Sorry friends, family and colleagues, but our schedule for 2022 has suddenly filled up…
2021 had some incredible games – check out our picks of the 10 best of the year – but due to all things pandemic, some of the biggest and most anticipated games of the year were inevitably delayed.
So with the imminent arrival of 2022, we’ve got even more games to be unreasonably excited about.
As with all things right now, release dates are subject to change…
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Release date: 4 February
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
The first big game of the year will be a sequel to 2015’s first-person survival horror that sees you playing a parkour enthusiast trying to successfully scavenge enough to make it out of The City, which will be a full, open-world map that is said to be four times the size of the original game’s sandbox.
The Infected are not the only danger lurking in The City, and even when you think you're safe… well, it can be quite deceiving. It is not easy to #StayHuman #DyingLight2 pic.twitter.com/ZcQWGWNs9X
— Dying Light (@DyingLightGame) December 13, 2021
Sifu
Release date: 8 February
Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC
If you like old-school beat-em-ups like Streets of Rage or Fighting Force, but given a current-gen makeover, as well as a difficulty level that is reportedly set to be on par with infamously, controller-smashingly hard games like Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, then this could be the one for you.
https://twitter.com/SifuGame/status/1461412641964904448?s=20
Horizon Forbidden West
Release date: 18 February
Platforms: PS5, PS4
2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn kind of took everyone by surprise thanks to its intuitive gameplay and unique world setting, so anticipation is high for the upcoming sequel.
Players once again take control of Aloy as she heads off to a portion of post-apocalypse America previously designated a no-go zone.
Elden Ring
Release date: 22 February
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Created by Hidetaka Miyazaki (the guy behind Dark Souls) and George R. R. Martin (the guy behind Game of Thrones), this open-world action RPG will be a must-play for everyone who loves the idea of these two geniuses working together.
Which should be just about everyone, really.
https://twitter.com/ELDENRING/status/1469152097358659584?s=20
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
Release date: 28 April
Platforms: Xbox Series X, PC
13 years since the last entry in the much-loved S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise, this first-person shooter drops you back into the dangerous area surrounding Chernobyl, telling the alternative-reality story of a secondary nuclear disaster taking place there, causing strange changes to everything nearby.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Release date: Spring 2022
Platforms: PS5, PC
The first of three Bethesda releases arriving in 2022, the first being an action-adventure with a strong horror element.
When most of the population of Tokyo mysteriously vanishes, you take on the character of Akito, who suddenly finds themselves imbued with supernatural powers, which must be used to defeat invading spirits known as the Visitors.
God of War: Ragnarok
Release date: Summer 2022
Platforms: PS5, PS4
2018’s rebooted God Of War took Kratos from Greek to Norse mythology with verve and gusto, ending on a magnificent tease of what is to come for him and his teenage age son Atreus.
Set three years after the events of that first game, the duo seeks out a fallen god, while being pursued by Thor himself, looking for revenge for the death of his son at Kratos’ hands.
Redfall
Release date: Summer 2022
Platforms: Xbox Series X, PC
Bethesda’s second entry also seems to be mixing horror and action, but in a completely different way.
An open world first person shooter which will contain both single player and co-op campaigns, you find yourself on an isolated island under siege from a league of vampires.
Saints Row
Release date: 23 August
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Nearly a decade since the previous full entry in the franchise, Saints Row is getting the reboot treatment.
Pulling away from the OTT, campy, “using a dildo as a weapon” anarchy of the most recent outings, the developers have named John Wick, Baby Driver and Hobbs & Shaw as tonal touchstones for this re-up.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Release date: Autumn 2022
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
After the surprisingly great Guardians of the Galaxy, we’re now officially excited about Marvel games again.
They’ve teamed up with the much-loved XCOM series for this tactical RPG in which you create your unique character – named The Hunter – and team up with some very famous Marvel names to take on Lilith, the Mother of all Demons.
Who also happens to be your character’s mother…
Starfield
Release date: 11 November
Platforms: Xbox Series X, PC
Bethesda’s third outing for 2022 is arguably the most-anticipated, described as being “Skyrim in space”.
Set in the year 2310, you’ll control a customisable character, who works for a group of explorers at time of relative peace following a violent intergalactic war.
We’re betting that peace isn’t going to last for very long…
ARC Raiders
Release date: TBD 2022
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, PC
A free-to-play third-person co-op shooter from the former chief designer at Electronic Arts, this could be the next Fortnite / next Overwatch / next Apex Legends.
Or, to put it another way, the Next Big Thing Everyone Is Playing.
Bayonetta 3
Release date: TBC 2022
Platforms: Switch
Nintendo’s first big Switch exclusive released its first teaser trailer back in 2017!
Fans have been patiently anticipating the return of the button-smashing shooter/slasher, and while updates have been thin on the ground, apparently we will finally be controlling the demon-hunting witch again before the year is out.
Hogwarts Legacy
Release date: TBD 2022
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Set about 100 years before the events of the Harry Potter books, this open-world game will allow players to choose their Hogwarts House and which classes they wish attend, while famous locations such as the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade Village will be accessible.
Beyond that, the actual plot is still being kept relatively top secret.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel
Release date: TBD 2022
Platforms: Switch
Nintendo’s other biggie for 2022 doesn’t even have an official title yet, but will apparently directly follow up the 2017 game, which is roundly considered to be one of the greatest video games ever made.
However, of all the games on this list, we’ve a feeling that this one is the most likely candidate to find itself pushed back to 2023.
Gotham Knights
Release date: TBD 2022
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Following the deaths of Batman and Commissioner Gordon, the crime levels of Gotham have skyrocketed.
Players can control Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood or Robin to tackle the various supervillains attempting to gain control of the city.
Clip via DC, IGN, PlayStation, Bethesda, Marvel, The Game Awards, Nintendo,
