GNamer Forum Awards 2018

Dragon Quest Builders (2 votes, 7 points, 0 firsts)



‘I've played MineCraft for bloomin' ages, and it's nice for someone who is used to making proper games with stories (Squeenix) to take the idea and turn it into a coherent adventure - but still a fun one (no heavy-handed RPG mopery here). And a slime called Splatrick. And it's a game I have played in 2018.’

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu/Eevee! (4 votes, 9 points, 0 firsts)



‘Kanto revived, a shot to the arm giving an old game a fresh start.  That shot was mostly the lovely presentation, with all 151 of the original monsters pictured toddling along behind (or sometimes under) you.  It was great in Heart Gold/Soul Silver; it’s great here too.’

‘A very wholesome marriage of the sound Yellow mechanics and many new and bright ideas. It’s done really well, and this is how I want my Pokemon games to be from now on (except that it’s too easy and simple - don’t do that again).’

Hollow Knight (7 votes, 20 points, 0 firsts)



‘A top-tier Metroidvania inspired by Dark Souls with solid platforming and battling? Sign me up! I loved getting lost in the atmosphere of HK's world. I think an indie title is truly special when it's got near enough the whole forum talking about it, and this little bug's adventure deserves the chatter, and indeed deserves a high position in my list.’

‘Really fucking good metroidvania with great atmosphere, combat, exploration and worldbuilding. I lost a little love for it when I realised how mad and difficult the challenges were to get anything close to a decent ending.’

‘A lesson for developers wanting to make grim worlds filled with decaying remnants of civilisation and occasionally hair-tearing challenges: fill ‘em with cute bugs.  Everything’s better with cute bugs.’

Celeste (8 votes, 30 points, 4 firsts)



‘I'm not the world's biggest platforming fan by any stretch of the imagination, but you'd have to be bonkers not to notice how great Celeste was this year. The way that you took Madeline through each stage with the game's movement options was so satisfying. The art style worked a treat and I think the soundtrack was second only to Octopath for an OST this year (SSBU is the real winner of soundtrack of the year, but that's cheating). The biggest surprise about this game was its story - I didn't expect going into it to be gripped as I was by the plot. Wonderful stuff.’

‘I thought 2D platformers were on the way out at the start of this year.  Turns out it’s just unimaginative 2D platformers, with unsatisfying movesets and without genuine characters facing relatable struggles made manifest, that are on the way out.  I’m glad Celeste taught me the difference.’

‘An absolute joy to play and probably has the best story of any platforming game ever!’

‘A game so good I nearly voted the thread as Thread OTY, purely for the joy of so many forumites sharing so much positivity. A really tremendous achievement that proves a pixel-art indie platformer can still amaze in 2018 if its made with passion and talent. It also landed when I was at the weirdest, most simultaneously happy and lonely times of my life.’

Of Course It's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (8 votes, 32 points, 5 firsts)



‘Ah, here we are. This one has landed for me in the way the 3DS and Wii U games failed to. I think I'm gonna end up approaching some mad, Jay-on-3DS play hours.’

‘I've only just started playing it, but it feels like it's got an infinite lifespan at the moment, whether on my own or with other people. And it's a game I have played in 2018.’

‘It was always going to be this, wasn't it? I can't think of many negatives other than some ridiculously stupid hard stages (which are avoidable) in WoL along with a very poor boss fight in Galeem. Just the best that Smash Bros has ever been.’

‘This is an amazing game... but it’s not an amazing 2018 game, to me.  It’s a celebration of the series’ history, and the things that make it great mostly come from that history.  Its additions, meanwhile, come under more scrutiny: fewer new characters than ever before, fewer new stages than ever before, Spirits being worse than trophies, and a one-player mode that’s much better than the SSE game-wise and much worse trappings-wise.
‘Having said that... it’s Smash.  Beating up Link with Samus will never not be fun.’

‘As familiar as it is, Ultimate is 2018’s outstanding Nintendo game.’

‘God, I love Smash Brothers. A remastered version of my most played game of all time was always going to top this list - well, a Western release of Mother 3 might have had something to say about that, but that's NEVER HAPPENING THANKS NINTENDO - and I'm so glad it lived up to the hype.
'From a substantial single player offering, to the plethora of characters to choose from all the way to the core gameplay itself, it's the best Smash has ever looked, sounded or played. I'll be playing this for years to come. Thanks Mr. Sakurai!’

