s right it’s my list, feel free to disagree with me but it won’t change anything.
Anyway here are the rules;
1. These are games that I’ve played and reviewed this year.
2. The only order to this list is the order in which I reviewed them, it’s not a top 10, these all feature because of how good I consider them to be.
3. The games don’t have to have been released this year.
With that all said, let’s get into it.
Cult of the Lamb
This game has gone from strength to strength since I originally reviewed it with it having a DLC that introduces a new story as well as a free update that introduces co-op play. I may actually go back and play this again with a friend.
The Talos Principle 2
I’ve seen online that many people didn’t like this game as much as its predecessor essentially because of the plot and its requirement to interact with the NPC’s. Personally I think that those that think that have put all their focus on the puzzle game aspect (which is fantastic I might add) but ignored the context and subtext that those puzzles are set within. To me, the story is just as important as the puzzles themselves. I truly hope they make a sequel.
God of War (2018)
As per usual I’m late to the party with this game, that fact hasn’t impacted how much I enjoyed this title. I think that having not played any of the previous games was actually something of a boon for me, because while I did know of Kratos and his past through cultural osmosis it meant I didn’t have any of the baggage that those that had played them did. In a way I understood him in a similar way to Atreus, a stranger that I was familiar with.
A wonderful game with a stunning world and great combat. There wasn’t a moment I didn’t enjoy.
Paradise Killer
Some games are style over substance, some the other way around. Not many can tiptoe the line between them. Paradise Killer does this with ease and then does a psychedelic backflip. The world is weird and wonderful while the core mystery of the game is intriguing and open ended.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Over the last few years the Warhammer 40K franchise has been absolutely killing it with great games. While you’d think that the setting would be best for turn based or real time strategy it seems like there isn’t a genre they can’t make it work for. A boomer shooter was definitely not one I was expecting but damn is it good. The weapons all feel great, even your starting arsenal and hearing your character stomp around just adds to the effect of feeling powerful.
Wasteland 2: Directors Cut
I do love a good CRPG and this one definitely fits that bill. It’s no Baldur’s Gate 3 but it is also ten years old so I give it a bit of slack. Of course, I had a feeling it was going to be good given the pedigree of those that worked on it. I can’t wait to play the sequel!
Deathloop
Deathloop is one part action and one part puzzle game. It’s not whether or not you kill your targets, its not even how you do it. All that matters is when you do it. While its true that Arkane has stumbled with Redfall, Deathloop (and the Dishonored games before it) are why I have every confidence that these devs will bounce back.
Boneraiser Minions
The Bullet Heaven (Survivor-like) genre has gotten very full as of late, many just copy what Vampire Survivors did without actually understanding why it works. Some however, innovate on the concept. Boneraiser Minions is one such game. Raise a small force, try and make them synergise where you can and avoid taking damage yourself. Every so often I go back to this game just to try another run, not many games have me doing that.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
This game surprised me with how much it gripped me. Perhaps it was the setting or maybe it was the mythology behind it. I know for a fact it wasn’t the plot as that was very much a cookie cutter ‘rescue X person’ revenge story. All the same, I spent hours and hours working my way around the city, unlocking all the areas because I just wanted to see and experience more. Clearly it did something right.
Tinykin
As I said in the review I’ve never played Pikmin, but I have played the Overlord games (no, not the anime) and from what I’ve seen those aren’t dissimilar. This game very much reminded me of them but in a much more wholesome way. The game has also become something of a favorite for my kids which is a bonus!
I won’t mince my words, this year has been shit for developers and sadly it looks like it’s only going to get worse. But once again the indie sphere has been on top form, while they aren’t that well represented in this list believe me I’ve been watching.
Honestly, I don’t have much else to say other than to support your indie developers. They actually need the support unlike the games that the likes of Activision and Ubisoft put out.
Happy new year folks.
