The Best Video Games That Surprised Us in 2018
Before the year closes, can we just take a moment and appreciate just how much of a bangin’ year 2018 was for video games? No matter the gamer type, there was always something awesome to play and look forward to. There were plenty of surprises too, and we’re not just talking about big E3 reveals or trailers either. There were games that literally sprung out of nowhere and rocked our senses; games that broke genres in cool and inventive ways; and games that failed to generate a ton of buzz but still blew us away in the end. No matter how you look at it, 2018 was a really great year for the industry so we thought we’d put together a list of the best games that took us by complete surprise.
Life is Strange 2
Where Can I Play it?: PC, PS4, Xbox One
COGconnected Review (Episode 1): 92/100Â
There are a lot of expectations for Life is Strange 2, especially when you consider just how beloved the first game is. And while it might still be a bit too early to judge its quality based off of Episode 1, DONTNOD’s sequel is already shaping up to be just as, if not more, emotional and thought-provoking than its predecessor. Boasting an entirely new story and characters, the debut episode was just as impactful and clever as we’ve come to expect from this series. With just a single episode, Life is Strange 2 surprised us and hooked us in. We can’t wait to see where it all goes in 2019.
Moonlighter
Where Can I Play it?: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
COGconnected Review: 83/100
Ever wanted to manage your very own video game shop? If you said yes, then you’re going to want to get your hands on Moonlighter. It’s an action RPG rogue-lite that puts you in the shoes of a shopkeeper that manages by day and explores at night. It’s hard not to fall in love with the game’s premise and it helps that there’s plenty to do and collect for players to keep coming back. Moonlighter has a satisfying gameplay loop that makes every run enjoyable and addictive. Just like so many indies in this list, Moonlighter is another indie game that popped out of nowhere and made us fall in love with it.
Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! / Let’s Go, Eevee!
Where Can I Play it?: Nintendo Switch
COGconnected Review: 83/100
When Nintendo announced that they were remaking the classic Pokemon Yellow, it was met with excitement and scepticism While the updated 3D graphics were certainly welcome, some of the other changes — particularly with combat — caused some Nintendo fans to approach with caution. Thankfully, in the end, both Pokemon Let’s Go games are absolutely worth checking out on Switch. There are enough changes to the formula for original players to enjoy and the Pokemon Go battle system (plus no more random encounters) makes this the perfect Pokemon game for newcomers.
Vampyr
Where Can I Play it?: PC, PS4, Xbox One
COGconnected Review: 88/100
When developing Vampyr, DONTNOD Entertainment set out to create something vastly different than its previous project, Life is Strange. Not only is it a much more ambitious effort, but it also happens to be one of the years’ more original and unique gaming experiences one can have. While many of Vampyr’s shortcomings can be tied to performance hiccups, scouring the city of London at night searching for someone to literally sink your teeth into is something you won’t soon forget. It won’t be for everyone, but for those that put in the time will find a game that truly sticks with you.