11 video games you should have played throughout 2018

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Look, this game may have only been out for a week or two, but it’s Super Smash Brothers. Remember when Melee came out for GameCube? The one good game that came out on that system that you spent hours in?

The insanity around that game is also around Ultimate. And the fact that you can play on some of those old school levels that you both love and hate make this entry so good. Now go be Yoshi and turn people into eggs like my mom always did!

Far Cry 5

The Far Cry series is always a good one, and there are already rumors about a Far Cry 6. However, don’t just skip from 4 to 6 if you can help it. Despite the political controversy around its announcement and release, the fifth iteration is still a fun open world game with plenty of enemies and explosions to satisfy all your gaming needs.

Monster Hunter: World

I’ve never played a Monster Hunter game before this, but I was addicted to Monster Hunter: World for a solid three weeks, constantly playing in my spare time rather than doing anything productive as well as tracking and hunting down exotic monsters and then watching you have to constantly batter them with ammo and whatever else you have on hand.

It should be more frustrating than it actually is. Instead, it pulls you in and makes you want to defeat what you’re after.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Rise of the Tomb Raider made such a splash in 2015 that a sequel might never live up to it. Shadow of the Tomb Raider may fall short in some eyes, but its storytelling and character development carry it far. And how it ends really does fit where we were introduced to this character over 20 years ago.

For all those reasons, it’s definitely worth playing through.

Tetris Effect

Tetris is back! And in pog form! But seriously—this game is stupidly addicting. I am all for my moves lining up with my music, and Tetris Effect delivers.

Plus—it’s Tetris! How can you go wrong?

Octopath Traveler

The Nintendo Switch seemed a little quieter this year, but when you don’t have Zelda or Mario, it’s not as big and noticeable.

But Octopath Traveler is such an addicting, perfect RPG for the Switch format. You can choose from eight playable characters; it doesn’t matter who you choose because they all end up intertwined with the plot anyway. It’s incredibly addicting, because you just want to know what happens next.

Plus when you win Nintendo Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards, that means it’s definitely worth playing.

So which games did you play in 2018? What did we leave out on our list that you think should have made it? Let us know in the comments!