Jason Arias
Time to start looking back and reviewing 2022 where we can’t say we’ve run out of video games. The celebration of a historic vintage has been delayed quite a bit, but many others have delivered on their promises, providing us with dozens of hours of fun in role-playing, action, adventure, strategy, and long etcetera on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, Nintendo Switch, and even virtual reality.
A few days from now, on 3DJuegos, the 3DJuegos by Doritos Awards will honor the best of the season, and a few days later in Los Angeles, The Game Awards 2022 will do the same thing. However, in advance of these appointments, let’s take a look at the best video games of 2022. Don’t hesitate to comment if you miss any.
-Pokémon Scarlet / Purple (Switch) / Release Date: November 18
It’s not every day that two big Pokémon games are released in the same year. With Arceus leaving good feelings behind, despite its controversial technical section, Game Freak returns with a more traditional but also innovative proposal, betting more on the open world in Paldea, a new region inspired by Spain. Despite some bugs and poor technical performance, this Switch-exclusive RPG is one of the best Pokémon games in recent memory.
-Pentiment (PC, XSeries, XOne) / Release date: November 15
A difficult game to conceive without a PC & Xbox Game Pass. While awaiting their big projects, Obsidian Entertainment created this narrative adventure where they come face-to-face with decisions and consequences that will affect a small community for years to come. He stood out not only for his historical rigor and attention to detail but also for the heart his authors put into him. “An improbable game”, his colleague Alejandro Pascual said.
-God of War Ragnarok (PS5, PS4) / Release date: November 9
The end of the Nordic saga featuring Kratos and Atreus was as epic and spectacular as one would expect from a video game based on the God of War series. In addition to having a high-quality combat system, Sony Santa Monica’s video game is so large and offers so much content that you will want to leave the main story behind in order to explore Midgard, Vanaheim, and the other nine kingdoms of Norse mythology. This is a must-have.
-Launch date for Bayonetta 3 (Switch): October 28
Despite high expectations, Platinum Games’ Bayonetta 3 has met what was expected of the new action game from the makers of Metal Gear Rising or the sadly canceled Scalebound. While technically he doesn’t finish showing his best face, the frenzy of his combats and the crazy chaos he faces make it a show like no other.
-Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope (Switch) / Release: October 20.
This sequel, inspired in a way by the memorable Wii Super Mario Galaxy, was one of the best Nintendo Switch launch games. If you enjoy strategy games, Sparks of Hope has some tweaks to the turn-based combat system and a greater variety of scenarios.
-(PC) Vampire Survivors (October 20th)
Vampire Survivors is all about surviving a night full of creatures from hell. The magic of Poncle’s minimalist rogue-lite is in the constant action that shapes the premise. As a result, the player must do everything possible to survive the waves of enemies while expanding his weaponry and abilities. This was without a doubt one of the most memorable experiences of 2022.
A Plague Tale: Requiem (PC, PS5, XSeries) / Released on October 18
With their first video game, Asobo Studio proved that they are also very good at telling great stories. They had no plans then to continue the franchise, but luckily inspiration and success pushed them to do so because Requiem is as good or better than the 2019 adventure, allowing us to get to know its protagonists a little more, Hugo and Amicia, while traveling through new scenarios and facing more enemies.
Return to Monkey Island (PC, PS5, XSeries, Switch, Mac) / Released September 19, 2016
The return of Monkey Island to the world of video games has been quite an event. A graphic adventure that, to the delight of many, has lived up to expectations after nearly 30 years. As in the classic LucasArts adventures, Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman invite us back to the Caribbean to experience new and crazy adventures as Guybrush Threepwood, with humor and surreal moments that will make you laugh out loud.
-The launch date for Splatoon 3 (Switch) is September 9
As a result of its Wii U origins, it has become one of Nintendo’s most popular series today. Splatoon 3 stands out for its fun ink shooting, music, and colorful graphics, but lacks any great new features. Play this game with your friends to have a good time.
-Launch date: September 2 for The Last of Us: Part I (PS5)
Although the idea of a remake with so little time behind it generated criticism at the time, it is still one of the best cinematographic and playable proposals of the last generation. Therefore, The Last of Us: Part 1 delivers a compelling narrative experience that is very consistent in each of its sections and is also timed to coincide with the premiere of the HBO series adaptation.
-Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch) / Launch: 29 July
A great JRPG and one of the best Nintendo Switch exclusives of the year. With another essential role-playing adventure, Monolith Soft once again proves why it is one of the best Japanese studios. It’s a huge game with tens of hours of content ahead of it, an exciting story to discover, thrilling combats, and an impressive artistic section.
-Release date: July 21 for Moss Book 2 (PC, PS4, PS5)
Moos Book 2 is, like its predecessor, one of the best VR experiences available. Moss, the mouse who stars in this story, embarks on an epic journey through beautiful settings full of corners that will take your breath away in this direct sequel. Consequently, Polyarc proves itself to be a company to be reckoned with in virtual reality titles as a result of its virtual reality experience. Moss Book 2’s charm, design, and possibilities won him over without a doubt.
-Stray (PC, PS5, PS4) / Release: July 19th
It captured our attention from the moment we learned of its existence, and it’s no wonder: the adventure allowed us to be a cat, beloved by millions worldwide, with charming realism in a dystopian setting. A good premise, however, is not sufficient to create a great video game, and BlueTwelve Studio did a good job executing a platform adventure with a lot of exploration and puzzles that, despite its short duration, garnered the most shares of the year.
