Welcome to the first PC Gaming MetaCouncil GOTY awards! This award focuses on PC games which we deem GOTY worthy, as well as best Early Access game and best DLC of the year. It was also possible to vote for the most disappointing release in a separate category. So, sit back and relax while you check out the results.
- Voting took place in the monthly MetaCouncil Thread.
- Voting was open from January 2nd - January 19th.
- Up to 5 games were allowed for each person to pick for GOTY.
- Games had to be released on PC in 2018.
- Early Access, DLC and Turd were given separate, optional ballots.
- Overall the poll turnout was: 48.
- Two games were removed from scoring for not meeting requirements: one was a PS4 exclusive, the other was released in 2017.
- 82 games were represented. There were 14 Early Access titles, 14 DLC and 12 candidates for the Turd award.
- The ranking results from ranked voting without point.
- There are ties but there is no tie-breaker.
- Wok was allowed to vote in this poll.
Ibuki said:This game delivered more of what I loved about Hitman 2016. The new mechanics and maps were delightful.
SmAsH said:It does everything Hitman 1 does but better. From new locations to new ways to carry out your mission. They even brought back the best thing: the briefcase; and with it comes great new abilities, such as shown in this video.
Sampson said:Hitman 2016 was, at the time, the stealth and puzzle game of the generation. Hitman 2 is just more of the same, with some Quality of Life tweaks, visual improvements and some storytelling chops. Sometimes all you need to be GOTY is “more of the same.”
Tizoc said:Hitman 2 is a chill stealth game that one could play at their own pace, while offering various challenges and replayability letting the player go for perfect runs or just to mess about with targets.
FunktionJCB said:HITMAN 2 builds upon, and improves on, the already very solid earlier entry, to offer an incredibly fun and immensely replayable game, one that keeps growing with both new developer and community made content.
Monooboe said:I was away from gaming for quite a while this year and I had the luck to have two weeks during the summer to do absolutely nothing so decided to give POE2 a try. I really liked the first one but I was still surprised just how much more I liked the second one. I had several moments during my gameplay where I thought to myself, ""This, this is why I love games, more than any other form of entertainment!"".
Gizmo said:Deadfire continued many of the improvements which I wanted from White March, such as better itemization. Then, add in the robust class customization, and it has some of my favourite combat in any game ever. Testing items with certain class builds is a treat.
QFNS said:Pillars 2 expands on everything that was good about Pillars 1, better characters, more locations, more interesting character progression and frankly amazing graphics.
Rockin' Ranger said:Deadfire managed to improve on everything from the first Pillars and deliver an outstanding cRPG.
Gevin said:I « only » have 40 hours in MH:W but I love it. The gameplay loop is incredibly addictive and so much fun. There are a lot of things to do and the content is pretty much endless. Also playing multiplayer is a blast.
Tart Toter 9k said:Monster Hunter is finally on PC! The improvements made to MH:W are just so substantial that I can honestly say I really don't want to go back to the older games. The quality of life improvements combined with new more open maps improve the formula drastically. The weapons feel better and the couple of new monsters are fun to fight. The game does feel lacking in the sheer number of monsters but that is understandable considering this is the first game in years where they had to start from scratch. For these reasons (and a couple more), MH:W is my GOTY in 2018
MonthOLDpickle said:This is a game you can play when you want. The combat is fun, not too deep and not too simple. The loop is fantastic.
InquisitorAles said:Yakuza 0 is amazing on so many levels that it is really hard to describe it, this game is simply amazing and did almost everything right. Story is incredibly well written and dramatic, fights are slick and satisfying, open-world is very compact but at the same time full of different activities and a pure joy to explore, music and sound are out of their league and mind-blowingly great. This game is a living classic, a definition of fun, there is so much content that it would be enough for 10 modern AAA sandboxes, it's amazing to see such beefy game with no b*llsh*t attached in the current market.
Ascheroth said:It's the first (of hopefully many) Yakuza games on PC and that's one way to kick this series off in full-strength. Yakuza 0 has a great and gripping story and shockingly that is only a mere fraction of what the game offers, as it is filled to the brim with side stories and mini-games. The amount of content and attention to detail is great. The music rocks too.
