11. SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS



  • RELEASE DATE: February 6
  • PLATFORMS: PS4
  • DEVELOPER: Bluepoint Games
  • PUBLISHER: Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • METACRITIC SCORE: 91



In 2005, Shadow of the Colossus originally released on the PlayStation 2. In 2018, though, the game got a remake, in the form of a PS4 version. The story follows a young man named Wander who finds himself in a forbidden world. His mission is to journey across that world and defeat the giant Colossi creatures to restore life to a girl. Critics loved the remake, mainly how it stayed true to the original game. They agreed that the update only enhanced the beauty of the original game, as well as enhanced the details in a way that works wonderfully on the PS4.

10. DEAD CELLS



  • RELEASE DATE: August 7
  • PLATFORMS: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
  • DEVELOPER: Motion Twin
  • PUBLISHER: Motion Twin
  • METACRITIC SCORE: 91



In Dead Cells, a stealth metroidvania game, players take on a group of cells that reanimate a corpse so they can fight their way out of a dungeon. Each level of the game is procedurally-generated, meaning that no two levels, or playthroughs, are alike — this impressed critics who loved the game's mechanics, as well as how responsive the controls are. They also enjoyed the combat against challenging enemies that the player meets along the way. Dead Cells also features a broad variety of weapons, including swords and bows, but also whips and grenades. Spells allow players to customize their gameplay experience in a unique way.

9. SONIC MANIA PLUS



  • RELEASE DATE: July 17
  • PLATFORMS: Switch
  • DEVELOPER: PagodaWest Games, Headcannon
  • PUBLISHER: Sega
  • METACRITIC SCORE: 91



When Sonic Mania Plus arrived on the Switch, fans of the original Sonic Mania game got to indulge in one of their favorite experiences all over again. Plus, it offered something new: an enhanced version of the game with additional content. It wasn't just Sonic fans that were happy; critics loved playing the game on Switch, too. Some called it the best Sonic game of all time, while others loved that it still felt like a classic Sonic game. There is, obviously, a nostalgia factor at play, too, but most critics agreed that this worked in the title's favor.

8. INSIDE



  • RELEASE DATE: June 28
  • PLATFORMS: Switch
  • DEVELOPER: Playdead
  • PUBLISHER: Playdead
  • METACRITIC SCORE: 91



INSIDE was first introduced on the PC in 2016, but it eventually made its way onto Switch in 2018. INSIDE takes place in a dystopic world and follows a boy as he solves puzzles to get through his environment while preventing his death. Critics found the game as beautiful on the Switch as on the PC and loved the game's minimalism. They praised the puzzles for being challenging, but not mind-breaking, by using physics to figure out how to proceed through each level. They also liked the animation, as well as the art and sound design, along with the game's haunting story.

7. BAYONETTA 2



  • RELEASE DATE: February 16
  • PLATFORMS: Switch
  • DEVELOPER: Platinum Games
  • PUBLISHER: Nintendo
  • METACRITIC SCORE: 91



It seems that the trend for 2018 involved porting old games to the Nintendo Switch. Bayonetta 2, a title first released in 2014, got its Switch debut this year. The adventure hack and slash game takes players to Fimbulventr, a fictional sacred mountain in the Middle East. From there, Bayonetta, the protagonist, must travel to the gates of hell to save her friend. The Switch port was a hit with critics, most loving that very little changed during the port to the new console. Some said it looked and played better than ever, while others praised some of the smaller details that improved the game from its original version.