Game News' Top 28 Games of 2022

Well, it’s that time of year again everyone! 2022 has been quite a year with many great games, so many in fact we really did have trouble putting them on this list. And so, we have a few honourable mentions before the main list. Now, these lists are just a bit of fun and whatever you liked, loved or enjoyed the most will differ from person to person. We love these games and much more that came out this year, and 2022 just proved that gaming is back on track (despite many people saying otherwise… who clearly need to play more games or expand their reach).

A couple of notes before we move on, Game-News always has a top 28 list, with the top ten being the set of games which are prime and stand above the rest in some way (again, all these games and many more were absolutely great!). But this year, we’re having Top 14 instead of top 10 games! As there were a few more games were really felt needed the highest of high praise. And this will highlight half of the main list!
We will have some honourable mentions which are games that were really liked and wanted to show our love for them as they did something meaningful for fans and such.



Honourable mentions


Midnight Fight Express – Extremely fun and enjoyable beat ‘em up, a powerhouse showcases of the single developer who made it!


OlliOlli World – The return of OlliOlli which is super fun, super addictive, and super challenging!


Trek to Yomi – Visually striking and intensely brutal. A love letter to a bygone era of Japanese filmmaking that truly strikes the heart for its presentation, film quality aesthetics and storytelling.

Infernax – A great retro throwback that feels like a time capture of the Snes era with some neat modern-day mechanics to enhance the gameplay loop.


Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef – Warhammer in a different light, with plenty of cartoony carnage, blood and guts, and epic action from the talented developers of Gore, Guns and Cannelloni.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – A great throwback to the days when the Ninja Turtles were kings of the arcade, with awesome side-scrolling action and visual presentation.


Sonic Frontiers – While not perfect, it is a bold step in the right direction, which fans have been waiting for, for such a long time. Fun speedy action, plenty of fun things to do and is definitely the way for Sonic to go.


Madison – This bleak and terrifying horror title is plenty unpleasant and horrifying, with some unique mechanics and cool scares.


The Callisto Protocol – Okay, wow (don’t eat us alive for mentioning this game!), a highly diverse game with plenty of problems, but also some very promising concepts which we hope get fleshed out in the sequel. There is so much here which works and overall, is a decent fun game, which needs more to it to be exceptional. We enjoyed it, and we hope there is a sequel to improve what didn’t work.



Right, let’s get on with it and here is Game-News Top 28 Games of 2022!!



28. The Chant

Ever wanted to venture through a 70’s inspired psychedelic nightmare filled with cosmic horror plant life? Then The Chant is the game for you. It came under the radar, but this AA horror game really did show what excellent games a small team of passionate game developers could make! One of the few horror games this year to truly be scary in many ways, offering exceptional visuals, gripping melee combat and excellent level design. The Chant does many things right, which certain other horror games on bigger budgets couldn’t do …


27. Loopmancer

Another title which many might have not played or even heard of. Loopmancer is a mixture of Metroidvania and Roguelike, that really deserves so much more attention. A little clunky for sure, but a game which has an immense and gripping gameplay loop, a cool story and visuals is awesome, considering this is an indie title! Loopmancer makes our list for being a solid, and enormously enjoyable mash-up of two very different genres and pulling it off so well.


26. As Dusk Falls

This year has been awesome for narrative-driven adventures, and As Dusk Falls is simply one of the best. With a great visual novel art style, and an immense narrative filled with loss, tragedy and redemptive themes, As Dusk Falls will keep you invested throughout, with its meaningful choices and compelling multiple paths in the story.


25. Shadow Warrior 3

The return of glorious Wang was a sure treat for 2023! While somewhat short-lived, Wang managed to do what he does best, and deliver some immensely satisfying action and laughs! THe combat arenas were inventive, the enemy designs wicked, the combat smooth and relentless and Wang himself is a stellar leading man for such a f***ed-up adventure, which left us wanting so much more. We love Wang (yes, we said it) and hope another Shadow Warrior like this is on the cards at Flying Wild Hog.


24. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby’s latest adventure was kind of overlooked this year but stood out as one of the best, if not the best family game to play. Kirby and the Forgotten Land gave us an amazing adventure, with excellent platforming, gorgeously cute visuals and high replay value, which came together in a game that would make Mario jealous. We can’t recommend Kirby’s latest venture enough to families and Nintendo fans, so pick it up now!


23. Rollerdrome

From the insanely gifted developers of Not a Hero and OlliOlli World comes a brutal, and the immensely enjoyable blood sport of death, skill, and rollerblading. Rollerdrome manages to pull off a cool pop-art visual style, with excellent and fluent rollerblading controls, and tight/gratifying gunplay. Another example of how the indie scene just brings us some of the best and most original gaming experiences!


22. Neon White

Neon White is a rather remarkable and dynamic little game, mixing parkour and a card base system for attacks and manoeuvring, to form an innovative spectacle that truly stands high above the rest in the indie scene. It’s a visually striking game, with plenty of weirdness and wonder to hook you in and gratifying and rewarding gameplay loop which will keep you invested. It’s immensely challenging and highly rewarding to those quick-thinking gamers!


21. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West is a very good game, in some ways it’s an immensely great game. But while it doesn’t do anything new, dynamic, or exciting compared to the likes higher on the list, it’s a great game nonetheless. With plenty of action, a stunning world to explore and cool creature designs which are some of the most unique in the gaming space, Horizon Forbidden West is an excellent adventure that makes owning a PS5 essential (or a good PC!).


20. The Quarry / The Devil in Me

Supermassive Games are pros at their own game style, making some of the best narrative-driven gore fests on the market. They’ve brought us two games this year, with the final part of season one’s The Dark Pictures Anthology, and their latest full release The Quarry. Both an excellent, and deliver on the frights, gore, tortured choices and so much more, that we don’t want them to stop making these games. We hope to see more from Supermassive Games, and if you loved Until Dawn, then definitely check out The Quarry!


19. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Lego will always be fun and seeing all the Lego Star Wars games brought together, refined, remade and remastered was one of the best gaming experiences this year. The Skywalker Sega was something we really needed this year, just a fun collection of great games which are great for both young and old gamers. With hours of endless fun, tons of unlockable content and mixing two great brands, The Skywalker Sega is a must for any gamer!


18. Bayonetta 3

The legendary witch is back, in another epic and sexy adventure, which breaks the mould of hyper-intense action gameplay! Bayonetta 3 delivers some of the most straightforward fun in the genre, and while the limitations of the Nintendo hardware are somewhat holding it back, it’s still a thoroughly brutal, challenging, and entertaining gaming experience which no fan should miss!


17. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2

(In Captain Price voice) Right lads, I’ll be the first to say that Call of Duty has recently had a few bumpy entries and has struggled to reclaim those glorious days of the HD era. But the reboot of Modern Warfare has continued to push the boundaries and with MW2, we finally have one of the best in both recent memory and out of the franchise. MW2 manages to capture the grittiness needed to elevate the series but also has refined gunplay, a great level of variety in its gameplay and level design and just feels immensely polished and of high quality. MW2 really stands out as one of the best Call of Duty games recently and sits high and proud among the best like the original MW and Black Ops.


16. Immortality

FMV video games are still going strong, despite the niche appeal (or so it might seem), and continue to provide some of the best writing and acting in the gaming space. Immortality has it's all, a gripping sense of choice, superb acting and a fantastic story! While the genre may never get to the highs of say First Person Shooters, the platform is ever thankful for these beautifully executed dramas, which will stand the test of time, and be so much more than just an interactive movie.


15. Vampire Survivors

Wow! It’s incredible to see a small indie game with little marketing just come right out of the blue and make such an immense impact, right? Vampire Survivors is incredibly simple in concept, yet its highly engaging and rewarding gameplay loop will keep you playing for hours on end. It looks cool visually, with a clear inspiration from the older Castlevania games, and has gameplay mechanics which anyone can pick up and play. This will surely have plenty of imitators for sure!


Right, everyone, here is the top 14 games of 2022!


14. Pentiment / The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante




Okay, so this is a bit of a cheat, but both games are quite similar and very different at the same time. Yet are both fantastic in their own ways.

