By Peter Brown on Dec 24, 2018 11:30 pm
The Best Reviewed RPGs By Score - 2018
Role-playing games have long since entered the mainstream and the influence of their popularity on other genres is undeniable. The most borrowed facet of the RPG experience is the idea of long-term character growth and customization, a concept now commonly found in fighting games, shooters, and sports sims. It's a universally useful way to remain engaged with a game over time and uncover depth as your skills improve. RPG developers had an opportunity to pounce on the popularity of the genre and aim for more ambitious and unique projects in 2018, and the results are definitely impressive. Octopath Traveler and Dragon Quest XI are two exceptional RPGs that proudly iterate on their old-school, JRPG roots in their own way, while Ni No Kuni 2 delivered a more modern, quasi-Ghibli affair. Western developers didn't shy away from tradition either. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire from Obsidian Entertainment is a deep RPG based (in part) on tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, and its meticulously crafted script was the hook that bound you to a long and storied fantasy adventure. Kingdom Come: Deliverance tapped into the history books to give us a taste of medieval life, which is just as dangerous and filthy as you might imagine. We've rounded up these, and every other RPG that scored at least an 8 on GameSpot in 2018, and organized them by score below. If you're interested in other 2018 review roundups, or our bounty of features discussing and showcasing the year's best games overall, jump over to GameSpot's Best Games of 2018 hub. And while you're there, keep your eyes peeled for our most anticipated games coming in 2019.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition - 10/10
From lonely farmhouses through pitched battles with gods in far-flung dimensions, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the most captivating role-playing games ever made in both its original and Definitive incarnations, with the latter proving that even the most complicated role-players can be ported successfully to gamepad-limited consoles. This immaculately conceived and emotion-wrought fantasy world, topped by brilliant tactical combat, make it one of the finest games of recent years, and it remains an instant classic in the pantheon of RPG greats. -- Brett Todd [Full Review]
Diablo III: Eternal Collection (Switch Port) - 9/10
Diablo 3 is a game about long term goals accomplished in short, thrilling bursts. It's rewarding and subtle. It's flashy and boisterous. I have spent six years enjoying it, and will likely spend six years more. As far as video games go, that's a long time--I came into the Eternal Collection expecting a eulogy for one of my favorite games. Instead, I stumbled upon a celebration. -- Mike Mahardy [Full Review]
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age - 9/10
Innovation in games is talked about a lot, but it's also great to see traditional gameplay formulas that have been around for decades presented exceptionally well. Dragon Quest XI is one of the best modern examples of this; its beautiful presentation, both visual- and story-wise, combines with a tried-and-true gameplay formula for a journey that's full of heart and soul. Once you find yourself sucked into the world of Dragon Quest XI, it's going to be hard to put down until you reach the grand finale. -- Heidi Kemps [Full Review]
Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch Port) - 8/10
Beyond the challenge of combat, Battle Chasers is sustained through the strength of its story, a rollicking tale that takes our heroes literally to hell and back. It's bolstered by some sharp dialogue, gorgeous artwork, and an ensemble that plays extremely well off of each other. Lots of work has gone into Nightwar since its first release, and the balancing improvements make it an easy game to recommend on all platforms. -- Justin Clark [Full Review]
Child Of Light (Switch Port) - 8/10
It has been more than four years since Child of Light first hit consoles. The somber tone that permeates the adventure still resonates deeply, using its delicate visuals and wistful music to capture a feeling of melancholy that still feels incredibly rare. The passage of time hasn't undermined the sadness that makes this game so welcoming because there is still nothing quite like Child of Light. The transition to the Switch hasn't hurt the experience in the slightest. Whether docked or in handheld mode, the beautiful artistic design shines through and the controls are smooth regardless of which controller you use. -- Tom Mc Shea [Full review]
Dark Souls Remastered (Switch Port) - 8/10
While Dark Souls Remastered on Switch possesses some odd quirks and isn't as technically impressive as its current-gen counterparts, it still retains the heart of what the original game is all about. To this day, Dark Souls remains a watershed moment for the action-RPG genre. Getting to re-experience many of the game's most nerve-wracking and iconic moments can be satisfying in its own right, but coupled with the Switch's flexible playstyle, this equally haunting and triumphant game becomes an even more involved journey. -- Alessandro Fillari [Full Review]
Kingdom Come: Deliverance - 8/10
It's an impressive and unflinching look at the medieval era that transports you inside the compelling story of a real person caught in the middle of a civil war. As such, this is one of those rare, memorable games that stays with you long after you stop playing. While quirks and bugs can certainly be frustrating, none of these issues interfere much with the unique and captivating nature of the overall experience. -- Brett Todd [Full Review]
Monster Hunter World - 8/10
Ever since the title was first announced, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large. -- Ginny Woo [Full Review]
Ni No Kuni II: The Revenant Kingdom - 8/10
