Some games aren’t designed to be played once and chucked into a box, left forever to gather dust and be forgotten. Games as a service may be a trend that usually involves more predatory practices, but when it’s done right? It can be magical. This year, we wanted to find those ongoing games that always had something up their sleeves for the fans who kept coming back, the games that refuse to bask in previous triumphs and always offer something new to coincide with the change in seasons and fan attitudes.
We think we found a couple of great nominees, as well as one heck of a winner.
And the nominees are
Destiny 2: Forsaken
The endgame was a schlep, the pair of expansions released had little to truly offer the faithful and Destiny 2 was simply bleeding fans away at a tremendous clip. Along came the Forsaken expansion, which didn’t just rewrite Destiny 2, it blazed a new path forward for the sandbox as the focus on obtaining more power resulted in an amazing grind for glory. Whether it was through the Crucible, Gambit or exploration of the Dreaming City, Destiny 2 always has something on the go, complementing its ace gunplay perfectly.
Pokémon GO
What, you thought Niantic’s mobile game was a flash in the pan? Far from it, as Pokémon GO continues to evolve and grow with each passing day. Beyond even those impressive feats and new gameplay additions, Pokémon GO’s focus on its fans managed to create a rewarding experience, as its own Pokedex grew and new critters brought new followers into the fold, creating a sense of dedicated community that few games can boast about today.
Warframe
Digital Extremes just keeps on delivering, with 2018 proving itself to be a monumental year for their free-to-play sci-fi adventure title. Pretty much the visual equivalent of Destiny if Terry Gilliam designed its aesthetics, Warframe had some major expansions to offer and plenty of new ideas up its sleeves. What made this game really special however, was the fact that all these new ideas were the result of fan feedback, as Digital Extremes went to extreme lengths to always listen to its Tenos and craft a game specially for them.
Rainbow Six: Siege
Much like a fine wine, Ubisoft’s premiere team-based shooter just keeps on getting better with age. Barring the China incident that almost saw the game revamped visually so that the company could get a slice of that sweet Asian revenue, Rainbow Six: Siege still held strong to its position as a tight and co-ordinated squad game, with new seasons introducing new Operators, stages and challenges.
And the winner is…
Fortnite: Battle Royale
Love it or hate it, there’s just no denying just how influential Fortnite is on the global stage. Expertly juggling its freemium nature with an innovative approach to premium cosmetics, Fortnite’s real success comes from a number of factors: Its constant updates that always introduce new content, frequent time-limited modes and collaborations with other forms of media that helps grow its own personal brand, while pumping its profits back into the base game.
More than that though, Fortnite’s greatest success comes from its mainstream appeal. Instead of veering dangerously close to gatekeeping territory, Fortnite busted those gates wide open and invited everyone in, creating a wider and more monumental community in the process. With the game split across multiple platforms, streams and spheres of entertainment, Fortnite is more than just the best ongoing game of the year.
It’s a phenomenon that we might never see the likes of again, any time soon.
Last Updated: December 13, 2018
Admiral Chief
December 13, 2018 at 11:04
SAVE TEH WORLD
Magoo
December 13, 2018 at 11:11
That is incorrect.
Spathi
December 13, 2018 at 11:23
No Man’s Sky and Elite: Dangerous – Both are constantly growing and developing. Started of as bad / average games, currently excellent games.
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 11:23
NMS is insane with how much they’ve added this last year. Such a good game now.
JacoZAB
December 13, 2018 at 11:46
That I can agree on
Captain JJ
December 13, 2018 at 11:23
I should fire up Elite again….after I’ve spent 2 hours re-acquainting myself with the controls XD
RinceThis
December 13, 2018 at 12:04
Kiddies love the game
Caveshen Rajman
December 13, 2018 at 10:44
Overwatch doesn’t even get a soft noteworthy mention lolol.
*does that weird Fortnite dance where they wave their arms in criss-cross fuck off I’m old*
The D
December 13, 2018 at 10:48
Left it off, just so that I can get fired by Gavin today.
