23 Hottest Games Coming Your Way in 2022

2022 is set to be a blockbuster year for video game releases, especially with the current-generation of consoles — the Xbox Series X and PS5 — seemingly hitting their stride. From big franchise sequels to long-in-development projects aiming to drop jaws, here are the biggest games coming in 2022:

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction

Release date: 20 January 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

Rainbow Six: Siege exploded in popularity thanks to its quick gunplay and tactical elements, and the Quarantine expansion, which was initially announced as an add-on for the game, has been bolstered into a fully-fledged standalone experience. Renamed Extraction, the new Rainbow Six spin-off will utilise familiar mechanics from Siege, but force you and your squadmates to take on a new alien threat. This is a little more in line with something like Left 4 Dead or Back 4 Blood, and with the Rainbow Six magic to spice it up, it should prove to be a seriously enjoyable experience.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Release date: 11 January 2022 (PS5)

The first three Uncharted PS3 games saw remasters on the PS4, so it’s only right that the other two PS4 releases get beefed-up for PS5. The spectacular Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and shamefully underappreciated spin-off Uncharted: The Lost Legacy are bundled together in the Legacy of Thieves Collection. Both games include some improvements, including Fidelity Mode allowing you to play in 4K / 30fps; Performance Mode, which targets a 60fps frame rate; and Performance Plus Mode, which drops the resolution down to 1080p but offers a 120fps frame rate. These are already gorgeous looking games and playing them on the PS5 should enhance them even further.

Rugby 22

Release date: 27 January 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

Rugby fans will be glad to know that a new rugby game is finally arriving in 2022. Rugby 22 will feature solo and online multiplayer modes, along with a Career Mode which will see you create your own club and take them through the ranks. New and improved gameplay tweaks have also been added, including the ability to set your wing positions, create pods, adjust your defence, and a host of other options. While the reception for Rugby 20 was mixed, to say the least, the Paris-based development studio has used all its expertise in sports games (Handball 21, Rugby 18 and Rugby 20) to add improvements such as more realistic AI, difficulty that adapts better to each player’s level, and more lifelike star-player faces using photogrammetry. Official teams include the Top 14 and Pro D2 sides, along with the All Blacks, Wallabies, France, Fiji, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales, Japan, and Georgia.

Dying Light 2

Release date: 2 February 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

After numerous delays, the open-world zombie-survival parkour game Dying Light 2 will see its release in 2022. The first game was a breakout success for Techland, and the sequel looks to improve upon the first-person traversal mechanics, combat, and story, with players being tasked with teaming up (or taking down) rival factions across the sprawling city. Of course, there will be more treacherous undead abominations to deal with throughout the adventure too.

Sifu

Release date: 8 February 2022 (PS5 | PS4 | PC)

One of the most interesting (and unsung) games coming our way in 2022 is Sifu, a hand-to-hand kung fu combat game where you age the more you’re defeated. Destructible environments, slick melee fighting, and some gorgeous visuals should bump this up on your wishlist.

CrossfireX

Release date: 10 February 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | Xbox One)

From Remedy, who brought us the original Max Payne and the weirdly brilliant Control, comes CrossfireX. Now, some might be familiar with Crossfire, as the game is actually a multiplayer shooter which has been around for the past couple of years, but Remedy has now built a brand-new single-player campaign for the game, and it looks spectacular with slow-motion gunplay and bombastic set-pieces. Taking control of a number of different characters in a private military force, you’re exposed to a world of espionage and secret conflicts, but like many other Remedy games, there’s more than meets the eye in CrossfireX, as there are some unusual happenings in the world of CrossfireX.

Horizon: Forbidden West

Release date: 18 February 2022 (PS5 | PS4)

Guerilla Games are set to release a sequel to their 2017 super-hit Horizon: Zero Dawn, which will pick up on Aloy’s story as she continues to resurrect a derelict Earth following a cataclysmic event. Expect more robot-dinosaur hunting, a massive open-world, and new gameplay mechanics.

Elden Ring

Release date: 25 February 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

The team behind the beloved Dark Souls and Bloodborne series has joined forces with Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin for a new game called Elden Ring, a large open-world action RPG. The game has a very similar aesthetic and design to previous From Software games, featuring technical combat, fantastical beasts, and high fantasy themes. You’ll be able to traverse the world on foot or on horseback, and have the ability to play alone or link up online with other players too.

Gran Turismo 7

Release date: 4 March 2022 (PS5 | PS4)

It’s been a while since we’ve had a Gran Turismo game, but the Playstation 5 will bring back the beloved simulation series in stunning detail and breathtakingly nuanced visuals. Expect tons of cars, tracks, and the most meticulous of customisation options in what should be a love-letter to fans of the series.

Forspoken

Release date: 24 May 2022 (PS5 | PC)

Forspoken, the first game from Luminous Productions, is an action-adventure game that follows a normal New York City woman, Frey, who is transported to the cruel land of Athia with a magical, sentient bracelet wrapped around her arm. The game features fast melee and ranged combat and some impressive traversal mechanics that should make moving around the mysterious world a blast.

Saints Row

Release date: 23 August 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

After four primary games, the over-the-top open-world crime franchise is getting a reboot, with a new setting, new characters, and a new look and feel. Simply titled Saints Row, the new game from original developer Volition shifts the action to a Las Vegas-like setting in the desert, with new weapons, vehicles, and a zany cast of characters to embrace.

