Bow ties. Fancy champagne. Bow ties. What makes the BAFTAs neat, is that the even actually recognises the importance of video games and regularly elevates them to the same level of attention that film and television happens to enjoy, with their own dedicated awards show. This year, the nominations for the best in gaming makes for one heck of a stacked field, albeit one that isn’t exactly surprising.

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.

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.

Video games are more than their just their visuals, but there are times where a certain game can deliver a 4K haymaker that’ll knock you out of your shoes. With the gap between virtual and reality visuals becoming narrower every single day, here’s a look at the games which made that graphical gap even smaller in 2018.

Without competition, the world would be a whole lot less ambitious, leading to life being kind of…well boring. Sports games were in fine form in 2018, with action taking place on a variety of tracks, fields and pitches. Here’s a look at some of the very best competition that made for some heated gaming moments this year.

The Critical Hit gang could wax lyrical about their favourite games of 2018 for years to come, and we certainly will do so with our annual awards that are clearly more important that Geoff Keighley’s upcoming big budget show. Y’know, if you don’t mind an awards show that has the budget of used chewing gum, guest cancellations a’plenty and is being held in the stately location of my kitchen. Top that, Keighley. Today isn’t about our opinions however. We want to hear what you consider to be the best of the best.

If you've somehow tired of the hundreds of tracks present in Forza Horizon 4 already, why not make your own? Playground Games is adding custom track creation to their racing spectacular tomorrow.

Forza Horizon 4 launched on the Xbox One and PC last week, and it’s one heck of a game. Sure, it may not do anything especially new, but it takes the Horizon Festival formula and pretty much perfecting it. It’s now gone on to be the highest rated Xbox exclusive of the generation, though that’s not really saying too much given how few of them there have been.