THAT DRUMMER GUY'S TOP 11 PS4 GAMES OF 2018

As you may have seen from my previous list, as shocking as it sounds, I do have ventures outside of music. Along with wrestling, gaming was a huge part of my childhood and unlike wrestling, it always stuck with me to this day. in 2018 you have 4 main options for gaming, PC, PS4, XB1, and Nintendo Switch. I am of the PS4 camp, converting from the Xbox 360 a few years back. Once again, like my previous list, I am not the biggest gamer in the world. As long as the game works, is of my interest and give me a fun experience, that's all I need. Frame Rates, refresh speeds, resolutions, etc are important things, but not enough to turn me off as long as I can sit down and enjoy it. The only downside I find to games is microtransactions...those can suck it!

That said, I am checking off every 2018 game I bought this year. No qualifications for being on this list as this is all 11 ranked from least favorite to favorite and quick thoughts about each one. So if you are a beginner to intermediate gamer like I am, I hope you enjoy this and maybe even find a new game to play. I apologize for only focusing on PS4 games, but that's just what I play.

11.) Jurassic World Evolution
FFO- City Building Simulators, Sim City, The Sims
Another game I really wanted to like and if I had a better grasp of these types of games, I'd be all over this. It's Sim City but based in the world of Jurassic World. Having not played a Sims type game in probably two decades, I found the game to be more aggravating than anything. Every time I got a little closer to getting it, I realized that I didn't get it. If go back to it and try again I may dig it more, but that's something time will tell. Also, Jeff Goldblum...He clearly did this for the paycheck and you can definitely hear it as it sounds so uninspired, which is heartbreaking. But anyways, if you dig city building simulation, you will love this, otherwise...you will not.

10.) Earthfall
FFO- First Person Shooters, Multiplayer
This game was 100% made to be played with friends or online play in mind. Which is probably why I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped. You don't need to play online for this as you have computer teammates, but it feels hollow. It follows the Left 4 Dead format with maps based on different stories and no real campaigns, but instead of zombies, it's aliens. Not a bad game by any means, but if you are a single player gamer like myself; there's better games to play to fill that void of the FPS single player games.

9.) Anamorphine
FFO- Walking Simulators, A look at Mental Health
I picked this one up the day it came out squarely on the premise of this being a very short game that is a true look at Depression from the outside and the inside...and it truly is. It's a heartbreaking game that looks at person who suffers a tragedy that leads to the deep well of depression that I know all to well myself. It shows it from the sufferer and their partner and how it affects both parties. If you're anything like me, you'll cry by the end and it's a well deserved cry. The biggest reasons why it's this low is because A.) You can complete it in under two hours. B.) When I played it, it had some major glitches to it, game breaking ones in fact, but they have been patched out and its a much better experience now. and C.) It's a walking Simulator. All you do is move around and see what's around you. There's no button commands, you don't pick anything up, there's no quests. You life this life as it's spirals downwards. I love it, but it's a hard sell for those looking for more than that in a game. If you wanna see how Depression really works, I highly recommend this game.

8.) Far Cry 5
FFO: First Person Shooter, Action/Adventure
The first Far Cry game to focus on the United States as a map. The game was heavily controversial all the way up to it's release due to the political climate that is hinted at in the game (but not really a focus as much as talked about). It looks, feels, acts and plays like a Far Cry game, but just different enough to make it worth it. A fun/dark story, a gigantic map to discover with tons of secrets, and at least to me, a worthwhile endeavor. You can get the game pretty cheap now so it's well worth the experience.

7.) Vampyr
FFO: RPG, Horror, A Question of Morals and Ethics
Set in 1800s England, you play as a doctor, coming home from war, but falls victim to a vampire. Throughout the game, you continue on with your doctoral duties deciding who lives and who dies, all while finding out how you became this way and potentially end it. It's a great game with RPG mechanics and a great morality and ethical gut check seeing if you can live life without hurting others or if the temptation is too great. The weakest part is qithout question, the controls and gameplay, but everything else makes up for it and if you are a seasoned gamer, you can adapt very quickly. A fun, worthwhile time for the macabre in all of us.

6.) Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life
FFO- Brawlers, Soap Opera Drama, the Best in Japanese Quirks
If you've never invested time in the Yakuza series, you are doing yourself a gigantic disservice. This series has everything you could want from a Sega licensed game from constantly fighting battles, a gut wrenching story, almost every single type of gaming style, and the wackiness that comes with modern Japanese culture. Yakuza 6 is the final chapter in the story of Kazuma Kiyru. It is HIGHLY recommended to try out Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami 1 and 2 (I still need the latter) before playing this game to get a better grasp on the stoyr. Though there is a recap section in the beginning. But again, even if the story isn't for you, there is baseball simulation, side quests finding stray cats, internet sex chatrooms, and the ability to play actual Sega games from yesteryear in the Sega Arcades. THere's even a mini game story arc featuring professional wrestlers from New Japan Pro Wrestling. It is one of the most hard hitting, yet, off the wall franchises you can possibly play, and worth every single second. 

