As always, when it comes to critical acclaim and “Game of the Year” material, 2018 was a mixed bag. Many of us can likely go back and remember some of our favorite titles that rocked the gaming world, but many of us can also probably recollect the duds that we should never speak of again. The cool part is that a game didn’t have to be “the most groundbreaking thing ever,” to be a fun time for 2018. While we know Rockstar and Santa Monica Studio had two of the most critically acclaimed games of the year, outings like Monster Hunter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and many others were just as fun even if they didn’t break the 90 percent mar♓k (accoไrding to Metacritic).

What we think of as a “good game” can be incredibly subjective. While one gamer 🌊may think a game is terrible, another may think of it as “so bad its good,” which is something that can be argued for some of the more lackluster titles on this list. However, I think we can all agree that a good game has an engaging story or series of events, decent character development, witty dialogue, and gameplay that immerses you into the story. So, let’s take a walk down meওmory lane and see which the titles the gaming community loved, and the ones that they chose to skip. Check out our list of ten best and ten worst console games of 2018 (according to Metacritic). Scores are listed in the title.

20 🏅 💦 Best: Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS4, Xbox One) – 97/100

via cnet.com

Considering how excited the entire gaming community was for this game (and the fact that it didn’t disappoint), it is no secret as to why Red Dead Redemption 2 is this year’s breakout hit and the of 2018 by Metacritic. The game received a score of 97 out of 100, over 300 positivᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚe critic ratings, and 33 positive user ꦏreviews.

Critics cite the games organic gameplay, gorgeous graphics, memorable characters, and overall authenticity to the western period it is portraying as key reasons why this game wins out. IGN had this to say, “Red Dead Redemption 2 stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Grand Theft Auto V as one of the greatest games of the modern age. It’s a gorgeous depiction of an ugly period that’s patient, polished, and a huge amount of fun to play, and it’s coꦇmbined with Rockstar’s best storytelling to date.”

19 ౠ Worst: The Quiet Man (PS4) –ꦺ 29/100

via trustedreviews.com

With the trailer looking as if it is promoting a live action and low-budget neo-noir film rather than a game of mystery and intrigue, it is not easy to see why The Quiet Man did not spur any excitement in the ga📖ming community. It is a daring experiment by Square Enix, as it allows the player to view the world in the eyes of♍ a deaf man who is involved in an intense mystery.

Honestly, this game could have really been something special with some imagination.

It mixes computer-ge💞nerated visuals with in-game graphics and full-motion video. It sounds like it should have been a slam dunk, however, the execution left gamers feeling flat. The player's “sensing” is not functional, t𒀰he story is lackluster, and tutorials are almost nonexistent. With an overall score of , Square Enix missed the mark.

18 Best: God Of War (PS4) – 94/100

via comicbook.com

The best category is starting to look like a PS4 greatest hits compilation, and that is surely not by accident. The God of War franchise has always had a special place in the hearts of gamers everywhere. A compelling story and hack-and-slash play style are what hooked many players into the world of Kratos. However, a risky revisit to the franchise had many worried, but in the end, the experiment paid off. This 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:God of War sees Kratos taking on the gods ofꦓ Norse mythology while striving to become “father of the year,” for his young son Atreus. Breathtaking visuals, open exploration, a simple yet effective combat system, and nuanced story lifted this game to a ranking of .

17 🔯 Worst: Gene Rain (Xbox One) – 32/1ℱ00

via store.steampowered.com

What do you get when you mix a 3D third person shooter with a shallow story, lackluster dialogue, and terrible controls? Well, you get one of the worst games of the year in Gene Rain. This game set out to tell the story of “New Humans” settling in a futuristic world, but it really comes off a bit like a Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Gears of War knock-off.

Like we really need another one of those.

With a score of one of the , it is probably best to steer clear of this one, or free up some storage space by getting rid of 💞it if felt curious enough to try it out.

16 Best: Celeste (Xbox One) – 94/1ꦇ00

Madeline on top of Celeste mountain

Probably one of the best indie games of the year, Celeste shows that a smaller offering can compete with any triple AAA title and hold its own. The game is a brilliant callback to the 2D pixel art of days past. The premise is simple as it requires you to get Madeline to the top of Celeste mountain, but the tight level design, surprisingly emotional story, and complex mechanics make the game satisfyingly challenging. Metacritic was right to rate this one . If you are looking for a platformer experience that will knock your socks off, look no further than Celeste.

15 ꦆ 🤡 Worst: Ark Survival Evolved (Nintendo Switch) – 33/100

via amazon.com

The premise sounds promising: you are a human that is stranded on an island called ARK that must hunt, craft items, grow food, and harvest resources to survive. Unfortunately🍒, that is where the excitement for this game ends. The game was given “average and mixed reviews” when it premiered on the PS4 and Xbox One, but it saw its lowest reception yet on the Nintendo Switch.

When Nintendo wins it really shines, but when it loses…the result is games like this.

Reviewers cited “poor visual execution,” “framerate a🍷nd pꦚerformance,” and “a lack of optimization,” as reasons to skip this game. Metacritic followed up with a .

14 Best: Und🧜ertale⭕ (Nintendo Switch) – 93/100

via youtube.com (Samson Thompson)

Okay, so Ark Survival Evolved didn’t work out so well, but that doesn’t mean that the Nintendo Switch doesn’t have some excellent third-party titles to work with. Metacritic heralded the system's inclusion of Undertale and rewarded with an that is up there with some of the greats of the year. By this point, most of you have likely heard of this famous RPG that is probably considered to be one of the best indie games of all time. What makes this version of Undertale ꦯso special is that you can finally take it on the go and experience this pixelated adventure in a♐ way it likely would have been consumed a couple of decades ago.

13 Worst: Fa♐ntasy Hero: Unsigned Legacy (Nintendo Switch) – 3ꩵ4/100

via akibagamers.it

Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch is on this list again, and not for the right reasons. Fantasy Hero is Nintendo’s journey into the RPG world, but it leaves more than to be desired. You can choose from four players to regain “so🍰mething” you lost from the enemies known as th💖e Decoders.

If that premise sounds dull and unimaginative, that is because it absolutely is.

Critic FNintendo felt the gam🐲e was “repetitive and dull too quickly early on with the game’s visuals betraying its age.” With a listing of this year’s list, it's best to look elsewhere for your Switch RPG fix.

12 Best: Super Smash Bro🐎s. Ultimate (Nintendo Switch) – 93/100

via pinterest.com

The Switch has been a bit of a mixed bag on this list, but you had to know that this one was coming. With each promise of a new Nintendo console, gamers know that they can look forward to a polished “blast from the past” that allows everyone to indulge in his or her nostalgia, gaming fandom, and love for light-hearted combat. This iteration of Super Smash Bros. del⭕ivers this and then some. For the first time, players can take Smash anywhere which enhances the game’s offering. With tons of new content, over 60 playable characters to unlock, and an excellent multiplayer experience helps this title captures a .

11 Worst: Agony (Xbox One) – 34 Out Of 100 🐠

via 3djuegos.com

Agony is a model of what happens when anticipation is met with mediocrity and repetition. The trailer of this game brought gamers into a world of first-person survival horror that sees a tort꧟ured soul trying to escape the lairs of hell. Players thought they would be getting a story with a little stealth and graphic horror mixed in.

Clearly, the joke was on us as horror turned to confusion.

Unfortunately, players actually received an average experience that included glitches, monotony, horrible AI, and a confusing story. Metacritic’s reveals that th𓂃is game was an “agony,” to play.