The Best Games of 2022: What You Should be Looking Forward to in 2022
What are the best games 2022 has to offer? Well, as you’d expect, 2022 is set to be another great year for gaming. With big hits from major studios, like Techland and Larian Studios, niche offerings, and delayed games finally making it to market, there’s a lot to look forward to and a lot of content to devour.
With that being the case, we’ve put together a rundown of the absolute best video games 2022 has in store over the next twelve months to help you hit the ground running for another great year of gaming.
The games to be proclaimed the best of 2022 are a topic we’re all interested in and, most likely, will all have a different view on. Maybe you’re a fan of shooters and you’re looking forward to the release of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Extraction. Or, perhaps, you’re more interested in survival games like Valheim.
Everyone has different tastes and expectations. Therefore, any list looking at the best games of 2022 has to take into account all genres. That’s what we’ve tried to do. The following rundown is our take on what the best games 2022 will offer gamers of all persuasions.
You might agree with some and disagree with others. That's fine! But, it’s a solid overview of the market and, in turn, proof that the coming months will be good for gamers. So, if you’re ready, here’s some of the titles you've got to look forward to…
Best Games 2022: The Big Hitters Hitting the Market
We’ve divided our rundown of the best games 2022 has to offer into sections, but we’ve started with the big hitters. The four games in this category are likely to surpass all others. Of course, you might not agree.
But it's important to note that they’re all either part of a successful franchise or they offer an interesting take on already popular themes.
So, if you’re one of those serious players who are looking for the top games in 2022 but don’t know where to start, we've got you covered. Take a look at these four, sure-to-be mammoth titles below.
Baldur's Gate 3
You can already get early access to the first act of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam. For many gamers, this has already made it one of the best games 2022 is preparing for us. Indeed, once the full story is released in the coming months, you can look forward to an epic RPG like no other.
With the Mind Flayer parasite imbuing your character with mystical powers, you’ll battle through acts filled with death, corruption, betrayal and more. Put simply, if you want an epic story to immerse yourself in, Baldur’s Gate 3 is perfect.
Company of Heroes 3
Get ready for another epic tactical battle from the Company of Heroes franchise. The third installment of this strategy game comes with more firepower than ever before. Relic's Essence Engine makes everything look realistic but, more importantly, function smoothly.
In fact, it doesn’t matter if you’re engaging in a quick skirmish or battling dozens of players in an online campaign, there’s never any lag. Beyond the basics, the main reason Company of Heroes 3 is on our list of best games 2022, is its Dynamic Campaign Map.
This feature means you can never get comfortable because no two battles are ever the same.
Gran Turismo 7
The much-loved racing franchise will make its return in 2022. Gran Turismo 7 will be available for PlayStation 4, but everyone really wants to see how it performs on the PlayStation 5. Publisher Sony has put forward a release date of March 2022 and the omens are looking positive.
All of your favorite features are back, including GT Sport Mode and head-to-head races. But the real reason to look forward to GT 7 is the reintroduction of the Simulation Mode.
The ability to buy, race, tune, and sell cars while completing a series of campaigns should appeal to casual gamers as well as seasoned drivers. For this reason alone, it’s among the best games 2022 has in store.
Forspoken
Forspoken is an interesting addition to a rundown of the best games 2022 is yet to offer. You assume the role of Frey, a New Yorker plucked from reality and transported to the magical world of Athia.
A sentient bracelet around your arm gives you the ability to cast spells and, with these powers, you explore an open world searching for a way home.
As well as the ability to do cool stuff like scale walls and perform feats a parkour expert would be proud of, you’ll be able to create custom spells as you make allies and battle the forces of evil.
This certainly keeps you engaged not only in the moment but with the storyline as a whole.
Best Games 2022: New Year Bangers
Getting out of the gates first can be a huge advantage in gaming and the two titles in this category are both due for release in January. That means you’ll be able to enjoy them as soon as the Christmas dust settles, and the frivolities of New Year’s Eve have passed.
Will they remain the best games 2022 has brought us as time wears on? We can’t say for sure. But if you’re looking for something to get the year off to a positive start, Monster Hunter Rise and Elden Ring are certainly worth playing.
