20 Best Video Games Of 2018 (So Far)

2. Celeste

On its face this looks like "just another pixel platformer", but the heart, soul, passion and purpose that went into Celeste is like nothing else.

Penned by Matt Makes Games' Matt Thorson (who you should know from Towerfall), Celeste is a remarkably honest, helpful, necessary and beautiful exploration of our own weaknesses and darker sides.

Playing as one Madeline as she attempts to scale the mountain, Celeste, the game uses this to spin a wider commentary on doubt, runaway worry and how many of us suffer from personal demons on a daily basis. We see Madeline do battle with her shadow self; a Persona-like manifestation of everything she holds deep within - and it's only by understanding exactly what this is and what it represents, that she grows as a person.

By the time the credits rolled I was a complete mess of pure emotion, needing a good bit of time to unpack the sheer rush of how well the devs had perfectly combined the denouement of Madeline's story with some super intense platforming gauntlets.

It's a euphoric, unique sensation, doubling as a reminder of what games can bring to the storytelling table.