SpectrumWarrior said:265 hours of playtime on Steam. That's the Japan I used to fantasize while growing up, huge nostalgia trip. Great story, great acting, great humor, great gameplay, plenty of extra fun stuff to do. GOTY 2018.
crasher said:Finally Yakuza on PC! Yeah!
Nzyme said:A perfectly balanced mix of serious, silly and dramatic story and action gameplay that consistently blew my expectations out of the water. There is so much to love about the game that kept me engaged, from the sheer breadth story to the wealth of side activities that all keep escalating. Each facet is rich in depth and detail. I haven't enjoyed a game like this for many years! Despite the time difference between its original launch and the PC port, the game remain unbelievably wonderful today, and a clear showcase of how to produce engrossing story and gameplay.
AHA-Lambda said:Beyond just the unique visual style, Obra Dinn also has some utterly great sound design; one of the few games that made me really appreciate how such can elevate an immersive experience. But most importantly, the reason why this is my GOTY is due to simply how clever the game is, both in its clear craftsmanship and in how it makes the player feel for solving its puzzles - testing the players skills of deduction and reasoning from the subtle and consistent clues laid throughout the game-world.
Panda Pedinte said:It was a highly anticipated game for me since Lucas Pope announced it many years ago. The game turned out to be my GOTY, as it was a mix of a giant puzzle game and a murder mystery. The sound design and the art style are top-notch.
Parsnip said:A truly unique experience, unlike anything else in the market. Also really good.
Kurt Russell said:The developers took everything that worked in Origins and added all the elements that were missing from that game. Kassandra is an actually likeable protagonist, with tons of great lines. The side quests are fun to complete and add to the overall feeling of being a mercenary. The naval battles, while not as entertaining as Black Flag's, are also a great addition, and I'll never get bored with cleaving enemy triremes in twain. Overall, it's the closest a big budget game has come to The Witcher 3 for me and I truly loved everything about it.
† Echo † said:AC Odyssey is a great RPG from Ubisoft that doesn't hurt for content or things to do. It's a beautiful game with surprisingly good optimization for PC and lots of graphic settings to play with. Even after 100 hours I find myself left with plenty to do, and thanks to Kassandra being such a great character I'm not even bored yet!
Milena said:Kassandra! But also great setting, interesting story, even more RPG features than Origins, incredibly huge map and good patches that have improved the game a lot.
itsamiracle said:An excellent game that keeps getting better the more you progress through the campaign and explore the optional content. Virtually flawless gameplay-wise.
Wibblewozzer said:Celeste is a perfect blend of meticulously designed gameplay and level structure while also telling an affective story despite using character portraits and different tones for character's dialogue. The game can be challenging just to reach the end of each screen but there's still plenty of extra content for people who want more to do. The music is wonderful and lastly I applaud any developer that takes extra efforts to make their games accessible for more people.
Lain said:GRIS is a game which encapsulates all that's good about video-games. It's beautiful to look at, with great art direction and sublime animations. It has awesome sound direction, with a really fine soundtrack on top of it. It does its storytelling by showing everything and leaving the interpretation up to the player. Every new level gave me the feeling of peeling a fruit with many layers on top of each other. It was the best game I experienced in 2018 and that's why I think it deserves to be GOTY.
FeedMeAStrayCat said:Such a gorgeous and emotional game! Only game to ever make me really cry upon finishing it and that includes both times I completed it.
Mivey said:Amazing JRPG that never seems to end, with a simple combat system that still keeps you on your toes, and with a seemingly endless budget for its 3D world and models. The only real negative, the terrible MIDI synth, has been fixed by a group of dedicated people, and so on PC you get to experience this marvel in its full glory.
texhnolyze said:The best JRPG of the decade. It's so charming and enjoyable from the start all the way until the end. The characters are all lovable with their own quirks, and the amazing localization and voice act elevate them to a whole new level. The world building is also phenomenal, it really feels like having an adventure around the world. You'll visit various places from Medieval Europe to Southeast Asian culture in the game world. Draconian mode with harder enemies is the best way to enjoy the combat, so that the game would challenge you on every corner. All wrapped in a classic yet fantastic and memorable Dragon Quest story with some nice twists and bittersweet moments. If only the music did not hold this game down, it would be a masterpiece.
prudis said:Best solo survival game so far with beautiful visual , great exploration and gameplay in tightly crafted scary world
Eriugam said:It's one of the most unusual, engaging video games I have ever played. Every minute I spent within the world, was well spent.