Monster Hunter Rise
The Monster Hunter franchise has produced some of the best games in recent years and Rise is set to keep that trend alive. Indeed, with enhanced visuals and an optimized engine making the action even crisper, Monster Hunter Rise could easily be among the best games of 2022.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to explore strange worlds and battle never seen before monsters. You’ll have 14 weapons to choose from, including swords, daggers, and bows.
More interestingly, you’ll also have the ability to collect items and create and upgrade weapons so you really can stick it to the bad guys.
Elden Ring
Set to come out in February 2022, Elden Ring is visually stunning. The trailers show an epic kingdom filled with multiple layers of intricate features and details. Helping to create this incredible looking world is a series of interconnected landscapes.
From shadowy dungeons to dense and imposing forests, you’ll move seamlessly from one setting to another on foot or horseback. Aside from the visuals, the story of Elden Ring comes from the minds of Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of Dark Souls, and George R. R. Martin, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire.
This means there’s a depth to this mystical RPG that few games in 2022 will match.
Best Games 2022: Worth the Wait
The world has been in a state of turmoil since 2020 and that’s meant a lot of games have been put on hold. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot anyone can do about it, but gaming hasn’t stopped completely.
Studios have been slowly getting back up to speed and now, with manufacturing back in business, some of 2021’s most anticipated games are being prepared for launch. Yes, they might be a bit late, but it just means that the two titles listed below can be ranked within the best games 2022 has to offer.
Dying Light 2
If there’s a video game in 2022 that best captures real life over the last few years, it’s Dying Light 2. A deadly virus has ravaged humanity and sent it back to the Dark Ages. Vigilantism, cities in ruin, and danger lurk around every corner.
Your job is to cross the badlands and find some answers. As well as battling against the infected, you need to look for clues. How did things turn out this way? Who is in power and what is their goal? These questions have to be answered as you fight for survival.
But bear in mind that, as the game’s tagline says, you must “stay human” at all times.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
If you’re someone that wants to share with other people the best games 2022 is about to shower us with, Warhammer 40,000 is perfect. This four-player co-op game is set in the city of Tertium and it’s your job to stop the evil cult of Admonition.
They’re out to destroy the planet Atoma Prime by killing its inhabitants and taking control. The only people that can stop them are you and three friends. That’s what makes this game intriguing. The visuals are great, and the storyline is engaging.
But, the fact you get to play with others and work strategically to stop the Admonition is what makes it a hot pick for best games of 2022.
Best Games 2022: Indie Options
The major studios undoubtedly dominate the headlines when it comes to the best games 2022 has coming. That doesn’t mean, though, that niche developers aren’t going to make a mark. There were some fantastic indie offerings in 2021, including Lake and Dustborn.
Therefore, we can expect many more hits in the coming months. With that being said, we believe the two titles listed below will be among the top indie games in 2022.
Slime Rancher 2
This sequel to Slim Rancher brings even more color and splendor to your screen. Indie developer Monomi Park struck gold with the original and, in 2022, it looks as though they’ll do the same again.
Slime Rancher 2 continues the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau as she explores Rainbow Island. As with the original, you’ll be tasked with building a ranch by sourcing materials from around the island.
This time around, you’ll have new slimes to collect, such as bouncy cotton slime. You’ll also have the ability to build gadgets and upgrade your vacpack as you work to build a mega conservatory on Rainbow Island.
The Invincible
Calling all sci-fi fans: this is likely to be one of the best games 2022 has to offer for you. The developers at Starward Industries have created a retro-future dynamic where you have to use things in the present to uncover mysteries of the past in order to unlock the future.
Basically, you appear to be the sole survivor of a disastrous space mission. Your job is to explore the alien planet, unearth its secrets, and work out where your crewmates are. Have they fallen into the abyss? Are they locked away somewhere?
Only you can discover the truth as you search this strange and perilous planet for clues from the past to help ensure your future and that of your crewmates.
Get Ready for the Best Games 2022 Has to Offer
So, there you have it. Those are some of the best games 2022 has coming up. We know that some of you might disagree with certain entries on the list.
We also know that the list could change as more games hit the market - which definitely wouldn't be a bad thing after we've been somewhat deprived of new content over the last year or so.
But, based on the current trends and what’s hot in gaming right now, these ten offerings are certainly among the most anticipated releases.
And, from where we’re sitting, it looks as though 2022 is going to be another great year for gamers, regardless of your preferences. Happy gaming everyone!
