2022 is set to be perhaps one of the biggest years for gaming, and it’s no part due to the long list of the most anticipated games finally arriving this year. Almost everyone from Nintendo to Sony to Microsoft and many more are set to unveil projects that fans have been dying to see, especially after so many of these titles were delayed as a result of the pandemic. But that has only given these devs even more time to polish, refine and push the boundaries for the next generation of gaming.
Some of the most iconic and lauded games of the last decade are set to get new entries this year, including Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War, Breath of the Wild – we could go on, but the best way to digest everything on the horizon is to list it off. Many of these games have yet to receive official release dates for this year, and that’s only driven pushed the bar even higher for what studios may have in store. For this reason, we’re excited to countdown our 10 most anticipated games of 2022!
10. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 – TBA
When the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was first announced at E3 2019, it’d be no exaggeration to say that it set the gaming fandom ablaze in a good way. The initial trailer itself was enough to spark innumerable discussions, speculation, and excitement surrounding what the game would entail, and it only got more extreme in the two years between E3 2019 and E3 2021.
Naturally, this has only made Nintendo fans even more excited to see exactly what this game has in store, to the point where even The Game Awards couldn’t ignore the hype, and not for a good reason. Breath of the Wild has only been out for 4 years, and it’s already cemented itself as a nigh-iconic piece of gaming history, selling nearly 24 million copies worldwide and counting and continuing to spark conversation, fan projects, and videos to this day. And as the sequel to such a successful title and the first direct Zelda sequel in years, it’s fair to say that the hype train won’t slow down anytime soon for this game as it heads into the new year.
9. Elden Ring – 2/25/22
No, it’s not just a myth anymore. FromSoftware’s highly-anticipated Souls-like action-adventure title is indeed real, and the wait couldn’t be more agonizing. This long-awaited collaboration between From Software and Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin was first set up for anticipation upon its reveal at E3 219, alongside games like Breath of the Wild 2, and with each passing moment, that feeling only rises and rises. Having won the Most Anticipated Game at the Game Awards 2 years in a row already, it’s clear that this studio’s nest project will leave a lasting impact once it finally arrives in 2022, no doubt due to minimal shared content on the game and various delays as a result of the pandemic.
There is hope that this year will be different and that the release date of February 25 holds water. This, alongside the reveal trailer for Elden Ring showing off the many elements players of the Dark Souls series might recognize, including beautiful visuals, an interactive open world stuffed with extensive lore, an epic and immersive fighting system, and intricate classes, is just the thing gamers have been waiting to finally get a chance to sink into for one of the year’s most anticipated games. Elden Ring’s content has been and will continue to be its biggest appeal, so we can only hope that it is finally time to enter Miyazaki’s new world.
8. God of War Ragnarok – TBA
2018’s God of War was one of the most ambitious games of the year, and Santa Monica Studio’s recently announced follow-up has only left behind a massive sea of expectations to live up to. The continuing adventure of the father-son story between Kratos and his son, Atreus, brings them into a new world a new host of characters based on Norse mythology, such as Thor and Odin. Following The climax of the 2018 God of War game, it seems their story is heading toward the titular event of the apocalyptic event known as Ragnarok and follows the now teenaged Atreus as he journeys into the Nine Realms to seek answers about his identity as Loki and a way to prevent this catastrophe.
With the reveal trailer at PlayStation’s 2020, God of War: Ragnarok’s announcement has only kept fans of the 2018 masterpiece on the edge of their seats, especially after its recent delay into 2022. With gameplay similar to the prequel and a host of Norse gods and monsters, mythical landscapes, and loot to discover and treasure, we can only hope that the arrival of God of War: Ragnarok sometime in 2022 will be long worth the wait.
7. Metal Slug Tactics – TBA
The 2021 Summer Game Fest perhaps set the stage for many of the most anticipated games 0f 2022, especially for consoles like the Nintendo Switch. One such announcement was the return of the classic Metal Slug series in a brand-new, roguelike adventure in the form of Metal Slug Tactics. Nintendo officially announced the latest installment of the Metal Slug franchise during its August Nintendo Indie World event, and the series’ return is set to make a big impact on the fans of the series, new and old.
While Metal Slug is more known for its run-and-gun shooting, this entry will transition to more turn-based tactical gameplay, with a focus on approaching fights strategically and placing your troops on the tiles and positions to seize victory. It will also add roguelike elements to help keep each run fresh and new. Still, long-time fans of the series might appreciate the retention of elements like the classic, pixel-art style, as well as the welcome return of characters like Marco, Tarma, Fio, and Eri. Oh, and let’s not forget the explosions. It wouldn’t be a Metal Slug game with lots of those.
Metal Slug Tactics is set to release on Nintendo Switch and PC sometime in 2022.
6. Sonic Frontiers – TBA (Possibly November 2022)
It’s one heck of a time to be a Sonic fan! The first official reveal of developer Sonic Team’s upcoming next installment in the legendary SEGA franchise has only been met with nothing but hype, and it’s no wonder why. Following the release of Sonic Forces, fans of the now 30-year-old series have been hoping to see how the next mainline Sonic game would continue to push the boundaries of the franchise further and what the blue blur’s next adventure would entail. And with the new trailer at the 2021 Game Awards, the expectations for Sonic Frontiers have only been set to the max!
