The 10 Best Games Of E3 2018
So E3 2018 has come and gone, leaving many of us UK-based geek bloggers in a state of euphoric exhaustion.
Hours and hours of announcements, big shows, and spectacles really take it out of you! But now, as the dust settles, we have a swamp-full of new games in the pipeline and plenty of hype-inducing gameplay to wade through.
And the question is obvious - what were the best games of the show? A lot of the games press are dishing out awards to many of the titles you expect would be rewarded. I won’t lie, I will also be highlighting some of these same games.
But there are a few titles that seem to have fallen largely under the radar, which I hope to shine a spotlight on for you all in this article. In no order, here are my ten best games of E3 2018…
Writer’s note: Just adding a quick bit here before kicking off with the list. I know a lot of great games are missing from this list. The likes of Resident Evil 2, the new Super Smash Bros and Ghost of Tsushima are all games I am keenly looking forward to. These choices are my own personal opinion, and I’d love to read your favourites in the comments below.
1. The Last Of Us Part II
Because of course, this was going to be on the list. Finally showing off gameplay (albeit a technical demo that may not be 100% representative of the end product), Naughty Dog once again proved themselves to be worthy of the vast fandom they have drawn through their insanely raw, atmospheric single-player experiences.
In one fell swoop, they showed the mind-glowingly gorgeous visuals, the visceral nature of their wince-inducing violence, the overwhelming tension that The Last of Us is known for. All of this came fluid character movements, unlike anything we’ve ever seen in gameplay.
Consider me excited for when this finally does come out… I’m predicting late 2019/early 2020.
2. Cyberpunk 2077
The grand finale to Microsoft’s Xbox E3 Show, CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 was highly rumoured to make an appearance. Anticipation this high came with some fears of whether the actual announcement will live up to expectations.
Given the trailer and subsequent thoughts of a behind-closed-doors demo, those fears can safely be put to rest. The sci-fi presentation smacks you in the face with a blend of Ready Player One and Blade Runner, with both the feeling of a vast area of exploration and claustrophobic with a dense population all at the same time.
And with gameplay similar to the open-ended questing of the developer’s previous Witcher titles, you’re certainly in for a unique feast for the eyes, ears, brain and fingers.
3. Forza Horizon 4
Look beyond the strange presentation, and you have all the makings of an amazing racer. Provided they nail the England aesthetics (minus being stuck in queues behind tractors on country roads, of course), and really commit to building the living, breathing world they wish to build, this would be an addictive game.
Fingers crossed they pull it off.
4. Sable
Announced at the PC Gaming Show to relatively little fanfare, Sable could actually be one of E3’s prettiest games!
With style straight out of a graphic novel, the thick black outlines encompassing a stylishly muted colour palette make for looks so visually arresting, they are sure to stop even the casual gamer for a second glance.
The story is one of a young wanderer names Sable, who ends up on a foreign planet and needs to traverse the landscape for supplies/a way home. But the real star of the show here is the artistic direction.
5. Sea of Solitude
The only good thing to come out of EA’s press conference is their continuing commitment to indie titles through their originals program. And their next choice is one from German studio Jo-Mei Games, which tells a highly metaphorical tale of loneliness and depression through exploring the sea alone.
Set for early 2019, the beautiful style of this demo captivated audiences everywhere and writer/creative director Cornelia Geppert hit us all right in the feels with her nervousness on stage. Colour me excited to sink my teeth into this one.
6. Metal Wolf Chaos XD
Announced at the downright hilarious Devolver Digital E3 show, you may know vaguely of the mecha mentalness that is Metal Wolf Chaos. Released back in December 2004 on Xbox in Japan, this game told the story of the United States President losing control of his country to a traitorous Vice President. To fight back against the system, he pilots a mech suit (totally not kidding about this) and goes on a murderous rampage across America.
It’s an insane-yet-awesome concept that many people never got the chance to play, and at a time when we could do with a laugh about an increasingly saddening political system, this is the perfect remedy.
7. Devil May Cry 5
The Devil May Cry saga has finally been pulled out of retirement, containing some of the most insane visual flair and downright speed of gameplay that this blogger has seen!
Making its debut at Microsoft’s conference, DMC 5 is a direct continuation of Nero’s story from Devil May Cry 4, as he picks up the Red Queen sword and dives into another round of high-octane stylised combat. The game is set to release in Spring 2019 with Director Hideaki Itsuno at the helm - claiming this is a “true” sequel to the previous numbered entry in the series.
Using the “best minds at Capcom,” Itsuno believes this feels better than any action game Capcom has ever created.
8. Fallout 76
Besides getting me back into the smooth sounds of John Denver, Fallout 76 looks to be an interesting twist on the previously single-player franchise.
Set in the hills of (yep, you guessed it) West Virginia, this online survival RPG is the earliest in the Fallout timeline, telling the story of Vault 76 - the first survivors tasked with rebuilding society after the nuclear war.
But most interesting, apart from the setting and backstory, this is a shared-world survival game that remains entirely online.
Fear not, though, at the heart of it is still a Fallout game. Game Director Todd Howard was quick to confirm that at Bethesda’s E3 show, saying its “entirely online, but that isn’t to say its a massively multiplayer game.”
What you have here is more of a “shared world” shooter, similar to the likes of Destiny. And where Destiny fell far short of expectations with rather dull grinds through monotonous level design, Fallout could prevail with its keen attention to world details and soaking everything in life-building immersion.
9. My Friend Pedro
Certainly one of the coolest shooters I’ve ever seen, think of My Friend Pedro like a more violent, 2D version of Max Payne with a greater, almost Tony Hawk-esque reliance on flashy shooting tricks.
In fact, the creator Victor Agren knows how cool it is - giving you the feature to automatically generate GIFs that can be shared online while you’re playing.
The story is random, of course. Pedro is a banana who takes pride of place in the faceless man’s skull (the person you play as), which gives him the ability to slow down time Matrix-style.
This platforming bullet puzzler is unlike anything I’ve witnessed in a long time, and I’m confident everyone will love the addictive gameplay.
10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
So, after much anticipation (and my bet) for a new Tenchu game, turns out From Software’s next game was a complete break from all of their traditions - an introduction of a new IP.
Breaking their Dark Souls mold, Sekiro looks to be a far faster combat experience with some interesting ninja quirks, including a “shinobi prosthetic” that can grapple your enemies and cleave them with a built-in axe.
And the deaths… From Software have not shied away from spectacular shows of gore in their character assassinations. Plus, rather than operating mostly in one horizontal dimension like the team’s previous games, Shadows Die Twice brings a lot of verticality to its design, making for an interestingly new experience from the team.
