The good, the bad and the ugly of the last week! Brought to you by the leading name in mafia-run fish shops, The Codfather!

The new year doesn’t kick off for another two weeks, but the gang here at Critical Hit has decided that now is a great time for some good old-fashioned rest and relaxation. What does that mean? Well, don’t expect to see much content from us for the next two weeks, as we’re stepping away from our computers and headed to the beach to soak up some rays.

We’ve seen the best of various genres this week. We explored the games that made racing feel alive, we delved into worlds with stunning art design and listened closely to those video games that managed to produce audio adventures. Which game is truly the best though? In 2018, there was no shortage of competitors, as the tail end of this console generation resulted in the cream truly rising to the top of a delicious brew of well designed games which captured our interest and our attention.

There are those games who use their visuals to tell more innovative narratives, games who twist and deconstruct familiar shapes and instead create a world that looks far more unique. Whether it was fan service, updated nostalgia or emotional splashes of paint, these were the games of 2018 that succeeded in creating distinctive works of art.

The future is here, and it’s virtually real! A couple of years ago, the idea of interfacing directly with a video game seemed like a stomach-churning idea that was far out of reach. These days? It’s still stomach-churning stuff, but the hardware has more than managed to close the gap on creating game worlds which are best experienced through your own eyes. Here’s a look at the Virtual Reality games which had us smiling and heaving with delight.

After a million Flappy Bird clones, it can be challenging to find the cream of the crop on iOS and Android devices. In 2018, that titular cream rose further to the top, as new and exciting experiences began using these mainstream platforms to stunning success, resulting in interactive journeys that could rival anything that PC and console gaming could throw their way in terms of addiction, dedication and quality.

If yesterday was a celebration of the games that look great, then today is a highlight of video games which tickle your ears with expert precision. This isn’t a redux of those games that have amazing soundtracks, but rather the 2018 releases which used all the parts of beefy audio buffalo to their full extent. Every sound, no mater how minor, plays a huge part in selling the escape from reality that a video game should be. Here’s a look at the games, that did it best.

Even when they’re on sale, Xbox and PlayStation consoles are still a steep investment. Wouldn’t it be great, if a certain website manned by chuckleheads managed to partner up with the Gautrain service and give you the chance to win such a device, for free? Well hey, hold on to your butts, because we’ve done just that.