Things are getting heated up now as we arrive at the doorstep of our top ten most wanted games of 2022.
These are games everyone needs to get on their radar, including a long-awaited survival horror sequel, one of the best kung fu actions games we’ve ever seen, and a… cat simulator?
15. Bayonetta 3
Bayonetta has long been the hair-whipping, heel-stomping sister to Devil May Cry and other similarly over the top action games. However, since Bayonetta 2 launched exclusively on the Nintendo Wii U back in 2014, a question mark clung to the potential of there being a sequel.
Announced quite some time ago, Bayonetta 3 is still very much in development and will be ready to strut itself on the Nintendo Switch next year. Sporting a striking new look, Bayonetta finds herself battling across the besieged streets of Shibuya as she throws down against invading monsters. Luckily our pistol-wielding witch now has a new power to help even the odds – the Demon Masquerade ability lets her channel demonic powers to help wipe the screen clear of enemies.
14. Sifu
Not everyone played 2017’s Absolver, though many who did rank the martial arts RPG among their favourite games of the year. Sifu will build on the fluid and intuitive combat system the studio created when it launches next February for PS4, PS5, and PC.
A kung fu student hellbent on seeking revenge against his family’s killers, you’ll kick and punch your way through a crime-riddled city in search of answers. With over 150 attacks to learn, these can be combo’d together to help beat down thugs as combat encounters become increasingly challenging. In Sifu you will be resurrected whenever you fall in battle while also ageing, your attacks becoming stronger though your health bar will shrink.
Further Reading: Sifu Preview – Beating up an entire bar never gets old when it feels this good
13. Gotham Knights
Keen to dodge the vast shadow cast by Rocksteady’s superb Batman Arkham trilogy, Warner Bros. Montreal took a brutally, but obvious decision to kill off the caped crusader. With Commissioner Gordon also dead, Gotham is in need of a new hero… or four. You will take control of Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood as they investigate Batman’s death while also grappling with the emergence of the sinister Court of Owls.
There will definitely be some of that Arkham DNA on show, though Gotham Knights is being touted as an action roleplaying game in which you will level up, unlock new powers, and acquire gear for your superhero squad. In another first for the Arkhamverse, you will be able to bring a partner along for the ride, running missions and fighting crime together. Having seen how Marvel’s Avengers was received at launch, Warner Bros. has continued to state that this will not be a live service game.
12. Stray
With the cat lovers having invaded our judging panel, it’s no surprise to see Stray claw its way so high on this list. in fairness, even if you consider yourself more of a dog person, there’s something instantly appealing about this upcoming PS5 and PC exclusive.
You explore a rundown cybercity, trying to get back to your family while unfurling an ancient mystery. In Stray you explore this beautiful yet grimy urban jungle, leaping between rooftops, navigating a maze of neon-soaked alleyways, and tucking yourself into small nooks and crannies. This incredibly stylish game is targeting an early 2022 release.
11. Dying Light 2 Stay Human
We’re just weeks away from the launch of Dying Light 2 after what seems like an eternity of development. Despite catching glimpses of what looked like a finished game, developer Techland made the choice to delay its eagerly-awaited sequel to February 2022, no doubt wanting to polish the survival horror experience as much as it could before releasing it into the wild.
Boasting a map four times larger than Harran, Dying Light 2 fuses its improved gameplay systems with a larger focus on storytelling and consequence-driven narratives. What matters most is how the sequel is weaving melee combat, gunfights, and exploration together, giving players access to more weapons, upgrades, and parkour moves than ever before. We’re rooting for Techland to stick the landing, especially given how well the team supported Dying Light and its community since 2015.
Which games from our latest cluster of entries will you be picking up next year?