Exzyleph said:Subnautica is a game that enthralled me with its beautiful, hand-crafted environments, and taught me that my thalassophobia was stronger than I thought. More than any game I have played in a long time, Subnautica made exploration enjoyable for its own sake, and not just as a means to progress in the game or as another challenge to overcome.
Game of the Year Votes
1 | HITMAN 2 (appID: 863550, released on 13 Nov, 2018)
1 | Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (appID: 560130, released on 8 May, 2018)
3 | MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD (appID: 582010, released on 9 Aug, 2018)
3 | Yakuza 0 (appID: 638970, released on 1 Aug, 2018)
5 | Return of the Obra Dinn (appID: 653530, released on 18 Oct, 2018)
6 | Assassin's Creed Odyssey (appID: 812140, released on 5 Oct, 2018)
7 | Celeste (appID: 504230, released on 25 Jan, 2018)
8 | GRIS (appID: 683320, released on 13 Dec, 2018)
9 | DRAGON QUEST XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Digital Edition of Light (appID: 742120, released on 4 Sep, 2018)
9 | Subnautica (appID: 264710, released on 23 Jan, 2018)
11 | BATTLETECH (appID: 637090, released on 24 Apr, 2018)
12 | Kingdom Come: Deliverance (appID: 379430, released on 13 Feb, 2018)
13 | DUSK (appID: 519860, released on 10 Dec, 2018)
14 | Artifact (appID: 583950, released on 28 Nov, 2018)
14 | Dead Cells (appID: 588650, released on 6 Aug, 2018)
14 | Into the Breach (appID: 590380, released on 27 Feb, 2018)
17 | CHRONO TRIGGER (appID: 613830, released on 27 Feb, 2018)
17 | Shadow of the Tomb Raider (appID: 750920, released on 14 Sep, 2018)
17 | The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II (appID: 748490, released on 14 Feb, 2018)
20 | Deltarune - Chapter 1 (appID: Internet, released on 31 Oct, 2018)
20 | Frostpunk (appID: 323190, released on 24 Apr, 2018)
20 | Unavowed (appID: 336140, released on 8 Aug, 2018)
20 | Vampyr (appID: 427290, released on 4 Jun, 2018)
24 | Iconoclasts (appID: 393520, released on 23 Jan, 2018)
25 | The House in Fata Morgana: A Requiem for Innocence (appID: 804700, released on 17 May, 2018)
26 | EXAPUNKS (appID: 716490, released on 22 Oct, 2018)
27 | Mega Man 11 / ロックマン11 運命の歯車!! (appID: 742300, released on 2 Oct, 2018)
27 | Valkyria Chronicles 4 (appID: 790820, released on 25 Sep, 2018)
29 | DRAGON BALL FighterZ (appID: 678950, released on 26 Jan, 2018)
29 | FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE (appID: 595520, released on 1 Feb, 2018)
29 | Far Cry 5 (appID: 552520, released on 26 Mar, 2018)
29 | Ghost of a Tale (appID: 417290, released on 13 Mar, 2018)
33 | RimWorld (appID: 294100, released on 17 Oct, 2018)
33 | SOULCALIBUR VI (appID: 544750, released on 18 Oct, 2018)
33 | The Forest (appID: 242760, released on 30 Apr, 2018)
33 | The MISSING: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories (appID: 842910, released on 11 Oct, 2018)
37 | CrossCode (appID: 368340, released on 20 Sep, 2018)
37 | Paratopic (appID: 897030, released on 6 Sep, 2018)
37 | Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales (appID: 973760, released on 9 Nov, 2018)
40 | Delete (appID: 773670, released on 25 Jan, 2018)
40 | Graveyard Keeper (appID: 599140, released on 15 Aug, 2018)
42 | Atelier Lydie & Suelle ~The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings~ (appID: 756590, released on 27 Mar, 2018)
42 | CHUCHEL (appID: 711660, released on 7 Mar, 2018)
42 | UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH Exe:Late[st] (appID: 801630, released on 20 Aug, 2018)
45 | 428: Shibuya Scramble (appID: 648580, released on 4 Sep, 2018)
