Jump Over the Age/Fellow Traveller / SIE Santa Monica/Sony Interactive Entertainment / Brianna Lei
We're at the end of 2022, and so now's the perfect time to look back at the past 12 months and appreciate the games that made a lasting impact and stuck with us.
This year has seen a high-quality variety of blockbuster and indie games. Some pushed the boundaries on what's possible in interactive storytelling, while others delivered unforgettable thrills and brought imagination and creativity to familiar franchises and genres.
We've put together our favourite 20 video games of 2022, ranked. So take a look below to see if you agree with our number 1, or maybe you'll discover some games that may have slipped under your radar.
(Additional writing by Joe Anderton.)
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20) The Quarry
2K Games
A group of summer camp counsellors decide to stay an extra night at Hackett's Quarry. What could go wrong? The spiritual successor to Until Dawn takes advantage of more advanced technology and a strong cast (including Brenda Song, Justice Smith, and Ted Raimi) – while throwing in some twists of its own – to provide an absorbing and very entertaining ride as you try to prevent the characters from dropping like flies. [JL]
There are two types of people in the world: those that find meticulously and constantly organising their inventory in Resident Evil 4 touches something deep down in their soul, and people who have no soul. Save Room is for the former, turning inventory management into a series of 40 puzzles. Simple? Very. Brilliant? Oh yes. [JA]
The Sims 4 may be more than eight years old now, but when it's at its best, the game can still deliver. Werewolves is proof of this. A clear highlight for the franchise in 2022 and one of the most memorable packs in years, it stands out as an all-around package with fresh storytelling possibilities, excellent customisation for the new occult, and engaging world-building. [JL]
If 2021’s Tony Hawk's Pro Skater didn’t quite scratch the itch for a cool-as-hell and addictive skateboarding adventure, OlliOlli World will break the skin. The world is fun, vibrant and full of so many unique challenges, you’ll be hooked for weeks. Adventure Time looks with arcade skateboarding controls that’ll leave your thumbs sore, we loved every moment. [BR]
Lambs. They’re cute, fluffy and harbour the unending soul of an eldritch demigod. At least, that’s the case in Massive Monster’s Cult of the Lamb, a rogue-lite which sees you grow your flock of devotees to get revenge on those who dared slaughter this little lamb.
The cutesy yet dark visuals look great, and the gameplay offers something fresh to keep you coming back for another offering. [BR]
Marvel's Midnight Suns is 2022's best superhero comic adaptation. It's a narrative-driven tactics game that manages to provide enough of a challenge for seasoned gamers while not being as obtuse as the genre sometimes demands, and comes with a cast of characters that genuinely feels like has been assembled with care. [AG]
There's a lot to love in Stray, from its synthwave soundtrack to the neon-drenched visuals and sad yet adorable robots. But the real star is the cat itself. The delicacy of its jumps, the way it nuzzles bemused NPCs, the meows (that have their own dedicated button) and the feel of the PS5 triggers when using a scratching post – all of them are just perfect. So perfect, we're not using the obvious pun. [JA]
2015's Birdland stands as one of the most revered Twine games, so it's a joy to see creator Brendan Patrick Hennessy revisiting Bell Park, now a working PI who is bewildered to find that her much peppier 12-year-old self has time-travelled to the present day. They team up on a case, but kid Bell soon takes an interest in reuniting adult Bell with her ex-girlfriend Bridget.
Funny and heartfelt with the sort of snappy writing that Hennessy is known for, Hennessy's latest story meets all expectations and is a truly delightful addition to his beloved universe. [JL]
Norco’s writing stands out in a year of impressive and engaging narrative adventures. The game is set in a near-future version of Louisiana ravaged by runaway corporations and mysterious AI cults, and is absolutely dripping in atmosphere. The game’s music, art and stylised prose come together to make a compelling story about capitalism and returning home that rivals the best the medium has to offer. [AG]
Butterfly Soup, an LGBTQ+ visual novel centred on four Asian American teens, received plaudits in 2017. Brianna Lei's sequel is just as good and perhaps more confidently written as it explores topics including generational divides in immigrant families, cultural identity, and racism among Asians, while telling coming-of-age queer stories.
This isn't a game that's satisfied to settle for surface-level Asian American representation. It asks the player to engage beyond that, and that includes a thoughtful look at the flaws and ignorance of some of the protagonists. [JL]
Kirby went fully 3D this year in an adventure game full of fun gameplay mechanics that allowed our favourite pink ball to turn into cars, traffic cones and vending machines.
Unique abilities, vibrant levels and interesting traversal make the latest Kirby one of this year's best platformers. [JD]
Obsidian once again proving they are masters of the RPG, Pentiment is a witty and clever ‘whodunnit’ set in 16th century medieval Europe. Taking the form of a classic point-and-click adventure title, everything about this game tells you this was a true passion project and every moment is something special. You’ve likely never played anything like this before and probably won’t again for sometime! [BR]
A dark and brooding sci-fi nightmare, Signalis is an experience that burned into our brains. Dripping with atmosphere, intrigue, tension and a '90s CRT aesthetic, this is a truly unique game and a triumph for fans of survival horror, who haven’t eaten this good in some time. [BR]
Tunic is an attempt to recapture the feeling of sitting in front of a games console as a kid, with only a manual and your wits to help – and it gets pretty close! An isometric homage to The Legend of Zelda, the game really shines when it asks you to collect missing pages from the in-game guide (written in a fictional language) that reveals more of the game's secrets if you're able to decode them. [AG]
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a game about rediscovery, with both the setting and structure reinvigorating experiences every good Pokéfan knows like the back of their hand. When it works its magic, it really works, and it’s certainly the most exciting Pokémon game in years. [AG]
If you're looking for another Obra Dinn-like experience, look no further. But know that the comparison by itself doesn't do this new and stellar detective mystery game full justice.
Tasking the player to investigate and make logical deductions to solve 12 narratively-connected murder cases, Color Gray Games' title puts its own spin on the sub-genre and has no shortage of satisfying moments when the clues begin to fall into place. [JL]
Citizen Sleeper is an adventure game where every action in an in-game day is determined by rolling dice from a pool that gets randomised each morning. The story is set on a believably bleak space station where sinister corporations, plucky rebels, and everyday people clash over the potential for a brighter future. The game's strengths lie in its writing, evocative art, and the way its timer-based structure builds tension. [AG]
SIE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
The sequel to 2018's God of War reboot raises the stakes in every way, with stylish and snappy combat, memorable characters, spectacular performances, and a huge world full of rewarding exploration and meaningful content to discover. It is deservedly one of the biggest games of the year. [JD]
Immortality, from Half Mermaid, is unlike anything else we played this year. The game is a mind-bending love letter to the history of cinema and physical media in general, tasking you with scrubbing through the films of fictional actress Marissa Marcel in order to solve the mystery of her disappearance (and more).
Beyond its deeply disturbing and engaging narrative, the sheer scale of Immortality’s production is a sight to behold. [AG]
Who knew worldbuilding by Game of Thrones' George RR Martin blended with a game only FromSoftware could make would work so well? Elden Ring offers a hugely compelling world, with razor-sharp combat and deep lore that kept us coming back for more, and introduced a whole new swathe of fans to the Souls-like genre, encouraging them to embrace being pushed to the limit.
Elden Ring is an incredible achievement, deserving of all of the acclaim it has received this year, and there's no debate that it is our Game of the Year. [BR]
