2018 Game of the Year Contenders
Far Cry 5 by Ubisoft
While the ending might not have been the greatest, it didn’t stop the overall experience of Far Cry 5 from being a memorable one this year. It’s tough for action games to stand out, there’s just so many that’ll come out this year, but Ubisoft put themselves out there by moving the Far Cry series to modern day Montana of all places. The tone throughout the game is set by Eden’s Gate, a cult fearing for its survival, that uses extreme and dangerous tactics to hold onto their preferred way.
Their cult is born of distrust of their government, a real feeling that exists in many places around the United States, and exploring this topic hits on a nerve, especially now during a current political climate that could be classified as turbulent to say the least.
Although a lot of the gameplay is a bit familiar, Ubisoft did find ways to mix it up. Companions, both AI and human, were added in with FC5, an addition that is pretty much universally pleasing. Whether you’re taking advantage of having a giant Bear follow you around and maul people, or playing with an actual person, it needed something to mix up its tried and true gameplay, and those changes delivered.
It’s going to be a challenge for this game to stand out later this year, but there’s no doubt that it was one of the best games to come out this year so far.
