The 30 most anticipated games of 2022

January 19, 2022

The year 2021 was weird for video games. It was full of delayed projects but also full of new announcements. It’s clear that the gaming industry is still coming back from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What does that mean for 2022? Well, it means that we are likely to see a year jammed full of some of the most high-profile releases. Not only will it be the year that houses all the delayed 2021 games, but it will also be the second year of the “next-generation” giving us some huge titles for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Even now, we tried to come up with a list of the biggest games to look out for in 2022 and we couldn’t get any lower than 30 … and expect many more to be announced as the year goes on.

So these are our picks for the 30 titles that we are most hyped for, slated for release in 2022.

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Bayonetta 3

Bayonetta 3 was one of the original killer apps announced for the Switch. Now we are long enough into the Switch’s lifespan that we are getting new versions like the OLED Switch. It is about time we saw our favorite gun-witch step back into her bullet-filled heels.

Image Credit: Nintendo / YouTube.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

While we may never get another true Jet Set Radio game, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk brings back much of the original development team, as well as the original composer, Hideki Naganuma. Sometimes, spiritual sequels are good enough.

Image Credit: Team Reptile / YouTube.

Dragon Ball: The Breakers

Take Dead by Daylight but instead of victims running away from a horror movie monster, give us nobody anime non-playable characters, or NPCs, facing off against the biggest villains from Dragon Ball. Frankly, it’s a formula just crazy enough to work.

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Eiyuden Chronicle

The original development team behind Suikoden has come back with a brand- new RPG utilizing the Octopath Traveler style of 2.5D graphics. Their Kickstarter was ludicrously successful, and now it looks like we are finally coming up on a release date. We will be recruiting 108 heroes and more soon enough.

Image Credit: Xbox / YouTube.

Elden Ring

If you haven’t heard of Elden Ring, then you’ve been living under a videogame rock. It’s an open world, Dark Souls-style role-playing game, or RPG, with George R.R. Martin doing the … Writing? Consulting? Look, the point is GRRM is involved in some way, making it sure to scratch both your Souls-like and Game of Thrones itches.

Image Credit: BANDAI NAMCO Europe / YouTube.

Freedom Planet 2

Freedom Planet 1 was one of the best indie Sonic-alikes, and it’s been a long time since the development team said a sequel was coming. In 2022, it appears as if we will finally get a chance to play with even more characters, an even darker story and even more envious Sonic fans.

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Ghostwire: Tokyo

This is another one of the early killer apps for next-gen consoles, originally announced for Playstation 5 well before its developer, Bethesda was bought by Microsoft. Will this paranormal action-adventure game still deliver on its promise now that its developer has jumped ship? 2022 will tell us.

Image Credit: PlayStation / YouTube.

God of War: Ragnarok

Sony’s new take on God of War was considered one of the most artistic and well-designed games of the modern era. God of War: Ragnarok brings us back to Kratos and a now older Atreus, fighting against forces that seem to be pushing the duo to cause the end of times… you know… again… for the Norse Gods this time. Look, it’s kind of what Kratos does, OK?

Image Credit: PlayStation / YouTube.

Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Zero Dawn was a breakout open-world hit for Sony that managed to hold its own against the open-world juggernaut that was Breath of the Wild. We’ve already followed Aloy in her journeys to uncover the truth of her robot-infested post-apocalyptic world. Now, she must journey into new lands in order to discover the cure to a cyber-borne plague that stands to wipe out all of humanity.

Image Credit: PlayStation / YouTube.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby has gone full 3D. This new 3D take on a Kirby platformer will bring the little pink puffball close to home, on a ruined Earth. Nintendo has a lot of tricks up its sleeve, and it will be very interesting to see how they convert the traditionally casual friendly Kirby playstyle to the third dimension.

