ComingSoon’s Holiday Gaming Gift Guide 2022: Game Edition

There were a ton of incredible games in 2022 that ranged from re-releases, new experiences, bundles, and well-done ports. It can be a lot to keep track of, so here are our favorite games from 2022. We will also possibly be adding more entries since games keep releasing so be sure to keep checking back.

Console Exclusives

Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West wonderfully expands upon everything Zero Dawn did in 2017. It’s got a prettier world, more vibrant animation, extra options during combat, an ever-helpful glider, and a mysterious story that leaves off on one incredible cliffhanger. Going up against its robotic fauna was still a highlight, given the strategy inherent to breaking these beasts down piece by piece. Forbidden West is a somewhat safe follow-up, but is a fantastic one nonetheless that shows that Guerrilla Games’ pivot to RPGs wasn’t just a one-off fluke.

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God of War Ragnarök

God of War Ragnarök is similarly an amazing follow-up, but one that sits one echelon above Forbidden West. Kratos’ second Norse adventure is more of a “Part II,” as it picks up the baton from the 2018 entry and completes that saga in a way where “sequel” isn’t as fit of a descriptor. Combat is impressively deep with all the same positives as the last game, but with more nuance and depth. Juggling around its expanded bestiary with Kratos’ weapons while prioritizing what enemy to go after is an engaging experience that sits nicely between a fast character action game and something akin to, but still different from, a more methodical soulslike. Its narrative also fleshes out the world and expands on the father-son dynamic in unexpected ways, making it a twisty tale that remains enthralling throughout. God of War Ragnarök is easily one of the best games of the year and beautiful send-off to this section of the series.

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Ghostwire: Tokyo

Ghostwire: Tokyo has many of the tropes of an open-world game like a ton of side missions and an absolutely intimidating amount of collectibles, but it is made better by its setting. Its rendition of Tokyo is haunting and respectful, as it shows the famous city — from its rural slums to its landmarks — off well while also making room for the spooky spirits that haunt its streets. Ghostwire: Tokyo‘s shooting gameplay takes some adjusting and perhaps a shift to a higher difficulty, but once its gets going, it’s a unique gameplay loop that channels the fast-paced nature of a shooter like Doom where moving through enemies quickly is key to survival. The story may be lacking and it does often feel like an open-world game from a decade ago, but its unique presentation makes it an overall alluring experience.

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Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is one of the Switch’s best exclusives and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is now on that list, too. Its strategic gameplay has been opened up here with its new movement system and more customizable loadouts. This means players can more easily scope out options while not rigidly committing to a bad plan right off the bat. Its titular Sparks also yield more freedom, as these ugly little stars mean tacticians can fine-tune the loadouts for each character to allow for more devastating combos. Giving the Rabbids a voice was certainly a choice — although Rabbid Mario is truly hilarious — and its endgame doesn’t scale well when revisiting old worlds, but Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a great Switch game unlike most other games on the platform.

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Multiplatform Games

Sifu

Sifu wears its action movie and Batman: Arkham influences on its gi, but it’s an entirely original and fresh experience. It is a deeply punishing game where a slip up can cascade into a quick death, but its controls are unbelievably smooth and give players the tools to overcome its obstacles. Gradually getting better and learning more of its moves is a fulfilling experience that mirrors learning actual martial arts, sans the real-life injuries. And while the difficulty is the point, developer Sloclap has since patched in more options, letting everyone become a hand-to-hand master. More updates are on the way, too, showing that Sifu is only going to get better within the coming months.

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ComingSoon’s Holiday Gaming Gift Guide 2022: Game Edition

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin became a meme because of its bizarre and chaos-filled cutscenes, but it has much more to offer than that. Team Ninja’s Final Fantasy spin-off has fast combat that let players take on different jobs in order to get the job done. It’s a system with many, many possibilities that lives up to the studio’s past work in the genre. All of this also leads up to incredible ending, one that will likely satisfy fans of certain older Final Fantasy titles.

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Psychonauts 2: Motherlobe Edition

Psychonauts 2 did come out in 2021, but it was only physically released in 2022 through the Motherlobe Edition. It’s still the same humorous and inventive platformer that carefully inspects a whole array of mental health topics, meaning it remains a great experience. However, this physical version comes with some stickers, concept art, and a download code for a slew of behind-the-scenes content. Also, the extra time has give Double Fine to polish the game up more, as post-launch patches have made the PS4 version run much better on PS5 and its collectibles easier to find.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a throwback to the arcade games, but it isn’t just that. This retro brawler has been updated for a modern audience, meaning the game now has more lively, eye-catching environments and combat that is slightly less mashy. It’s a bit disappointing that the characters play a little too similarly, but their smooth animations and responsive controls balance out that shortcoming. Shredder’s Revenge is a simple game done well that is full of enough references for older fans, while also being a great brawler for those outside of the TMNT fandom.

