Monster Hunter: World PS4 PlayStation 4

Aggregate site Metacritic doesn't just average out review scores -- it holds a lot of interesting information across various types of media. Each year, the site crunches the numbers to determine which game publisher performed the best in terms of the number of games released and how they fared critically. For 2018, it's Capcom that takes the honour of best publisher.

According to Metacritic, the company released 14 games across all platforms, with an average Metascore of 79.3. Unsurprisingly, Monster Hunter: World was Capcom's best rated release for 2018 (and became its best selling game ever). It jumps from last year's fifth place all the way to the top, and it's already off to a good start this year with Resident Evil 2 and plenty more to come. Can it replicate this success for 2019?

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Here's how the major publishers stack up, along with their average Metascores:

  1. Capcom - 79.3
  2. SEGA - 78.5
  3. Electronic Arts - 77.5
  4. Nintendo - 76.4
  5. Ubisoft - 73.7
  6. Sony - 71.8
  7. Square Enix - 71
  8. Bandai Namco - 71.8
  9. Digerati Distribution - 69.9
  10. NIS America - 69.5
  11. Plug In Digital - 69.4
  12. Focus Home Interactive - 69.8
  13. THQ Nordic - 64.4

In this context, Metacritic defines "major publishers" as those which release 12 or more distinct titles, which is why some big publishers are missing from this list. Activision Blizzard released 10 unique games last year, with an average Metascore of 77.4 putting it at the top of the "mid tier" publishers.

Meanwhile, Sony is sitting in the middle of the chart at number six, but it excelled with its first party titles, producing three games with a Metascore of 90 or higher -- God of War, Shadow of the Colossus, and Astro Bot Rescue Mission.

It's an interesting overview of last year, and there's plenty more analysis and information here, if you're curious. What do you think about Capcom taking Metacritic's nod for best publisher in 2018? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

[source metacritic.com, via gamesindustry.biz]