Best Role-Playing Game
"For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences."
- South Park: The Fractured But Whole
- Final Fantasy XV
- Divinity: Original Sin 2
- NieR: Automata
- Persona 5
PlatinumGames is an extraordinary developer, and NieR: Automata is perhaps the best thing it's ever produced. It seems strange that this wasn't considered a Game of the Year contender.
Best Fighting Game
"For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat."
- Tekken 7
- Nidhogg 2
- Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite
- Injustice 2
- ARMS
It's been a slightly disappointing year for fighting games, with none of the potential big-hitters really landing their blows. Instead, ARMS came out of nowhere and gave the Nintendo Switch its first cult classic. Nintendo's post-release support for the game has been fantastic, too, helping to establish a small but dedicated community of players.
Best Family Game
"For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform."
- Splatoon 2
- Sonic Mania
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Super Mario Odyssey
We own all of these games, so we're giving this award to the only game our family ever asks to play when they come to visit. 1-2 Switch would also have been in with a shout - it may have a reputation for being overpriced, but it's exactly the sort of game you will want to have on hand when the in-laws bring their noisy kids round over the Christmas holiday and you're struggling for an activity that you can all get involved in.
Best Strategy Game
"Best game focused on real time or turn-based strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform."
- XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
- Tooth and Tail
- Total War: Warhammer II
- Halo Wars 2
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
We're not as big on strategy as we are on some other genres, but our more strategic friends tell us this is a very close call and that they would probably give it to Firaxis' XCOM 2 expansion. We would probably give it to Mario + Rabbids, but we can't have the Switch win everything, so let's have some positive discrimination on behalf of the PC.
Best Sports/Racing Game
"For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game."
- Project Cars 2
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2018
- NBA 2K18
- GT Sport
- Forza Motorsport 7
- FIFA 18
The loot boxes were a dumb move and we wish they weren't part of the game, but if you can look past them - and it's not that difficult to do so - then Forza Motorsport 7 is one of the most comprehensive, entertaining and varied racing games ever made. GT Sport has more characters and the other sports games are pretty epic, but Turn 10's standard bearer for the Xbox One X nails the apex in pretty much every way.
