Monster Hunter: World
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
Anyone who has ever played a Monster Hunter game knew Monster Hunter: World was going to be good, but we never expected it was going to be this good. The game plays much like any other entry in the Monster Hunter franchise, but it changes enough to feel like a brand new experience. While Monster Hunter: World is more than happy to punish newbies who stroll into the game thinking it’s just another hack-and-slash, it’s welcoming at the same time. World actually lowers the barrier of entry and eases players into the endless cycle of hunt-kill-carve-craft-repeat with the aid of monster-seeking Scout Flies. And who can forget the brand new, large, open levels that help the game feel like a living, breathing world, especially when two apex predators inevitably clash and reenact their favorite Godzilla fights?
At release, Monster Hunter: World was a beast of a game, but it has gotten even larger thanks to a steady release of free DLC. Yes, free DLC. No season pass or microtransactions. If you bought the game, everything and anything that is added down the pipeline is yours to hunt and wear for the reasonable price of you already paid for the game. Lunastra? Turn her larynx into a weaponized bagpipe. Deviljho? Transform that oversized pickle into a championship belt. Monster Hunter: World isn’t just a stellar action game; it’s a stellar example of how to keep players coming back for more with consumer-friendly DLC practices.
Far Cry 5
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
Far Cry isn’t exactly the first name you think about when the term “best action game” springs to mind, but that’s exactly what Far Cry 5 is: one of the best action games of 2018. The game checks all the regular Far Cry boxes. Players free outposts to unlock missions, pump wildlife full of bullets to craft ammo pouches that let them carry even more bullets, and so on. Plus, the game tells a story that abandons the pirates and guerrillas of past entries and instead focuses on something a little more contemporary: the dangers of religious zealotry. Far Cry 5 pulls no punches with its message, and you have to appreciate the game for that.
You could easily write a paper on why Far Cry 5 turned into one of the best action games of this year, but you can boil it down to one, simple point: the developers learned from their mistakes in the previous games. Not that Ubisoft had many mistakes to learn, but the company learned them anyway. Ubisoft trimmed the fat in skill trees, removed the need to climb radio towers like an obsessive-compulsive chimpanzee, and most importantly, let players finally control a pet bear.
God of War
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
The God of War franchise has always stood for excellence, extravaganza, and evisceration. Even its weakest entries tower heads and shoulders above the decapitated remains of rival action games, but each God of War game followed a specific pattern. 2018’s God of War breaks all the patterns with a brand new combat system, setting, and voice actor for Kratos. In any other game series, that would be a recipe for disaster, but the developers at Santa Monica must be freakin’ wizards, because this game is drowning in visceral, over-the-shoulder action and a surprisingly heartwarming story as Kratos learns to be a father. Strangely fitting, seeing how many gamers who played the first God of War game are now parents themselves.
Many gamers were hesitant when Sony revealed just how little God of War would resemble its previous incarnations, but the game quickly surpassed all expectations. It has spawned countless fan theories, endless Easter egg hunts, and enough memes to choke Jormungandr. If Santa Monica can keep up this level of work for future God of War games, we just might have to include the franchise on these “Best Action Games of 20XX” lists for the rest of the foreseeable future.
Shadow of the Colossus
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
To quote J. Michael Straczynski, “Greatness is never appreciated in youth, called pride in midlife, dismissed in old age, and reconsidered in death.” Team Ico’s magnum opus Shadow of the Colossus was, well, I wouldn’t say it was underappreciated when it was released, but now it has been given a whole new lease on life. While not a fast-paced action game like Bayonetta or Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Colossus manages to make its somewhat slower boss battles (not that there’s any other kind of battle in the game) feel all the more spectacular thanks to the size of the colossi. More importantly, the game seamlessly weaves puzzle-solving into the action because climbing up each colossus’ hairy backs to attack their weak points for massive damage is only half the fun. The other half is figuring how the heck you’re going to get up there without being squashed underfoot and turned into a Wander pancake.
I wouldn’t say that the original Shadow of the Colossus was an ugly game, mostly because it wasn’t, but let’s be real here: graphically speaking, it does not hold up as well as other PlayStation 2 classics. But thanks to Bluepoint Games’ HD remake, Shadow of the Colossus is even more beautiful than ever and perfect for any newcomers who always wanted to play the masterpiece but came in a generation or two late.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
Most games that place gamers in the shoes of a gang member emphasize the crime aspect of gangs, especially the part where a mode of transportation must be acquired by any means possible, especially if it’s stolen. But the Yakuza franchise dares to be different and focuses on the family portion of organized crime syndicates, complete with a distinctly Japanese flair that emphasizes, if not outright glorifies, fistfights and a crime drama story. The latest game in the franchise, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, might streamline the combat (some say it streamlines combat a little too much, though), but the fights are as flashy as ever, even if they are slightly more shallow than normal.
