The best games of 2022 so far.
The games from the first half of 2022 had us in a vice grip when they released, and if we’re being honest, they haven’t fully released us even now.
And that’s just what’s been released so far. We have six months’ worth of exciting and highly anticipated releases still to come. To celebrate this year’s bumper crop of games, let’s look back at what we’ve been playing, what we’ve been playing them on, and count down to the most exciting upcoming releases.
Best games of 2022, so far
Our pick for the best game of 2022 is Elden Ring. As quick save scummers, we were intimidated by FromSoftware games because so much hinges on your ability to survive until reaching the next checkpoint. But we’re so glad we checked out Elden Ring! The open world makes retracing steps after death so much less frustrating, because you can always approach a problem from another angle. And while we had no idea what was going on in the story (no one does, right?) The journey to become Elden Lord is one we won’t forget, full of unforgettable bosses, weird NPCs and a few surprisingly tender moments.
In between all the time we put into the Lands Between, we also loved Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. This D&D-themed spinoff single-handedly saved the Borderlands franchise, making an entire game around a 13-year-old explosives expert who just wants to play games with her friends. And as Star Wars fans, we looooved LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. The fact it recreates all nine mainline movies is incredible, and means entertainment for hours and hours. We haven’t played Kirby and the Forgotten Land yet (still neck-deep in Elden Ring when it came out) but that didn’t stop us from seeing all the memes about Mouthful Mode, Kirby’s new power that lets him swallow objects to gain their powers. This is perfect. No notes.
We’ve been spoiled for choice this year, and now that the winter chill has hit, it’s the perfect time to catch up on anything you’ve missed so far.
Best gaming accessories of 2022
As if to match the calibre of these games, there have been dreamy and cutting-edge gaming accessories released this year as well. Whether they upgrade your gaming setup, give it a makeover or expand your favourite series beyond the screen, these accessories have earned their place among our favourite gaming trends.
Alienware QD-OLED Monitor
Alienware released the first-ever QD-OLED gaming monitor this year. In addition to being brighter and more vivid than other monitors, it also features a 34-inch curved display that’s capable of HDR, a 3,440 by 1,440 resolution and 175Hz refresh rate. No wonder it’s being called the best gaming monitor you can buy right now. Just think about how nice Elden Ring would look on it…
PS5 Galaxy Collection
The beast of a gaming console got better and brighter, when Sony released this colourful collection. Instead of the default white, you can now get a Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, Galactic Purple, Midnight Black and Cosmic Red PS5 with a matching DualSense wireless controller. We can’t think of a better way to play Horizon Forbidden West than on a pink PS5 (although on a red PS5 is a close second).
Nintendo Switch cases
The Switch is the ultimate on-the-go console, so you’d best be taking care of it when you travel. Luckily, there’s a huge range of cases and accessories available for the Switch, Switch OLED and Switch Lite, so you can be safe and stylish when you’re not playing Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
Upcoming game releases
But the best is still to come! The second half of the year is packed with gaming releases we’ve been waiting for, for a long time.
Saints Row – release date: August 23
The Saints Row games are the perfect storm of GTA-style gameplay and utter mayhem. The new game may be a reboot for the series, but if the character creator is anything to go by, it’s still as wild as ever. You can customise everything from your face and hair to your skin texture, abs (finally), teeth and eyelashes. GOTY.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns – release date: October 7
This turn-based tactical RPG promises to show a darker side of Marvel than the MCU. You play as a new superhero called The Hunter, who joins forces with iconic characters like Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Iron Man and Captain America. The best part? The Hunter is fully customisable, both in terms of appearance and powers, so you can truly create your own Marvel superhero, our time has come.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – release date: November 18
That’s right – we’re getting a second Pokémon game this year. Scarlet and Violet will combine a huge open world with traditional gym challenges. And, for the first time ever in the series, Scarlet and Violet will feature four-player multiplayer so you can explore, collect and battle with your friends. Another lifelong dream realised, thank you very much 2022.
The Callisto Protocol – release date: December 2
This one’s for the horror fans. The Callisto Protocol is a spiritual successor to Dead Space, which should give you an indication of what you’re in for. Expect lots of dark and spooky hallways infested with terrifying aliens, and try to unravel a mystery on one of Jupiter’s moons. We can’t wait to be scared out of our minds playing this one with the lights on, complete with cat on lap.
