the year 2022 top 25 best games

An increasing number of top-notch titles are hitting all platforms as the video gaming industry continues to adapt to life after the pandemic.

Some of the biggest first-party blockbusters of the year, such as the reimagined The Last of Us Part 1, the vast Horizon Forbidden West, and the excellent God of War Ragnarok, were released by Sony. As Dusk Falls and Bayonetta 3 were two of the big exclusives that Microsoft and Nintendo had under their belts. Fantastic third-party games like Elden Ring, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Need for Speed Unbound were released in between all of those.

Here are our selections for the top 2022 video games, coming soon (and after many, many hours of gameplay). No matter your style of play, these games provide something for everyone across a broad spectrum of genres and platforms.

Ragnarok in the God of Destruction

With its more sombre tone and poignant father/son tale, God of War (2018) not only successfully brought a five-year-old series back to life, but it also raised the bar for the action genre. These ideas are taken to much greater heights in God of War Ragnarok. Though it is far longer than its predecessor, Ragnarok's improved traversal and combat make the game seem a lot more new, and the story does a fantastic job of tying up the Norse mythology arc.

Horizon Restricted East

One of the few popular PS4 original franchises, Horizon Zero Dawn introduced a world in which computers have taken over, as well as a remarkable lead character in the form of the female hunter Ploy. The stunning open landscape and game-play of Horizon Zero Dawn, which combined stealth with some of the best arrow combat in video games, drew in players. In its Western setting, Horizon Forbidden West accomplishes all of these and more. This is an excellent sequel because it keeps everything that gamers enjoyed about the first game while adding new elements like battle and underwater traversal.

Ring Elden

The great story of Elden Ring must be mentioned when discussing the top games of 2022. In addition to selling about 18 million copies, this partnership between "Game of Thrones" creator George R. R. Martin and Dark Souls producer From Software turned become Banzai Namco's fastest-selling game. Elden Ring is a game that takes From Software's renowned punishingly difficult gameplay and makes it more accessible to a wider audience by immersing players in a massive open environment with a narrative that is a little bit more comprehensible. Elden Ring rose to prominence during a period when many players complained that games were becoming too simple

When Evening Comes.

Although Microsoft didn't release any massive blockbuster Series X of Xbox exclusives by year's end, its first-party efforts were still of a high calibre. Take a look on As Darkness Fall in Interior the Night, a group of seasoned players from the dominant interactive drama company Quantic Dream. As Dusk Falls is one of the most distinctive games this year, with a chic visual aesthetic and an evocative yet tragic tale of two intertwined families that changes depending on your choices. The fact that there's a really smart multiplayer component that lets groups craft their own branching narratives in couch co-op or with live spectators on Twitch doesn't hurt either.

Magnum Opus 7

Five years after the PlayStation 4-only game Gran Tourism Sport was released, Polyphony Digital, the developer, has brought back its legendary racing simulator series. Gran Tourism 7, which was released on the PS4 and PS, is a visual marvel no matter where you play it. Nonetheless, the current generation version boasts a flawless gameplay experience at 60 frames per second, compatibility for 4 native resolution, and real-time ray tracing, making it an exceptionally amazing visual treat. Along with several major gameplay improvements, like the addition of real-time weather effects like rain and the restoration of dynamic time, this is all on top of it. Just be aware that the game requires an internet connection even for its extensive single-player mode.

The third Bayonetta

Though Nintendo is known for its kid-friendly games, The House that Mario Built has the potential to grow into a more adult game. Bayonetta 3 is the best example there is. The hack-'n'slash action in Platinum Games' Bayonetta 3 is just as outrageous as the game's universe plot. One of the finest action games of the year, Bayonetta 3 adds new gameplay elements to the main character, such as the ability to call forth enormous, demon-like monsters to battle alongside you. Other playable characters include Viola, a newbie to the series, and Jeanne, a series mainstay.

Kirby and the Lost Country

Kirby and the Forgotten Land, a fantastic Nintendo Switch exclusive that debuted this year, is the first instalment in the series to be played in full 3. Players of Forgotten Land guide the endearing pink creature across the cutest post-apocalyptic landscape in gaming history while adhering to a linear framework. You may now play local co-op with a friend and upgrade iconic gameplay elements like Kirby's copy ability. The game truly excels in the new "Mouthful Mode," though, when the title character ingests big objects like vehicles and traffic cones, giving the narrative a clever and humorous new dimension.