-The release date for Neon White (PC, Switch) is June 16.
It was one of the surprises of 2022. This fast-paced, challenging action-platform game never ceases to amaze you from start to finish with its amazing-level design. With a limited number of actions, your goal is not only to kill all the enemies in your path, but also to complete the level in the shortest time possible. Imagine playing a puzzle game with shootings, demons, and even scenes from a visual novel.
-TNMT: Shredder’s Revenge (PC, PS4, XOne, Switch) / Release date: June 16
This is on par with the great Ninja Turtles video games. An outstanding beat’em up production puts the shine back on the franchise. Furthermore, it exhibits exquisite taste in levels, gameplay, multiplayer, and other details that fans of the license will enjoy, such as music and combat. TNMT: Shredder’s Revenge is a nostalgic masterpiece.
-Trek to Yomi (PC, PS4, PS5, XSeries, XOne) / Release: May 5t
Akira Kurosawa is one of the greatest film directors of all time, and Trek to Yomi is Leonard Menchiari’s love letter to him. Fans of Kurosawa will find a perfect tribute to his figure and work in this film’s exciting story, black-and-white aesthetics, and exciting combat system. The moments of greatest inspiration in Trek to Yomi enable it to shine with its own light and demonstrate why it deserves a place among 2022’s best games.
-In April, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will be released on PC, PS4, XOne, and Switch.
This is the definitive LEGO Star Wars experience. Furthermore, this proposal seeks to adapt the 9 main installments of the Star Wars saga in addition to the usual fun tone in the games of the Danish toy company. It disregards previous releases and focuses on a new and hilarious vision of the intergalactic adventures starring the Skywalkers. The LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga offers the ultimate crossover experience for all types of gamers.
-The Forgotten Land (Switch) / Launch: March 25
The transition from 2D to 3D has never been so successful. Thanks to its multiple virtues, Kirby and the Forgotten Land emerged as one of the best games of the character, if not the best. The latest adventure of the pink ball offers a campaign that is both fascinating and challenging, and will also feature several transformations that will maximize Kirby’s abilities.
– March 25 for GhostWire: Tokyo (PC, PS5)
The only person who can solve the mystery of the disappearance of the Tokyo population is a survivor of an accident connected to the afterlife. GhostWire: Tokyo, the adventure from the creators of The Evil Within, explores the folklore and dark mythology surrounding Japan. Along the way, players will need to discover the cause of the disappearances and free the city from an unusual evil in Tango Gameworks’ new title.
-Tunic (PC, PS4, PS5, XSeries, XOne, Switch, Mac) / Release: March 16th
The idea that Tunic is a “Zelda-style” game with “Souls-like” combat is to minimize its value and quality. These statements, however, are a good starting point for Andrew Shouldice’s debut feature, an interactive card that showcases his passion for video games. In addition to its own identity, a world full of secrets, and combat that will test even the most skilled, the story of the bipedal fox has become one of the most intriguing of the year.
Release date: March 4 for Triangle Strategy (PC, Switch)
Triangle Strategy is a tactical RPG that has earned its place among the best games of 2022 because of its powerful plot and convincing gameplay system. Fans of the genre will connect with its deep, adult and complex narrative, a sector that will also find references to other classics within Square Enix’s playable bases. This game is a sure bet for tactical role-players or those looking to get into a genre that never disappoints.
-Launch date: 25 February for Elden Ring (PC, PS4, PS5, XOne, XSeries)
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-Launch date: February 18 for Horizon: Forbidden West (PS5, PS4)
In spite of the original video game’s success, the sequel didn’t want to be left behind, once again showing the mastery of its creators, Guerrilla Games. This year, Aloy’s new adventure was one of the earliest to reach stores, offering players a journey through a beautiful and vibrant land in the form of an open-world action RPG, and an epic story to tell that does not disappoint. Megalithic battles against mechanized creatures.
-In February, Total War: Warhammer 3 (PC, Mac, Linux) will be released
A series of real-time strategy games that fans of the genre have loved comes to an end with the Creative Assembly trilogy. With the release of new races, legendary heroes, giant monsters, flying creatures and an endless number of other elements, the British studio promises an experience never seen before. If you let yourself be seduced by its charms, you will have hundreds of hours of enjoyment.
February 8 for Sifu (PC, PS4, Switch)
Back in the day, beat’em ups dominated the market with highly successful proposals, while kung fu movies and series dominated the market. With this video game, Snopclap has taken the best of both worlds to create a cinematic experience about a young kung fu apprentice seeking revenge for his family. He is invited to fight his way through a challenging melee action title to help him along the way.
-In February, Dying Light 2 will be released on PC, PS4, PS5, XOne, XSeries, and Switch.
Techland has been able to improve the game with constant updates, even though the game was released with more errors than expected. As a result, the Polish developer signs one of the most celebrated titles of the year, a title that mixes action and adventure in a zombie-infested open world. The stunts multiply, the decisions become more complex, and the melee combat becomes more visceral.
-Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Switch) / Launch date: January 28
In 2022, the first of two great Pokémon video games will be released. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, we traveled back in time through one of the most profitable franchises in the industry, the history of its universe. However, it also put the first steps towards what should be its next generation on Nintendo Switch. What is the result? Any regular player of this saga should check out the biggest and most resounding Game Freak game to date.
