How can I possibly round up my favourite games from 2018 into a top 3? The task is so hard! Since joining ladies gamers in May, I’ve been treated to a whole host of indie games, and some have excelled way beyond my expectations. Before writing for the site, I mainly played games from the big developers, so imagine my surprise when I realised that there were games developed by much smaller teams which were just as high in quality, and in some cases even exceed titles produced by even the big N itself! So what are my notable titles for 2018?
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is my favourite title from Nintendo in 2018. I’ve played Kirby Star Allies, Mario Tennis Aces, and in spite of having fun with both titles, none of the above could match the quality, longevity, and overall challenge contained within Retro’s finest Donkey Kong game to date. Even if I were to run out and purchase Smash Bros. Ultimate or Pokemon tomorrow, I would still consider Donkey Kong’s quest to be my favourite Nintendo game this year.
Iconoclasts
Wow! I’m still amazed that one mere individual developed a game of this quality. Iconoclasts focuses upon a mechanic who becomes a target of the world governing religious body titled One Concern. It boasts an intelligent story, great platforming, fantastic gunning action, puzzles, and great music.
Lumines
I love block type puzzle games, and Lumines is the best such game on Switch in 2018. Blocks drop from the top of a 10×16 grid, while a vertical timeline moves across the screen in tempo with the music. The blocks vary in colour and must be swapped and aligned to make a minimum of 2×2 squares of the same colour. The more blocks aligned while the timeline sweeps from left to right the better. And with HD rumble, you can feel the rhythm of the game in your hands, your pockets, your lower back etc. It’s a brilliant game and one I wholeheartedly recommend for Puzzle gamers everywhere.
Notable Titles that deserve a mention
Pianista
I love music rhythm titles, but I rarely like the music that’s contained within there playlists. Well, that has changed thanks to Pianista. Pianista is a Guitar Hero type game that’s built around high-quality classical pieces of music. Rather than the Bee Gees, Beatles, or Jamiroquai, players can play along with Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel. A great game!
Vertical Drop Heroes HD
In my review, I described Vertical Drop Down Heroes as “one of the best indie games I’ve played this year.” The game is a drop-down roguelike platformer that’s simple but highly addictive. Each play session allows players to collect coins and gain XP to improve the stats of future heroes. The goal is to drop through the Temple of Knowledge to reach the Heavenly Sanctuary. Both single and multiplayer modes are great fun.
Horizon Chase Turbo
If you want a fun and challenging car game that’s reminiscent of classic arcade racing titles like Out Run then Horizon Chase Turbo must be your first port of call. There’s plenty of unlockables, modes, tracks, and a great multiplayer mode which supports up to 4 players. There are few car games that consume my gaming time but this one keeps drawing me back for more.
So there you have it. What do you think of my top 3 standout titles for 2018? I look forward to reading your comments below.