This E3 2018 is, in my eyes, being one of the best shows we’ve ever had, and a huge problem for any self-respected gamer – just where will we find enough money to buy all the games releasing in the next year or two?

It’s a problem, for sure, and one that is further emphasized by the underdogs, the sleeper hits that may not look as appealing as, let’s say, The Last of Us 2, but are undoubtedly able to capture our minds and hearts. Those are the games that I’ll be talking next, because, let’s face it, everyone already knows everything about Cyberpunk 2077 or Fallout 76.

So, here are the sleeper hits that I’ll be taking close to my heart:

5 – The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

While there’s no sign of Life is Strange 2, Dontnod is taking an unusual approach to promote the follow-up to one of the most exciting games of late. Out of nowhere comes The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, a game that is going to work as a sort of prelude for Life is Strange 2, setting up the world and featuring links to the new story and new characters. Some of our actions in this game, or demo, will have repercussions in Life is Strange 2, and there are hints that could reveal more about the larger plan – we just have to be clever enough to discover them.

Best of all, Captain Spirit is free, which means that there is no excuse for not trying it to see if Dontnod has upped its game since the original Life is Strange (and I’m not talking about the bland Before the Storm). From what I’ve seen, the textures are definitely better now, so that’s a big plus for a game that tries to create a rich, atmospheric world. It’s out on June 26, so we’re almost there. Oh, and the kid looks like Macaulay Culkin from his Home Alone days.

4 – Tunic

Link has turned into a fox or something, and is going on his own adventure? Because that is what Tunic looks like – a Legend of Zelda game with a furry fox as the main character.

Tunic is a wonderful little isometric action RPG that is an obvious tribute to the Zelda series. It’s really cute, well animated and combat is suitably fast and frantic. I fell in love with the lighting as well, it’s almost as if the cartoonish game world looks more realistic just because of it.

And the funny thing? Tunic is made by one single person, Andrew Shouldice. Who, obviously, is a genius and one more talented fellow with a wonderful future ahead.

3 – Unravel Two

One of the biggest surprises personally speaking, as I regularly tried to discover any info on the sequel to one of the cutest, most heartfelt platformers that I have ever played. It was amazing to see it at E3, and although I could do without the two-player co-op option that they focused this time around, Unravel Two seems to remain faithful to the charm and wonderful stages from the first game.

But how longer would I have to wait? Will they release Unravel Two before the end of the year, at least? And then… Boom! Jaw dropped to the floor; Unravel Two is already available! This is the kind of announcement that I like, where you get a game out of nowhere, no need for anxiety or uncertainty while waiting for the release. You know, like The Elder Scrolls 6 (hang in there, guys, only four or five years to go). Just got to empty my agenda and then it’s off to more adventures with Yarny and his new friends.

2 – Sea of Solitude

Sea of Solitude is another game that came from out of nowhere and kept me looking at the trailer with a face that gradually went from curiosity to pure wonder. It’s another EA Originals title just like Unravel, A Way Out and Fe, which means that there’s a passionate indie team putting all their talent and pouring their hearts in this game.

The simple premise was enough to make me interested. It tells us that when humans get too lonely, they turn into monsters – this strangely sounds too true for comfort, but in the game, it’s obviously going to be literal. That is exactly what happened to main character Kay, who is now a black monster and looking for help from other creatures just like her. Sea of Solitude is a third-person exploration game that I’m willing to bet has a strong emotional impact, as well as some surprisingly effective scares to go with this spine-chilling atmosphere.

My guess is that Sea of Solitude is a mix between Rime and Journey, and I couldn’t be happier if that turns out to be true. Will there be any sort of combat? I hope not.

1 – Ori and the Will of the Wisps

The sequel to one of the few games that managed to get every single player sobbing during the first ten minutes, without even touching the controller. Not only that, it’s one of the best platformers ever made, helped by some truly stunning art.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps has the unenviable task of surpassing the original game, and judging by the first gameplay, it could be on the right path. It looks as good as before, even better, in fact, and the occasional showings of the baby owl will surely be another motive for a constant stream of player tears. So glad that they didn’t go for co-op gameplay – apparently – as the base mechanics of the first Ori don’t really need that sort of extra (or burden, depends on how you see it).

One can clearly see just how beautiful this game will be by paying attention to the backgrounds in the new trailer – it’s layers and layers of intricate details, almost as if they’re telling a story of their own. The new gigantic creatures also seem incredibly creepy, showing Ori’s tiny but confident build next to them, also revealing a talented developer that is clearly peaking right now. This is going to be a wonderful game, in every sense of the word.

The future is so bright it's almost blinding

I chose these five games among so many sure-fire hits because they embody what I look for in a game: clean, honest design, charming and relatable characters, original worlds to be immersed, emotional impact, no useless controversial topics, and above all, potentially great gameplay. If I had to choose one game, the game that would give me the better value for money and biggest entertainment factor, that would be Cyberpunk 2077. But for more contained yet equally thrilling experiences, these are my top five games.

Do you agree, or is there any other ‘underdog’ game that you prefer?