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Stray

Stray doesn’t just have the cutest protagonist of the year, as this platformer excels almost exclusively on vibes with a cyberpunk world is absolutely stunning to behold. Its bright neon lights and dilapidated buildings contrast nicely with each other and are evidence of humanity’s follies, making them more than just pretty set dressing. Stray also uses this setting to observe humans from a distance through its robotic inhabitants that ponder their existence and ask what it means to live. It may not ask the newest questions, but seeing it all though a cat’s eyes combined with the unique platforming inherent to being a cat makes Stray one of the more memorable games of the year.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is one of the better entries in the series in recent years. Its quickly paced campaign full of big set pieces is worth seeing through, and its multiplayer has many of the same systems the series has had, but is still as fulfilling as ever because of the rock-solid gunplay at its core and its multiple RPG systems. With such a strong foundation and rumblings of an extra year of support, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will likely be a Call of Duty that keeps giving and giving as the months roll on.

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Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed takes the four-on-one wrapping from Illfonic’s other games and naturally places it into the Ghostbusters franchise with almost everything a series fan would want to see. Players are encouraged to work together to trap ghosts and have to spend the match hunting for the ghastly ghoul. Causing mischief as a ghost is a solo affair and makes for a solid change of pace that also helps players become better hunters. Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed also has multiple ways to play so users don’t need to feel the pressure of always playing online against others. It’s flexible and one of the better Ghostbusters games to come out over the last few decades.

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NBA 2K23

NBA 2K23 is obviously still basketball, yet 2K Games has still found ways to push forward. The on-court action has the same smooth controls, but the presentation of the Jordan Challenge is what gives this iteration an edge. Being able to play as Michael Jordan in these pivotal plays is fascinating, especially with all the audio and visual tweaks that places the game in a distinct era. The microtransactions are still a pain, however, they don’t tarnish the overall experience too much.

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Elden Ring

Elden Ring takes what FromSoftware has been doing since 2009’s Demon’s Souls and fleshes it out in a spectacular fashion. Like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring‘s new open world is designed for the eye, letting players choose where they want to go just based on the design of the world over pesky mission markers. This leads to an incredible and almost unmatched sense of discovery as players stumble upon vast expanse or hidden caves that take work to find. There’s always something new to uncover or a big enemy to hurriedly run away from, all of which sit on top of unique surprises it peppers throughout staggeringly gigantic map that hides its true size. While its deliberate controls and obtuse presentation can be frustrating, Elden Ring is a landmark game that will be talked about for many years.

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Midnight Suns

Midnight Suns is quite different than the other recent Marvel games, as it is a strategic card battler and not focused on action brawling. But Firaxis Games is quite skilled at making tactical games and that expertise shines through here. Midnight Suns‘ combat is layered and allows for a healthy chunk of self-expression while also still making sure that players think before they act. The sim elements may not be as robust, but the combat is more that good enough to make up for it.

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AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative

AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative is easily one of the weirdest games of 2022. Kotaro Uchikoshi’s script goes in the most bizarre of places, leading to a truly unforgettable tale that bounces between wild reveals, juvenile humor, and conspiracy theories. It subverts expectations while still exceeding them and speaks to Uchikoshi’s unique talents as a writer.

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Soul Hackers 2

Soul Hackers 2 is comfort food for JRPG fans. Its combat has plenty of options, especially as the game progresses, and dungeon runs are engaging because of their variety. It may not have the most original story or concise script, but Soul Hackers 2 is still a solid JRPG.

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WWE 2K22

WWE 2K20 was an utter mess, but WWE 2K22 is back to pick up the belt. The mechanics have been overhauled and make fights smoother and the game looks and runs significantly better than its troubled predecessor. While not as goofy as its predecessor, its story is also quite enjoyable and written surprisingly well. Some roster problems and gameplay glitches hold it back, but this is a good new starting for the wrestling series.

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Cult of the Lamb

Cult of the Lamb mixes roguelite gameplay with farming sim elements to great success, all while using its satanic wrapping as a key differentiator. Being able to hold rituals and sacrifice hapless followers is strangely pleasing, as is building up to automating a whole operation. Its hack and slash gameplay sadly isn’t that deep, but raids hardly go on for longer than 10 minutes, so they don’t wear out their welcome too much. Bouncing back and forth between dungeon crawls and cult upkeep is a balancing act that is constantly engaging, and its charming yet macabre art style and tone is just the extra layer that gives the game its X factor.