45 | Atelier Rorona ~The Alchemist of Arland~ DX - ロロナのアトリエ ~アーランドの錬金術士~ DX (appID: 936160, released on 3 Dec, 2018)
45 | Beat Saber (appID: 620980, released on 1 May, 2018)
45 | Donut County (appID: 702670, released on 28 Aug, 2018)
45 | Evenicle (appID: 955560, released on 10 Oct, 2018)
45 | Forgotton Anne (appID: 542050, released on 15 May, 2018)
45 | La-Mulana 2 (appID: 835430, released on 30 Jul, 2018)
45 | Quarantine Circular (appID: 853500, released on 22 May, 2018)
45 | Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (appID: 586200, released on 29 May, 2018)
45 | Wandersong (appID: 530320, released on 27 Sep, 2018)
45 | Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA / イースVIII-Lacrimosa of DANA- (appID: 579180, released on 16 Apr, 2018)
56 | AMID EVIL (appID: 673130, released on 12 Mar, 2018)
56 | ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game (appID: 552620, released on 19 Dec, 2018)
56 | Ashen (appID: Epic Store, released on 7 Dec, 2018)
56 | BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle (appID: 702890, released on 5 Jun, 2018)
56 | Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (appID: 838310, released on 24 May, 2018)
56 | Book of Demons (appID: 449960, released on 13 Dec, 2018)
56 | Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (appID: 731490, released on 29 Jun, 2018)
56 | Darksiders III (appID: 606280, released on 27 Nov, 2018)
56 | El Tango de la Muerte (appID: 701380, released on 24 Apr, 2018)
56 | Groove Coaster (appID: 744060, released on 16 Jul, 2018)
56 | HEARTBEAT (appID: 984560, released on 12 Dec, 2018)
56 | Katamari Damacy REROLL (appID: 848350, released on 6 Dec, 2018)
56 | Kenshi (appID: 233860, released on 6 Dec, 2018)
56 | Megaquarium (appID: 600480, released on 13 Sep, 2018)
56 | Meritocracy of the Oni & Blade (appID: 885940, released on 26 Sep, 2018)
56 | Minit (appID: 609490, released on 3 Apr, 2018)
56 | Overload (appID: 448850, released on 31 May, 2018)
56 | Puyo PuyoTetris (appID: 546050, released on 27 Feb, 2018)
56 | Shenmue I & II (appID: 758330, released on 21 Aug, 2018)
56 | Squidlit (appID: 799510, released on 2 Mar, 2018)
56 | State of Mind (appID: 437630, released on 15 Aug, 2018)
56 | The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit (appID: 845070, released on 25 Jun, 2018)
56 | The Council (appID: 287630, released on 13 Mar, 2018)
56 | The Haunted Island, a Frog Detective Game (appID: 963000, released on 22 Nov, 2018)
56 | The Room Three (appID: 456750, released on 13 Nov, 2018)
56 | Two Point Hospital (appID: 535930, released on 29 Aug, 2018)
56 | Zwei: The Arges Adventure (appID: 427680, released on 24 Jan, 2018)
Early Access of the Year Votes
1 | Slay the Spire (appID: 646570, released on 14 Nov, 2017) with #votes = 4
2 | Beat Saber (appID: 620980, released on 1 May, 2018) with #votes = 3
3 | Hades (appID: Epic Store, released on 6, Dec 2018) with #votes = 2
4 | Ion Maiden (appID: 562860, released on 28 Feb, 2018) with #vote = 1
4 | My Time At Portia (appID: 666140, released on 15 Jan, 2019) with #vote = 1
4 | Oxygen Not Included (appID: 457140, released on 18 May, 2017) with #vote = 1
4 | Phoenix Point (appID: Internet, release planned for June 2019) with #vote = 1
4 | Quake Champions (appID: 611500, released on 22 Aug, 2017) with #vote = 1
4 | RimWorld (appID: 294100, released on 17 Oct, 2018) with #vote = 1
4 | Staxel (appID: 405710, released on 23 Jan, 2018) with #vote = 1
4 | The Universim (appID: 352720, released on 28 Aug, 2018) with #vote = 1
4 | Them's Fightin' Herds (appID: 574980, released on 22 Feb, 2018) with #vote = 1
4 | Touhou Luna Nights (appID: 851100, released on 20 Aug, 2018) with #vote = 1
