2022 is just a few days away from coming to an end, and what a wonderful year it has been for gaming. We got a ton of great games across its twelve months, with massive AAA games and awaited sequels, all the way down to some of the best and most unique indie games we have ever seen. I’ll leave the indie games for a separate list, as there were so many of them, and most, if not all, of them, were incredible and brought something new to the table. Let’s take a look at some of the best AAA and AA games that launched between January 2022 and December 2022. Not every game is rated a 10/10 here, obviously, but they are fun, unique, and worth playing anyway. I’ll also add a rating from my end at the end of each game just to make it more interesting. Just so you know, this rating is a personal opinion, so don’t get all steamy if your favorite game didn’t get the perfect ten you were expecting. With all that preamble out of the way, let’s take a look at 22 must-play games from 2022.
Elden Ring
“Elden Ring” has been the talk of the town since it came out back in March 2022, with fans and critics both losing their minds over how good this game is. Developed by FromSoftware and the minds of Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin, “Elden Ring” successfully nabbed the title of Game Of The Year 2022 as well. An open-world Soulsborne game, it’s challenging, beautiful, and truly one of a kind, and it pushes the genre even further forward and takes it to new heights. It’s not for everyone, though, including me, so, unfortunately, I don’t have a rating for it, but I’d still say go check it out; it’s awesome.
Ghostwire Tokyo
“Ghostwire Tokyo” is the newest game from Tango Gameworks, with the man Shinji Mikami himself working on it. Set in a beautiful recreation of Tokyo, where 99% of its population has mysteriously vanished, “Ghostwire Tokyo” tasks players with getting to the bottom of this mystery, fighting ghosts and demons who have invaded the city along the way. A first-person shooter by nature, it takes a different and unique form for its combat, and while not crazy good, the game does a phenomenal job of representing Tokyo, Japan.
My personal rating is 7/10.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
I loved “A Plague Tale: Innocence,” and with its sequel, “A Plague Tale Requiem,” Asobo Studios delivered a bigger, better, and bolder sequel. Improved in every aspect, from its storytelling to its gameplay, from visuals to its sound design, this game is one of my personal favorites from this year. Talking about it more may spoil it, and I don’t wish to do that, so you can take my word for it when I say that this game is fantastic, truly. Improved stealth, added combat, areas that are much bigger, and gorgeous graphics, all combined with a story that is bound to make you cry, make “A Plague Tale Requiem” one of the best games I played in 2022. It was a day-one addition to Xbox Game Pass, so feel free to check it out.
My personal rating is 9/10.
God Of War: Ragnarok
I might get in trouble for saying this, but I am not a fan of the new “God of War” games. I am sorry, but I can’t pretend to like something just because it’s popular. Despite that, this game is a technical feat and has a brilliant story with incredible visuals. I honestly don’t have much to say here, as I only added this to the list for its name because if I hadn’t, people would’ve grabbed their pitchforks and torches. I am sorry if this angers you, but I am just not a fan of the games Sony makes, as they are pretty much movies disguised as games, and I can’t deal with that every time nor do I much care for it. No rating from me.
Horizon: Forbidden West
Now, this is another Sony game that I love. “Horizon Zero Dawn” was fantastic when it came out and told a really good story and gave us a wild and untamed open world to explore full of robot dinosaurs. “Horizon Forbidden West,” on the other hand, ups the ante even more with a really good story, a bigger, more vibrant, and incredibly gorgeous open world, and even crazier dinosaurs and other mechanical creatures to fight. Ashly Burch voicing the main character Aloy is automatically a win for me, anyway. Go play this game if you are a PlayStation owner, as Guerilla Games struck gold with this franchise.
My personal rating is 8.5/10.
Metal Hellsinger
“Metal Hellsinger” was one of the most pleasant surprises that came out this year. Developed by The Outsiders, this game takes the protagonist across Hell on a mission for her to retrieve her voice. Narrated by none other than Troy Baker in a Southern accent, “Metal Hellsinger” is a first-person shooter that takes heavy inspiration from “DOOM.” The twist here is that instead of the game being an action FPS, it’s a rhythm FPS where you shoot bullets while matching them to the beat of the song, and the higher the multiplier you have, the more intense and bombastic the soundtrack gets. The music itself deserves special mention, as it features original tracks from a bunch of metal singers and bands, and each of them is just fantastic. This game is short, sweet, and, as I said, a pleasant surprise, and it can be played through Xbox Game Pass as well.
My Personal Rating is 8/10.
LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga
Not much to say here, is there? It’s Star Wars, it’s LEGO, and it’s awesome. “LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” comes to us from LEGO veterans of TT games and gives us a new third-person perspective on LEGO games. It tells the entire story of all nine movies and other side sagas, all with a scoop of LEGO charm and humor, and is simply fantastic. The best part? All of it can be played in co-op, with so many characters to choose from, and since it’s a LEGO game, you can play it with anyone, anywhere.
My Personal Rating is 8.5/10.