Ni No Kuni 2 is a robust game that offers ample ways to spend your time, and even if they aren't all up to the same level of quality, it's easy to appreciate how they collectively contribute to the bigger picture. It's chock full of excellent battles and surprising moments that make for a far more memorable experience than you initially expect and leaves you impressed by your own accomplishments. If you didn't play the first game, don't let this one pass you by too. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
Octopath Traveler - 8/10
Despite the lackluster stories that pull you through the world, Octopath thrives on its character progression and the temptations of high-level challenges and rewards. The promise of new jobs, exciting boss fights, and powerful gear will inspire you to poke around every corner, and there are no shortage of discoveries to strive for. And all the while, you're treated to one of the most interesting and effective re-imaginings of a retro aesthetic around. Octopath will likely be a divisive game due to its fractured storytelling, but it's one worth playing despite its lesser qualities. Its high points are simply too good to ignore. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire - 8/10
Deadfire is dense, and it isn't a small game, easily dwarfing its predecessor in terms of scale. There's a lot to do, and it's easier than ever to get lost in the little stories you find, without following the arcs that the game has specially set out for you. Still, it's worth taking your time. The richness of Deadfire takes a while to appreciate, and like the brined sailors that call it home, you'll be left with an indelible attachment to these islands when you do finally step away. -- Danial Starkey [Full Review]
Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu & Evee - 8/10
Despite these concessions, Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee are delightful reimaginings of the series' origins and a deep RPG in their own right. It makes a lot of smart improvements on the original Red, Blue and Yellow while holding on to what made them so special in the first place. Fans of the series might be let down by the lack of features they've come to expect, but Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee take the Pokemon formula in some exciting new directions. -- Jacob Dekker [Full Review]
Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology - 8/10
Had this been a straight port of the DS version, it would still warrant the attention of RPG enthusiasts who missed Radiant Historia the first time around. With its upgrades and considerable bonuses--particularly the Sub-History--even those who think they got their fill by beating the original game should check out this definitive edition. -- Miguel Concepcion [Full Review]
The Alliance Alive - 8/10
There's a lot to love about The Alliance Alive: a well-paced story in an interesting world, a meaty mashup of unique combat elements, and a fantastic soundtrack that keeps you pumped and eager to explore. If you can put up with a bit of a learning curve, you'll find a great portable adventure well worth dusting off your 3DS for. -- Heidi Kemps [Full Review]
The Banner Saga 3 - 8/10
The Banner Saga 3 won't have the same kind of meaningful impact if you haven't experienced the rest of the series. But if you've taken the time to journey with these characters from the very beginning, this finale is a worthwhile and cathartic end to your long journey. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
Transistor - 8/10
Transistor remains an absolute joy to play on Nintendo Switch. The system's screen has no issues with readability, though the game is best enjoyed in docked mode, where its visuals--which remain striking nearly five years after its original release--have room to flourish on a big screen. Its turn-based combat and relatively brief encounters are well-suited to short bursts of gameplay in handheld mode, though the strong writing and pacing are likely to pull you through extended sessions. -- Chris Pereira & Carolyn Petit [Full Review]
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut - 8/10
Wasteland 2 is still a very special outing. If you haven't spent your time in this irradiated desert just yet, this is one of the best times to do so--especially since the portability of the Switch reissue lets you take the journey on long treks of your own, or as a dense RPG to curl and nestle in with, as you might with an excellent book. -- Daniel Starkey [Full Review]
West Of Loathing (Switch Port) - 8/10
West of Loathing's visuals are monochromatic, but there's enjoyable comedy painted between every line, a pitch-perfect Spaghetti Western soundtrack, and a full spectrum of role-playing possibilities to choose from that make it a consistently enjoyable madcap cowboy jaunt. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
By Mat Elfring on Dec 24, 2018 09:30 pm
Between movies coming to theaters, video-on-demand, and streaming services, there were plenty of films to watch in 2018. In fact, there were way too many. We live in an age with an overabundance of movies and television, and so much of it is high-quality entertainment. We saw superheroes all get killed off by a snap, a horror movie about being quiet as possible, and a documentary about the life and times of everyone's favorite cardigan-wearing neighbor. But what were the best movies of the year? Over the course of 2018, hundreds of critics put out reviews for every major movie release, so what films got all of the critics around the globe really excited? Taking a look at GameSpot's sister site, Metacritic--which collects and averages out critic movie ratings--we found the best reviewed movies of the year and are presenting the top 20 for you all, in case you want to know what to catch up on during your winter break. In addition, we only included the first 20 movies with the "must see" tag on it, as there are a few high-rated movies with very few critical reviews on the site. If you're looking for more on 2018, check out The 22 Best TV Episodes, The 16 Best Anime Movies And TV Shows, 10 Best TV Shows, and The 10 Best Movies.
20. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Metacritic Score: 87 Spider-Verse got everything right about Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man. Taking place in a parallel universe, Morales develops Spider-Man powers and then finds himself surrounded by other spider-people from various universes. It is a movie filled with heart and it is plenty of fun. GameSpot's Meg Downey said in her review, "It's a message that superhero comics--that Spider-Man comics specifically--have been touting for ages, and something that's been long overdue for a big screen debut. It probably wouldn't work if Into The Spider-Verse weren't just so funny, self aware, and bleeding-edge modern--but it is, and it does. It manages to blow right past the dangers of sinking into after school special territory by believing wholeheartedly in its own message and delivering it with appropriately genuine stakes."
19. Hereditary
Metacritic Score: 87 The only horror movie on this list is none other than Hereditary. The matriarch of a family dies, and her daughter's family begins to fall apart, as secrets about their family are slowly revealed. It is a dark and deeply disturbing movie, and unlike anything we've seen with horror in years. Mike Rougeau said in his review on GameSpot, "The horror doesn't come from jump scares, of which there are very few. It's more the sense of reality coming undone--of forces beyond control manipulating the characters into acts of self-destruction. Hereditary isn't overly concerned with its own metaphors, but it does leave things open to interpretation… If you love great horror, you'll be dying to see it again."
18. Sweet Country
Metacritic Score: 87 Taking place in Australia, an aboriginal man named Sam ends up killing his neighbor in self-defense. Because of this, Sam becomes wanted for killing a white man, and runs to the outback with hunting parties searching for him. The public slowly becomes unsure of the situation when the truth of the shooting comes out. Critics have called this movie refreshing, praising the story and beauty of the location.
17. Black Panther
Metacritic Score: 88 Black Panther follows the king of the fictional African country of Wakanda, where an outsider has arrived and demands to take the crown in order to fulfill his destiny of bringing power (advanced weaponry) to the people. While the third act had some sloppy CG at times, the movie's villain, Killmonger, is the best Marvel bad guy to date, and overall, Black Panther tried new things as far as Marvel movies go, with great success. Mike Rougeau said in his review, "Black Panther is a top tier Marvel movie with all the humor, style, action, passion, and fun that the MCU has come to embody. Black Panther is a cultural event that's going to be hard for Marvel to top, no matter how many worlds Thanos conquers later this year in Infinity War."
16. Shirkers
Metacritic Score: 88 In this Netflix documentary, filmmaker Sandi Tran recounts when she, her friends, and American Georges Cardona, made an indie film in Singapore back in 1992. After shooting wrapped, Georges disappeared with all the footage. 20 years later, the movie they shot is found, and Tran puts tries to put the pieces of this puzzle together, Critics shave praised it as a fantastic detective story.
15. Leave No Trace
Metacritic Score: 88 A man and his daughter are living deep in the forests of Oregon, off the grid, until one day, social services comes along and forces them to integrate back into society. However, the father and daughter's feelings about living amongst society differ creating a rift between the two. It is a compelling and at times a heartbreaking movie about the family dynamic that critics have raved about.
14. A Star Is Born
Metacritic Score: 88 The movie A Star Is Born has been remade plenty of times, with the most notable--prior to this year--being 1976's starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. This time around, Lady Gaga stars as the struggling singer who wants to make it big but falls in love with Bradley Cooper's character, who pushes her into the spotlight. This is the best version of the story to date, with critics praising Gaga's performance throughout the movie.