Pentiment and The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante are not for everyone, but those interested in the historical drama, with evolving narratives based on choices made by the player and a gripping world-building, will love both these titles! From their unique visual styles to the confidently complex and engaging handling of choice and consequence, both games are vastly compelling with great narratives, and a sense of choice which unfolds the story in meaningful ways and delivers the most unique gaming experiences this year. Truly both are extraordinary games in more ways than one.


13. Endling – Extinction is Forever




Endling is a beautiful yet haunting game, which will make you respect and appreciate nature in all its wonderful glory. This is a survival game many have looked over, but it truly deserves more attention and love, for its sublime visuals, intimate gameplay loop and sense of gravitas as you care for yourself and your fox cubs. It’s heart-wrenching and so immensely powerful, that we can’t let it slip by, due to its naturing gameplay, beautiful art style and heartbreaking message that really needs to be heard.


12. Cult of the Lamb




What a cute game with adorable lambs and other critters who run a cult … oh lord! Yeah, we can’t help but laugh at the concept of a cute, cartoony game featuring sweet-looking animals running an evil cult where you must manage it, dive into various dungeons for resources and conduct many rituals to appease the Gods. Cult of the Lamb is quirky, charming, and highly engaging, with solid roguelike gameplay, interesting cult management mechanics and a great sense of flow and pacing to keep you invested throughout.


11. Stray




Yep, yep, yep, it’s a game with a cat and the internet went crazy. But Stray manages to deliver a heart-warming, and visceral journey through a beautiful sci-fi world filled with sorrow where humanity is gone and all that remains are friendly robots and all manner of cosmic body horror! Playing as a cat is a great change of pace from other adventure titles and Stray manages to incorporate all those cool little things cats do and much more. It's visually striking and has a dense and detailed world to explore, with some great puzzles and set pieces that make it a simple, yet humble and highly enjoyable feline venture with plenty of heart and soul.


10. Evil West




Evil West is a fantastic blast from the past (not like the retro Boomer shooter kind, but rather 2010’s teen millennial kind!) that deserves more love and attention. It seems like Evil West is a sure-fire cult classic in the making, with its weird and awesome array of monsters, guns and epic gore, all set within a dark, and gothic western backdrop that looks really gorgeous! What makes Evil West top of the crop this year, is just how straightforward and honest it is as a game. It has brilliant combat, great level design, looks and sounds awesome and above all, it just doesn’t mess around with gamers, by implementing microtransactions and all that nonsense. It’s good old, 2010 style of gaming fun… which we do need more of in today’s gaming landscape.


9. Sifu




Sifu was a game that really surprised everyone when it came out near the start of 2022. Looking like a typical, yet visually impressive brawler, Sifu managed to surpass our expectations and be something wholly unique and refined, becoming a massive, and an innovative cult classic. Not only was the combat slick and perfected, its visual presentation stunning but the compelling dynamics of death made Sifu one of the most engaging and compelling fighters not only for 2022 but the last few years! Truly a monumental indie classic that truly breathes new life into the genre.


8. Nobody Saves the World!




Starting 2022 with a bang, Drinkbox Studios, the makers of the awesome Guacamelee, brought us this immensely brilliant clash of concepts. Mixing together various elements of the old Zelda games, with a rapid changing class-based system and add in a handsome helping of exceptional ARPG combat mechanics, and you have one of the best games of the year! Nobody Saves the World was a great sign that 2022 would be a magnificent year in gaming, and while many may not recall it or other early releases (unless it was Elden Ring), Nobody Saves the World is truly a shining highlight of 2022 and one of the best indie games you can play right now.


7. God of War Ragnarok




We’re not going to lie, Sony knows how to pull off massive, refined, and epic projects, and God of War Ragnarok is top of the tier for their Playstation exclusives list. While we personally felt God of War 2018 was better in many ways, Ragnarok still excels with its stellar combat, visual presentation, sound design and some genuinely great moments in the story from Kratos. It’s simply mind-blowing to see the evolution of the God of War games, from extremely fun/arcade-ish ventures of button mashing, gore and QTE sex scenes, to a superior journey of a father raising his son through the darkest and most turmoil of times. Ragnarok feels very immense, and at times a little sluggish, but those moments which hit right, do so phenomenally well, and if was the last chapter of the franchise, we would be proud to see God of War end on a magnificent note.