Football Manager Touch 2018



‘It's so much better at giving you info than the last version of FM I played. And it's a game I have played in 2018. *Clap* *Clap* *ClapClapClap* *ClapClapClapClap* GRACKLERS *Clap* *Clap* *ClapClapClap* *ClapClapClapClap* GRACKLERS STU D JONES RED AND BLUE ARMY *trumpet* STU D JONES RED AND BLUE ARMY *trumpet*’


The Messenger



‘This grabbed me right from the off with it's amazing soundtrack but thankfully it plays just as great as it sounds, a brilliant love letter to retro games in this mould but still does enough of it's own thing and feels bang up to date in it's overall design. Not afraid to poke fun at itself either and just revel in being a game.’


WarioWare Gold



‘It's a good laugh, hugely imaginative, very silly, and definitely one of the best games on the 3DS.’


Night in the Woods

Guacamelee 2



‘This late addition ranks high up my list, even though I’ve not finished it yet.  It’s more of what made the original great: more memes, more tough platforming, and more combat so physically intense you’ll imagine you’re a lucha libre wrestler!  (You’re not, of course.  You’re feeble and we all know it.)’


Octopath Traveler



‘I've no real nostalgia for the SNES era of RPGs, but this was a tidy effort from Squeenix. The game was visually arresting with a unique art style and I really enjoyed the game's battle system. The way you progressed through each traveller's story was perfectly suited to the Switch too as having bite-sized chapters seemed to work better than an epic story. I'd be remiss not to mention the soundtrack - absolutely laden with bangers.’


Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion



‘Spla2n's multiplayer is such smooth buttery goodness, I was addicted from day one until I moved into this apartment and didn't have wi-fi for months. Unfortunately, the singleplayer felt a little like a phoned-in rehash of the previous game. But here is the atmospheric, constantly inventive, deviously difficult masterpiece we needed.’


Into the Breach
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Subsurface Circular

Super Mario Party
‘It's actually fun! I've received this opinion from a wide variety of people, with a wide variety of gaming experience. And it's a game I have played in 2018.’

Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit
‘Full marks for Labo’s inventiveness, and how for cleverly it demonstrates what the Switch and it’s JoyCon can do. Massively satisfying to make, play and experience - a real treat.’

Go Vacation

Bayonetta
‘As stylish and spectacular in 2018 as it was in 2008.’

Dark Souls: Remastered
‘Very real contender for the best game of all time, finally on the only contender for best console of all time. The only reason this isn't higher on my list is that I already played through it on Playstation, Xbox and PC.’

Mario Tennis Aces
‘Yes, there's nothing to do in single player beyond a sparse story, but this still played a treat. The fast paced and frenetic rallies that you could pull off were great fun and the addition of the extra abilities added a fair bit of strategy to the game. Plus, it allowed me to go undefeated in like 40 odd singles matches against Andy, which was terrific.’

Pokémon Quest
‘Was a lot of fun up until I hit a difficulty wall. And it's a game I have played in 2018.’

Dead Cells
Fairune Collection
The Gardens Between

Inevitable?  Perhaps, but Smash took the long way around to the goal.  By the time three slates had been submitted, it had 1 point to Celeste's 12.  I knew that Smash would come roaring back, but at that point, I dared to dream...

It didn't last, of course.  Smash made up that lost ground and took the crown, as expected by everyone.  And there's no doubting it's a belting game, fuelled by the blood sweat and tears of Sakurai and years of Nintendo/gaming nostalgia.  Personally... well the fourth comment's mine.  It'll be in my top ten games of all time (unlike Celeste), but it's not in my top four 2018 games. Anyway, the fact that an indie title pushed Nintendo's juggernaut that close is impressive on its own, and well deserved.

It's a theme that carries on down the list, as both Celeste and the tough but great Hollow Knight beat out another of Nintendo's most-loved franchises.  That's not to say that Let's Go! wasn't sweet and enjoyable, because it was.  The (stretched) podium was rounded out by Dragon Quest Builders, which is presumably also sweet and enjoyable, and anyway deserves its place for that pun alone.

Into the other votes, the games I'm surprised didn't get more points include Dark Souls, Dead Cells (awfully similar titles there), Octo Expansion... and Yoku's Island Express, which didn't get a single vote.  There's also only one 3DS game and one mobile game that qualified.  Even in a relatively fallow year for the Switch, Nintendo's hybrid has sucked all of our attention away from the company's other ventures with its range of quality titles.  