Image Credit: Nintendo / YouTube.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

Mario + Rabbids was an unexpectedly successful launch title for the Switch. Who would have thought that Mario put together with Ubisoft’s annoying mascots firing guns in XCom style gameplay would catch on so quickly? Well, this sequel brings more of the same, with new weapons, new gameplay elements and many new worlds to discover.

Image Credit: Nintendo / YouTube.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns

Speaking of XCom style gameplay, Marvel’s Midnight Suns brings that classic strategy style together with the Marvel Comics universe we all know and love. It’s even being developed by Firaxis! You’ll get to put together your own dream team of Marvel heroes in order to take down Lilith, the Mother of All Demons. All the classic XCom elements are here, from base management to hero upgrading, but there’s also a bit of a collectible card game element tacked on as well.

Image Credit: Marvel Entertainment / YouTube.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

If you were a fan of the original indie adventure darling, then you have to pick up its sequel. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals takes place five years after the events of Oxenfree and follows Riley, returning to her hometown to investigate mysterious radio signals. Anyone who played the first one knows that mysterious signals like these are a recipe for a mystery that goes far deeper than anyone originally imagined.

Image Credit: PlayStation / YouTube.

Pokémon Legends Arceus

The most recent Pokémon remakes, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, came out to a bit of controversy for not really innovating on the Pokémon formula. Pokémon Legends Arceus, on the other hand, is set to change everything we know about Pokémon with a brand new open-world game. It takes us into a world of Pokémon past, where people actually fought alongside their Pokémon. It will introduce new battle systems, new regional variants and brand-new Pokémon myths surrounding the progenitor of the Pokémon universe, Arceus.

Image Credit: The Official Pokemon YouTube Channel / YouTube.

Project L

Riot Games is expanding into the fighting game community with Project L, a 2v2 tag-based fighting game featuring all the League of Legends characters you know and love. With simple inputs, a free-to-play payment structure and graphics that bring all your favorite champions to life, this is sure to make a splash in the FGC. Plus, its mechanics, which seem inspired by Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, will give pro gamers a chance to experience a fighting style that never quite got off the ground.

Image Credit: Riot Games / YouTube.

Project Triangle Strategy

It’s been a while since we saw a proper tactics game come out of Square-Enix. Well, Tomoya Asano, the same developer behind Octopath Traveler, Bravely Default and the original Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions remake, is here to give it to us. This grid-based tactical game will feature a branching story, an interesting political system where you will have to sway the feelings of your comrades, many characters to recruit each with their own unique classes and much more.

Image Credit: Nintendo / YouTube.

Read Only Memories: Neurodiver

The original Read Only Memories was an indie gem that was not appreciated enough for its time. This sprite-based cyberpunk adventure felt like a spiritual sequel to Snatcher. Now, its sequel, Neurodiver, is diving deeper into the cyberpunk world by featuring a detective whose main method of investigating is diving into a suspect’s memories. It is a must-play for anyone who loves the blue and pink neon bi-lighted cyberpunk aesthetic.

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River City Girls 2

The first River City Girls was a fantastic and genuinely funny beat ’em up with RPG mechanics, voice acting featuring your favorite internet personalities, lots of references to Double Dragon and the original River City Ransom, and more. River City Girls 2 will give you all that turned up to 11, with more playable characters, more internet personalities, and more jokes that will make you wonder why you are randomly beating up every high school student within a five-mile radius.

Image Credit: GameSpot Trailers / YouTube.

Saints Row

It’s a season of remakes, and Saints Row is the next major property to get the remake treatment. Featuring the largest map yet, a full turf war system, and the most in-depth character creator the franchise has ever seen, it seems like it has everything.

Image Credit: Saints Row / YouTube.

Sifu

Sifu is an action game like no other. As you follow a man out for vengeance through the many stages of his life, you will seek out the five assassins that murdered your family throughout a large Chinese city. Your revenge will take a lifetime, but in this world of martial arts, ancient powers lurk, and death is not the end. It’s one part beat-em-up, one part rogue-like, one part Wushu action film.

