Pass The Controller* is a Slice of Culture series where we highlight video games, both AAA (blockbuster) and indie. Llanes will share honest and balanced opinions on what could be your next favorite game as well as some random tips every now and then!
Well, 2022 is finally here and that means it’s another year of games that will either be amazing, disappointing or end up being delayed to 2023.
So here is a guide to the top ten games to look out for in 2022… As of today because you never know what will end up being delayed.
10. Starfield
“Starfield” has the potential to be a redemption story for Bethesda Game Studios.
Fallout 76 was horrendously bad and left a huge dent on Bethesda’s reputation. This new game will be their first new IP in 25 years.
“Starfield” is also going to be the first game to use Bethesda’s new Creation Engine 2, which hopefully means that there will be a huge boost in the graphics department.
So far there is no gameplay, but I hope that this new IP is something innovative and not just “Fallout” in space.
9. Horizon: Forbidden West
When I played it back in 2017 I thought that the first “Horizon” was a bit overrated.
It wasn’t bad at all, but nothing about it was really memorable to me. However, it kinda reminded me of the first “Uncharted.” It wasn’t amazing, but the sequel could have potential. And “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” did live up to that potential.
I hope that will be the the case for “Horizon: Forbidden West”
8. Sommerville
This is from one of the co-founders of Playdead, the studio behind games such as “Limbo” and “Inside.”
The premise surrounds a family navigating the world while surviving an alien invasion of some sort. Similar to those games, “Sommerville” is a creepy indie game that uses the animations and the setting to tell the story.
7. The Callisto Protocol/Dead Space
I’m cheating here a little bit, but both games are pretty similar.
Even though I never played the “Dead Space” games, I came to appreciate the survival horror genre over the past few years.
A game set in the same universe as Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds, “The Callisto Protocol” is from some of the original developers of “Dead Space” after being laid off in 2017. Meanwhile EA is planning to put out their own remake of the original “Dead Space.”
I definitely plan on playing both to see how they pan out.
6. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Rocksteady Studios has not released a game since “Batman: Arkham Knight” in 2015. Even though “Knight” was a bit of a let down to me, it is still a high quality product.
And the newest “Suicide Squad” movie from last year brought up my hype a little bit more so I’m curious to see where this one will go. The newest trailer piqued my interest, but I want to see more of the gameplay loop and the open world.
5. Trek To Yomi
In 2020 “Ghost of Tsushima” was released and became a huge phenomenon among the gaming community.
In 2022 we’re going to have another Kurosawa inspired adventure in “Trek To Yomi.” This is a 2.5D game with a grainy black and white color palette to capture the essence of an old samurai film.
4. Elden Ring
In 2019, “Dark Souls” creator Hidetaka Miyazaki and “A Song of Ice and Fire” author George R. R. Martin announced a collaboration in the form of a brand new IP.
This new title, known as “Elden Ring,” is finally set to release this year. I’ve never really gotten that deep into Miyazaki’s games but Elden Ring’s various trailers and gameplay footage got me hooked.
This February I am prepared to die again and again and again.
3. A Plague Tale: Requiem
The first installment is an underrated gem.
“A Plague Tale” is about a young girl named Amicia who must protect her brother Hugo in the middle of a rat plague that is ravaging 14th century France. The sequel looks like it’s gonna have a bigger budget and an expanded story.
I can’t wait to see what awaits these characters.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel
It’s really odd that this game does not have a proper title yet.
Nevertheless, I’m sure that this will be a solid sequel.
When “Breath Of The Wild” released in 2017, it became an extremely influential landmark within the gaming industry. Now there are multiple companies trying to mimic the explorable open world formula.
I can’t wait to return to Hyrule and see how the innovation expands further.
1. God of War Ragnarök
2018’s “God of War” had so much critical and commercial success that a follow up was nearly guaranteed.
This soft reboot took a great and iconic character in Kratos and managed to develop and humanize him further than any of the previous installments ever could. Plus the revamped gameplay and production value were surprisingly great.
What makes me more excited for this game is how Santa Monica Studios decided to make this the final game of the Norse saga. They felt that there was no need to stretch this soft reboot to a trilogy.
I can’t wait to revisit this world and these characters and enjoy this brutal combat once more.
