Summary
The eighth generation of gaming treated fans to a bevy of excellent video games. After certain genres stagnated in the last two generations, fans were thrilled to see old-school genres modernize themselves just enough to appeal to mainstream gaming audiences.
As a result, players were treated to a wealth of quality games from genres that were either tried and tested or slightly experimental. Some of these games ended up beingcritically acclaimed masterpiecesthat serve as the very best of what the eighth generation of gaming has to offer.
TheUnchartedgames put Naughty Dog on the map as developers of mature third-person action-adventure games. With the release of the fourth mainline entry in this beloved series, the developer decided to go all out with storytelling, combat, graphics, and anything else fans can think of.
Seeing a more jaded Nathan Drake embark on one final adventure against the wishes of his wife humanizes him and the other characters in a way fans had never seen before. Combat is better than ever before, and the game’s visuals are so jaw-dropping that they still look astounding to this day.
Divinity: Original Sin 2hammered in the notion that the CRPG genre was back and ready to sweep players off their feet. After an admirable showing in the first game, the wealth of changes made to the combat system, coupled with more role-playing options, ensured thatDivinity: Original Sin 2would leave a lasting impression on players.
The amazing quality of this title led to it attaining rave reviews from fans and critics alike. It also paved the way for Larian getting their hands on theBaldur’s GateIP, letting fans enjoy one of thegreatest modern CRPGs of all time.
CD Projekt Red started from humble beginnings, withThe Witcherbeing a modest success that paved the way for a franchise that would take over modern gaming.The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kingsdid a great job of modernizing the gameplay, andThe Witcher 3combined these gameplay advancementswith an open-world structure to great effect.
Velen, Novigrad, Skellige, Kaer Morhen, and Toussaint are all incredible locations to explore, full of enlightening main story content coupled with side quests that flesh out the world to an incredible degree. It’s easy to see why fans couldn’t get enough of this title, turning it into CD Projekt Red’s magnum opus in no time.
As divisive asThe Last of Us Part 2may have been for some, fans can’t deny the cultural impact this game had. The fact that people have started warming up to the game after the show took some liberties with its story shows justhow underappreciated this title was.
The amazing acting and brilliant action ensure that players will love controlling both Abby and Ellie during their respective adventures. While it’s true that some parts of the game may feel a bit too lengthy at times, that should take nothing away from the high points of a title that is always a blast to play.
Fans were hyped for Kratos' comeback, and 2018’sGod of Wardidn’t disappoint. Fans were treated to a story for the ages as they saw a more mature Kratos struggling to be a father that his son, Atreus, can look up to, while also grappling with the violent actions he carried out in his past.
It makes for a surprisingly human story in a world full of powerful gods and imposing enemies that will flatten Kratos if he isn’t on his A-game. The graphics, story, and combat all combine to makeGod of Warone of the best games of the eighth generation.
Persona 5was already a brilliant title as is, and theRoyalversion enhances the gameplay while adding one more semester for players to mess around in. This makesPersona 5 Royala must-play for JRPG fans, or justthose looking to get into the genre.
The stylish interface and snappy combat are instant draws. The story is a bit of a slow burn and takes a while to get going, but infiltrating Palaces and living out the day-to-day life of a high school student becomes intensely riveting once the game finally opens up.
It’s a testament to Supergiant Games' approach to video game design that every one of their games tries to merge narrative and gameplay as harmoniously as possible. This can be seen inHades, where the roguelike structure is used to build up the world and its characters with the game’s incredible dialogue.
Players love how satisfying it feels to beat the game’s bosses and make progress, eventually conquering Hades himself. However, even if players lose, they look forward to the new interactions that are unlocked in the House of Hades, ensuring that death is never too frustrating.
Metroid Primeis one of the best games in the series that modernized Samus' CameCube adventure. The game was stuck on the GameCube for the longest time before finally getting the Switch remaster it deserved.
This allowed more people to check out this game’s brilliance and why it’s lauded as one of the bestMetroidgames out there. Exploration feels great and rewarding as players uncover powers, find secrets, and figure out the best way to defeat enemies and take out creative bosses.
Red Dead Redemption 2is one of the best open-world games of all time. Rockstar went all out in the creation of this title, with the storytelling being a notable step above anything the company had integrated in their games previously.
With a high Honor playthrough, Arthur becomes one of the most compelling and likable video game characters of all time. He struggles to grasp his humanity while trying to make amends for his past actions in a game full of cinematic shootouts, beautiful visuals, and immersive gameplay elements that ensure this title will be revered for decades to come.
Fans were eagerly anticipating a sequel to 2017’sBreath of the Wildthat would move things in a new direction. By expanding on Hyrule’s map with the addition of the Sky Islands and the Depths, as well as updating the more familiar locations with big and small changes,Tears of the Kingdomstands out as a worthy sequel.
Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, and Recall are all incredible abilities to mess around with and allow for more creative gameplay. While it may lack the fresh appeal of its predecessor,Tears of the Kingdommore than makes up for it with its complex mechanics and engaging gameplay.