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2
I am one of the weirdos who play “Call of Duty” for its campaign, and I’d say that “Modern Warfare 2’s” campaign was fantastic. You are free to say that this franchise doesn’t do anything new and original and just releases re-skins after re-skins everywhere, and you’d be right; however, it doesn’t change the fact that this franchise is a behemoth that makes billions of dollars in its sleep. The campaign here, as I mentioned, was solid, and the multiplayer was incredibly fun, too, at least for me, but an expert in the multiplayer department could give you better insight into that. The visuals also saw a massive upgrade here, and I don’t know what else to tell you. It’s “Call of Duty.”
My Personal Rating is 7/10.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
“Marvel’s Midnight Suns” comes to us from Firaxis and is a card-based strategy game much akin to their previous title, “XCOM.” The game takes the characters from the Midnight Sun comics and tells a darker story in the Marvel universe. You can expect to see and play as iconic characters like Iron Man, Wolverine, Blade, Ghost Rider, Spider-Man, and more, but the craziest part is that, for the first time ever in a Marvel game, you get to create your own character called Hunter. The combat here is strategy- and turn-based, as mentioned, and is fantastic, while the visuals and story are also very good. This may not be the best Marvel game out there, and it certainly isn’t for everybody, but it is a damn good game.
My Personal Rating 7.5/10.
The Quarry
The newest entry (sort of) in SuperMassive Games’ lineup of games, “The Quarry,” tells players the story of nine teenage campers surviving the night at Hackett’s Quarry. Just like other games from SuperMassive, this one is packed with star power and features the likes of David Arquette, Justice Smith, Lin Shae, Ted Raimi, and many more popular actors and actresses. It’s a narrative game where your choices shape the story and the fates of every single character involved, and it’s equally terrifying and hilarious. This may not be the best game that SuperMassive has delivered, but it is very good and is one to remember.
My Personal Rating is 8/10.
As Dusk Falls
“As Dusk Falls” is a surprise, coming to us from Interior Night and being their first narrative game. It tells us the story of a family who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and takes the form of a choice-heavy graphic novel of sorts with beautiful art and an incredible story with stellar voice acting. I can’t say a lot about this game as it is one you need to see for yourself.
My Personal rating is 8.5/10.
The Last Of Us Part 1
What hasn’t been said about “The Last of Us” that I can say? There are a bunch of articles on our website here for this game that you can check out if you are interested. I know I said I am not a fan of Sony games, and I know that may have left a sour taste in your mouth, but “The Last of Us” is an exception that started all the way back in 2013. A brilliant and gut-punching emotional story in a post-apocalyptic setting came with brutal third-person stealth and action gameplay. I am not going to get into the debate over the $70 price tag for this remake or the problems of “The Last of Us Part 2” here, as they are their own things, and while I agree with the idea that this game is getting milked beyond belief, I can’t pretend that it’s bad as it is one of the absolute best video games ever made.
My Personal Rating is 9/10.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
“Dying Light” was one of my favorite games when it came out, and “Dying Light 2: Stay Human,” though problematic and questionable in some areas, lived up to my expectations. The story here was serviceable, and the RPG choices did have an impact to a degree, but the gameplay is where the game truly shines. Gory and brutal combat with DIY weapons and amazing and responsive parkour are what makes this game special for me. There have been a billion zombie games over the years, and yet, there haven’t been any like “Dying Light,” and that uniqueness in a genre so saturated is what makes this game a must-play. The open world they have here is also very beautiful, very vertical, and fun to run around in. The amount of stuff you can see and do here is mind-numbing.
My Personal Rating is 8/10.
High On Life
Squanch Games and Justin Roiland gave us “High on Life,” and as expected, it is hilarious and fun. We have a review for this game here on our website, so feel free to check that out if you wish to learn more about it, but I’ll give you the short version real quick. It’s a first-person shooter where you play as a silent protagonist, and all your guns talk to you and for you, and you are on a mission to stop the G-3 Alien cartel, who have invaded the Earth and want to convert humans into drugs to sell them for a profit. It’s colorful, charming, and hilarious from beginning to end, and I had a jolly good time playing this one. It is also part of the Xbox Game Pass, the gift that keeps on giving.
My Personal Rating is 9/10.
Life Is Strange Remastered Collection
This entry is a bit of a cheat, as these games are old, but the remastered collection came out this year, so I guess it counts. The first “Life is Strange” game came to us from Don’t Nod and was surprisingly good. Telling us a story about a girl named Max and her best friend Chloe, living in Arcadia Bay, Oregon, where they find themselves in the middle of a missing student’s mystery, and Max finds out she can reverse time. The second game, which is technically a prequel titled “Life Is Strange Before The Storm,” came to us from Deck 13 and is also a part of this collection and tells us the story of Chloe and Rachel Amber with no superpowers involved in this time. Both of these games are narrative adventures, and they tell a beautiful, albeit cringy at times, story of life, love, and friendship, and I am a sucker for this series.
My Personal Rating is 9/10.
