Top 10: Favourite Xbox One Games of 2018

Can you believe we’re nearing the end of 2018? Whether you consider it a good year or not is subjective. Regardless, nobody can deny that once again it was a great time to be involved with that wonderful pastime known as gaming. I’ve thrown together a list of my 10 favourite video games that I played this year. A number of these didn’t actually release in 2018. However, that doesn’t change the fact that they are all well worth checking out.

10 – Inside

“If you enjoyed Limbo in any way, then you’ll love Inside. In a lot of ways, Playdead have taken everything that was brilliant about Limbo and turned it up a notch or two. The game has a kind of deafening silence that can be very effective in creating a creepy atmosphere, especially as you make your way through a variety of strange, abandoned facilities. I was always intrigued when playing Inside, the questions it presents are really compelling.” You can check out the full review here.

09 – >Observer_

“>Observer_ delivers a memorable, nightmarish, often relentless fever dream of a gaming experience. It’s a fantastic Sci-Fi horror title that only has a couple of performance issues holding it back from perfection.” You can check out the full review here.

08 – Graveyard Keeper

“Graveyard Keeper is a real hidden gem. It gave me fond memories of Harvest Moon except with a dark twist. I was very impressed by the complexity of its many systems. Getting to grips with them is a very satisfying experience.” You can check out the full review here.

07 – Forza Horizon 4

“Forza Horizon 4 is an incredible racing game, an incredible effort from Turn 10 Studios and possibly their best work to date.” You can check out the full review here.

06 – Firewatch

“Firewatch is an immersive, and at times eerie, experience. It is the video game equivalent of reading a mystery, suspense, or thriller novel – one that you won’t wish to put down until you reach its conclusion. A heartfelt and intimate experience, putting us in the shoes of a fragile man who chose the isolation of nature to escape a great pain. It’s more an interactive tale rather than a proper game, but its story and awesome scenery make it worth the experience. On top of that, the voice acting is amazing and really drags you into the story.” You can check out the full review here.

05 – Cuphead

“The 1930s cartoon art style is so beautiful and charming to see in motion, even that adds to the difficulty. I found my eyes wandering to the sublime watercolour backdrops or the subtle movements of the mystical creatures before me. It truly is a sight to behold, unlike anything I have seen before.” You can check out the full review here.

04 – Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

“Senua’s voice acting and motion capture were performed by Melina Juergens. Interestingly, she had never done either of those things prior to Hellblade. To call her performance and delivery remarkable feels like a major understatement. It is emotionally raw and dripping with conflict. I felt fully invested in her perilous quest to save Dillion. It is an epic tale that has a bittersweet conclusion, one that is as simple as it is complex.” You can check out the full review here.

03 – Rime

“If there were to be one aspect that surpassed the visuals or story then it would have to be the soundtrack that accompanies them. Genuinely, it is something special. Rime wouldn’t have the special ambience or be as emotive as it is without its spectacular music. Listening to it play as you roam around can only be described as magical.” You can check out the full review here.

02 – Soma

“The story in Soma surpassed my high expectations. Not only is the voice acting tremendous but the narrative is as well. It raises many absorbing questions about life, death and the morality of consciousness. It is a truly thought-provoking experience that will leave you debating the definition of existence itself. The end is simply beautiful, it filled me with both happiness and sadness at the same time.” You can check out the full review here.

01 – Red Dead Redemption 2

“Red Dead Redemption 2 is a polished masterpiece of gaming. It’s better than the original in almost every department and can proudly sit alongside GTAV as one of the finest games ever made.” You can check out the full review here.

There you have it, I certainly hope 2019 can deliver quite as many high quality gaming experiences.