After a largely quiet January mainly defined by PC ports and the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, February is really kicking off 2022 when it comes to video games. Some of the year's most anticipated games are launching this month, from long-awaited sequels to smaller, intriguing titles.
While there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to this year's game releases -- including when games like God of War Ragnarök will release or if games like Starfield and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's sequel will make their current launch windows -- February's launches alone could be year-defining. Here's what gamers have to look forward to.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
Releasing February 4 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
Fans of 2015's Dying Light will want to get their hands on Dying Light 2 Stay Human, which promises to deliver the blend of action-RPG gameplay and zombie apocalypse survival horror elements of the original. The sequel is set 20 years after the previous game and follows new protagonist Aiden Caldwell as he explore a massive open world that's four times as large as its predecessor's map.
Dying Light 2 also features actress Rosario Dawson as Lawan, another survivor said to play a major role in the story. The game is sure to have no shortage of content, with the developers already claiming it will take 500 hours to see everything the game has to offer from its main story to side-quests to multiple endings.
OlliOlli World
Releasing February 8 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch
Skateboarding game and platformer lovers won't want to miss OlliOlli World. The third game in the series comes with a new hand-drawn art style, giving it a fresh, colorful vibe from its pixel-art predecessors. In it, players will journey through the world of Radland, completing missions and challenges while meeting with a diverse set of characters and pulling off a variety of combos and tricks. OlliOlli World looks to be a nice blend of new and old, bringing 2D sports games into a new era.
Sifu
Releasing February 8 for PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
Even in a month full of high-profile AAA releases, indie beat 'em up Sifu still looks compelling. Developer Sloclap's game follows a kung fu student in a modern Chinese city as he tracks down and defeats the five assassins who murdered his family. The protagonist possesses a magical talisman that revives him when he falls in combat -- but at a cost.
Every time he is resurrected, the talisman causes him to age up, and using all of its magic will cause him to die permanently. It's a cool concept, one that combines action and cool abilities with meaningful consequences for the player's actions. Additionally, Sifu also features over 150 unique attacks, occasional dialogue options that can allow the player to skip combat and plenty of challenges to overcome.
King of Fighters XV
Releasing February 17 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
The long-running fighting game franchise that combines a variety of SNK classics like Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting is back with a game that has the potential to be it's best game yet. The King of Fighters XV will launch with a roster of 39 characters and include rollback netcode, which could help the game make an impact on the online competitive scene. Notably, KoF XV will be the franchise's first game in a while to launch on various platforms at once, though it should be noted that the game is only coming to the Xbox X|S, not Xbox One.
Total War: Warhammer III
Releasing February 17 for PC
Warhammer fans have plenty to look forward to with the tabletop game still going strong and the promise of new video game adaptations like the recently-announced Warhammer 40K: Space Marine II. This month sees the long-awaited launch of Total War: Warhammer III, a turn-based strategy and real-time tactics game that builds upon its predecessors with even more factions and a greater emphasis on storytelling.
With the Warhammer world being so packed with lore, this focus is sure to appeal to fans, while also offering newcomers a good place to jump in and learn more. CBR was able to go hands-on with Warhammer III and found that its new additions and changes make it "the biggest and perhaps best Total War: Warhammer game to date."
Horizon Forbidden West
Releasing February 18 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
Ever since the release of Horizon Zero Dawn in 2017, fans have been waiting for more of Aloy's story. The game left quite a few mysteries unsolved, and now after five years and a delay out of its original 2021 release window, Horizon Forbidden West will pick up where the last game left off. Set in a land that was previously only mentioned, the next game in what's quickly becoming a staple series in PlayStation's first-party lineup will take Aloy to a new nature-filled post-apocalyptic land based on the western United States.
Like its predecessor, Horizon Forbidden West is an open-world action RPG where players will explore a vast world full of natural threats and dangerous machines. This time, Aloy will head west to investigate a mysterious and deadly plague, which puts her into contact with new characters and villains. She's also adding some new tools to her arsenal, including a glider and a grappling hook that'll allow players to explore the world in new ways.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
Releasing February 22 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Stadia
Bungie's ever-popular MMO shooter is getting its sixth expansion this month with Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, which centers on the cunning Hive god Savathûn. The expansion introduces a new location, Savathûn's Throne World, as well as more activities, a new raid and additional dungeons. There are also new features like a weapon crafting system, plus plenty of new weapons, armor and other loot for players to collect. The release of The Witch Queen also means that some content from previous expansions is entering the Destiny Content Vault, so players who want to experience that will need to do so soon.
Elden Ring
Releasing February 25 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
Few games are able to garner the hype that Elden Ring has amassed over the years. After being announced during E3 2019 as a collaboration between author George R. R. Martin and FromSoftware around the height of Game of Thrones' popularity, nothing more was said about the game for two years -- which only caused anticipation for the title to build.
Like other Souls games, Elden Ring is an action-RPG where players must create a solid character build and learn to excel at the game's combat or else face endless death screens. What really helps Elden Ring stand out (aside from its lore being written by one of the most acclaimed living fantasy authors) is its vast open world, which is a major departure from the mostly linear and intricately designed levels of other Souls games. CBR spent time with Elden Ring during November's network test and found that it "shines in not just embracing what came before it but in being unafraid to push one step beyond."