The best video games of 2018 so far

Otherworldly and endearing, Celeste follows a pixel-art character up a mountain, encouraging you through its fiendish, treacherous areas with affirmations and optimism. We said: "A tough game with an uplifting message: don't let the voice inside your head tell you that you can't do things." A much-celebrated and enduringly mysterious dark fantasy game is given a new lick of paint, which further highlights its brilliance. Dark Souls requires courage and perseverance – it's a world where all manner of hideous things are trying to end you – but the rewards are immense. We said: "If a new kind of adventure appeals, one in which quick fingers matter less than brains and human cunning, there's still nothing like Dark Souls."