13. Paddington 2
Metacritic Score: 88 One movie brought a ton of joy to people all around the world, and that movie was Paddington 2. The fuzzy brown bear is now living with the Brown family, and plans on buying his Aunt Lucy something nice for her 100th birthday. However, the gift ends up being stolen. It is a family-friendly film filled with a ton of heart as Paddington goes on a treasure-hunting adventure.
12. The Death of Stalin
Metacritic Score: 88 In this biographical comedy, U.S.S.R.'s leader, Joseph Stalin, has died, and those who worked under him desperately try to grasp power that the former dictator left behind. Many critics have praised the movie for its hilarious take on political power, even though it can be excessively vulgar at times.
11. Eighth Grade
Metacritic Score: 89 Elsie Fisher stars as Kayla in this coming of age story about a young girl's final months in 8th grade. Before she enters high school, she wants to become more confident around other people and make new friends. It is a story the vast majority of people could relate to in one way or another, and critics have applauded the writing and direction from Bo Burnham.
10. Zama
Metacritic Score: 89 South American born officer of the Spanish Crown Zama wants to be transferred from where is is stationed, but must wait on a letter from the king. After years of not hearing back from him, Zama joins a team of soldiers to hunt down a bandit. More than anything else, critics of the film have praised the main character's arc and development through this masterfully shot movie.
9. Cold War
Metacritic Score: 89 Taking place in a post-war Poland at the start of the Cold War during the 1950s, the movie follows a man and a woman and their love story, even though they have extremely different backgrounds. The movie encapsulates the country during that time, setting a love story against a Polish cultural backdrop, which many have called bittersweet and wonderful.
8. The Tale
Metacritic Score: 90 Laura Dern plays a woman who finds a story she wrote in middle school, that has her questioning her relationship with an older man and woman during that time. She travels back to where it all began to find out just what happened during that time. It's been called a brave film that fully explores sexual assault and how it affects its victims.
7. Burning
Metacritic Score: 90 The introverted Jongsu reunites with Haemi, someone from his old neighborhood. And there is a possibility of romance between them, until Ben (Steven Yeun) comes along. Ben is young and rich, but there is something deeply disturbing about him. This is a slow, psychological film that will draw the viewer in as the movie delves deeper into class divide and relationships.
6. The Favourite
Metacritic Score: 91 Set during the war between England and France in the early 18th century, The Favourite follows Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), who is governing the country while the queen is sick. A new servant named Abigail (Emma Stone) comes and becomes friends with Sarah and takes her under her wing. The historical dramedy is praised for its witty and wildly entertaining script and performances.
5. The Rider
Metacritic Score: 92 A rising rodeo star from a reservation in South Dakota has a fall from grace when his horse gets its head crushed. Deciding what to do with his life, he goes on a journey for a new identity. Critics have said that this movie gives great insight into a specific culture in the United States not often discussed.
4. They Shall Not Grow Old
Metacritic Score: 92 Directed by Peter Jackson, The Shall Not Grow Old uses archival footage from World War I and completely restores it, telling the story of those who fought in the war that took place a century ago. It gives insight into how these soldiers lived, what they ate, and what their lives were like during the very first great war.
3. Minding The Gap
Metacritic Score: 93 The documentary takes place in Rockford, Illinois, 90 miles west of Chicago. Using 12 years of footage, filmmaker Bing Liu explores relationships and masculinity between teenage years and adulthood. Critics have enjoyed the filmmaker's takes on these two distinct ages in the character's lives, and the unexpected turns their lives took.
2. Shoplifters
Metacritic Score: 93 A poor family has to resort to petty crime in order to survive. One night, after the father and son do a shoplifting run, they find a young girl in the freezing cold and take her in. Critics have raved about this movie saying it will pull at your heartstrings and devastate the audience all at the same time. The film has also been compared to a magic trick by The Globe And Mail's Simon Houpt.
1. Roma
Metacritic Score: 96 Netflix continues to dominate every aspect of visual media in 2018 with Roma, which critics cannot stop praising. The movie follows a worker from Mexico City, and director Alfonso Cuarón puts a lot of his own life and turmoil from his own childhood in the 70s into this movie. It has been called beautiful and modern artful, while being incredibly intimate.
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