This year has already brought many highly anticipated titles such as “Monster Hunter: World,” and we still have more to come such as “Spider-Man” (Sept. 7), “Red Dead Redemption 2” (Oct. 26) and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” (Dec. 7). With just a few months away until the end of the year, here are my top five games of 2018 so far.

5. “Sonic Mania Plus”

• Christian Whitehead and his team did more than a spectacular job with “Sonic Mania” last August. Filled with upbeat and funky musical pieces by Tee Lopes and Hyper Potions and matched with a beautiful array of pixel art, Whitehead and everyone involved easily brought a vibrant revival to the franchise by going back to its 2D roots. In July, Sega released a DLC which includes a new game mode called Encore Mode and two retro characters: Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. While it’s just a five-dollar expansion for anyone who already owns the original, any fans wanting to relive the adventure with the “new” characters will be more than satisfied.

4. “Burnout Paradise: Remastered”

• Though the game was released back in 2008, “Burnout Paradise: Remastered” brings a stylish HD makeover to the decade old game. You can enjoy the open world of Paradise City where you can participate in racing events, crash events or just drive around at intense speeds like a senseless maniac. The game is completely nonlinear, encouraging players to find shortcuts and getting to know the map. Anyone who wants a free roam game that mindlessly allows you to cause mayhem at blazing speeds will really value this game.

3. “Fortnite: Battle Royale”

• “Fortnite: Battle Royale” has become the most popular game across the globe. This free-to-play battle royale has grabbed everyone’s attention with its creative build and battle formula along with its objective to fight for survival. The game is available on PC, consoles and even on mobile. The best thing about this game is it’s free, meaning anyone who wants to be part of the community only needs to download the game and join the fun.

2. “Dragon Ball FighterZ”

• With the conclusion of the Tournament of Power (unless you’re watching the Dub) and the new Broly film approaching in December, what else can quench a craving for more Dragon Ball content? Here’s an idea: by reliving moments from Z and beating up friends in “Dragon Ball FighterZ.” The fighting game sports an elegant art style that allows players to feel as though they’re watching the anime as they play. The dramatic finishes are probably the best feature. If certain characters are used within certain stages, players may get the chance to relive moments from the original Z anime, such as Future Trunks chopping up Frieza into sushi or SSJ2 Gohan annihilating Perfect Cell. Anyone with a craving for Dragon Ball will be very delighted by this game.

1. “God of War”

• Compared to previous titles, this is the most groundbreaking entry in the series. It gives a new approach to the character of Kratos, making him more complex by taking him through experiences such as dealing with his second wife’s passing and training his son Atreus. Players become more intimately attached as they watch the dynamic between Kratos and his son play out throughout the world of Norse mythology. This game is also well-known for taking place in one continuous shot. There are no camera cuts. Players experience the entire game from beginning to end completely immersed in the world and its characters. It produces such a connection that it’s like players are simultaneously watching a movie and interacting with it. Overall, it’s one of the best games in 2018 so far and fans of the series, or anyone who enjoy single player adventures, will really appreciate this game’s inventiveness.

Insomniac’s “Spider-Man” is just around the corner, and I’ve been waiting since it was revealed back at E3 2016. All the alternative suits, combat and of course the web slinging look phenomenal. What games are you hyped about?

Story by Tristen Petty, Staff Writer. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.