Modern Warfare II: Call of Duty

Activision releases a new Call of Duty game every year. The good precedent set by the 2019 Modern Warfare remake was not improved upon by the previous two games in the series (Cold War, Vanguard). Since then, Call of Duty: Warzone's free-to-play battle royale action has gained immense popularity among gamers. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is an incredible achievement overall because of this. In addition to providing the strongest single-player experience in the franchise in a long time, the multiplayer is still razor-sharp. In the meanwhile, this shooter has some of the best audio/visual presentation this year.

Runaway Speed Need

Some of the greatest Need for Speed games in recent memory, like as Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and Need for Speed: Most Wanted, were developed by burnout developer Criterion Games. But with more recent releases like Need for Speed 2015 and Need for Speed Payback, things began to deteriorate. Need for Speed Unbound is the genuine return to form that fans have been waiting for, even though Need for Speed Heat gave the series a much-needed shift in direction. Unbound is a quirky visual style that combines an appealing anime aesthetic with hyper realistic images of cars and the actual world. What's maybe more important is that it's one of the only high-end arcade racers on the market right now, with a driving model that allows you to concentrate on moving quickly and looking good while doing it.

The Protocols of Callisto

The Callisto Protocol, one of the most well-known horror games of the year, comes with a long history. Glen Schofield, a co-creator of Dead Space, is the director of the game developed by Striking Distance Studios. There are many parallels between the two games, including the rewarding dismemberment mechanisms, the simple on-screen UI, and the distinctive death animations. The Callisto Protocol has received mixed reviews, but it's a good prelude to EA's Dead Space reboot, which is set to release in 2019.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Retaliation of Shredder

Shredder's Revenge from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shows that being true to your roots is perfectly acceptable. Developer Tribute Games adds ingenious twists to the beat-'em-up concept while keeping things basic, drawing inspiration from the iconic turtles in the Konami arcade games of the 1990s. In addition to the original four turtles, players can now take on April O'Neil, Master Splinter, and Casey Jones, and choose from a larger selection of attacking and defensive films. Then there's the amazing presentation, which includes the original voice cast from the animated series from the 1990s, along with well-known rappers like Mega Ran and Ghost face Kill ah on the soundtrack

Marvel's Snap

Marvel Snap made an appearance to remind us of the excellent quality of mobile games in a year where console and PC games were the main focus. This card battler, created by Second Dinner, a group that included several of the original creators of the popular game Hearthstone, features brief yet captivating bouts between cards featuring well-known Marvel heroes and villains. Marvel Snap has hundreds of exclusive cards covering the 80-year history of the legendary comic book publisher, and new characters and variants are introduced virtually every week. Marvel Snap, in contrast to a lot of other well-known card games, is quite approachable for beginners while maintaining a tonne of competitive depth that will keep you thinking of new decks and tactics all the time. 

The Midnight Suns of Marvel

Marvel has a growing range of video games, ranging from card battlers to triple-A action games. Marvel's Midnight Suns, which expands the adored universe into the tactical role-playing genre, is arguably the best example of that to date. Midnight Suns, a video game developed by Fir axis Games (the group behind the popular XCOM tactics series), allows players to create their own superhero, known as "The Hunter," and team up with other Marvel superheroes to fight villains. In between battles, players can forge relationships with well-known heroes like Wolverine and Ghost Rider.

The stone quarry

Supermassive Games, the creators of Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology, is well-versed in the elements of a compelling interactive horror experience. In keeping with its trademarked formula, the developer's most recent game, The Quarry, pays homage to '80s slasher classics such as 'Friday the 13th'. Hollywood heavyweights Justice Smith, Lance Henriksen, David Arquette, and Brenda Song are among the many ensemble cast members in the game. It also advances gameplay with additional social opportunities and a wide variety of branching plot pathways.

Contrary to

Not that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment combined all of its properties to create a free-to-play brawler that was reminiscent of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. was surprising, but rather how terrific the game was. Highly praised for its compact gameplay that emphasises team warfare, Multiverses boasts an ever-expanding roster that includes characters from "Rick and Mort," "Game of Thrones," and the DC Universe. 

Wandering

Stray is the latest game in Annapurna Games' distinctive gaming portfolio, which matches the popularity of its film division's quirky titles, Donuts County, Kentucky Route Zero, and Twelve Minutes. The game places players in the role of a cat that loses contact with its animal companions. The story that follows takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where humanoid robots have taken over a city that humanity has left behind. The adorable platformed is plenty of charm, with gorgeous graphics, smart puzzles, and a catchy music.