Image Credit: PlayStation / YouTube.

Splatoon 3

Nintendo’s trademark shooter is back, and this time, it’s going to have a full single-player story and campaign. So, if you are one of those people who really want to dive into the lore of why transforming squid kids seem to be fighting each other with paint in a post-apocalyptic world, Splatoon 3 has got you covered. Geez, what’s with Nintendo and its whole post-apocalypse kick recently?

Image Credit: Nintendo / YouTube.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force

Star Ocean fans thought the series was done for after the pretty horrendous flop that was Integrity and Faithlessness. Well, tri-ace is giving it another go with, say it with me now, a massive open-world RPG. Of course, open world means a lot more when you can visit planets and rocket off to the far corners of the universe. Will this be enough to resurrect the franchise? We will have to wait and see.

Image Credit: PlayStation / YouTube.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

You got Dark Souls in my Final Fantasy. You got Final Fantasy in my Dark Souls. Two great tastes together at last. Stranger of Paradise had a few demos and was relatively well-received. The only problem is the critical mass of edge that it and its main characters exude. It might be trying just a bit too hard, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun.

Image Credit: PlayStation / YouTube.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

It feels like the beat ’em up community has been waiting for ages to get a classic sprite-based TMNT beat ’em up again, and the wait is over. Shredder’s Revenge has all the charm of the original arcade brawlers with an incredibly smooth and detailed sprite art aesthetic. Get ready to mash your way through iconic levels and take out notable villains, from Bebop and Rocksteady to Baxter Stockman and more.

Image Credit: Dotemu / YouTube.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me

The last Dark Pictures Anthology game was a bit divisive. Some thought it was a fantastic evolution for the horror series. Some felt it broke its already clunky controls to the extent of being nonplayable. Either way, Bandai Namco is going to have a chance to win back the fanbase with this new installment, which seemed to be focused on old-school ghost and demon stories like The Exorcist.

Image Credit: PlayStation / YouTube.

The King of Fighters XV

The King of Fighters is releasing its next big installment, which has been described by many in the FGC as “The King of Fighters XIV but more.” They’ve overhauled the EX move and Max Mode systems, allowing for more complex combos, and giving your favorite characters even more tools. It’s a bit of a complex game to get into, but it’s sure to make fans of the KOF franchise happy.

Image Credit: SNK Official / YouTube.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

This is one of the biggest releases of the year. The much-awaited sequel to Breath of the Wild is finally set to release and bring us on a journey across Hyrule once more. This time, Link and Zelda will dive into ancient temples to find the secrets of Calamity Ganon, as well as traverse ruins in the sky that date back to their world’s origin. Maybe this will finally be the Zelda that ties all the timelines together.

Image Credit: Nintendo / YouTube.

The Lord of the Rings Gollum

Perhaps one of the most unexpected titles to come out of a big IP, this puts you in the shoes of everyone’s favorite gremlin, Gollum as he searches for his precious before the events of the novels. We don’t know much more about this title, but we do know that it will have Tolkien fans all over it, sniffing out hidden lore.

Image Credit: Punish / YouTube.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Take the humor of Borderlands, add even more RPG elements to it, and set it in a medieval world controlled by your own sadistic dungeon master, Tiny Tina. That’s the formula for Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and it’s easily one of the most anticipated co-op games of the year. If it even has a fraction of the fun that Borderlands 2 had with a new RPG formula, this will be one of the big hits of 2022.

Image Credit: Borderlands / YouTube.

Warner Bros. Multiversus

Finally, we have one more fighting game, Warner Bros. Multiversus. It’s looking to combine what we love about platform fighters with what we love about MOBAs in a new free-to-play 2v2 format. Honestly, no matter how the gameplay ends up, we will relish the opportunity to see Bugs Bunny, Batman, Gandalf and Rick & Morty fight.

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Image Credit: Warner Bros. Games / YouTube.