1. Red Dead Redemption 2

This turn-of-the-century tale of the American Old West is extraordinarily ambitious and luxuriously slow-paced, taking in many hours of riding around a breathtaking recreation of untouched nature as well as gun-slinging shootouts. A game so bewilderingly detailed that it is sometimes difficult to believe.

We said: “There can be no doubt that this is a landmark game. It is a new high water-mark for lifelike video game worlds, certainly, but that world is also home to a narrative portrait of the wild west that is unexpectedly sombre and not afraid to take its time.”

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2. God of War

Old, tired god Kratos goes on a journey with his young son to scatter the ashes of his departed wife, fighting a pantheon of Norse gods and mythical creatures along the way. This adventure is absorbing, violent and visually spectacular, but it’s the touching story that comes as a real surprise.

We said: “God of War is a standard-setter both technologically and narratively. It is a game that, until recently, would have been impossible.”

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3. Into the Breach

Mechs battle to save humanity in a stripped-down and unbelievably tense strategy game, where each match plays out on a chessboard-sized diorama of defenceless buildings, environmental hazards, and vicious insectoid aliens. The fate of the world hangs on your every decision - and every single time you mess up, you’re desperate to start again. This time, you’ll finally prevail.

We said: “Even chess seems flabby and obtuse next to the masterful elegance of Into the Breach’s micro-battles.”

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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Forza Horizon 4 Photograph: Microsoft

4. Forza Horizon 4

Allowing you to street-race in rainy Edinburgh streets, take a Jeep up Arthur’s Seat, or sail around the Costwolds in an Aston Martin, in all seasons and weathers, Forza Horizon 4 is a beautiful and unexpectedly moving driving game that offers near-unlimited variations on racing cars around an idealised Britain.

We said: “Forza Horizon 4 understands cars not just as beautiful machines, but as the keys to beautiful experiences, metaphors for freedom and adventure. As driving games go, it’s the best I’ve ever played.”

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5. Tetris Effect

The timeless block-stacking puzzler returns once again, this time brilliantly built around dazzling, psychedelic visuals and lush music that make you feel one with the universe. Conceived by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, creator of acclaimed titles Rez and Lumines, it’s both a tribute to, and exploration of, Alexey Pajitnov’s original classic.

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6. Monster Hunter World

Set sail for a far-off land, set up camp, and hunt the local wildlife. Epic face-offs against majestic and aggressive fantasy beasts in their beautiful habitats make the heart race – and a lively player population means there’s always someone around to help you out.

We said: “A game that seems intimidating at first quickly becomes one of the more rewarding gaming experiences of recent years”

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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Super Smash Bros Ultimate Photograph: Nintendo

7. Super Smash Bros Ultimate

A fighting game so madcap and maximalist, so crammed with recognisable and obscure characters, references, stages, music and items, that it could be better described as an exhaustive tribute to video game history in its full chaotic, colourful glory. Best played with friends in the same room, where it becomes a catalyst for rivalry and laughter.

We said: “It’s an electric, bombastic presentation all around, with fights punctuated by dramatic camerawork and sudden freeze-frames”

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8. Celeste

Otherworldly and endearing, Celeste follows a pixel-art character on a perilous journey up a mountain, encouraging you through its fiendish, treacherous areas with affirmations and optimism. Difficult, but perfectly balanced.

We said: “A tough game with an uplifting message: don’t let the voice inside your head tell you that you can’t do things.”

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9. Return of the Obra Dinn

An arresting mystery set aboard the abandoned merchant ship of the title, which returns after five years missing at sea and must now be investigated by insurance adjusters. The monochrome visuals lend a haunting atmosphere to this clever and engrossing game.

We said: “Obra Dinn’s little dioramas of drama intersect one another with unrivalled elegance, providing intriguing lines of inquiry that reach out beyond the screen, into the mind of the player.”

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10. Ni no Kuni 2

Animated in the style of Studio Ghibli, Ni no Kuni 2 is a colourful Japanese fantasy game about a cat-eared boy-king trying to build his kingdom. Beautiful and charming.