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OlliOlli World

OlliOlli World is the ultimate culmination of what Roll7 has been building on since the first game. This third entry takes the combo-driven skating mechanics and expands upon them while also appealing to a wider amount of people. Landings are more forgiving and there are checkpoints this time around, yet levels are more devious and can truly push those who want to dive deeply into its mechanics and fall into a flow state of constant grinds and kickflips. With a more distinct worlds filled with creative non-human beings, a multi-layered challenge system that yields an absurd amount of replayability, and extensive customization options — all of which sit on top of silky smooth controls — OlliOlli World is a fantastic and well-realized skating game.

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Signalis

Signalis is a survival horror game that would fit in with the PS1-era classics of the genre. Its pixelated art style and inventory management invokes Resident Evil, but it without the tanky controls and dated presentation. Signalis is still able to maintain a palpable level of tension despite those modernizations since it thrives on its central mystery, creepy level layouts, and nightmarish enemies, making it one of the better horror games of the year.

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Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is filled to the brim with Star Wars. It goes through all nine main films and lets players explore the galaxy with all sorts of characters. Its obscenely long character list — which got even longer through DLC — is full of notable faces and deep cuts, showing off TT Games’ affinity for the franchise. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga may not have the deepest mechanics (although it is deeper than past Lego games), but it offers such a broad look at the film series and is the most comprehensive version of it in video game form.

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Ports & Remasters

The Last of Us Part I

The Last of Us is one of the best games ever made and this PS5 remake doesn’t change that. However, it does add a stunning amount of visual polish, accessibility options, and presentational tweaks that bring this classic more in line with modern standard and its 2020 sequel. Now the two feel like a more cohesive whole made in the same era. The title’s cat-and-mouse gameplay is still utterly thrilling and the story at its center remains a heart-wrenching tale, which shows just how ahead of the game Naughty Dog was in 2013. It just all looks a whole lot better now.

Get The Last of Us Part I on Amazon

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection might be considered yet another somewhat superfluous Naughty Dog rerelease, but that doesn’t diminish how good these two Uncharted games are. Nate’s tale in Uncharted 4 and Chloe and Nadine’s journey in Lost Legacy still hold up and look better than ever. However, those visual improvements are harder to spot, given how much those games pushed the PS4. Also, making this a premium upgrade is a bit troubling since other games have done far more in free upgrades or patches. Regardless, they’re both still worthy adventures that show Naughty Dog’s peerless talent.

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TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection

TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection offers up a lot of old TMNT games for those nostalgic for them as well as people who missed them the first time around. Its collection of classics and novelties are easier to play now, too, as Digital Eclipse added in the ability to rewind and pick up an automated run at any time. The extras are also quite enticing and come equipped with documents and art that give the history behind these games. TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection is so good that it somewhat makes up for all the shoddy or lackluster collections Konami has released in the past.

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Atari 50 Review: A Criterion-Esque Gaming Collection Worthy of a Pioneer

Atari 50: the Anniversary Celebration

Atari 50: the Anniversary Celebration is the closest gaming has come to having its own Criterion Collection. The array of classic Atari games might seem like the pull here, but the documentary work breaking down the legacy of these games is arguably more appealing. Seeing well-produced interviews with legendary designers has changed the game and upped the bar for these sorts of collections.

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Capcom Fighting Collection

Capcom is known for Street Fighter, but Capcom Fighting Collection is for many of those other fighting games that didn’t take off as much. It has a bevy of underappreciated gems like Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness and Darkstalkers and new features like training modes and online play to bring it up to modern standards. Its extras are a bit lacking, but this collection of fighting games is a wonderful package.

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Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard revitalized the series back in 2017 and was recently released again for the current slate of consoles earlier this year. It’s still the same great horror game that thrives on the intimacy of the first-person perspective and a creepy mansion that respectfully calls back to other iconic central hubs in the series like the Spencer Mansion. This version boasts faster loading and enhanced visuals, too, and is a free upgrade for those with the last-gen versions.

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Resident Evil 2

The Resident Evil 2 remake also came to modern consoles earlier in the year and, like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, is still a brilliant game. This third-person game excellently re-envisions a classic with a deft balance of horror and action. This is exemplified by the unstoppable being Mr. X, who stalks the halls of the Raccoon City Police Department and creates some unpredictable scares. It’s one of the best remakes of all time and that hasn’t changed much a few years later.

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What Remains of Edith Finch

What Remains of Edith Finch‘s current-gen port looks and runs better, but that’s not the point. This narrative adventure game tells one of the best stories in the medium and takes advantage of its interactivity to put the player into the shoes of the cursed Finch family. It’s relentlessly tragic, yet finds a way to be heartwarming in a way that not many games can do even in 2022.

