In 2022, gaming will be better than ever before. By the end of this year, gamers will be more pleased with video games than they’ve been in years. It’s been an excellent year for video games because it’s only halfway through 2022.
The Horizon Forbidden West, Elden Ring, Kirby, the Forgotten Land, and Sifu delivered their promises.
However, there were also several under-the-radar gems such as beat ’em up Sifu and skateboarding extravaganza OlliOlliWorld.
There were narrative-driven interactive games like The Quarry and nostalgia-inducing experiences like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.
There are so many different genres and gameplay experiences to choose from; it’s almost unbelievable. And the best news? If that wasn’t enough for you, there’s more on the way.
Here are our selections for the next ten most anticipated video games, including one—Stray—that will be released this week. And these are just the ones we’re aware of; there’s always a chance that an independent game will appear, surprise us, and surpass them all.
Stray
You play as a stray cat in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by machines. Stray immerses players in its atmosphere, making them feel underpowered and alone, yet with just enough tools to thrive. You’re incredibly nimble and can walk along ledges, leap across gaps, and always land on your feet.
Stray doesn’t feel like controlling a tiny human in a cat costume. There’s a little delay in the feedback, making it feel like you’re operating a real cat—one willing to accept ideas but not compelled by them.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
In the days of the Wii, when casual games like Wii Sports ruled the sales charts, there were also unique gems like Xenoblade Chronicles (2010). This roleplaying action game was praised at the time of its release and is one of the finest action roleplaying games ever made.
In 2017, a sequel was released. In 2022, we get a third game, which increases the number of active party members to seven. Explore an open world and bring order and peace back to Aionios.
Madden 23
The next Madden game features John Madden himself on the cover in tribute to his death last December.
With improvements to franchise mode and an updated roster (the developers stated that Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams will join the “99 Club” in this year’s edition), Madden 23 looks to be in excellent shape when it comes out next month.
Saints Row
The action series Saints Row was nearing the end of its lifespan. To be honest, it’s satire. But it’s time for a reboot when your character is the President of the United States and you’ve gone from battling gang members to battling aliens and Satan himself.
This new game, then, is a return to simplicity. It dials down the insanity and draws inspiration from films such as Baby Driver and John Wick.
The Last of Us: Part 1
The Last of Us is revered as a masterpiece, with memorable characters, a sad story, and fantastic action and response. And that’s why the forthcoming The Last of Us: Part 1 is cause for delight.
It’s a reboot of the original game from the ground up, with new visuals and controls, and gameplay similar to The Last of Us: Part II (2020).
Splatoon 3
Prepare for even more paint-spraying multiplayer thrills, including a brand-new Turf War mode, new weapons, and new evasive moves to avoid splashing.
You’re no longer in Inkopolis in Splatoon 3. Instead, you’re in the Splatlands’ outer reaches, a desert region with a post-apocalyptic feel.
Gotham Knights
Batman is no longer alive in this single-player game, and his four disciples—Robin, Red Hood, Nightwing, and Batgirl—battle to maintain law and order in Gotham City. Each character can perform actions and utilize special abilities.
The Court of Owls, an Illuminati-Esque shadowy organization that secretly governs Gotham from the shadows, is this time’s main adversary.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
This is a sequel to the Modern Warfare reboot that began in 2019. The game was praised for its more realistic depiction of conflict and the morally divided choices soldiers intend to make.
The follow-up to the original will continue to explore the Blackwood brothers’ exploits, with counter-terrorist team Task Force 141 working with Mexican Special Forces to defeat terrorist organizations and drug cartels.
God of War: Ragnarok
In 2018’s God of War reboot, the creators moved Kratos from Ancient Greek mythology to Norse mythology and gave him a son, Atreus, who he’s teaching to be a better man than he was.
Ragnarok will finish the Norse tale with the predicted “end of days.” The Greek story came to an end with Kratos murdering Zeus.
As a result, Thor is in for a rough few days, according to that logic. The new game boasts a colossal world with 9 Realms to explore and traverse via dog sled.
Sonic Frontiers
Finally, we don’t have an announced release date yet, but we’ll be buying Sonic Frontiers as soon as it’s available.
Sonic has had trouble shifting from 2D to 3D in the past; the first three 90s games are still the finest in the series. But with Sonic Frontiers, the creators may have finally cracked it.
Sonic is now in a completely explorable 3D world, searching for Chaos Emeralds and improving his speed abilities. And the many tracks, springs, and loops you’ll need to relive your 16-bit childhood are available across the game’s various areas.