Developed by Sega’s Sonic Team Japan and led by producer Sachiko Kawamura and director Morio Kishimoto, Sonic Frontiers is an “open-zone-inspired experience” that will feature an original storyline from Sonic Boom writer Ian Flynn and a vast landscape for players to explore.
“Sonic Frontiers is a huge leap forward for the franchise, delivering an evolved gameplay experience that can be enjoyed by longtime Sonic fans and action-adventure enthusiasts alike,” Takashi Iizuka, the creative officer at Sonic Team USA, said in a press release.
Originally announced in May as part of the Sonic Central live stream to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary, Sonic Frontiers is due to finally arrive on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X sometime in 2022, and we may already have an idea of when that may be.
5. Pokemon Legends Arceus – 1/28/22
A brand new Pokémon experience is almost here. When GameFreak revealed that Pokémon Legends: Arceus was set to be the next main series Pokémon game, it’s no exaggeration to say that fans were holding it up to incredibly high standards. The idea of an open-world Pokémon game with a vast environment to explore and battle against these majestic creatures has always felt like a concept that was only inevitable as the series made a full transition to 3D, and now it is only days away from finally happening, so it’s no wonder this is one of the most anticipated games of 2022.
It seems that with each new pocket of information on the world of Hisui, the Pokémon of the region, the gameplay, and the story, Pokémon Legends Arceus only appears to be taking the series to greater heights than it has ever reached. When fans finally journey to the distant past of the Sinnoh region on January 28, it’s clear that a journey unlike any other will await them!
4. Splatoon 3 – TBA
It’s time to return to the Splatlands! With the surprise announcement of the next installment in the Spaltoon franchise at last year’s February Nintendo Direct already set it up as one of the most anticipated games of the holiday and cemented that 2022 is going to be a year for the Switch. The highly-anticipated the still-best-selling Spaltoon 2 had been showered in rumors, speculation, and leaks for years leading up to the reveal, but those days are finally over, and the time has come for fans to grab their Ink Guns and dominate the Turf War in a whole new world!
Deep in the sun-scorched desert inhabited, battle-hardened Inklings and Octolings live their lives in Splatsville, the city of chaos, where even in this desolate environment, Turf War reigns supreme! Bit there are some new and old players in town with and new ways to cover even more ground and sling some ink! Join Agent 3 in a new battle against the evil Octarian army while discovering the secrets of Alterna, the Fuzzy Ooze, and how the truth behind the “Return of the Mammalians.”
Splatoon 3 arrives on Nintendo Switch in 2022!
3. Gotham Knights – TBA
Batman is dead. And with his death, the criminal underbelly of Gotham City has awakened like a beast from its slumber. But it’s about time to put the beast back to sleep. It’s up to the Batman Family – Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin – to protect Gotham in the Dark Knight’s place in this all-new, open-world RPG that breathes new life into these iconic comic book legends.
Bring hope back to the citizens of Gotham and solve the mysteries that connect the darkest chapters in the city’s history, and defeat the notorious villains who continue to threaten the peace as become the new Dark Knight. Gotham Knights is set to arrive sometime in 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
2. Dying Light 2: Stay Human – 2/4/22
Initially revealed at E3 2018, Dying Light 2: Stay Human has perhaps seen the worst of the long list of delays for games coming out this year. Although it was initially unveiled for a scheduled release sometime in Spring 2020, it was delayed indefinitely due to the need for more development time to work out all of the things in the Techland team’s vision. The developers then revealed a slated date of December 7, 2021, but again pushed the title back even further to February 4, 2022, in order to refine its inner workings. Lead designer Tymon Smektala has cited that there is “absolutely zero chance” that the game will be pushed back even further, and we can only hope that the time is nigh to finally dive into one of the most highly anticipated games of 2022.
Although the virus has won and humanity has fallen into the darkness, the City has attempted to retain a semblance of normal life. As a wanderer with little memory of your past, you must set out the find the answers to both who you are and what can be done to save the city in a vast, open-world RPG where you must use every skill in your arsenal to survive and, most importantly, stay human.
1. Horizon Forbidden West – 2/18/22
Following in the footsteps of one of 2017’s best-selling titles for the PlayStation, the hype surrounding Horizon Forbidden West cannot be exaggerated. Developer Guerrilla Games’ sequel to the critically and commercially acclaimed PlayStation exclusive has an insane amount of expectations to live up, but it seems that fans have little to worry about on that front. Once again, following the adventures of Aloy as she journeys across a post-apocalyptic version of the United States, focused heavily on the west coast, this cross-generation title will not only expand on everything its predecessor established but push the boundaries of both the PS4 and the PS5 and perhaps the one of if not the most anticipated games set to release this season.
Originally set to release in late 2021, Horizon Forbidden West was not immune to the curse of delays, but it seems that it is now February 18, 2022 release date is going to stick. Although the original was up against many other big releases in 2017, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it went on to sell over 10 million copies, and it would be no surprise if the sequel only increased that number. It may up against some other big releases once again, but with what’s been seen so far in its gorgeous visuals, layered combat, and immersive story, it’s fair to say that the horizon looks bright for Horizon Forbidden West.
