2022 was a big year for gaming. From Elden Ring to Vampire Survivors, it was a successful year for blockbuster epics and indie breakouts.
We’ve spent the past week recapping end-of-the-year award winners. We also discussed some of our favorite games from 2022. What are others thinking? A recent post on Reddit gives us a glimpse into people’s favorite titles from last year.
Let’s go over twenty games from 2022 that stood out to people for good and bad reasons.
High on Life
The first-person shooter from Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland is one of the most popular games on Xbox Game Pass.
While the humor isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, people are noticing the attention to detail in the game’s background and environments.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder’s Revenge
Dotemu
Shredder’s Revenge is a love letter to the old-school arcade beat-em-up titles.
The game works as a nostalgic trip to the games you remember from childhood while doubling as a modern reinvention of the genre.
Marvel’s Avengers
Square Enix
The Crystal Dynamics developed action RPG based on the Marvel superhero team released in 2020 to a tepid response. Despite this, the game has found an audience post-release.
One Redditor says, “We’re probably like the only people on Earth that don’t think this is a terrible game. It’s not amazing and is bug-ridden but I enjoy running and around killing stuff. It’s consistently one of the games me and my friends play together.”
Sid Meier’s Civilization
The same person enjoying Marvel’s Avengers can’t get enough of the popular turn-based strategy game.
Who can blame them? The Civ series has always been known for its addictive and engaging gameplay. The phrase “just one more turn” is famous for a reason. Plus, Civilization 6 recently saw some new content updates!
Elden Ring
One of the year’s best games, Elden Ring, is lighting up everyone’s Game of the Year list.
The latest game developed by FromSoftware is a hit with fans and critics alike. So it’s not a surprise to see it appear on this list.
Mortal Shell
Sometimes the best games you find are the ones you get for free. That’s the case for one Redditor with Mortal Shell.
Sadly, it’s not standing out for the right reasons. While it shares a lot in common with other Soulslike games, it’s one of the worst in the genre for many.
Sonic Frontiers
Some people have enjoyed their time with Sonic Frontiers. It was nominated for the Players Voice award at The Game Awards.
Most people, however, did not like this game. “I’m somewhat amazed that this game seems to have received a relatively good reception, because it seems terrible to me on all fronts,” one Redditor states. “Everything about this game is totally bland, including the story. What a disaster. I even enjoyed Sonic Forces more than this.”
Citizen Sleeper
Fellow Traveller
One of the sleeper hits of 2022, Citizen Sleeper, is one of 2022’s best games. But, sadly, it hasn’t received the recognition it deserves.
The story-driven sci-fi adventure features incredible art direction and several available endings that are all near perfection.
Valheim
Believe it or not, the popular Norse survival sandbox game is still in early access. A full release is set for this year.
The game is best when playing with friends, capturing the best parts of the genre. Some comments even say it’s the best survival game they’ve played.
Sea of Thieves
Xbox Game Studios
The Xbox-exclusive pirate adventure from developer Rare continues to perform well.
One comment says, “Now THIS is peak multiplayer. Just three or four drunk idiots on a boat getting into pirate shenanigans. This game is ALWAYS a blast and it’s such an easy drop-in-drop-out kind of game. Which the industry desperately needs more of.”
Overwatch 2
The anticipated release of Overwatch 2 was controversial. Many comments say that its monetization and scummy practices turn people off.
If you can get past that, however, many agree that the gameplay is stellar and some of the best in the genre.
Cyberpunk 2077
2022 continues to be the year of Cyberpunk 2077.
After a rocky launch and several updates, the game is starting to reach its true potential. Its fans are begging those skeptical about giving the game a shot.
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
Moving from one CD Projekt RED game to another, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition is the re-release of the original Witcher game.
It may feature some of the quirks of a game developed 15 years ago, but that also makes it special.
Marvel Snap
The newest mobile card game is one of the best in the genre.
“Very surprised at how engaging and addictive it is. Kept me hooked for a good while,” says one Redditor. “Even though the game seems simple at first glance (6 turns, 12-card decks), there’s plenty of strategy and compelling decision-making. The randomized locations each match keep things dynamic and fresh, and I’m stunned there’s actually quite a lot of variety in deck archetypes and card effects.”
Lost Ark
When it was released, Lost Ark had a significant buzz. It’s certainly better than its main competitor, Diablo Immortal.
“The animations and overall feel of the moves in this game are unmatched by any other isometric-style RPG, in my opinion,” one Redditor praises.
Steam Deck
Technically, the Steam Deck isn’t a game, but it was a major part of gaming in 2022.
With the success of the Nintendo Switch, the demand to play PC and console games on the go rose. The Steam Deck lets you play higher-end games that you previously had to only play on your home computer. Best of all, they’re regularly in stock now!
Persona 5 Royal
The massively popular JRPG saw a re-release in 2022.
Persona 5 Royal is one of the best games of all time. It improves on the original Persona 5, which is already one of the greatest JRPGs ever released. It’s now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Monster Hunter Rise
Speaking of re-releases, the former Nintendo Switch exclusive Monster Hunter title is now available on all platforms.
While many agree that Monster Hunter Rise can’t meet the quality of Monster Hunter World, it’s still a fantastic game in the franchise. Fans hope the next Monster Hunter game can adapt the best practices from World and Rise.
Immortals Fenyx Rising
While many dismiss Immortals Fenyx Rising as a Breath of the Wild clone, Fenyx Rising has found an audience.
“In spite of the stupid name, I’m enjoying this way more than AC Valhalla,” says one fan. “Ubisoft has never done story-telling well, so it’s nice that this game’s tone has more levity and isn’t afraid to poke fun at itself or its mythological source material. I’m actually enjoying the banter between Zeus and Prometheus – Zeus is played perfectly as a nefarious himbo.”
God of War Ragnarök
It’s no surprise that one of the year’s biggest games stood out to many.
God of War Ragnarök is the best PlayStation 5 game of the year and the recipient of many Game of the Year awards as well.
