7 Best Games of 2022

2022 has been a bumper year for games, with some long-awaited sequels, new franchises, and incredibly ambitious games seeing their release; but when it comes to which games stood tallest, which titles deserve the nod of approval for the best of 2022?

Sniper Elite 5

Available on:  Xbox One | PS4 | Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Switch | PC

The much-loved, Nazi testicle-destroying franchise returned in its best form, as Sniper Elite 5 delivered another sharpshooting adventure for players to indulge in. Much like a WWII Hitman, you’re dropped into a sandbox environment and tasked with taking out a VIP, planting some bombs, stealing documents, or a variety of other primary and secondary tasks. You’re free to go about doing these in any order and how you see fit, and that freedom of choice is where the game shines. Sniper Elite 5 does have some awkward invisible walls and the odd choppy animation, but nothing that breaks the experience. Thankfully, everything that was great about the series was beefed-up, with replayability at an all-time high thanks to the bigger and denser levels.

Evil West

Available on:  Xbox One | PS4 | Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC

Evil West feels like a game from a bygone period of the last couple of generations, and we mean that in the best of ways. It’s direct, confident, and delivers simple mechanics but a wealth of ways to combo them together for a fun gameplay loop that sees you take control of a steampunk vampire hunter in this third-person action adventure. It’s weirdly reminiscent of gems like Wet and 50 Cent: Blood in the Sand, and much like those games, Evil West will likely become a cult classic in years to come.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

Available on:  Xbox One | PS4 | Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Switch | PC

A sequel to one of the most unique and underappreciated hits of 2019, A Plague Tale: Innocence, delivers a historical-supernatural adventure following a young woman and her brother who has the ability to control rats. Requiem follows a similar set-up to the first game, requiring you to overcome enemies, obstacles, and puzzles using whichever route you choose: whether it be stealth, sneak attacks, or the environment. However, the sequel adds a lot to the formula, allowing you to trick enemies with more environmental hazards, along with new weapons and abilities which are a lot of fun to experiment with. Of course, the game is still very much a linear experience, and a great one at that. It’s a joy to play through, is breathtakingly beautiful and delivers another heart-tugging story about siblings fighting for one another’s survival.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Available on:  Xbox One | PS4 | Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is a fitting sequel for the more focused and refined experience that we’re witnessing with the latest CoD entries on current-gen hardware. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t really need to, as the Call of Duty formula is one that works, and works well. The campaign will tickle fans of the series, giving them 5-6 hours of entertainment, and the multiplayer, while familiar, is a little slicker this time around thanks to some small tweaks.

God of War: Ragnarok

Available on: PS4 | PS5

2018’s soft-reboot/sequel to the beloved hack-‘n-slash God of War franchise proved to be a massive risk, but a huge hit. As a result, the sequel, God of War: Ragnarök, had some lofty expectations after its predecessor’s praise, and it’s satisfying to say that while Ragnarök doesn’t add too many new things, it also doesn’t fall into the ‘sequelitis’ problem of trying too hard, rather giving fans another adventure that feels very much like a ‘Part 2’ of an on-going journey. Truth be told, it’s not a massive leap forward. However, the first game was such a giant stride in its own right that calling this a worthy successor is a compliment of the highest order. God of War: Ragnarök is a must-play for anyone who owns a PS5 or PS4.

Horizon: Forbidden West

Available on: PS4 | PS5

Horizon: Forbidden West is massive, jaw-droppingly gorgeous, challenging, and a notable step up from the previous game, Horizon: Forbidden Dawn. Its hunting, combat, and exploration mechanics have all been refined, and an added dose of cinematic quality to the story moments makes Forbidden West one of the best games you can play on the Playstation platform. If you love open-world adventures with ferocious and challenging combat mixed in with some puzzles, jaw-dropping visuals, and a gripping post-apocalyptic story, you don’t need to think twice about picking up Horizon: Forbidden West.

Elden Ring

Available on:  Xbox One | PS4 | Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC

Elden Ring is easily the biggest, most difficult, and gorgeous game to come out of the From Software studio. While it does try and differentiate itself, it does feel like a Souls game — the look, HUD, mechanics, and overall design of the game are very similar to those entries. That’s not a bad thing, though, as fans of the previous releases will feel right at home with Elden Ring. Technical combat, grotesque beasts, and high-fantasy are still name of the game here, however, the addition of being able to travel and fight on horseback is a great addition, giving you another combat option where possible. It’s not for everyone, and you will get punished a few times before you find your feet and begin to systematically work through the enemies and bosses, but it’s a great adventure for those that like a challenge.

Which game was your favourite of the year? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.