Finally: those voting numbers.  Only the gaming awards drew ten votes; only the Nintendo award drew a full suite of 50.  If nothing else, 2018 was the Year of the Gaming Vote.  And it was plenty else.

Abort or A Port
‘This was a close contender for my favourite thread.  In the end it didn’t get enough traction to go on and be that, but I think it was the best idea we’ve had for a forum game since Pokédix and it’s been cruelly underutilised.’

Drunkalilly
‘Great to see even though he's now in Japan (hopefully for a long time), found his waifu, got a job etc and still has time to post on here.’

Fronkhead
‘It’s been a pleasure to have this man back in the fold.  He’s a master of dragging games that might otherwise be overlooked into the sunlight, and presenting their case in an interesting and engaging way.  Hope you stay around in 2019, Mr. Fronk!’

GJones
‘With everything going on in his life he can feel he can trust us with it and keeps posting now & again (mainly in retro which is   ).’

JayMoyles
‘Always does a good job at being an admin.’

Masofdas
‘I’ve got to feel for the man: in the same year, “his” award was radically altered, and the gaming awards he was so keen on radically reduced.  There’s still a lot to like about his enthusiasm and the amount he posts.  With the loss of the odd big name, in fact, volume is arguably more important than ever.  Keep it up!’

OrangeRakoon
‘I was going to vote for Mr. Rakoon back when Forumite of the Year was still a thing, because he juggles moderating GRcade with being an active and key member of GNamer.  As anybody who’s tried to be a member of two gaming fora at once will know, that’s tricky.  Contributor doesn’t take off-GNamer considerations into account, but I want him to know that he’s valued here.’

ZeroJones
‘Only here for about half the year and was great when he was. It's still being sad he is no longer on here in any form.’

All You Wonderful Peeps

The Switch’s 2018
‘For most of the year, this could have been a negative, with a dearth of big good games (relative to 2017 anyway) and the dreaded d-word flying about.  Here’s the thing, though: every console for ages has either had a slightly empty first year or second year.  A steady flow of good Nindies followed by the one-two of Pokémon and Smash ain’t bad for “empty”!’

This golden age of Nintendo

Nintendo Switch eShop
‘For me this year the Switch had been muh but you can see from four of my five games on the Nintendo vote shows the eShop (along with a bunch of my nearly games) has been great.’

Masahiro Sakurai
‘For working his arse off yet again and delivering what will be my gaming obsession for the next ten years.’

PSVR
‘Sony has made PSVR this year almost a must have with quality titles for the device.’

Phil Spencer
‘This year under Spencer Xbox has really turned a corner with hardware, services be it Game Pass or Backward Compatibility, adding to the first party line up, sure this generation is over for Xbox but the future looks good for the green brand.’

Spider-Man
‘This has been a good year for ol' Peter Parker. A cracking PS4 game, a good turn in Infinity War and what was probably my film of the year in Into the Spiderverse. I think it's cemented him as my favourite superhero.’

Kazuma Kiryu
‘For showing me the joy in suplexing street thugs around the streets of Kamurocho.’

Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee!
‘Charming and nice, I really enjoyed my time in this world and I am HYPED for the new generation later in the year.’

Bayonetta
‘Can't believe it took me this long to play this. Easily the finest spectacle action game I've played - well, maybe until I play its sequel at some point this year.’

Mario Tennis Aces
‘Aces isn’t quite as good as I’d hoped it would be, but I’m a very big fan of the new competitive edge that they’ve brought to the matches with the power meter, blocking and zone shots. Ultra Smash on Wii U was remarkably poor, and thankfully these new tactical mechanics breath fresh life into the Mario Tennis series.’

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
‘It’s taken me four-and-a-half years, another console generation and another forty quid to realise that, right enough, this is an absolutely sensational 2D platformer. The best Donkey Kong game ever, no arguments.’

Yoku’s Island Express
‘Entertaining, charming, playful, fresh and unique, and dirt-cheap too! Highly recommended to all.’

NES Games
‘My retro-stubbornness means I've got to try and finish them all; this is just creating more game backlog.’

