2022 has come to an end and what a good year it was for gaming. Plenty of amazing games came out that had truly incredible gameplay, fantastic narrative and storylines alongside brilliant sound design and graphics that showed off fantastic worlds worth going to. Here are 2022's 10 best titles that came out.
10: A Plague Tale Requiem
Developer: Asobo Studio
To start the list of we begin with A Plague Tale Requiem, a sequel to the 2019 story driven survival game A Plague Tale Innocence. Asobo Studio took everything people like from Innocence and expanded on a few mechanics like combat which allows you to use Crossbows with multiple ammo types, knifes for stabbing enemies and also being able to control the plague rats to attack guards. Like A Plague Tale Innocence Reqiuem's focus is on the narrative that is well told, the storyline and the characters are easy to relate to. It is a worthwhile sequel that does a few things right and people who liked the original will like the sequel.
9: Sifu
Developer: Sloclap
Sifu was a unique kind of beat up to come out recent memory, it is beat em up game that utilizes rogue like elements to it that make it fresh. You have varied different moves that you can master but the biggest thing with this game is that every time you die your character can be revived causing him to age which makes his attacks more powerful at the expense of losing max health. With every attempt at a level it becomes all about using the best moves and trying to get through each level without dying too many times and making your run harder and harder. Sifu is a tense, challenging and interesting rogue like game that demands you to master the skills available and learn how to beat each confrontation.
8: Potionomics
Developer: Voracious Games
Indie developer Voracious Games brought us a potion brewing simulator which also incorporates card deck building, dating sim and it manages to combine all of it into a fantastic game. First you start out making all kinds of different that you can sell to other adventurers to help them on their quests. You make potions by picking out different ingredients and maintaining balance of how you want your potion to turn out and there are many different ways that you can experiment to make the best potions. When each potion you made is ready you can then sell it to adventurers and then it becomes a card based game where you pick the right cards to get the best out of the adventurer you are selling the potion to. You can also even get into romance with them, every single adventurer that you meet are optional romance dates that you can make out. However you only have a set time to be able to do something so you'll either be making more potions to sell or picking someone that you want to date. Every character is fantastic and has a great amount of depth as well as their expressions. Potionomics is a game that people who love dating sims, card based as well as one where you get to make potions should check out.
7: Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Developer: Monolith Soft
Developer Monolith Soft made a huge impact on the Wii with Xenoblade Chronicles which was one of the best RPGs to come, the sequel Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the Switch was also really incredible so Xenoblade Chronicles 3 had a lot to live up to and it still delivered a solid RPG for the Switch system. The third game had a fantastic battle system, brilliant characters and storyline and the world and scaling like the other Xenoblade Chronicles games are very massive. If you enjoyed how big the other Xenoblade Chronicles then this third entry is an easy recommendation.
6: Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Kirby finally gets the 3D treatment that he rightfully deserved after the 3D games focused on only spinoff titles. Kirby and the Forgotten Land was a massive hit for Kirby and it was an excellent platformer. Kirby's copy abilities return and then there are some new features such as the mouthful Kirby and it integrates well into the excellent level design. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a true Kirby game that must be experienced by everybody, not just longtime Kirby fans.
5: Neon White
Developer: Angel Matrix
There have been attempts to bring platforming into the genre of First Person Shooters and their attempts have been decent even people continued to slam down platforming elements in an FPS game. Neon White is one of the best attempts in recent memory at a platformer but also implementing puzzle elements with your abilities and weapons displayed in cards. Every bit of the game uses the best card for the right obstacle and doing it as fast as you possibly can and it does feel incredible to be able to get through a stage in a speed run fashion and this game does it so well. Neon White is a true speed run style that feels reasonably challenging yet also additive.
4: Stray
Developer: BlueTwelve Studio
Here is a game where you get to play as an adorable cat who finds himself in a world full of robots, machines and mutant bacteria. You must guide the cat through the world in order to reach the service with help from a drone named B-12. Stray has brilliant puzzles such as hacking into technology plus also some really solid platforming mechanics which involve leaping and climbing. The atmosphere is truly believable and it is outstanding. Anyone wanting to experience an outside world as a cat should not want to miss on this game.
3: Horizon Forbidden West
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Guerrilla Games a studio who was once known for working on the Killzone games started an all new IP and it started with 2017's Horizon Zero Dawn a post-apocalyptic open world Action RPG and it was a well acclaimed title. Horizon Forbidden West took everything that made the 2017 game so well received and made the world much bigger than the original game allowing for much detailed and bigger areas to explore and also there are underwater areas that you can find. The combat has also been improved with the Valor Surge system, free-form climbing plus tools like the Shieldwing, Focus Scanner, Diving Mask and lastly the Pullcaster. Horizon Forbidden West is one to check out for not only for the improved gameplay but also for the presentation and also the incredible storyline.
2: Elden Ring
Developer: From Software
Elden Ring is what we would expect from a From Software where every encounter is tough and is made to be as difficult as possible so one mistake and you'll be seeing that familiar text pop up on screen, “You Died!”. Alongside the difficult but satisfying and additive combat Elden Ring takes the formula into an open world environment where you can freely roam around as you see fit and it was done magnificently. Elden Ring is an outstanding not just because From Software can deliver hardcore challenging games that demand player's patience, endurance and skill but also can bring us a game that also has a dark haunting atmosphere to it that reminds you, you'll die as in like you are going to die a lot and that is what gamers have grown to know about these From Software games for years.
Honourable Mentions:
Tunic (Finji)
Sonic Frontiers (Sonic Team)
Nightmare Reaper (Blazing Bit Games)
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (Ubisoft)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shreeder's Revenge (Tribute Games)
1: God of War Ragnarök
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
If there is one game of all of the games that came out in 2022 that would deserve the best games of 2022 then it would easily go to God of War Ragnarök. There is a couple of reasons as to why, first of all it continues the storyline of the God of War (2018) reboot where it focuses on the narrative and relationship between Kratos and his son Atreus and the acting and the emotion put into all of it is amazing. Combat has vastly improved upon and with role playing mechanics that allow you to set up your preferred play-style. The best thing about God of War Ragnarök is how it controls especially during combat and everything comes together brilliantly. The visuals are also really outstanding, the level design accommodates for the combat and also the puzzle sequences which add a lot of variety and not to mention the overall presentation is incredibly stunning. Santa Monica Studio truly did a fantastic job of bringing us a sequel that was spectacular and lived up to all of the promises and hype and was picked for the best game of 2022.
Do you agree with this list? What other amazing games of 2022 did you enjoy playing?
Written By Anthony Hayball (AQWBlaZer91)
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