Are you checking which games are the most fun to play this year?
2022 is a great year for video games. Although several games have been delayed to 2023, it is still way better than releasing a buggy and incomplete game. However, we cannot ignore the fact that several games that have been released in 2022 so far are amazing and fun to play.
We have consolidated a list of the must play games of 2022 if you have not tried any of them, and we hope it helps you find the next game you will play.
15. Dying Light 2: Stay Human (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Dying Light 2: Stay Human is the sequel of the critically-acclaimed Dying Light game from 2015. This series is best known for its open-world parkour gameplay, which has been improved in this game. The first game has a great parkour system already, thus, it is amazing that the sequel managed to improve on it.
The game is set several years after the first game, and a new mutated virus infected not only a city, but the whole world. Only a small percentage of civilization survives, and you play as Aiden Caldwell and your parkour playground is the city of Villedor.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human presents choices to players to progress in the game, such as unlocking zip lines or more traps depending on the choices made in each mission.
Techland, the developer, is one of the best out there considering they kept updating the first game with new content and new challenges throughout the years. I hope they do the same for Dying Light 2: Stay Human.
14. Ghostwire: Tokyo (PlayStation 5, PC)
Ghostwire: Tokyo is an action game with a twist of horror/creepy vibe to it. Game design, especially the enemies, is inspired by Japanese folklore in modern Tokyo.
Visuals is one of the most beautiful among the games released this year, and it is worthy to be called a next-gen game. You fight supernatural beings with elemental powers using various hand gestures, which is satisfying to watch.
As for the story, all of Tokyo’s residents vanished into thin air, and supernatural beings overrun the cities. You manage to survive as you are possessed by a spirit at the start of the game, which also helps you do your elemental power attacks.
For a new IP, Tango Gameworks did a good job with Ghostwire: Tokyo, and if there would be a second game, then they can improve upon the foundation they already built for this game.
13. The Quarry (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Supermassive Games has been building up their reputation as a great horror interactive video game developer since the release of their successful game, Until Dawn.
The Quarry is considered as the spiritual successor to Until Dawn, and it takes inspiration from cliche slasher and monster films such as Friday the 13th as you play as summer camp counselors.
With a huge cast of characters, it is up to you to make sure that they survive the attacks as the game is mostly decision-based with quick-time events. You can try to save them all in your first playthrough, then kill them all in the next one just to see what would happen to the story.
12. Weird West (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
Weird West is, well, weird. It has supernatural and the wild west combined into one game, which is not a common mixture of genres. I must say, WolfEye Studios managed to make this game really intriguing.
It is a top-down RPG with a mixture of simulation. It plays like a twin-stick shooter for its combat, which is fun and satisfying. You can unlock perks for each character to make them better, and for an added challenge, this game has permadeath, so you have to be very careful. Although, people you have helped before may have a chance to repay their debt to you, which is nice, but people who have a grudge may also ambush you. These events will vary depending on the choices you made in the game.
Weird West is a truly unique experience. If you have an Xbox Game Pass, then you can play it as it is part of the Xbox Game Pass library.
11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One)
What a good year for beat ‘em up games as we have another one, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge.
It pays homage to the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game and TV series back in the 90s as they used pixelated graphics to create the visuals of this game. However, they did modernize Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge by adding multiple quality-of-life enhancements and multiplayer up to six-players.
The game has two modes - Arcade Mode and Story Mode. Arcade Mode only gives players a limited amount of lives, while the Story Mode allows players to upgrade their characters’ stats as well as acquiring other combat moves and special abilities.
Honestly, whether you have played any classic beat ‘em up games, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is one that you should play, especially with friends and family.
10. Sifu (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC)
Sifu is a martial arts action beat-em up video game from Sloclap, and it is set in modern China. You play as the son of a martial arts school’s master, who miraculously survived after a raid that killed the whole school and your father. Thanks to a magical talisman that healed you, you can now avenge your father, but there is a drawback, and that is you will age several years every time you use the magical talisman.
It is a challenging game that focuses on combos and parries to win engagement against enemies. The game encourages players to be creative on their attacks as you can use your environment to deal damage to your enemies such as pushing them off the ledge. You can unlock new skills, which can put you into a greater advantage over your enemies.
When you die, the magical talisman will revive you, but you will age faster as a drawback. You will become more powerful as you age. However, once you reach a very old age, and you die, that is the time that it will be game over. It is a creative concept that makes use of both the story and the gameplay perfectly.
This is the epitome of the modern beat-em up games in my opinion. Don’t worry Xbox users, after the timed-exclusive expires for PlayStation platform, you will be able to play this one, hopefully, by next year.
9. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is basically 9 movies filled into one video game. It is crazy to think that you can see a reimagining of iconic scenes from the Star Wars movies in a Lego form.
Players can start on any of the three trilogies, and I think it is nice that the game lets you do that as each trilogy has its own plot and subplots, and they are set in a different era. My favorite part is exploring the planets and giant spaceships of the Star Wars universe,
As for the gameplay, it still follows the same Lego Star Wars formula that it has been doing ever since such as platforming, finding collectibles, or goofing around fighting enemies. However, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is more polished and modern making the game more fun and intuitive. With over 400 characters, playing solo or in multiplayer will be tons of fun.
8. Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Nintendo Switch)
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a new take on the Pokémon formula. Although it is still based on the gameplay foundation that has been built on the past entries, they manage to overhaul the overall system to create a new experience.