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 10:48
Hey, if you do, then you can get more than just tomorrow for a holiday! WINNING!
JacoZAB
December 13, 2018 at 10:44
Warframe is the winner for me. Kiddies can keep Fortnite
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 13, 2018 at 10:58
But Tenno are technically space kiddies 😉
JacoZAB
December 13, 2018 at 11:01
It’s still better than kiddies doing a stupid dance. LOL
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 11:04
There’s not much difference between dancing and fashion-frame, which is the true endgame for Warframe.
Just saying. Their business model is exactly the same. The products, while having a different skin, are a lot alike in many respects.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 13, 2018 at 11:32
https://68.media.tumblr.com/4b486104575237b6a8a01c280b7ede0c/tumblr_oneeu7OZLW1u2fnswo1_500.gif
RinceThis
December 13, 2018 at 12:04
go catch a plushie loser!
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 13, 2018 at 12:33
I’ve already caught them all. 🙁
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 11:33
Fabulous, darling!!! Where can I get me one of them outfits?!
JacoZAB
December 13, 2018 at 11:44
Warframe is still better, so fight me!! My Arca Plasmor is ready.
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 10:51
I find it interesting that Path of Exile doesn’t get a mention here. It keeps getting bigger and better and the fanbase keeps growing. They keep updating their graphics as well so really I think it should qualify for a notable mention.
I don’t think there’s any debate on the winner though, Fortnite is a proper global phenomenon. Sorry Cheddar.
The D
December 13, 2018 at 11:08
…Is it bad that I’ve never even heard of Path of Exile before today?
Original Heretic
December 13, 2018 at 11:16
Yes. It is very bad.
PoE impressed me so much that when Diablo 3 was released, I kept thinking, “Path of Exile is better.”
Only reason I stopped playing it was because my shitty laptop couldn’t handle.
Captain JJ
December 13, 2018 at 11:23
I’m not an MMO guy, but Path of Exile is bloody brilliant.
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 11:14
Not specifically, but it is weird. It’s the main competitor for Diablo, and over recent years has thrown much pie in Diablo’s face.
The D
December 13, 2018 at 11:18
Just had a look at the skill tree.
Holy. Shit.
Original Heretic
December 13, 2018 at 11:18
Yah!
It’s being released F2P on PS4 soon and I cannot bloody wait to hop in to jam it properly.
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 11:21
It’s a lot more intimidating at first. Once you get into it, you realise that it’s really not that complex.
Original Heretic
December 13, 2018 at 11:21
It’s not intimidating! It’s awe inspiring…
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 11:23
Yeah from an outside perspective, it’s intimidating as shit. It’s only once you get into it that you realise it’s not that bad at all.
~Edit I just repeated myself. MEH.
Captain JJ
December 13, 2018 at 11:26
Nah, I didn’t find it complex at all. And I have little experience with MMO’s.
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 11:28
PoE isn’t an MMO though. It’s always online, sure, but definitely not MMO – I’ve played many of the latter.
Captain JJ
December 13, 2018 at 11:58
I know little enough of MMOs to not know the difference XD
RinceThis
December 13, 2018 at 12:01
oh well aren’t you so damn smart
Captain JJ
December 13, 2018 at 12:06
In this comment section or in general? Those are two very different answers.
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 12:06
Yeah!!!
Wait…
RinceThis
December 13, 2018 at 12:09
No, I know in general you are about as smart as Trevor’s manbun, I was just stating a fact that you are so smart in the comments section. https://media.giphy.com/media/eKBvqde6WGnp6/giphy.gif
Captain JJ
December 13, 2018 at 13:09
You flatter me
Captain JJ
December 13, 2018 at 11:23
I got Fornite!
But let me tell you, it was damn difficult to find someone to give it to. No one wanted it XD
Pariah
December 13, 2018 at 11:23
LOL!
RinceThis
December 13, 2018 at 12:01
hahahaha