Rabbis plus Mario: A Source of Arabidopsis plus Mario: A Source of Hope

Mario + Rabbis Sparks of Hope, the sequel to the highly acclaimed strategy series that blends the worlds of Cubist's RayBan spin-off and Nintendo's beloved plumber, builds upon the success of Mario + Rabbits Kingdom Battle. The roster of playable characters has been expanded to include Rosalinda and Bowers, and the turn-based tactical warfare has been greatly enhanced with new enemy encounters and a more flexible playing area. There are three expansion packs available in addition to the core single-player game, one of which is an adventure with RayBan, the platforming icon.

Splatoon 3 is here!

Ever since its 2015 Wii U release, Nintendo's Splatoon series has come the closest to producing a shooter along the lines of Gears of War or Call of Duty. In addition to a new single-player story-line, Splatoon 3, the most recent game in the series since Splatoon 2 from 2017, offers a variety of weapon varieties and multiplayer options. Its shooting and ink mechanics set it apart from other shooter games, even though it is a little silly at times. Even better, after its initial debut, the game received a constant stream of new material, such as the well-liked Splat-fest occasions where players could battle for their preferred food, colour, or even Pokémon.

Violet and Scarlet Pokémon

Despite some technical difficulties, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet successfully introduce the ninth generation of the adored monster-catching series. Like Pokémon Legends: Arcturus from the previous year, this new mainline entry is set in Paldea, an open world area where you can freely roam and interact in ways that weren't possible before with wild Pokémon. Not only may players take on larger, new Pokémon called Titans in boss-like encounters, but there's also a charming new cast of personalities to get to know.

A Tale of Plagues: Requiem

A Plague Tale: Innocence, which debuted in 2019 and tells the story of two brothers seeking to flee Aquitaine, France, during the Hundred Years War and the outbreak of the Black Plague, was an unexpected smash. The gameplay was quite tense and very memorable, thanks to a combination of stealth and a unique rat swarm feature. A Plague Tale: Requiem, the game's sequel, adds intriguing new features to the fighting system, allowing players to access new tools and weapons that may be upgraded via a progression system.

With Somerville

Among the most acclaimed independent side-scrolling adventure games of the last ten years are Play dead's Limbo and Inside. A spiritual sequel to both games was published by Somerville through Jump-ship, the new enterprise founded by Dino Patti, the co-founder of the studio. The game is a side-scrolling plat-former with physics-based puzzles, just like its predecessors. The way this tale of a father searching for his son and wife during an extraterrestrial invasion is conveyed makes it incredibly relatable.

Sifu

Sifu is a martial arts fighter with a distinct plot and visual aesthetic. Its opening sequence is among the best in the recent past. The game places players in the role of a martial arts expert's child seeking retribution for their father's passing and combines beat-'em-up action with roguelike elements. The main hook is that the character always comes back stronger and older after dying in battle. If a player dies too frequently, they have to start the game over at their original age. Even though Sifu has a reputation for being quite challenging at times, a fresh patch made the game more approachable for beginners.

Chronicles of Xenophobia 3

Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the last instrumental in the Xenoblade role-playing game series, doesn't provide any novel gameplay elements. This game, which sets itself apart from the others, features Noah and his pals K eves and Mio engaged in combat between two rival nations. The amazing fighting from the first two Xenoblade games is back, strengthened this time by additional features including the capacity to fight alongside seven party members in battle and improved mission navigation.

Part 1 of The Last of Us

Given its 2013 PS3 release and 2014 PS4 remaster, most gamers didn't think a remake of the first game in The Last of Us franchise made much sense. But now that we've played The Last of Us Part 1, we can affirm that choosing this course of action made perfect sense. The story of Joel and Ellie's terrifying cross-country journey across a post-plague United States is enhanced as much as feasible in this remake, which is mechanically and graphically based on The Last of Us Part 2. This critically praised classic should be accessible to even more players thanks to some much-needed accessibility features in addition to updated graphics and artificial intelligence.

Roller Arena

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater meets Doom in the intriguing way that is Rollerdrome, a cartoon art style influenced by the iconic 1970s movie Rollerball. Players take on the role of Kara Hassan in this game, which was developed by Roll7, the makers of OlliOlli. Battle zones resemble skate parks, and players must use a variety of weaponry to eliminate opponents. Players must do tricks in order to gain ammo. Destroying adversary fighters is the means of gaining health. While eliminating adversaries is the main objective of each level, there are also side goals akin to those in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.