Following a series of major release delays related to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2022 has been a huge year for video games. The options for gamers have never been more varied. Whether you want a thought-provoking point-and-click mystery, a fantastical adventure, or a nostalgia trip, 2022 games have got you covered. Here are the best games of 2022 (so far).
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
An homage to the classic, “beat ‘em up” format of previous TMNT games, Shredder’s Revenge doesn’t try to be anything it’s not. An arcade-style game with constant action, it allows players to take control of seven different characters (the four turtles, April O’Neil, Splinter, and Casey Jones). Each character has a different set of moves to master. It is relatively short, but it has plenty of replay value; its levels are full of elements that players won’t necessarily notice the first time around.
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
If anyone ever doubted that video games could properly depict the struggles of average, working-class adults, 2013’s The Stanley Parable blew those assumptions out of the water. The game puts the player into the shoes of a cubicle drone, wandering the empty hallways of an office complex. It is sort of a “choose-your-own-adventure” game, where the player’s decisions impact the ending.
2022’s “requel” of the game puts you back in the shoes of the original protagonist (who could really be any of us). However, this time, you’ll find so-called New Content™ around the office. Ultra Deluxe is a perfect satire of the current state of video game monetization.
Elden Ring
From FromSoftware–the creators of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro–comes the long-anticipated Elden Ring. It is the already-reputable developer’s boldest game yet. It features one of the most immense, detailed open worlds in video game history. Players can and will get distracted from the primary challenges, getting lost for hours in far corners of the brilliantly designed map.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Tango Gameworks first made a name for itself with the release of Evil Within, a survival horror series that was good but not great. However, its latest creation Ghostwire: Tokyo is the developer’s magnum opus. Incorporating elements of real Japanese mythology, Ghostwire allows players to banish Tokyo’s demons using psychic abilities. Critics’ main complaint about the game has been its difficulty. However, with such a suspenseful plot, the grind is worth it with this game.
Evil Dead: The Game
If you’re a fan of the original Evil Dead films, we can assure you that Evil Dead: The Game provides the same level of engrossing, schlocky horror. The game allows you to play as Ash Williams (voiced by original Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell), as well as other characters from the franchise.
While playing as the films’ heroes is fun, we also love taking the role of the villainous dungeon master. Brandishing the Necronomicon, you can summon demons and even possess the main heroes.
Neon White
The developers of Neon White took a huge risk in doing something so different from what’s expected in a game of its genre. And it paid off. It’s truly a game for speedrunners. It is a new kind of first-person shooter. Sure, there are enemies to kill, but realistically, they pose no mortal threat. They simply hinder your ability to speedrun, the game’s ultimate goal.
As Dusk Falls
A game made for people who don’t necessarily play a lot of video games, As Dusk Falls can be considered an interactive graphic novel. You witness tragedy in the desert town of Two Rock, Arizona and make decisions that impact the story. Perhaps its best feature is the co-op mode. You, along with up to seven other friends, can watch the story and vote on moral decisions, revealing the ethics of everyone in the room.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
There is a running joke that Pokémon Legends: Arceus is only the second Pokémon video game. This joke refers to the fact that it finally breaks the conventions of every Pokémon game that preceded it. We don’t wish to imply that the traditional Pokémon formula was bad, but perhaps it was running its course. Arceus makes the process of catching Pokémon fun again. It is the explorative aspect of Pokémon fully realized; instead of just completing a series of sometimes tedious battles, the player feels as if they are on a true adventure.
Olliolli World
With the stagnancy of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Skate series, Olliolli World has ushered a new standard for skateboarding video games. It ditches the realism of the aforementioned series for fantastical, oftentimes goofy elements that are sure to keep players enthralled. Underneath it all, however, is a sweet earnestness that is missing from a lot of modern games.