I did write a list of my 2018 GOTYs, but I wish to expand it a bit more:

Best Surprise: Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet

I did write a review for this game on this site, but to try to expand a bit more. This was a very good surprise for me, when I saw the first articles and previews about it, it got my attention, but I was not expecting much. However, once I played I loved the game a lot, so much that while I didn´t enjoy SOA much, it made me change the light of how I see the series.

Best Visual Novel: Umineko: When They Cry (Both the Question and Answer Arcs)

One of the best mystery VNs out there, not only because it core mystery, but the whole discussion it does about the genre of mystery and detective novels and how this combined with the plot.

Best Comeback: Total War: Rome II - Rise of the Republic

Rome II had one of this really curious comebacks, first the launch was... not great, but with lot of dedication and support the game managed to turn it around, by time it reach the Emperors edition (the current version you find on Steam) it was way better game despite some flaws, at that point you might think that CA had done enough and move on, but no, kept supporting the game even more, with additions such as the Desert Kingdoms and the Empire Divided and now the latest DLC, Rise of the Republic just came in. It is very fun campaign and the patch that came with it (for free) is even better, specially the graphic improvements, such as remove the yellow filter and other additions, made the game a lot better.

Best Fighting Game: Soul Calibur VI

As a PC player, this was my first Soul Calibur game and while I had previously played Tekken 7 (for pc) I enjoyed this game a lot - specially the character creation mode and the Chronicle of Soul mode, I do hope the keep expanding those two.

Best RPG: Dragon Quest XI

When Ni no Kuni II came out, I though this might be my favorite jrpg, however Dragon Quest quickly stole that place, as I felt that everything appeared to work better, not tha Ni no Kuni was bad, but DQ simple managed to keep a better pace, gameplay and mix between plot and humor at a perfect mix.

Best Game Where You Break Someone Else Bike On Some Else Head: Yakuza 0

I read a lot about this franchise and how amazing it is, and now I finally had the chance to see it by myself and it was so great as everybody said it was. The gameplay, the humor, how they play with the elements of the Yakuza movies cliches and tropes is just perfect.

Best Expansions: Total War: Warhammer II - Tomb Kings and Curse of the Vampire Coast.

CA have been doing really great expansions and add ons for it games, Tomb Kings was a amazing - not only because it is a classic Warhammer faction, but how unique and different the gameplay feels, since you don´t need to pay for troops you rise them, but what troops you have available depend on who developed is your empire. Also the unit rooster is amazing and the voice act is on point.

The Curse of the Vampire Coast is also great, specially of how out of a obscure faction/lore of the Warhammer universe they managed to make a really fun faction to play, with is army of undead based in ranged attacks and unique monsters. The design for units and the Legendary Lords is again, amazing.

Best Getting Back on the Track Game: Crusader Kings II - Holy Fury

This might look similar to my previous award, however unlike Rome II, CK 2 never was bad, just some of it expansions felt the game a bit direction less. What Holy Fury does it put the "Crusader" back in Crusader Kings, ok... it does a lot more than that, and that is the important part. Not only improve things like the way crusades work, but a lot of things to the game.

Best Game from ....2016, 2017, 2018... - Europa Universalis IV.

I must have around 800 hours in EU IV and if you wonder how, mostly due the very good expansions, to be fair maybe not all of them where amazing but they do keep the game getting better and better.

Best Game with Mechs and Tactics- Battletech

Tactic game are often about manipulate the game, while XCOM much was about moving cover to cover, Battletech is a game of moving around, never stop, always keep moving, which capture very well the idea of giant robots battling. The game was already great, but Flashpoint manages to make it even better, specially the Career mode.

Best Mobile Game: Granblue Fantasy and Idolmaster Cinderella Girls.

To be clear, I do play both of them not much on phones but their desktop version. I am a big fan of Idolmaster, in fact I often do some Idolmaster fanart, check them here: https://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=10736454 , so no surprise there, but Granblue continues to improve a lot over time.

Honorable Mentions

• 428 - Shibuya Scramble
• Stellaris
• Hearts of Iron IV
• Nioh
• Alternative Girls (Mobile Game, also played on desktop)
• Idolmaster Shiny Colors (Mobile game, also played on desktop).

Games that I am Looking Forward:

• God Eater 3 (Bandai Namco)
• Total War: Three Kingdoms (Creative Assembly)
• Code Vein (Bandai Namco)
• Sekiro (FromSoftware)
• Imperator (Paradox)
• Caligula Effect: Overdose (NISA)