Game of the Year 2018

[Neon Ignition]

We're entering the final month of another year that has seen several big name winners and losers, not only that but the current generation is now beginning to head towards its sunset year despite the strong sales that are still being posted. A heavy year of releases awaits on the other side of New Years but now begins the time to look back at the games you enjoyed in 2018 and to consider what you felt was your Game of the Year 2018

The closing date for this years voting is:

04 January 2019

When voting be sure to place your list in preference order. Each place is point awarded (1st = 5 points, 2nd, 4 points etc) to determine the ultimate winners for each category. The categories this year are:


Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 -
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -


Category Two - Worst Game of 2018

01 -
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -


Platform of the Year 2018

01 -
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -


Most Anticipated Game of 2019

01 -
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -


Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019

01 -
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -


Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018

01 -
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -

Any notable games you enjoyed that didn't quite make your top 5, games released previous to 2017, thoughts on the choices being made or views of the years releases as a whole? Feel free to share them!

The results of this years voting will be announced shortly after the closing date.

[Brad]

Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 - Astro Bot
02 - Red Dead Redemption 2
03 - Forza Horizon 4
04 - Wipeout VR
05 -


Category Two - Worst Game of 2018

01 - Fallout 76
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -


Platform of the Year 2018

01 - PSVR
02 - Xbox One X
03 - PS4
04 - Switch
05 -


Most Anticipated Game of 2019

01 - Death Stranding
02 - Crackdown 3
03 -
04 -
05 -


Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019

01 - Shenmue 3
02 -
03 -
04 -
05 -


Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018

01 - Resident Evil 7
02 - Destiny 2
03 - Nioh
04 -
05 -

[Colin]

I feel like I can actually give a little input in to this for once, if not much right enough!


Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 - Astrobot
03 - Tetris effect
03 - Iconoclasts

Platform of the Year 2018

01 - PSVR
02 - Raspberry Pi (Well I’m counting it anyway!)
03 - PS4

Most Anticipated Game of 2019

01 - The last of us 2 (I’m hoping!)
02 - EDF: Iron Rain
03 - Days gone (As above)

Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019

01 - Shenmue 3

Well I did say it would only be a little input!

[Team Andromeda]

Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 - Astrobot
02 - Tomb Raider
03 - God Of War
04 - F1 2018
05 - Far Cry 5
06 - Monster Hunter World
07 - Forza Horizon 4
08 - Destiny 2


Platform of the Year 2018

01 - XBox One X
02 - PS Pro/VR



Most Anticipated Game of 2019

01 - Anthem
02 - Resident Evil 2 (remake)
03 - Gears Of War V
04 - DMC V
05 - Sekiro
06 - Ace Combat 7
07 - Ori and the Will of the Wisps
08 - Doom Eternal

[Atticus]

I suppose this might change before the year is out, but right now ...

Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 - Tetris Effect
02 - Astro Bot (haven't completed but love it straight away, and trying not to burn through it)
03 - Life Is Strange 2: Episode 1
04 - South Park: The Fractured But Whole
05 - Black Ops IIII/IV/4/Four

* RDR2 is probably better than all of these but I'm too busy with other games right now
** Dito Yakuza 6
*** Ketsui on PS4 might sneak in too
**** BO4 will not be in the top 5 by the deadline


Platform of the Year 2018

01 - PS4 Pro/VR
02 - Xbox One X
03 - Switch


Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018

01 - What Remains of Edith Finch
02 - Mario Odyssey


Worst Most Disappointing Game of 2018

01 - Tempest 4000. After the initial giddiness I admitted to myself it didn't actually play as well as TxK ... and a lack of VR mode was hugely disappointing ... especially after playing Polybius. A missed opportunity that felt pretty lazy in the end

[Family Fry]

I’ll just post this up and add to it later.

Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 - Celeste
02 - Far Cry 5
03 - Minit
04 - Return of the Obra Dinn
05 - Gris

Most Anticipated Game of 2019

01 - Control
02 - Crackdown 3
03 - Ori and the will of the wisps
04 - No More Heroes Travis Strikes Again
05 - Concrete Genie

Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018

01 - Hollow Knight

[MartyG]

Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 - Forza Horizon 4
02 - Red Dead Redemption 2
03 - Hitman 2
04 - BATTLETECH
05 - Graveyard Keeper


Category Two - Worst Game of 2018

01 - Fallout 76
02 - Sea of Thieves
03 - Playstation Classic
04 -
05 -


Platform of the Year 2018

01 - PC
02 - Xbox One X
03 - PS4
04 - Switch
05 -


Most Anticipated Game of 2019

01 - Cyberpunk 2077
02 - Phoenix Point
03 - The Last of Us Part 2
04 - Beyond Good & Evil 2
05 - Doom Eternal


Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019

01 - Crackdown 3
02 - Anthem
03 - Shenmue 3
04 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake
05 -


Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018

01 - Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
02 - Tekken 7
03 - Prey
04 -
05 -

[Nico87]

Game of the Year 2018

1 - NieR Automata: BECOME AS GODS Edition (Xbox One X)
2 - Okami HD (Nintendo Switch)
3 - God of War (PlayStation 4)
4 - Astro Bot: Rescue Mission (PS VR)
5 - Marvel's Spider-Man (PlayStation 4)

Platform of the Year 2018

1 - Xbox One X (by far, though likely influenced by the fact that I only got it in 2018)
2 - PS4/PS VR
3 - Nintendo Switch

Most Anticipated Game of 2019

1 - Devil May Cry 5 (Xbox One X)
2 - Yoshi's Crafted World (Nintendo Switch)
3 - Resident Evil 2 (Xbox One X)
4 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (Xbox One X)
5 - Cyberpunk 2077 (Xbox One X)

Honorable mention: The Ninja Warriors Once Again (Nintendo Switch)

Pretty difficult category as there are so many games that are TBA as of now.

Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018

1 - NieR: Automata (PlayStation 4)
2 - NieR: Automata (PlayStation 4)
3 - NieR: Automata (PlayStation 4)
4 - Horizon: Zero Dawn (PlayStation 4)
5 - Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (PlayStation Vita)

[Cepp]

Category One - Game of the Year 2018
01 - Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
02 - Taiko No Tatsujin


Category Two - Worst Game of 2018
N/A - I haven't played any other 2018 releases


Platform of the Year 2018
01 - Switch


Most Anticipated Game of 2019
01 - DOOM Eternal
02 - Dragon Quest Builders 2
03 - The Outer Worlds
04 - Resident Evil 2 Remake


Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019
01 - Shenmue III


Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018
01 - Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

[CMcK]

Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 - Astro Bot
02 - Tetris Effect
03 - Sonic Mania Plus
04 - Lumines Remastered
05 - (Reserved for Psyvariar Delta or Dangun Feveron)


Category Two - Worst Game of 2018

01 - PUBG


Platform of the Year 2018

01 - PSVR
02 - Xbox One X
03 - PS4 Pro


Most Anticipated Game of 2019

01 - Xeno Crisis
02 - ESP Ra.De
03 - Aleste (from M2)
04 - Gears of War V
05 - Streets of Rage IV

Special mentions for Kraut Buster and Cuphead expansion too.


Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019

01 - Shenmue 3
02 - Death Stranding


Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018

I'm still trying to catch up with games from years before that! Really enjoyed Shantae and The Pirates Curse, Axiom Verge, Ghost Blade HD and Super Hydorah this year.

[dataDave]

Most Anticipated Game of 2019

1) Resi 2
2) DMC5
3) Doom Eternal
4) Cyberpunk 2077 (hopefully)
5) and maybe a bit of Rage 2.

[Neon Ignition]

Work in Progress atm:



Category One - Game of the Year 2018

01 - Red Dead Redemption II
02 - Forza Horizon 4
03 - Shadow of the Tomb Raider
04 - God of War
05 - Monster Hunter: World


Category Two - Worst Game of 2018

01 - Danger Zone 2
02 - The Dark Inside Me: Chapter One
03 - Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn
04 - All Star Fruit Racing
05 - Sea of Thieves


Platform of the Year 2018

01 - Playstation 4
02 - PC
03 - Switch
04 - Playstation VR
05 - Xbox One


Most Anticipated Game of 2019

01 - Resident Evil 2: Remake
02 - Shenmue III
03 - Metro: Exodus
04 - Devil May Cry 5
05 - Doom Eternal


Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019

01 - Anthem
02 - Ace Combat 7
03 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
04 - Shenmue III
05 - Kingdom Hearts III


Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018

01 - Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
02 - Tekken 7
03 - Assassin's Creed: Origins
04 - Life is Strange: Before the Storm
05 - The Last Day in June

[Adam]

Category One - Game of the Year 2018
01 - God of War
02 - Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
03 - Battlefield V
04 - Monster Hunter World
05 - Red Dead Redemption 2

Category Two - Worst Game of 2018
01 - Fallout 76
02 - Sea of Thieves

Platform of the Year 2018
01 - PS4
02 - Switch
03 - PC

Most Anticipated Game of 2019
01 - Resident Evil 2
02 - Sekiro
03 - The Last Of Us Part 2
04 - Cyberpunk 2077
05 - Dragon Quest Builders 2

Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019
01 - Shenmue 3
02 - Anthem
03 - Kingdom Hearts III
04 - Jump Force
05 - The Division 2

Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018
01 - Nier Automata
02 - Divinity: Original Sin II
03 - Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
04 - Another World PS4
05 - Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

[QualityChimp]

I always struggle to fill these in because I rarely play five games released in a year, let alone enough to fill a top and bottom five!
This year, I'm up to a record 4!