6. Forgive Me Father




What do you get when DOOM meets Cthulhu? You get one of the most awesome retro-inspired FPSs out this year! Forgive Me Father is a truly inky, blast from the past that offers intense, tight shooting and horror that resembles something uniquely from the 1990s era of PC shooters. Cosmic horror has been seen in many games recently, but Forgive Me Father gives great shooting and combat, but also heavily involves cosmic elements in its core gameplay in meaningful ways. It’s a refreshing blast from the past and stands out in a sea of retro-inspired shooters, with its cool art style, enjoyable shooting, and inky horror!


5. Sunday Gold




Gorblimey! What do we have ‘ere?! Sunday Gold is another surprising title to come out in 2022 and one that truly needs more attention. We’re big fans of the classic point-and-click adventures such as Broken Sword, and like survival horror games, there needs to be more! Sunday Gold is a rather brilliant point-and-click adventure with bleakly dark thematic elements, an exceptionally written story that will hook you till the end and gratifying and engaging turn-base combat system. Sunday Gold stands out as one of the best-written games of the year, and sadly a bleak reminder of how jolly the UK is right now!


4. Signalis




While survival horror has returned to gaming, with the likes of the RE2 remake, and upcoming Dead Space and RE4 remakes (a lot of remakes…), 2022 has not been the best year for horror games. Yet, we did get an amazing surprise with the likes of Signalis, a retro-inspired survival horror, infusing dark Sci-Fi, horror, lateral thinking, and extreme violence (get that reference?). Signalis is an immense experience, with excellent exploration, intense combat and horror that will unnerve you to the core. We hope to see more indie and AAA horror games, which are as exceptional as Signalis.


3. A Plague Tale: Requiem




Sequels are a difficult thing to pull off, and The Last of Us proved just because you have a great first game, doesn’t mean the sequel will match that. But A Plague Tale: Requiem, is simply sublime as a sequel and as a phenomenally grand single-player dark adventure, with a gripping story, compelling stealth/action gameplay and visually stunning set pieces and world that left us breathless at times. Asobo Studios have proved themselves immensely as a powerhouse developer, able to match the likes of Naughty Dog, pushing their craft to new heights and making them one of the most promising developers of single-player games in recent memory. A Plague Tale: Requiem is simply one of the most profound single-player games of this generation, which will be just as influential as The Last of Us.


2. Elden Ring




Elden Ring is so much more than a game, it is a social experience like no other in interactive media. It sets the bar high and is a prime figure (among the likes of Hades, A Plague Tale, Undertale) that shows gaming is truly an art form. Taking everything that worked for previous Souls-borne games and integrating those elements into an open-world format, that managed to be enthralling, highly rewarding and simply, one of the best open-world experiences ever made. While we feel Bloodborne is the best game developed by From Software, Elden Ring is an immense experience that is massively accessible, and just does nearly everything right, and even better than right.

We can not wait to see what FromSoft comes up with next.


1. Tunic




Our game of 2022 might not be as big a budget as the last few titles, but the impact we felt with Tunic is unmeasurable.

Tunic is without a doubt one of the most mesmerising, wholesome and rewarding adventure games, that can quite easily compete with the likes of the best Zelda titles. Don’t get us wrong, we love Elden Ring, A Plague Tale and other adventure games on this list, but Tunic proves that indie games have the same capability to connect us emotionally on entirely new levels, deliver engaging and rewarding gameplay mechanics and isn’t afraid to challenge us laterally without any hand holding (Not mentioning the guilty party from this list). It's visually beautiful, challenging in all the right ways, and managed to have some of the best exploration, boss encounters and above all, a sense of mystery and wonder which very few games manage to do well, let alone perfect it. Everything about it is just perfect and Tunic is a must for any gamer, young or old.



That’s it everyone! Thanks for joining us for another end-of-year list and let’s hope 2023 brings us all peace, joy and even more awesome video games! And thanks to everyone who supports Game-News and reads our reviews. Look forward to seeing you all in 2023.