5.) Detroit: Become Human
FFO- Interactive Movies
The FFO section is exactly what this is; an interactive movie that YOU make the decisions for and forge your path. The game takes place in Detroit in a fictionalized 2038 where you play 3 different Androids of different walks of life and explore there stories and how the world is in 2038. This is an emotionally driven game that can test your limits of morality and ethics and doesn't give you much time to decide on particular moments. You gotta constantly pay attention or you may end up on a path of this story you do not want to take. If you only play this once you can finish it in 1-3 days depending on your gaming schedule, and it's broken up into several chapters. It really hits home for me and it may for you as well.

4.) Marvel's Spider-Man
FFO: Open World, Action-Adventure, Superheroes
This game...this game. This game has no right being as good as it is, given the past of Spider-Man games, but it is easily not only the best Spider-Man game, but may rival the Batman Arkham Saga as best Superhero game and the potential to be the best Franchise Superhero game (you know as least 2-3 more sequels are coming, it's guaranteed). The web-slinging in this game is so satisfiying and exploring Manhattan as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is worth the price of admission alone. The story, which is an original take on Spider-Man shows off Peter Parker 8 years after dawning the costume and is thankfully NOT an origin story. You jump right in as Spidey and and a grand ol' time. Until the DLC, this is one of the only games I have ever been able to beat 100% and grab every trophy. I will eventually get the DLC for it and get things back on the right track (thankfully, I still have the platinum trophy for my efforts). You see everywhere how this game is getting rave reviews, this game couldn't possibly be more deserving. It's pure fun!

3.) Hollow Knight
FFO- Side Scrollers, 2D Platformers, Creepy but Cute Imagery, Dark Souls
One of my favorite games I'll probably never get to beat as it is ridiculously hard. The game takes inspiration from the Dark Souls & Bloodbourne games as far as difficulty, but re-imagines it as a side scroller 2D adventure playing as an unnamed hero who wanders it's world, digging deeper and deeper discovering other bug/insect like creatures it must defeat or befriend to survive. With it being bugs and insects it can turn people off, but the graphic style really makes the protagonist quite the cute little thing, along with many other creatures in the game, but to flip the coin, there is many grotesque things as well, but more cartoony and fun. I have gotten respectfully far in the game, but with it's sheer difficulty I am not sure I'll ever be able to finish the game. I will continue to try. It's an easy game to grasp comprehension of but it takes a master gamer to perfect. All that said, I love this game and it goes for 15 bucks for a normal price. I am over 80 hours into the game and have not completed it and I still loe playing it. That's a worthy investment.

*NOTE: I am aware this game originally came out in 2017 on other platforms, but it was released for PS4 in 2018, so I'm counting it*

2.) God Of War
FFO: Action Adventure, RPG, Nordic Folklore
If you have played any of the original God Of War games before this soft reboot, only keep the story in mind as everything else has changed and easily, for the better. Rather than Greek Mythology, this follows Nordic Mythology as Kratos discovers he has a BOY (sorry, I mean, son) and goes on an adventure that brings them closer together, while nearly getting killed every step of the way. The graphics in this game are impeccable. The story is heart wrenching, intriguing, and mesmerizing. The controls and gameplay are some of the most satisfying you'll ever find in a game to this point (especially when throwing your axe...PERFECTION!!!). This game is what I always hoped I would enjoy in the GOW series and I simply can't wait to see how this story continues on in the future.

1.) Red Dead Redemption 2
FFO- Grand Theft Auto, Except the Auto is a Horse
If no one else can sell you on this game yet, I guess I'll give it a shot. If you enjoy the gameplay, the open worlds, the stories, and the atmosphere that Rockstar games have done in the past, this is the game for you. Despite the misleading title, this is actually a prequel to the events of the original Red Dead Redemption. Following the story of a brand new character not even hinted at in the original game, you follow a dramatically bigger story of how this all began in a drastically bigger world, so much more to do, jaw dropping graphics, and that Rockstar attitude they are famous for. Obviously I am making this before I had a change to play Red Dead Online (which I can do now as I finally upgraded to 2005 and got a PS Plus Subscription), I am purely basing this off the single player game which is worth every single cent you spend on the game. It just has such a stellar story, sooooo many secrets to find, side quests that fill you with such intrigue, and the overall best presentation I have ever seen in a video game to date. If this and anything else about this game you have heard didn't sell you on it, nothing will.

And there we go, folks, my 2018 Game Purchases for PS4 in 2018 ranked in order or greatness. So many absolute winners and so many great reasons why I am so happy with my PS4 and maybe even I helped you out in picking up a game. Needless to say, gaming is becoming more and more fun as the years go on. I can't wait to see what I explore in 2019.

- Josh Rundquist (That Drummer Guy