We said: “Puts forward an irresistible case for your attention ... As video games are once again weathering ignorance-fuelled attacks that paint them as universally gun-centric, violent and nihilistic, Ni no Kuni is a timely counterpoint.”

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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Shadow of the Colossus (PS4) Photograph: Sony

11. Shadow of the Colossus

Driven to desperation by grief, a young man implores mysterious gods and slays colossi in the hope of resurrecting someone he loves. An extraordinarily well-done remaster of a 13-year-old game that has proved to be a masterpiece.

We said: “What’s most impactful about Shadow of the Colossus is its sense of scale: the immensity not only of its dramatic ruins and the sad, beautiful colossi, but of the task at hand, and its themes of death, faith, longing and the destructive selfishness of grief.”

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12. Astro Bot: Rescue Mission

The game to convince you on Playstation VR – a fun intergalactic adventure where you must rescue fellow robots from a variety of detailed, challenging sci-fi environments. Astro Bot makes excellent use of physical movements, as well as the Dual Shock’s touchpad and motion controls, to draw you fully into its bright and charming universe.

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13. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

The historical action series stops off in ancient Greece at the beginning of the Peloponnesian war for more detail-crammed exploration, combat and intrigue. Complete with two compelling leads and enjoyable guest appearances from the likes of Herodotus and Leonidas, it’s a fulfilling romp through myth and mayhem.

We said: “Not everything that Odyssey ambitiously attempts is successful, and it greedily consumes your time, but I’ve relished the many hours I’ve spent with it.”

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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Assassin’s Creed Odyssey screenshot Photograph: Ubisoft

14. Florence

A game that explores the dynamics of a 25-year-old woman falling in love, and the creative and personal compromises of young adulthood. Playing with touch on a phone screen gives it a sense of intimacy and connection with the player.

We said: “A simple story of young love, under which deeper themes silently pass like shadowy whales. Florence’s most immediate delights are found in the execution, which is tender, assured, understated and never trite.”

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15. Dark Souls Remastered

A much-celebrated and enduringly mysterious dark fantasy game is given a new lick of paint, which further highlights its brilliance. Dark Souls requires courage and perseverance – it’s a world where all manner of hideous things are trying to end you – but the rewards are immense.

We said: “If a new kind of adventure appeals, one in which quick fingers matter less than brains and human cunning, there’s still nothing like Dark Souls.”

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16. Iconoclasts

Clever, pacy, nostalgic and as bingeable as Saturday-morning cartoons, Iconoclasts has fun exploratory puzzles, screen-filling bosses to shoot at, and interesting gadgets that put a new spin on play every few hours.

We said: “It successfully recreates the atmosphere and sense of adventure of the 90s 2D action-adventures that inspired it, and occasionally betters them.”

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17. Moss

A hugely imaginative take on the platforming adventure genre, Moss puts players in control of a brave little mouse setting out to save her kingdom from a fire-breathing snake. Virtual reality technology conjures an immersive, reactive environment, and brilliantly, Moss herself is aware of the player and communicates with you. A clever game about the allure of heroes and stories.

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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Moss (PS4) Photograph: Polyarc

18. Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire

Cleaving to the formula of computer role-playing classics such as Planescape Torment, this is a huge game to sink your teeth into, featuring 50-plus hours of story, turn-based strategy battles, pirates and a great script.

We said: “Sailing frees you from the need to follow a set path, and most encounters in this ridiculously gigantic world are expertly written.”

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19. Yoku’s Island Express

Play as an ant postman rolling a tiny rock around a cheerful tropical island in this innovative, combat-free adventure, where pinball paddles send you careening around the scenery. This is a fun, feel-good game with intricate art and madcap characters.

20. Yakuza 6

The final chapter in a long-running gangster saga is known and loved for melding the melodramatic with the ridiculous. Walk in the shoes of ageing yakuza Kazuma Kiryu in a virtual Tokyo that hums with danger and energy.

We said: “Yakuza 6 may not be subtle, but few players will be left dry-eyed as the curtain on this tale is finally drawn.”

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Did we miss your favourite game of 2018? Have your say in our readers’ games of the year submissions.