20 Best Video Games Of 2018

11. Tetris Effect

You wouldn't expect a Tetris game to excel beyond simple shape allotment, but that was before Tetsuya Mizuguchi got his hands on the formula.

The creative mind behind pulse-pounding tetronimo-lite Lumines, Mizuguchi has long been putting together puzzle games that match sequential shapes with slamming soundtracks.

For Tetris Effect, he's taken that to the next level. Aligning pieces and clearing lines still builds your score, but we now have a "Zone Mode" where time can be frozen to clear the entire board at once.

This comes alongside a visual style that creates a 3D "level" behind the board itself - one that responds and modulates along with your performance. Ranging from volcanic eruptions to thunderous industrial machinery, some even tell small stories, showcasing humanity's method of travel from camels to moon-landing buggies.

Combined, the rush of being symbiotically connected to the shapes on screen, mixed with luscious mood-scapes that twist and burst with life and messaging, is a purely emotive experience unlike anything else this year.