As we get ready to put our feet up for the Christmas holidays, we’ve not just been thinking about what the best games of the last 12 months have been, we’ve been thinking about the 12 months ahead as well. As is festive tradition at TSA, we’ve compiled a list of our most anticipated games of the coming year. Featuring a wide range of genres, themes, and styles, there’s a bit of everything here as we run through a whopping 50 titles slated for release in 2022.
With such a diverse span of personal tastes among the team, whittling this list down 50 was a task in itself. There are sure to be some omissions that will raise an eyebrow, as well as games that appear that you may have never heard of. Let’s kick off our most wanted games of 2022.
50. ARC Raiders
Cinching a last minute spot on our coveted list is ARC Raiders. Coming from new developer Embark Studios, this futuristic co-op shooter has you defending the planet from giant robots sent from space to wipe out the remnants of humanity.
Confirmed for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S, ARC Raiders will be free to play with an alpha test hopefully on the horizon. We’ve only seen fragments of gameplay, though it looks gorgeous. What we want to know is how the veterans at Embark will structure this sci-fi shooter, whether it will feature an open world, and what progression hooks will keep players coming each time they take down a mech.
49. Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
The wheels have been in motion for some time now, though we’re yet to see Vampire: The Masquerade make its long overdue return to the spotlight. For those completely new to the series, it is based on the popular 90s tabletop roleplaying game which was adapted into a cult hit immersive sim in 2004’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines.
While much of the focus has been placed on the upcoming Bloodlines 2, other studios are looking to flesh out this macabre universe with their own games. Swansong will take advantage of Vampire’s rich lore and world-building, having you switch between three main characters whose stories intertwine. From the same team that brought us The Council, expect consequence driven gameplay as the developer unspools yet another intriguing yarn.
48. Rainbow Six Extraction
Six years ago, Rainbow Six Siege changed the popular Tom Clancy series forever as Ubisoft set its sights on becoming the next big esports shooter. Valve’s Counter-Strike may remain king, but it’s hard to ignore the impact Siege has left with its highly tactical brand of FPS action.
Extraction puts yet another new spin on the franchise. Although still set in the Siege universe, you and your squadmates will work together to repel an alien threat known as the Archaeans. The co-op shooter is played in teams of three, featuring fan favourite Siege Operators as you’ve never seen them before. Tom Clancy purists may balk at the extraterrestrial twist, though we’re still hoping Extraction will prove to be worthy of the Rainbow Six name.
47. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins
With Final Fantasy XIV quietly waiting in the wings, an unexpected entry in the long-running series will be touching down in early 2022. Stranger of Paradise is surprising in a number of ways, from its emphasis on brutal, combo-busting gameplay through to its divisive restyling of the Final Fantasy universe.
A spin-off of the original turn-based JRPG, Stranger adopts a much darker tone as its lead characters hunt for an entity known as Chaos. From what we’ve played, they aren’t a particularly cheery bunch compared to most Final Fantasy protagonists, though maybe there’s a good reason for that. The big draw here is the combat gameplay, given Team Ninja’s track record of success with Nioh and Nioh 2. Punchy yet tactical with plenty of class-swapping customisation, it will hopefully tide us over as we await Final Fantasy XVI and Final Fantasy VII Remake Part II.
46. Kirby and the Forgotten Land
There has been no shortage of Kirby games in recent years, but very few of them rank among Nintendo’s top tier of platformers. Could our pink puffball be due for a big Super Mario Odyssey-style adventure?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land drops the usual 2D stage-hopping formula for a 3D open world brimming with bold colours and vibrant designs despite its post-apocalyptic setting. Imagine a far less mind-bending or melancholy NieR as Kirby ventures through overgrown cities and reclaimed wilderness. As always, our hero will thwart enemies by mimicking their powers, also using them to explore this abandoned world.
Join us tomorrow and throughout the rest of the month to see which games top our coveted list.
