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Whether I'm chasing the thrill of a daring train robbery, or the serenity of a solo camping trip, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an open-world game I will return to time and time again.
Despite these issues, however, this was some of the most fun I've had with my Switch thus far, and it's an integral part of any Switch owner's library – control problems aside. You're invited to play the Reaper's Game, and you'll enjoy (most) every minute of it.
It's a wildly entertaining package, with clever premises that can consume entire parties for hours at a time. And even if there isn't much for a solo partier to do here, it's easier than ever to fire up a Twitch stream and engage through the audience feature. There's something for every type of partygoer and there's enough to keep the party going all through the night.
Quest structure and design centered on pacing are unfortunate obstacles for this experience, but Windlands is still a lot of fun. It's even more fun when you can get a few friends to swing around with you. Just make sure to optimize your VR sensor setup before swinging into action.
While Capcom Beat'Em Up Bundle does have some online multiplayer issues it's still a ton of fun overall. These are some great games for fans of retro games or the beat'em up genre and it will probably cost you less to purchase the whole collection would cost to beat using quarters in an arcade, and you still own them after you beat them, so that's a plus as well. Here's to hoping they're saving some of the titles missing from this collection for volume two.
This is on top of a one of the most robust single-player offerings I can think of in a fighting game, as well as more behind-the-scenes Museum content than one can shake a snake sword at. SoulCalibur VI is an incredible package, only bogged down by a few minor issues, and one that should be near the top of any fighting game fan's library.
The big picture looks great from a distance, but those flaws become very apparent when you look closer. Still, if you're looking for something easy to pick up, play and have a good time with, you could do a lot worse than Lego DC Super-Villains.
Black Ops 4 feels like one of the strongest Call of Duty entries to come along in years. Despite not having a solo campaign or some of the past games' more bombastic mechanics, Treyarch has proved the adage that "less is more." And this game's "less" is good enough to keep me waiting around for "more."
It may not be the smoothest transition — purists may shun the new mechanics, while unfamiliar players may wonder how the game was ever interesting without them — but the bottom line is that Capcom has found a way to keep Mega Man alive without banking solely on retro gaming nostalgia.
It speaks volumes for the future of Labo and everything it has to offer, especially since there's a limitless world of possibilities as to what could possibly come next. It looks like, for now, Nintendo has nailed the vehicular aspects, however, and I can't wait to see the next project that comes through the finish line.
Fans of the series are going to like it, while those that don't like open-world games won't. Gamers on the fence about Assassin's Creed Odyssey will find dozens of hours of exploration and fun in a highly customizable experience that is great despite a few annoying missteps.
With numerous maps, characters, and an engaging single-player mode, TowerFall is a deep experience and one that's worth having in the Switch library when company comes over. TowerFall started off its life as one of the sole shining stars of a doomed Ouya platform, but now it ends its life in front of a massive Nintendo Switch install base. And this star shines as brightly as ever.
It is undoubtedly the best game Microsoft has published on the PC since Age of Empires 2. Forza Horizon 4 is Microsoft's killer app and is on the shortlist of the best games of its generation.
If you've completed the story there's still a lot to do in this world, of Warcaft. New dungeons with fun themes and locations are enjoyable to grind through and PVP is always a fun whether you're casual or hardcore. The world, of Warcraft is bursting at the seams with stuff to do. Don't Like PvE? Try Pet Battles. Don't Like Pet Battles? Try PvP. I'm a pretty casual player and the thing I enjoy doing the most is going back to old content and playing through it solo, for the first time.
But story aside, Old School Musical as a full package is an unexpected treat. The post-story challenges, along with the replayable Arcade Mode puts together the best of what this game can offer. It's a solid foundation to hopefully build something more solid in the future.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 has an entertaining and beautiful core unfortunately covered by a flawed shell. You have to break through that shell repeatedly if you want to get to the really good bits and the bits are fantastic, sure, but the in-between moments are incredibly annoying.
There are still things that need addressing, but NHL 19 is the best hockey experience I've had with the NHL franchise in the PS4 era.
As a final blowoff to the Trinity saga, I couldn't help but walk away feeling that the resolution to the story and to Lara Croft's character could have been so much better. But in terms of a pure "Tomb Raider" game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is everything a bold explorer could ask for, giving players a vast jungle to explore and daring them to master it.
Marvel's Spider-Man is at once a fantastic action game, a dramatic story-driven adventure, and a love letter to fans of Marvel's ever-endearing wall-crawler. It's also one of the strongest titles in Insomniac Games' catalog, and will no doubt be counted not only among the best games of 2018, but also among the best PlayStation 4 exclusives ever released.