Nominate the Best 2D/Retro Games of 2018

[racketboy]

I was meaning to get a jump on this earlier, but it slipped my mind....
We did a similar discussion and resulting guide last year and I found it very useful for us that don't stay on top of current gen stuff as much but want to be aware of old-school goodness.

Here's the guide for last year
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/the-best ... es-of-2017

Let me know what games we should include for 2018.
It doesn't have to be sprite based necessarily (although sometimes preferred), but needs to have an old-school feel.
If you can chime in about what makes the game great or give a brief synopsis, that would be awesome too.

We will primarily highlight brand new games or remakes from the year.
However, like with last year, we will also highlight some of the retro stuff that got digital or physical releases this year despite having an original release in a previous year.

Edit: Here's the completed round-up http://www.racketboy.com/retro/the-best ... es-of-2018

[Ack]

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon immediately comes to mind. It captures the feel of old school Castlevania in 8-bit glory, but it also throws in multiple endings, challenging ways to play, a boss attack mode, and more. The sprites look incredible, the boss fights are challenging and entertaining, and levels have a variety of branches that an astute player can use to speed through. This game is well worth checking out

[noiseredux]

I'd co-sign Bloodstained for sure. Though my 2D GOTY is Dead Cells without a doubt. It's basically a roguelike Metroidvania... except instead of being as trite and buzz-word cringey as that description implies... it's really really really great. Also, does Octopath Traveler count? Because that's another top tier release this year.

[racketboy]

I'd co-sign Bloodstained for sure. Though my 2D GOTY is Dead Cells without a doubt. It's basically a roguelike Metroidvania... except instead of being as trite and buzz-word cringey as that description implies... it's really really really great. Also, does Octopath Traveler count? Because that's another top tier release this year.

Yeah, I think Octopath Traveler counts. It definitely takes the retro styling to the next level, but it has heavy 2D/old-school influences.

[bmoc]

Octopath for sure. I'm not coming up with much in the realm of new games. Mega Man 11 I suppose and maybe Kirby Star Allies?

There have been a ton of ports and re-releases this year, especially on the Switch. The World Ends With You: Final Remix, Donkey Kong Arcade Archives, Sonic Mania Plus, Capcom Beatem Up Collection, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, Sega Genesis Classics, and Castlevania Requiem just to name a few.

[racketboy]

These are still helpful -- good remakes and compilations have value for this guide for sure.
Indie games are good too, but definitely preferred if they have solid distribution on mainstream channels like Steam, XBLA, PSN, Switch etc.

[noiseredux]

yeah Switch got a lot of insanely cool compilations this year. That SNK 40th Anniversary one, the Psykio ones in Japan, the Capcom Beat-Em-Up one (JPN, phsyical)... Okami HD (Japan, physical) as well.

[Gunstar Green]

There are probably a bunch, but these are the ones that come to mind:

Celeste
Iconoclasts
Into the Breach
The Messenger

[BogusMeatFactory]

I would like to point out games like into the breach and dead cells as candidates for sure.

[stickem]

+1 for Dead Cells