4 | Train Valley 2 (appID: 602320, released on 29 Mar, 2018) with #vote = 1
DLC of the Year Votes
1 | Prey - Mooncrash (appID: 865670, released on 10 Jun, 2018) with #votes = 3
2 | Rainbow Six Siege - Year 3 Pass (appID: 744840, released on 12 Dec, 2017) with #votes = 2
3 | Assassin's Creed® Origins - The Curse Of The Pharaohs (appID: 662351, released on 13 Mar, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | BATTLETECH Flashpoint (appID: 911930, released on 27 Nov, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | Faeria - Puzzle Pack Elements (appID: 947950, released on 24 Oct, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | Path of Exile: Betrayal (appID: Internet, released on 8 Dec, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | Pinball FX3 - Williams™ Pinball: Volume 2 (appID: 984180, released on 4 Dec, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | SOULCALIBUR VI - 2B (appID: 874344, released on 17 Dec, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | Un Pueblo De Nada (appID: Internet, released on 25 Jan, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | Valkyria Chronicles 4 - Squad E, to the Beach! (appID: 792331, released on 9 Oct, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY® MAXIMA Upgrade (appID: 896680, released on 6 Nov, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | Warframe: Fortuna - Orb Vallis map (appID: Internet, released on 20 Nov, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | Wolfenstein II: The Freedom Chronicles - Episode 2 (appID: 624621, released on 29 Jan, 2018) with #vote = 1
3 | XCOM 2: War of the Chosen - Tactical Legacy Pack (appID: 785300, released on 3 Dec, 2018) with #vote = 1
Turd of the Year Votes
1 | Fallout 76 (appID: Bethesda Store, released on 14 Nov, 2018) with #votes = 16
2 | ATLAS (appID: 834910, released on 22 Dec, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | Artifact (appID: 583950, released on 28 Nov, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Danger Zone) (appID: Internet, released on 6 Dec, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | Epic Games Launcher (software) (appID: Epic Store, released on 6 Dec, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | Fear Effect Sedna (appID: 546900, released on 6 Mar, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | Kingdom Come: Deliverance (appID: 379430, released on 13 Feb, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | METAL GEAR SURVIVE (appID: 543900, released on 21 Feb, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | Shadow of the Tomb Raider (appID: 750920, released on 14 Sep, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | Squares (appID: 786750, released on 31 Jan, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | Star Control®: Origins (appID: 271260, released on 20 Sep, 2018) with #vote = 1
2 | TOXIC PLUMBING (appID: 777050, released on 13 Jan, 2018) with #vote = 1
A big thanks to the following who voted and just for being awesome people on MetaCouncil: #Senpai, AHA-Lambda, Ascheroth, Blizniak, Durante, Eriugam, Exzyleph, FeedMeAStrayCat, FunktionJCB, Gevin, Gizmo, Hektor, His Majesty, Ibuki, InquisitorAles, KainXVIII, Knurek, Kuro, Kurt Russell, Kvik, Lain, Milena, Mivey, Monooboe, MonthOLDpickle, Nzyme, Panda Pedinte, Parsnip, QFNS, Rockin' Ranger, Sampson, SmAsH, SpectrumWarrior, Stevey, Tart Toter 9k, Tizoc, Uraizen, Wibblewozzer, Wok, crasher, itsamiracle, low-G, prudis, sauce, suiko, texhnolyze, zkylon, † Echo †.
Thank you and see you next year!
PS: Results are summarized in the Wiki of my Github repository: woctezuma/metacouncil-goty
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