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon
Donut Country
The Gardens Between
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Spider-Man

2018 was another bobbins year outside games, but at least it was great inside games, right?  Weeeeeell...

...yes.  Yes it was.  Say what you want about the Switch's trappings: the core content, the games, is bloody strong.  Even in the absence of some 97% belters, the eShop propelled the Switch through a second golden year filled with delight.  See yesterday's results for more on that.  Somebody even enjoyed the NES games!  (I like to think Jay's thread helped there.)

The rest of the gaming world hasn't been too bad either, if you take out the usually Triple-A scumbaggery.  Game Pass helped push XBox back towards contention, and Sony... sank a bit in comparison under the weight of its own hubris ('must-have'?  Really?), but they still had some fine games and fine moments.  

Finally, whatever your views on gaming as a whole, this little islet of gaming discourse has continued to chug along, even without its former admin. (who is of course greatly missed).  The sheer number of forumite mentions, in addition to the votes, warms my heart.  'All You Wonderful Peeps' is about right.

= masofdas (1 vote)



‘For his consistently useful updates on what games are coming up’


= Drunkalilly (1 vote)



‘Buggered off to Japan to live his dream life and still finds time to come here and chat shite about babby games with his pals. He's made some great threads - that World of Shite thread is a cracker - and some fantastic posts, but that's no surprise. It's been great reading about his travels in Japan, but it's been even better seeing him share his tales on the Good Ship GNamer. Top bloke.’


= The_Jaster (1 vote)



‘Whilst he's no Epson Printer Error and he's constantly wrong about everything I guess he's a consistent chap’  

= Balladeer (3 votes)



‘It was a massive shame when Zero left the forum but the pair of you [admins.] have held the fort incredibly well. You're both always very active with some great opinions and chat.’

‘Sort similar to why I think I've always had plenty of votes in this award due to the sheer amount he contributes to the forum along with stepping back up to admin this year.’

‘Both our mods have been heroes this year, and I practically coin-tossed this one’


= Jimbob (3 votes)



‘It’s been a good year for the big man.’

‘While he’s always posting genuinely funny comments, it’s the heartwarming story of underdogs Invergrackle that has been one of the forum’s greatest contributions this year.  Top work.’

‘What a nice man.’

Wayne (8 votes)



‘If we don't scrap Forumite of the Year, I'm voting for Wayne!’

‘Excellent stuff. Cats are adorable.’

‘Aaaw! Soft! Good.’

‘WAYNE!!!!!!!      
That is all.’

Alternatively:

I can see the comment about this award meaning half as much because it has two winners coming a mile off.  Drop it.  It's not funny and, more importantly, it's not true.  In a year when one of our most valued contributors upped sticks, quality and quantity are more important than they've ever been.

We have both here.  That is to say, both Cappa and Jay provide quality and quantity, but they're arguably towards different ends of the scale.  When Cappa posts, odds are good it's going to be an utter belter: be that a ridiculous bargain, a new and worthy forum project, or just good old-fashioned deadpan humour.  Meanwhile Jay's output has been nothing short of phenomenal this year, and his posts haven't been short of a laugh or two themselves.  It’s been a good year for both big men indeed.

Next on the podium we have Jimbob, who'll no doubt try to hand-wave away his position.  He's fooling nobody: his retro posts, story of Invergrackle, and just generally being a nice fellow who's innocently funny have all been splendid contributions this year, and he deserves that place.  Also me: thanks, you three!

I do feel a bit for Mas.  Somebody called this 'his' award last year and this, and it's been redesigned from under his feet.  Therefore I'm glad he's made the podium: posting reliability is an underrated quality that Mas has in spades, and he made one of my favourite threads this year as well.  Drunkalilly has mostly been off enjoying himself in Japan and contributing to his extra-forum project (listen here) this year, which is more than fair enough; but he's still found time to come back and chat gubbins with us about games. Good on him.  Jas has been another bastion of reliable posting - and, more than that, optimism.  To read his posts, you wouldn't know that parts of the gaming industry are going to pot.  That is a Good Thing and we're lucky to have him.

Finally, everyone else who isn't mentioned.  If you voted in this thread then you're a fine contributor to this forum in my eyes, and even (in some (rare) cases) if you didn't.  GNamer may have shrunk over the years, but it remains a great community, and all of our contributions help make it so.

That's my over-sentimental way of saying, 'Thanks everyone for taking part,' I guess!