Which games did our team enjoy the most this year - do you agree?
What a year it has been for game releases - 2018 certainly didn't disappoint!
Many of you have been keeping up with all of the big AAA releases as well as the awesome Indies that have been released across PC and console over the past 12 months, and with so many to choose from, you'd be forgiven for not being able to play the majority. Here, members of Team Fanatical have highlighted their top pick of PC games from 2018 and why they enjoyed them.
Don't forget, there are loads of great 2018-released games on the Fanatical Store right now, so go treat yourself before the New Year arrives!
Sam's pick
MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD
"I was fortunate enough to play MHW when it launched on console back in January, so I knew exactly what PC gamers were in for when it released on Steam a few months later.
"I'm new to the Monster Hunter franchise, but this game has sucked me in completely. I was bowled over by the game's graphical beauty, the monsters that are roaming across these large ecosystems and the general concept of the story and missions.
"It's a game that, later down the line, really makes you aware of what it takes to become a top Hunter. Selecting the right armor, weapons and quest equipment for individual missions is all the more rewarding, there's no better feeling in the New World than when a monster that you've been chasing across the map is successfully caught or killed.
"The general playstyle falls into the 'grind/grinding' category - where you need to go back and kill some of the same monsters and complete certain quests to be in with the chance of obtaining the right materials for new armor and weapons. But, it's an enjoyable grind, one that still offers the same engaging gameplay whether you go back an hour, a day or a week later in solo or teaming up with friends online.
"With constant updates for new quests and challenges, and the brand new expansion coming next year, I think that Monster Hunter: World is a game that will be competing in the Steam charts for quite some time."
Dec's pick
HITMAN 2
"The endless possibilities in HITMAN 2 make it a game that I just cannot stay away from. With a mixture of wacky weapons such as the fish and deadly snipers, each mission is always different and one I will be playing well into 2019. IO Interactive has taken the formula of HITMAN (2016) and improved it in almost every aspect - and that's why it is my game of the year."
Jordan's pick
SOULCALIBUR VI
"My favorite game of 2018 has been SOULCALIBUR VI, my 'soul' still burns for the series. The fighting mechanics have been perfectly refined, it's so quick and smooth, and the online servers are stable - this game has (gladly) robbed 81 hours of my life so far!
"The original characters have returned to the roster, my favorites being TAKI and Seong Mina - and there are two story modes this time with the main story and The Libra of Souls, which brings back the challenge modes from the second game."
Jon B's pick
Dragon Ball FighterZ
"Dragon Ball FighterZ was one of my favorite games of the year. I'm a huge Dragon Ball fan and this game managed to capture it perfectly.
"The story mode has three Arc stories focusing on different sets of characters from the Frieza force, Z fighters and Androids - fully voice acted in both English and Japanese. There are also tournament and online modes allowing you to test your skills against others online, and these can get quite intense at times.
"The graphics are perfect to the point that I actually thought it had 2D sprites at first but all characters are fully 3D modeled as you can see during super moves. Also, thanks to the FighterZ Pass, you can add eight new fighters to your roster to keep things fresh."
Tom's pick
Football Manager 2019
"Year on year, they're very similar with minor improvements here and there. The majority of Football Manager 2019 has been a vast improvement on in-game performance, layout, etc, as well as the obvious team and player updates.
"Where it fell down last year (for many reasons) they've picked it up again. The control element - unlike FIFA, where you can jump in if you're losing and influence the game - your only influence is your preparation leading up to a game, your team talk and three subs. That's it.
"It's either ridiculously satisfying when you're winning or infuriating when you're losing and you can't figure out why. Both equate to a heavy addiction after sinking 40+ hours in so far (and it isn't slowing down)."
