Exciting experiences are afoot in the world of gaming. 2021 had some great games, but 2022 is set to deliver hugely-anticipated installments of multiple franchises, as well as some interesting newcomers with plenty of promise.
Here, the biggest video games slated to arrive in 2022.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
The original Breath of the Wild wasn’t just Maxim’s 2017 game of the year, it helped make the Nintendo Switch a must-have console on a global level. Now Link is set to return to Hyrule with some new powers, a new plot and, hopefully, some old friends. It’s hard to imagine a sequel more highly anticipated than this and, with a little luck, Nintendo stays on track with their nebulous 2022 launch date.
Horizon Forbidden West
Aloy returns for more adventures exclusively on Playstation. Guerilla Studios may have carved a reputation for themselves with their shooter franchise Killzone but shifting gears to the open-world adventures of Horizon has cast the studio in an entirely new and excellent light. As Horizon Forbidden West approaches its February 18th 2022 launch date, an even bigger, better adventure awaits.
God of War: Ragnarok
Taking place three years after the previous God of War, Kratos and Atreus set out on a new quest for answers and are likely to run into a couple vengeful gods along the way. Ragnarok is the Norse version of Armageddon so rest assured there’ll be plenty of action, deities to smite and waste to lay in Playstation’s premiere father/son bonding simulator.
Bayonetta 3
It’s not often that Nintendo gets as sexy as it does in the Bayonetta series so there’s good reason to look forward to the third installment of this action title. Nevermind that the main character is an absolute badass and the gameplay is unique when compared to the typical family-friendly offerings that are a hallmark of Nintendo exclusives.
Starfield
Now that Bethesda Software is firmly in Microsoft’s camp, their first Xbox-exclusive has taken the shape of Starfield, an action-RPG set in a space-based sci-fi world. There’s still much to be revealed about the final form Starfield will take but with Bethesda’s pedigree being applied to space exploration, it’s hard not to be excited.T his is definitely one to watch as its November 11th release date nears.
Gran Turismo 7
Playstation’s premiere racing simulator is finally getting the PS5 treatment and that means tons of cars and absolutely gorgeous graphics. The GT series has always been challenging with real life physics that force gamers to take caution and drive carefully. That said, owners of PS5s will be happy to know they only have to wait until March 4th to have a first-party racing title that’ll give Xbox’s excellent Forza series a run for its money on the next-gen console.
Elden Ring
The spiritual successor to the Dark Souls franchise is turning to the world of fantasy for inspiration. Mixing open worlds with action gameplay and RPG elements, it remains to be seen if the moody haze of the game will provide the same signature, controller-throwing level of difficulty that FromSoftware loves to pack into their games. All will be revealed when Elden Ring drops on February 25th.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Borderlands is finally branching out and giving one of their most charismatic (and insane) characters the love she deserves. Gamers got a glimpse of what a Tiny Tina game would look like back in the DND-inspired DLC for Borderlands 2, so it’s no surprise she’s getting her own game. With Borderlands’ signature style and first-person shooter gameplay plus dynamic online co-op and voice work from the likes of Andy Samberg and Will Arnett, this is definitely one to grab when it comes out on March 25th.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Originally announced at E3 in 2019, Ghostwire: Tokyo’s style was immediately captivating. As development progressed, it became known that the game would take the form of a first-person action-adventure mystery about supernatural abilities and otherworldly visitors. While the game seems to draw some inspiration from the cinema masterpiece Akira (the main character’s name is Akito and that doesn’t seem coincidental) only time will tell if that’s actually the case when Ghostwire: Tokyo drops some time in 2022.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Rocksteady, the studio behind the pitch-perfect Arkham series of Batman games, has crossed over to the dark side for their take on the iconic villains of the Suicide Squad. Only it’s not dark at all, instead opting for a technicolor acid-trip style to somehow complement the hardcore violence packed into the game. Featuring four playable members of the Squad (Harley, Deadshot, King Shark and Captain Boomerang) the game will be playable both solo and as a four-player co-op. With a brainwashed Justice League to kill and a Metropolis to destroy, 2022 is set to be a good year for the bad guys.