The year 2022 has delivered some amazing video game titles so far, from big hitters like Elden Ring to indie darlings, Tunic and Stray. Yet even as 2023 draws ever closer, there are more highly anticipated releases to come. Several established franchises will release the latest in their relative series, but there are also some new names ready to bring intriguing concepts to the table.
Excitedly awaiting a new release always brings the risk and danger of being disappointed upon actually playing the game, but that feeling of anticipation means everything to the average gamer. PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, and Nintendo still have more in store for the year, and many of these games will undoubtedly take players with them into the new year.
10/10 Get Ready For Chaotic Absurdity With High On Life
Rick and Morty is well-known for its ridiculous absurdity, and the show's own Justin Roiland will bring this weird and wonderful chaotic creativity to High On Life. The new title will be coming to PC and Xbox, as one of the year's main Game Pass releases.
High On Life is tackling a unique premise of wielding and using talking alien guns, with hilarious results. From the footage released thus far, all voice acting appears to amplify the general hilarity even further. Players will have to wait a bit longer until December 13th for this one, but will undoubtedly be treated to a zany and fun experience when it arrives.
9/10 A Plague Tale: Requiem Is The Unexpected Sequel Of The Dark Original
Following its release in 2019, A Plague Tale: Innocence was deemed a compelling and dark game, with a unique premise. At the time, fans of the game never expected a sequel, but they'll get one on October 18th. Titled A Plague Tale: Requiem, there's plenty of anticipation and intrigue concerning where this sequel can go.
A Plague Tale: Requiem will once again follow the siblings Amicia and Hugo, with rats still being a major nuisance. However, following their harrowing journey in the original, both have leveled up considerably, discovering new and improved ways to navigate the hordes of rats and other obstacles in their way.
8/10 Pokémon's Ninth Generation Is Inbound With Scarlet & Violet
There will undoubtedly be those who miss the simplicity of Pokémon's old days, before countless new species, types, and concepts were added to the franchise. However, the impending release of Scarlet & Violet on November 12th has both die-hard and casual Pokémon fans itching to get started. The new Gen IX games will shake up the norm of Pokémon games, with the main draw being the freedom to explore an open world without restrictions.
Players can take on the usual Gym challenge if they want, but there are also two additional stories to follow. Four player co-op is also being introduced, going further than the Raid Battles from Sword & Shield. This newfound freedom is what Pokémon fans have been clamoring for over the last two decades, and finally, technology and ambition have caught up to expectations.
7/10 Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope Will Be A Fun-Filled Return To This Particular Crossover
After Kingdom Battle was met with generally favorable reviews, Mario + Rabbids is back again in 2022, with Sparks of Hope. It's a crossover that often slips under the radar when compared to others that happen within Nintendo, but the chaotic nature of it makes it incredibly entertaining.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope will hit the Nintendo Switch on October 20th. The sequel will depict the heroes taking on a new challenge, the villainous Cursa, with new and returning characters banding together to save the galaxy. Expect gameplay to be refined and improved upon, while maintaining the core charm the original brought.
6/10 The Long-Awaited Bayonetta 3 Has Huge Shoes To Fill
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When Sega decided to cancel Bayonetta 2 mid-development, few could've predicted that Nintendo would not only revive the project but also hit it out of the park. Eight years have passed since Bayonetta 2 hit the Wii U, with it coming to the Switch in 2018, but now in 2022, the third installment is almost here.
With Bayonetta 3 poised to bring fans right back into the thick of the series, October 28th can't come fast enough for fans of the franchise. Bayonetta 3 on the Nintendo Switch will get just over two weeks of unchallenged attention before Pokemon Scarlet & Violet's release, but it may keep players interested for even longer if it meets its lofty expectations.
5/10 Gotham Knights Looks Intriguing & Exciting
Gotham Knights will arrive on October 21st and is a highly anticipated new Batman game, just without Batman himself. The premise concerns Batman's death, which plunges Gotham into chaos, encouraging new heroes to rise up. Players can switch between four characters — Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood and Robin — as they seek to snuff out the increase in crime.
Gotham Knights is set to be an exciting new experience for fans of the Batman gaming universe, but will only be accessible for those who have the latest consoles. Versions for PS4 and Xbox One were allegedly canceled to concentrate on making the best possible playing experience for players. Two-player co-op being added is another huge selling point that helps add to the general excitement.
4/10 Harvestella Is An Ambitious Twist On The Life Sim
Life and farm simulation role-playing games have been a popular commodity in recent years, having had the likes of Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing paving the way for new twists on the genre. 2022 has already witnessed Disney Dreamlight Valley entering the mix, bringing beloved Disney characters into a world of farming, mining, and so much more.
On November 4th, Square Enix will throw their hat in the ring with Harvestella. While Dreamlight Valley's draw is the integration of well-known characters into an immersive world, Harvestella makes its immersive world an actual danger to the player. It appears to thrive off its similarities to both Final Fantasy and Rune Factory, making it an anticipated release for many.
3/10 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II Brings Back Captain Price & Friends
Call of Duty has been a successful first-person shooter franchise since its inception in 2003, but its mainline games have dipped in popularity in recent years. In fact, the free-to-play Warzone generally creates more hype and excitement. However, On October 28th, the sequel to the Modern Warfare reboot from 2019 will arrive, featuring the return of Captain Price and his crew.
There will always be confusion with the franchise using the Modern Warfare name again, but the reboot was arguably the last Call of Duty game to have a memorable campaign. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II could well be a return to form for the franchise, and fans are eager to get started.
2/10 The Callisto Protocol Is Set To Be A Memorable Space Horror Experience
The Callisto Protocol will become 2022's space horror thriller. The scary survival game will be released December 2nd across multiple platforms. It will likely bear some resemblance to the Dead Space games, since their co-creator Glen Schofield is the director on this project.
The Callisto Protocol will also feature Transformers actor Josh Duhamel, The Boys' Karen Fukuhara, and Being Human's Sam Witwer. Players will navigate a formidable prison while fending off a horrifying alien invasion in what promises to be a thrilling and tense journey.
1/10 The Time For God Of War: Ragnarök Is Finally Almost Here
God of War: Ragnarök is the highly anticipated sequel to the enormous hit that was the 2018 God Of War. Taking place three years after the original, Ragnarök will once again follow the father-son duo, Kratos and Atreus, with the latter having aged further into his teenage years.
PlayStation has secured some impressive exclusives over the years, and God of War is right up there at the top. The 2018 God of War was only recently introduced to PC in 2022, and the sequel will once again start off as a PlayStation exclusive. God of War fans don't have much longer to wait, as the game is set for a November 9th release.