10 Video Games That Totally Floored You

5. God Of War

A far more contemplative and powerful take on Kratos, Sony Santa Monica went back to the drawing board, emerging with a mature, self-reflective and confident look at what it means for a super-powered individual to truly "grow up".

Uncharted 4 operates off a similar core ideology, but where God of War goes one step further is in its portrayal of violence, seeing Kratos' son Atreus start to exhibit the same nihilistic traits as he once did, when we played him in the main trilogy. Horrified by the idea of such bloody history repeating, God of War's second half is all about instilling a sense of responsibility, learning and respect.

This analysis of the glorification of violence feel like a self-reflective commentary on how the industry has itself grown and matured. Kratos cements the notion by saying that his son must "be better" than just wanton slaughter, and the game's closing scene combines a series of twists involving a mural of Kratos' death, and who Atreus truly is.

The overall sentiment is one of regret, but acceptance. It's of exploration, escapism and excitement about what the future holds. It's one of the best stories of 2018, and an essential milestone in the advancement of gaming as a medium.