When it comes to the best years in gaming history, people often point to 1998 and 2007, and rightfully so. Both of those years were jam-packed with top tier, genre-defining new video game releases that raised the bar for what people expected from video games. Now that we're a few years removed from it, it's clear that 2018 belongs in that same conversation as well, as it stands out as arguably the best year for the PS4/Xbox One era of consoles, and the events therein helped shape the industry for years to come.
2018 saw the release of multiple critically-acclaimed games, including some of the highest-rated video games of all time. It had 11 games hit a 90 or above average critic score, not to mention numerous other noteworthy titles that got close. It also saw the rise of a new kind of genre that continues to dominate the video game industry to this day.
Here is why 2018 stands out as one of the best and most important years in the history of video gaming.
Top Rated Games of 2018
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (96)
- God of War (95)
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (92)
- Forza Horizon 4 (92)
- NieR: Automata Become as Gods Edition (92)
- Celeste (92)
- Shadow of the Colossus (92)
- Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition (91)
- Monster Hunter World (90)
- Tetris Effect (90)
- Mark of the Ninja Remastered (90)
11 titles cracked the 90 or above average critic rating in 2018, according to data collected by OpenCritic. The highest-rated game of the year was Rockstar Games' landmark Red Dead Redemption 2, an open world western that pushed the boundaries when it came to realism and graphical fidelity in open world games. Red Dead Redemption 2 earned near-perfect scores from many critics for its gorgerous open world and engrossing storyline, populated by the unforgettable characters like Arthur Morgan and the rest of the Van der Linde Gang.
Hot on the heels of Red Dead Redemption 2 was the PS4 exclusive game God of War, successfully bringing the action franchise to modern consoles with a new style of gameplay. The 2018 God of War game served as a sequel to protagonist Kratos' previous adventures while simultaneously functioning as a reboot gameplay-wise, using a new over-the-shoulder camera and earning recognition for its "one shot" presentation. God of War was a resounding success on all fronts, and so it's no surprise that many are excited to see what happens next in the upcoming God of War: Ragnarok, set to launch in 2022.
Nintendo also found itself with one of the highest-rated video games of 2018 as it bolstered the Nintendo Switch's library with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, far and away the most ambitious crossover fighting game ever made. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate proved to be a huge hit for Nintendo, with the game receiving support for three years after its launch with the regular release of exciting new DLC fighters. It takes one look at the incredible Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster to realize the game is something special, and it's unlikely that such a varied roster of video game characters will ever be assembled again.
In terms of Xbox exclusives, Forza Horizon 4 was the standout game for the green brand in 2018, as Playground Games delivered yet another critically-acclaimed entry in the open world racing game series. Forza Horizon 4 took the racing action to Great Britain and improved its longevity by offering seasonal events, major expansion packs, free content updates, and more to keep racing game fans hooked for the long haul.
2018 will also be remembered as being the year Capcom took its Monster Hunter franchise to the next level with Monster Hunter World. Monster Hunter World made the Monster Hunter franchise much more mainstream than it ever was in the past, becoming one of the best-selling Capcom video games ever made and bringing the tough as nails monster hunting series to more gamers than ever before.
These big budget, blockbuster games all did tremendously well in 2018, but the year was also home to plenty of notable indie releases. Chief among them was Celeste, a stellar platforming game that is reasonably challenge to beat, but incredibly difficult to master. Celeste pushes players' skills to the limit while never being frustrating thanks to its generous checkpoint system, and it has a heartwarming story and stellar soundtrack to really complete the package.
Brand new game releases like Celeste, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War, and the other games mentioned here helped make 2018 a year to remember, but it was also notable for its high quality remakes and remasters. Shadow of the Colossus stood out as one of Bluepoint Games' best efforts yet, while Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition brought the complex RPG to console gamers.
And all of this is just scratching the service in terms of highly-rated games that released in 2018. While these games were the ones to earn a 90 or above average rating, the year featured numerous other popular games that were beloved by fans and critics alike, such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, Marvel's Spider-Man by Insomniac Games, Dead Cells, Return of the Obra Dinn, and many others.
Simply put, the new game releases in 2018 alone establish it as one of the best years in gaming history, and it really blows most other years out of the water. For reference, 2021 has only one game to earn a 90 or above average critic rating, and that would be 2021's highest-rated game Forza Horizon 5. There's really no comparison, and it just goes to show how stellar 2018 was for the video game industry in terms of high-quality new releases.
The Rise of Battle Royale Games
2017 was technically when battle royale games like PUBG and Fortnite were released, but 2018 is when the genre really started to take off. 2018 was an especially big year for Fortnite, establishing it as the top game in the battle royale genre and making it a cultural phenomenon in the process. The runaway success of Fortnite helped Epic Games become even bigger than it ever was before, leading directly to major developments like the establishment of the Epic Games Store and its launcher at the end of 2018 - one of the only times Steam has ever had a serious rival in the PC gaming market.
Fortnite certainly took some of the wind out of PUBG's sails, but there's no denying the success PUBG enjoyed in 2018 as well. With the battle royale exiting early access at the very end of 2017, 2018 was a huge year for PUBG as well, with PUBG Mobile launching that year. PUBG Mobile has arguably been more integral for PUBG's longevity and persistent success, as it's one of the highest-grossing mobile video game releases ever. PUBG Mobile gets all the big crossover events as well, which is also indicative of just how popular the battle royale is for mobile gamers around the world.
So while 2017 was when the battle royale genre got off the ground, 2018 is when the genre exploded in popularity, leading to numerous PUBG and Fortnite clones and assuring the genre's success for years to come.