Like any good action game, Yakuza 6 is full of story missions, side missions, and optional activities that break up the fights and give players a chance to catch their breath. Not everyone is as manly and indefatigable as Kazuma Kiryu. But, when players eventually get tired of participating in traditional Yakuza side-activities such as visiting batting cages, exercising, and playing classic SEGA arcade games, they can go back to experiencing the gripping and heartfelt story. And beating thugs over the head with neon signs and unusually destructive teddy bears.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
Take the team-based FPS combat of Left 4 Dead 2. Replace the contemporary setting with the bleak fantasy medieval setting of Warhammer, and swap out zombies for technologically advanced ratmen and evil Vikings who worship a giant demon god whose farts contain every disease known to man. Add in missions, character skills, weapons and armor that customize the different playable characters, and a system that lets Twitch viewers vote if players suddenly start to regain health or literally puke their guts out —and you have Warhammer: Vermintide 2. In other words, Vermintide 2 is a game that oozes fun almost as much as its Bile Trolls ooze, well, I’m pretty sure you can guess how they got their names.
Fatshark Games started the Vermintide series as what was essentially Left 4 Dead 3 with a Warhammer paint job, i.e., drenched with enough rat blood to scare away even the Pied Piper. But the studio made so many improvements and added much content, the game has turned into its own beast.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is the dictionary definition of a slow burn. Most action games have a tutorial section that teach the basic mechanics in 10 minutes and then throw players to the wolves. But Deliverance’s tutorial lasts around six hours, which is around the average length of an action game, but that’s because this game is actually one of the most in-depth RPGs ever created.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance comes with more systems than you can imagine, including a cleanliness meter that makes the player character more socially affable when they’re clean. Unless, of course, they take the Manly Odour perk that makes the player character more attractive to the ladies while dirty at the cost of being as stealthy as a flatulent skunk. Even The Witcher 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim blanch at all the underlying systems and mechanics in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Without these mechanics, Deliverance would have been a stellar action RPG with a memorable story and characters, but with them, the game’s the medieval life simulator everyone’s always wanted.
Attack on Titan 2
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
Attack on Titan 2 plays much like the first Attack on Titan game. Primarily, players go through the same scenarios, swinging around the same towns like a steampunk Spider-Man, cutting open the necks of the titular titans. But Attack on Titan 2 improves on the original and lets players create their own original characters. Most importantly, the game accurately recreates the feel of the source material. Attack on Titan 2 makes players feel invincible, at least until they realize that without their weapons and grappling hooks (and the knowledge of how to use these items), they’re nothing more than snacks for the titans.
Attack on Titan 2 was made for fans of the show and manga, but even players who have no experience with either should try the game. Even without its legendary source material, Attack on Titan 2 is still a fast, high-flying experience that turns predators into prey, prey into predators, and what was supposed to be just a 15-minute play session into an entire night’s worth of gameplay.
Iconoclasts
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
3D action games are always fun, but sometimes it’s good to go back to the root of all action games and experience something with one less dimension. There is no shortage of 2D action games, but if you’re looking for something stellar and recent, look no further than Iconoclasts. At its heart, the game is a reinvention of the Metroidvania genre. Instead of a truckload of skills that let players explore new areas, gamers have to make do with what they’re given in the beginning. Sure, sometimes these abilities and items (especially the player’s trusty, oversized wrench) receive an upgrade or two, but they are the only items players have (and need) to solve puzzles. This little bit of simplicity makes the gears in players’ minds start turning.
As if it weren’t enough to make the Metroidvania genre feel fresh, Iconoclasts also tells a pretty hefty story about an evil government that wants to control the means of all technology. As the hero, it is the player’s job to throw a wrench into their plans. And if that doesn’t work, he or she can just throw the wrench at their faces. Just watch out, though, because Iconoclasts’ story is as finely-tuned as its puzzles, so expect more twists and turns than a screw tumbling down a windy mountain road.
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
Best Action Games of 2018 So Far
The Warriors franchise is a love it or hate it kind of series. Either you enjoy wading through an ocean of hapless enemies (and their blood) like some god of the blade, or you can feel every single one of your brain cells atrophy and die from the monotony of committing genocide on an entire nation’s worth of soldiers. But that speaks more to the player and not the game because, monotonous or not, Warriors games tend to be good, stupid fun.
Nintendo Switch owners have two Warriors games to chose from: Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition and Fire Emblem Warriors. Normally I would say players should decide whether they would rather Critical Hit entire armies into oblivion with Marth or bomb some Dodongos with Tingle. However, since Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition comes with all the game’s DLC, it’s automatically better since it provides new characters and challenges. Sure, they kinda all are the same, but that’s what Warriors fans want: more of the same. Why fix what isn’t broken?
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