Category One - Game of the Year 2018
01 - Monster Hunter: World
02 - Red Dead Redemption 2 (Amazing thus far, but so many distractions!)
03 - God of War (It's good, but hasn't clicked yet. Still smashing pots for loot like it's GB Zelda :/ )
04 - Earth Defense Force 5 (not even played it and I know it's on the GotY list! )

Right then. I've been thinking about this a fair bit and RDR2 is a monolithic achievement. A standout accomplishment of modern gaming. At times, I'm just collecting stuff and not sure if I'm having fun (usually, a big yes).

I have to put Monster Hunter: World at the top spot though, because it's such a fantastic experience. In no particular order:

1. It's gorgeous to look at. Several times I'd be stopped in my tracks looking at a sunset or an animated background 0.02% of players will ever see.
2. It's got a beautiful sense of progression. You're hunting these lowly monsters to upgrade your gear and you're always sensing a feeling of making your fella better. Then you're after one slightly tougher. Monsters you once ran from now run from you.
3. It makes you feel badass. Some great weapons and moves. Zipping around the levels, building up your meter during a fight and unleasing a supermove is the kind of feeling gaming gives you that nothing else can.
4. The content. It's a full game in its' own right, but in an era where DLC is par for the course and hobbled games designed to sell you the full experience as extra, this is a breath of fresh air and I wanted to support a developer who chose to make so much content free. Characters, outfits and cross-content from Horizon Zero Dawn, Mega Man, Street Fighter, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy XIV and Witcher III. That's over a year's worth of updates, content and festivals and a new paid content coming next Spring.
5. The community. THIS is the game that brought Bordersdown together in 2018. I can't think of another game with so much banter, camaraderie, encouragement, support, excitement and laughs. Thanks to everyone I hunted monsters with.

Let's have a think who I played this with: @fuse, @kryss, @Superman Falls, @vanpeebles, @MrKirov, @hudson, @Pavey, @J0e Musashi, @Lebowski and a few other mates of mates. (Please understand, if I've missed anyone, it's been a big day, I'm a little tired. #Williams)
I made a decision to stop playing this, or I'd play nothing else all year. That's the only reason I stopped playing.

Category Two - Worst Game of 2018
There's no games I played this year that I hated, but I struggled to click with Sea of Thieves, which is frustrating as I know somebody on the team. The people who click with it REALLY click with it, so what do I know?
I'm a bit jealous of those people.

Platform of the Year 2018
01 - PS4
02 - XBone
03 - Vita (before it died)
04 - Switch
05 - XBox 360 (I really enjoyed playing/replaying Stuntman: Ignition, MGS2, Guitar Hero/Rock Band, Crackdown, Portal 2, Katamari, Import Tuner Challenge, Peggle and EDF 2205)

Most Anticipated Game of 2019
01 - Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain
02 - Cyberpunk 2069
03 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
04 - Days Gone
05 - The Ninja Warriors Once Again (thank, @Nico87)

Biggest Predicted New Release Failure of 2019
01 - Shenmue III
02 - Anthem (could be h'amaze, could be ruined by EA DLC)
03 - Crackdown 3
04 - Death Stranding

Best Game From 2017 That You Only Got Around to Playing in 2018
01 - Super Mario Odyssey
02 - Captain Toad Treasure Tracker
03 - Everybody's Gone to the Rapture

Okay, so that last one isn't 2017, but I wanted to note somewhere how much I enjoyed playing this game this year.
Nothing like I've played before, different to what I was expecting and it's stayed with me longer than many other games.
Other than the games on my son's Switch, I haven't played anything from 2017, so should probably have a look at last year's winners!

Thanks for sorting again, @Superman Falls.

[Super Monkey Balls]

Game of the Year 2018

01 - Super Smash Bros Ultimate
02 - Onrush
03 - Red Dead Redemption 2
04 - Forza Horizon 4
05 - Tetris Effect