The player can explore the vast open world map with different biomes. Each biome has its different Pokémon wandering around the place, and you can engage them in battle. The battle system stays mostly the same as it is still turn-based, and you can still capture Pokémon. However, for the first time in the series, you can actually get hurt when being attacked by a Pokémon. There are cases that you have to dodge them, otherwise, you may be the one to faint.
For a new Pokémon experience, I really believe Pokémon Legends should be a series of its own, and not just a one-time thing. It is a great game to play, despite lacking multiplayer battles.
7. Stray (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC)
Stray is an adventure game that everyone should play. It is a relaxing experience, especially if you love cats or animals in general. I have seen people, who are not gamers, play this game. This just shows how good it is, or at least, that is how fun the experience is when playing this game.
You play as a cat in a dystopian cyberpunk world, and you explore different places. You can traverse platforms by jumping to them like a real cat, interact with NPCs, and you can even meow. Although, there are still enemies in the game that you need to avoid as they may be able to kill you.
Cat-lovers or not, Stray is a must-play game with great visuals, worthy of being a next-gen game.
6. Two Point Campus (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Two Point Campus is the next game for Two Point Studios, which is a fun take on simulating how to create a university. Upon the first look of the game, it looks very similar to Two Point Hospital just with a different setting, however, I think Two Point Campus has enough compelling changes that is worthy of its price tag.
Players are tasked to build a university, which means it needs classrooms, libraries, and of course, professors that will teach the students. Students and staff have different personalities, which are random, and actually quite fun to check occasionally. Students also graduate after a while in the game, and they will be replaced by new enrollees.
Two Point Studios seems to be on the right path on creating a formula for their university-themed simulation game, and hopefully, they put out as much as DLC and free content as they did with Two Point Hospital.
5. Total War: Warhammer III (PC)
Total War games have a proven and tested formula. Total War: Warhammer series mixes that formula with Warhammer lore, and it has been a complete blast for the whole trilogy. Total War: Warhammer III is the conclusion of the trilogy with a campaign map as twice as the previous game.
It is probably the most ambitious game from Creative Assembly, and if you do not know any total war games, then it is a management game with a real-time combat system. Basically, every turn, you manage your army, your settlements, and even engage with other races for diplomacy. However, if you encounter an enemy or siege a settlement, you can command your troops in real-time during the battle sequence.
With seven unique races, and each has its own unique units, it will take hours to try all of them. You can raise your armies and create your own empire by destroying other races and besieging their settlements.
Players can do multiplayer campaign and domination mode, which both take a chunk of your time, but it is very rewarding if you win.
4. Tunic (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Tunic is a game created by a sole developer, Andrew Shouldice, with the help of an indie game publisher named Finji.
It is heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda, especially the classics, as you can definitely notice on the gameplay mechanics, and the isometric view of the game. You play as an anthropomorphic fox, and you explore various dungeons and places, solve puzzles, fight different monsters that you will come across, and gain new weapons.
Tunic is a masterpiece as an indie game, and it is one that you should definitely try. It is a timed exclusive for Xbox consoles, and you can play it on Xbox Game Pass. However, the game will also be out on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in the coming months.
3. Horizon Forbidden West (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5)
Horizon Forbidden West is the sequel to the highly-praised Horizon Zero Dawn.
As a sequel, the player will still take the role of Aloy once again as you explore the open world of Horizon Forbidden West, which is much bigger than the first game. It is highly recommended to play the first game as the setting and plot between the two games are quite short. Fighting robots, whether it is small, medium, or large is so fun and challenging in this series.
Visually, it is truly a game for PlayStation 5, although it is still playable on PlayStation 4. You can definitely see the visual upgrade as the fauna and flora in the game is so vast and alive.
2. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Nintendo Switch)
Xenoblade Chronicles series’ games are few and far in between considering the first game launched way back in 2010, and the second game launched 5 years ago in 2017. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is relatively a new game, but it is considered as the best game in the series by many.
Similar to previous entries, players will be able to explore a vast open world, and now you can bring up to 7 party members instead of 3. Party members can change classes to gain more abilities, and the combat system is very fun as you can now swap between characters as you fight enemies, which you can create some crazy combos every encounter. It is hard to stick to one playstyle as Xenoblade Chronicles is known for its several gameplay mechanics even after hours into the game as they still manage to do tutorials on new gameplay mechanics.Also, do not worry about knowing the story of the previous entries as this game has a story of its own. Although, there are scenarios that you may get the reference if you have played the previous entries. Other than that, you can play this game without playing any of the two that came before Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
1. Elden Ring (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
We are so used to previous souls-game entries like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Demon Souls, and many more that Elden Ring felt like it truly innovated the genre and set it on a higher bar. I must say it is one of the best games in this decade so far.
It is such a phenomenal game, which is developed by FromSoftware and a collaboration with George R. R. Martin for its worldbuilding. Players will be able to create their characters with in-depth customization.
Afterward, they can explore the world of the Elden Ring freely, and you will surely encounter challenging enemies as you wander around. You may find ruins, caves, dungeons, and many more where you can collect amazing items, and fight difficult bosses.
The game also has its own crafting system wherein you can cook based on the recipes or craft items once you have the requirements. You can also join other people’s lobby or let them join your lobby. You can enable PvP or just a co-op session, which is a staple for a souls-game.
Elden Ring may be challenging, but it is worth the try, and I am sure you will never regret it.