Starfield

Release date: 11 November 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PC)

Coming from the creators behind The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4, Starfield is the next big RPG from Bethesda, which will throw players into a world of uneasy alliances and intergalactic threats in the year 2310. You’ll be able to create your own character and explore a number of worlds and regions as you set out to make your mark and play the adventure how you wish to do so. It’s looking like a cross between Mass Effect and Skyrim, and we can’t wait to see more of Starfield when it touches down in 2022.

Dead Space Remake

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

2008’s sci-fi horror survival Dead Space will be getting a full built-from-the-ground-up remake in 2022, but with the remake remaining true to the core foundation and spirit of the game. The game will use the Frostbite Engine (made famous by the Battlefield series), which has allowed the developers to expand and improve on the level design, combat mechanics, and story. The developers added that their true vision for the game can finally be realised thanks to the advancements in technology, with ray-tracing, atmospheric lighting, and 3D audio implemented; so we’re excited for this one.

Ghostwire Tokyo

Release date: TBC 2022 (PS5 | PC)

Tango Gameworks, the studio that was behind The Evil Within series, will see its next game, Tokyo Ghostwire, launch in 2022. It’s a first-person supernatural action-horror game set in Japan that sees players having to harness a wealth of powers in order to deal with the invading evil forces. It looks weird, mysterious, and should provide some mind-bending moments that only Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami and his team know how to deliver.

God of War Ragnarök

Release date: TBC 2022 (PS5 | PS4)

God of War: Ragnarok will pick up following the event’s of 2018’s God of War soft reboot/sequel, whereby Kratos and his son Atreus move further into the Norse realm in order to deal with the impending cataclysmic Ragnarok, while still making some already angry gods a whole lot more bloody. The combat looks even tighter than the first game, and there’s no doubt that God of War: Ragnarok will feature some truly spectacular moments.

Gotham Knights

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

In a similar vein to the Batman Arkham games, Gotham Knights sees Batman’s understudies taking the reins to stop Mr. Freeze and other villains from wreaking havoc on Gotham after Batman’s death. While the villains and setting are very similar to recent Arkham games, Gotham Knights takes place in a separate universe to the Arkham universe introduced in past Batman games. The game stars Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin, and will use stealth and melee combat as per previous Arkham games. The game will feature two-player online co-op, five boroughs of Gotham City for players to explore, the ability to drive around via Batcycle, and an arsenal of combat and gear that will grow as the game progresses.

Shadow Warrior 3

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

The rebooted Shadow Warrior series hasn’t received the praise it deserves, but hopefully, with the franchise getting its slick-looking third instalment, 2022 is the year for Shadow Warrior 3 to shine. The game will once again bring frantic gunplay and sword-slicing action as you hack and shoot your way through some truly demonic monstrosities. Add in some fantastic free-running abilities to bound off walls and scale structures and you’ve got yourself one of the most action-packed shooters arriving in 2022.

Six Days in Fallujah

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

Six Days in Fallujah was once upon a time dead and buried for being too controversial. However, the modern military shooter, which chronicles the events of the battles in Fallujah, has been revived. This is set to be a no-holds-barred, ultra-realistic tactical FPS experience to fully showcase the brutality of the real-world gunfights which took place.

The Day Before

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

Post-apocalyptic survival game The Day Before seemingly came out of nowhere, but the open-world action MMO is geared to launch in 2022. You’ll need to scavenge the derelict cities, explore the vast countryside, and loot anything you can for craftable valuables, all while avoiding other players and the deadly infected.

Sniper Elite 5

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC)

Rebellion’s Sniper Elite games are always Nazi head-popping and testicle-shooting affairs, and we can’t wait for the fifth instalment to arrive in 2022. The new entry takes the sharpshooting to France, where series hero Karl Fairburne has been tasked with investigating and destroying Operation Kraken, a secret Nazi project that threatens to end the war before the Allies can even invade Europe. Expect a lot of slow-motion sniping, stealthy sneaking, and some gunfights when things go awry.

Sonic Frontiers

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | Switch | PC)

Sonic the Hedgehog will make his first foray into the open-world genre, which should be interesting to see how the speedy abilities of Sega’s anthropomorphic mascot are utilised in a sandbox environment. Not too much else is known, but it looks promising from the initial footage, and will release in late 2022.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

Coming from Rocksteady Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, this Suicide Squad game sees players take control of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and King Shark, who begrudgingly embark on a mission to take down the Superman, The Flash, and the rest of The Justice League. Gameplay will be similar to that of the Arkham games, focusing on third-person exploration and combat, but players will have the ability to switch between the various supervillains in order to use their respective special powers.

Two Point Campus

Release date: TBC 2022 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | Switch | PC)

One of the unsung breakout hits of 2019 was Two Point Studios’ first game, Two Point Hospital, a homage to classic management sims of yesteryear like Theme Hospital, but with some modern flair. The studio’s next project will utilise the foundations built with Two Point Hospital, and expand them to a college management sim, allowing you to run a full educational institution, which will undoubtedly pose its own hilarious challenges and hurdles.

Which games are you most looking forward to in 2022? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.