The Best Games of E3 2018
As E3 goes through growing pains as it transitions to a more consumer-themed event, the show floor and surroundings have become mildly off-putting. But in spite of the quirks and hiccups, the games announced and shown this year were undeniably fantastic.
There were dozens of exciting games at the press events, behind closed doors, and in demo booths, but we can’t mention every one. We’ve put together a list below of our 10 favorite games from the show, but you’re more than welcome to call out other impressive titles in the comment section. Now, let’s dive into the games themselves.
Ghost of Tsushima Set during the Kamakura period of Japanese history, this game from Sony's Sucker Punch Productions revolves around a Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island. As one of the last samurai, the player character is tasked with defending his land with a new style of battle. It's been four long years since this team has shipped a game, so we're looking forward to seeing what the folks behind Sly Cooper and Infamous can really do with the PS4 Pro. (Learn more on IGN)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider While Crystal Dynamics is off working on a new Marvel game, the devs at Eidos Montreal have taken over development for this year's Tomb Raider. And while much of the stealth combat and puzzle solving has returned, some early impressions have pointed towards a more mature and humane take on the core idea of raiding tombs. There's a long history of real-life theft from native cultures by people very similar to Lara Croft, so it's heartening to see that they're attempting to address some of those concerns in the new installment. (Pre-order on Amazon, or learn more on IGN)
Sea of Solitude With the backing of the EA Originals program, Sea of Solitude is being developed by a relatively small team in Germany. We only got to see a teaser, but the art style, music, and overall mood were incredible. It's currently slated for an early 2019 release, and it definitely has our attention. (Learn more on IGN)
The Last of Us Part II We've known that this post-apocalyptic sequel from Naughty Dog has been in the works for a while now, but getting an in-depth look at the latest and greatest performance capture tech has been a delight. With a juxtaposition between Ellie's exceptionally lethal self-preservation skills and the powerfully intimate moment on the dance floor, this demo will stick with us for years to come. (Learn more on IGN)
Cyberpunk 2077 CD Projekt Red has proven itself capable of delivering massive AAA RPGs that stand up well against the output of much bigger studios. And with Cyberpunk, this team is tackling its most ambitious game to date. Not only is this a large open-world RPG, but there's also driving, shooting, and hacking mechanics to deal with. The trailer played particularly well at Microsoft's conference, and the hands-on impressions have been overwhelmingly positive. (Learn more on IGN)
Control If you were disappointed by Quantum Break, this new game from Remedy might just bring back some excitement. Not only does it feature the stylish look we've come to expect from this Finnish studio, but early impressions have been excellent. Much of the supernatural abilities from the previous game are still in tact, but the TV show pairing is no more, and it seems like a much tighter experience. (Pre-order on Amazon, or Learn more on IGN)
The Awesome Adventures Of Captain Spirit Dontnod has been extremely busy recently. They shipped Vampyr last week, just announced Twin Mirror, and now this free stand-alone game is coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC later this month. Set in the Life is Strange universe, this side story serves as the setup for the inevitable Life is Strange 2. (Learn more on IGN)
Just Cause 4 While the over-the-top destruction of the Just Cause series is well-loved, the performance we saw with the last release was a big disappointment. This time around, the environments look even more alluring, and the tone is goofier than ever. We'll just keep our fingers crossed that the frame rate holds up on the vanilla consoles and older PC hardware this time. (Pre-order on Amazon, or learn more on IGN)
Devil May Cry 5 While Ninja Theory (a recent Microsoft acquisition) put out the excellent DmC reboot in 2013, we haven't seen a proper Capcom-developed entry since 2008. This seems to be a reversion to the classic series, which is good news for some fans, but the divisive character Nero is sticking around. But regardless of personal nitpicks, the fast-paced action and top-notch demon aesthetic are more than enough to pique our curiosity. (Pre-order on Amazon, or Learn more on IGN)
Metro: Exodus 4A Games has been putting out first-person shooters in the Metro franchise since 2010, but this new game is a massive step forward. As the name implies, much of the series has been set underground, but this title actually has the protagonist head to the surface on a long trek across the Russian wilderness. And in spite of the nuclear devastation, the surroundings are stunning. (Pre-order on Amazon, or learn more on IGN)