Shadow Warrior 3
The first “Shadow Warrior” was alright, “Shadow Warrior 2” was incredible, and now “Shadow Warrior 3” sits somewhere in the middle. Developed by Flying Wild Hog, “Shadow Warrior 3” is the next entry in their crazy and fast first-person shooter series, featuring a new protagonist and a very vibrant setting. The gameplay is fast and very much inspired by “DOOM,” and the visuals are unique and interesting, with varied enemy designs, crazy particle effects, and colors that pop. It’s a short game, and despite it not being as good as “Shadow Warrior 2,” it’s still a very good time.
My Personal rating is 7/10.
Evil West
Another game by Flying Wild Hog and perhaps the best one they released this year. With great games like “Trek to Yomi” and “Shadow Warrior 3” both releasing this year as well, you’d think they have contributed to the year enough, no? You’d be wrong, as “Evil West” came in hot and took us back in time to a simpler era of video games. This game took heavy inspiration from linear third-person shooters from the 360/PS3 era, like “Gears of War,” and gave it a modern coat of paint without adding any modern elements to it, and I love it. The game asks only one thing from you: to go from linear level to level, killing everything in your way while looking as badass as you can. It’s refreshing to see a game so basic and simple in an era where all games try to be RPGs with stat and level grinds acting as roadblocks along the way. The enemy designs and variety here are good, the environments are really gorgeous, it can be played in 2-player co-op, and “Evil West” is totally kickass.
My Personal Rating is 8.5/10.
Evil Dead The Game
“Evil Dead: The Game” is another one that took me by surprise. It is the official game for The Evil Dead, if that wasn’t clear, and gives players control of Ash and other characters from the movies who survive the night. The combat here is brutal, and it’s a cooperative game with PvP in the form of someone taking control over the entity that sends in units of monsters. If you have played “Dead By Daylight” or “Friday The 13th,” then you’ll be quite familiar with how this game works, and with a group of friends, it’s a blast to play.
My Personal Rating 7.5/10.
Grounded
This one is also technically cheating, as “Grounded” came out a couple of years ago but was in early access and finally saw a full release in September of 2022. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, “Grounded” is a survival game inspired by “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” where you play as kids who have been shrunk in the backyard and now have to find a way to get back to normal size again. The yard is full of insects that you have to fight by gathering resources and building gear and bases for yourself. It’s incredibly fun with your friends, and the spiders in the backyard are still some of the most terrifying enemies I have fought in any video game, and I don’t even have arachnophobia. With its 1.0 release, “Grounded” also comes packed with all the improvements made, content updates, boss battles that were added, and the full story, all of which are best experienced with a group of friends and can be played through Xbox Game Pass.
My Personal Rating, Solo 6.5/10. Co-op 8/10.
SCORN
I have had my eye on “Scorn” ever since it was announced back in the day. A puzzle game of sorts that takes place in this hideous, grotesque world inspired by the biomechanical art style of HR Geiger. “Scorn” plays in first-person and is very atmospheric, with some combat sprinkled in but is mostly full of puzzles. This game is gorgeous while being very gross, and it does the job for me. You’ll have to see the game for yourself to figure out if it’s up your alley or not, but for me, it’s a solid game. The game is also part of the Xbox Game Pass.
My Personal rating is 8/10.
Destroy All Humans! 2 Reprobed
Another game that is a remake of an old game and keeps things simple and fun instead of adding a whole lot of nothing on top of it to justify its existence. The remake of the first “Destroy All Humans!” was a fun romp and brought Krypto back. “Destroy All Humans! 2 Reprobed” delivers the same experience as the second game, which has been upgraded and overhauled in just about every department. The visuals and effects see a massive upgrade, and the game is bigger and better than the last, just as was the case with the originals. It takes you across various cities of our planet where you, well, destroy all humans, and it is hilarious and a blast to play.
My Personal rating is 8.5/10.
Sonic Frontiers
Finally, we have “Sonic Frontiers,” which is perhaps the best Sonic game ever made. It takes us into an open world and gives the fast-paced platforming of Sonic a whole new meaning. Sure, the combat isn’t that great, the story is whatever, and even the visuals are nothing to write home about, but that doesn’t deter the fact that the developers tried to do something new with the Sonic IP, and I like that a lot. There’s a solid game here, and if they tweak it a little, the next iteration can be even better. If you are a Sonic fan, you will enjoy it; if not, you’ll still find enjoyment here.
My personal Rating is 7.5/10.
2022 gave us a lot of good games, even more than the ones I mentioned. While I’ll give you all the indie games in a separate list, these have been some of the best and most memorable games that came out in 2022, and I consider them to be must-plays. I may not like all of them equally, and that’s fine, as that doesn’t take away from the fact of how unique, fun, or creative each of these titles are. What’s been your favorite game of 2022? This year was solid all around for us gamers, and 2023 looks to be even more promising!
See more: 22 Best Video Games To Pick From The Countdown Sale, Part 1
