E3 2018 has come and gone, and we saw a ton of new and awesome games at the show. Every E3 has cool stuff to see, but sometimes it’s just too much to really get your head around. What was good, what was bad, and what am I definitely going to be playing in the months ahead? Well, we’re here to help out, providing you with a list of the five best games at E3 2018.
Some ground rules first, these games must be playable. We saw tons of stuff at the show, but if we didn’t go hands-on with it then it’s gonna be in the honorable mentions or not on the list at all. Something else to keep in mind is that just because something isn’t on this list does not mean we didn’t like it. There’s too many great games to list them all, and we also didn’t have time to play everything at the show, despite our best efforts. So take this as a cool list of games to keep an eye on. Finally, the list is not necessarily in order of quality.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ahead of E3 2018 this was the game to watch for and it lived up to its potential, and then some. Not only is it a new Super Smash Bros. game for Nintendo Switch, but it’s got every single character that has ever appeared in the series, plus some new ones. Along with that are some gameplay changes to keep the series fresh and work through issues from the past. And the Gamecube controller support is just the icing on the cake. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate looks like it will live up to its name and pedigree, and it was easily one of the best games at E3 2018.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
The Resident Evil series has two distinct eras, though RE7 might have begun a third. There’s the more action-focused games that began with RE4 and went until RE6, and there are the classic survival-horror games of RE1 through Code: Veronica. Obviously Resident Evil 2 fit in the classic category, but more than that it is seen as a true masterpiece of survival-horror. So, when Capcom announced a remake of the title many were skeptical that they could deliver a truly scary and representative take on the game. After playing the Resident Evil 2 Remake at E3 2018 my skepticism was gone.
The game is simply sublime, taking the basic framework of the original RE2 and updating it in so many different ways. Not only have the graphics been improved immeasurably, but the gameplay has been made more palatable to contemporary audiences. This could have gone wrong in so many ways, but it seems to have been done perfectly, blending old and new styles of Resident Evil while updating what many believe is the best entry in the franchise.
Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee!
New Pokemon games aren’t usually that big of an announcement. Sure, millions of fans get excited for them, but they are as expected as the sunrise or the tide. But Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee! are something different. The first true Pokemon game to arrive on the Switch, these titles represent an interesting new direction for the franchise. We’ll be getting a full RPG next year, but E3 2018 was all about this mashup of classic Pokemon gameplay and Pokemon GO.
The results could have been disastrous, but it’s looking great so far. Both Dylan and I played and as fans of the series we were both very impressed. Mixing in PoGO mechanics really does reshape the experience, but it’s all about those glorious HD graphics and the more robust features allowed by the Switch. Pokemon fans will already be ready for this, but even non-fans should be keeping an eye on this one.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
A new Spider-Man game would already be big news, but the upcoming release from Insomniac is something else. Coming from such a highly respected developer, the title already had some high expectations, but Sony has pushed them higher each year as they took time to delve into the depths of the game. This year was the biggest yet as it was playable both on the E3 2018 show floor and after the Sony press conference. Dylan and I both checked it out and I agree with everything he said in his preview below.
Metro: Exodus
This last spot on our Best Games at E3 2018 list could have went a few different ways, but the Metro series just always delivers. The playable demo was long and intricate, allowing me to explore the nuclear wasteland at my leisure, while still propelling me toward my ultimate goal of getting the group’s train moving once again. With such a beloved and challenging franchise, the temptation must have been there to dumb things down a bit. 4A rejected them all and seems to have crafted the biggest and possibly best Metro game yet.
Honorable Mentions
Starlink: Battle for Atlas was a huge surprise for me, offering deeper gameplay and a larger world than anticipated. Many other games were impressive, but not playable. These include the obviously amazing Last of Us Part 2 and Cyberpunk 2077. The latter was so popular that crowds formed outside the appointment-only CD Projekt Red area with press and fans all hoping there was room available in the next session.