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Severed Steel

Severed Steel is a stylish shooter that console owners had to wait to play, but it was worth the wait. Players are dropped into destructible levels full of enemies and can break ceilings, walls, and floors offensively and defensively depending on what the situation calls for. It’s endlessly liberating to blast through a wall, flip sideways, and trigger slow motion in order to rain down terror on those unfortunate enough to cross paths with the gun-toting protagonist. Severed Steel‘s console versions are also getting a roguelite mode soon along with some new weapons and features, all of which just recently hit the PC.

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DLC & Digital-Only Games

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is technically a port, but it’s also surprisingly much more than that. It uses this idea to skewer the idea of rereleases and sequels while indulging in those ideas itself. Kevan Brighting’s narrator makes its well-timed barbs and self-referential jabs land and the fantastic writing that hasn’t lost its appeal in the years since. The original jokes hold up well and its new jokes only augment that base, cementing its status as one of the funniest games ever made.

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Rollerdrome

Rollerdrome is a fast-paced shooter where players score tricks to refill their ammo. It’s a cohesive system that makes players skate like Tony Hawk and shoot like Max Payne, an apt comparison due to Rollerdrome‘s slow motion-heavy gunplay. Chasing scores doesn’t give this game as much replayability as Roll7’s other 2022 game OlliOlli World, but it’s still a thrilling experience even if it doesn’t last long.

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Tunic

Tunic takes a page from retro gaming in more ways than one, as it literally is about collecting manual pages. These small collectibles combine to form a in-game manual that is like the manuals that used to come with video games. They encourage players to explore and figure things out on their own while providing small hints with each new sheet. It’s a wonderful system built on mystique that many modern games don’t have. The combat can be overly stiff and punishing even with the new easy mode, but its charming style and sense of wonder make Tunic one great experience.

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Nobody Saves the World

Nobody Saves the World is built on the endorphin rush of leveling up, but not in a scummy way. Whereas many games exploit that feeling through microtransactions, Nobody Saves the World uses it well as part of its core gameplay. Leveling up and cycling through the roster at a moment’s notice is rewarding and means there’s always something to unlock and try out. Choosing how to spec each character also makes the moment-to-moment dungeon crawls fulfilling, which makes it more of an even game that’s not just solely about making the numbers go higher. Coupled with one of the 2022’s best soundtracks, Nobody Saves the World is a breeze to play.

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Cursed to Golf

The crowded roguelite genre hasn’t seen a game like Cursed to Golf. This golf roguelite has players running through a gauntlet made up of hand-crafted courses, but their order is never a given. This leads to an unpredictable run to the 18th hole where players are tested on the game’s mechanics and its card system, which supplies players with different perks that they must strategically employ. It can be brutally difficult, but some post-launch updates and new features have made it less punishing. Quitting to the menu without being punished is still an option and while an odd and cheap way to experience the game, this makes Cursed to Golf more palatable and shows off how engaging its golf gameplay can be.

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Metal: Hellsinger

Rhythm games have taken many forms over the years and Metal: Hellsinger is yet another creative entry in that genre. Shooting to the beat is a fantastic premise because it forces players to constantly make tons of small decisions and stay on their toes. It doesn’t let players slack off or disengage because shooting off the beat is a death sentence. Songs even get more complicated as the player racks up a high combo, which is a great reward that only encourages better play. It’s a little light on modes and its enemy design leaves something to be desired, but Metal: Hellsinger is a fantastic fusion of music and gameplay.

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Neon White

There’s not much else like Neon White. This fast-paced shooter has players using cards as traversal abilities or guns in order to make their way to the end of the level. It’s up to players to cleverly use the cards correctly in order to shave off precious seconds from their time. While it is a speedrunning game, its steady difficulty and intriguing anime-inspired world are done well enough to rope in players who couldn’t care less about time trials. There’s plenty to mine here for players of all skill levels, which proves how incredible its design is.

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Ghostrunner: Project_Hel

Ghostrunner: Project_Hel makes it hard to go back to the original game. Hel’s long jump outclasses the base leap from the main game and gives players more control over its parkour systems. This makes Hel’s DLC an incredible ride since it meaningfully builds upon what Ghostrunner originally did. It’s still a little buggy, as is the base game, but having more obstacle courses with a more nimble protagonist makes Project_Hel one hell of a piece of DLC.

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Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose DLC Adds Story, Third-Person Mode, & New Playable Characters

Resident Evil Village: Winters’ Expansion

Resident Evil Village: Winters’ Expansion is a multifaceted piece of DLC that augments the base campaign and Mercenaries on top of adding an entirely new story chapter. Its quality varies, but its value is there for those who love Resident Evil Village. Mercenaries: Additional Orders has new playable characters that change how the game is played (although many will have to grind to unlock them). Shadows of Rose, the new story add-on, is inconsistent, but contains an immensely clever ands scary that is makes up for its looser parts. The third-person mode is the strongest addition since it adds a fresh new perspective to Village and makes it even more replayable. The Winters’ Expansion doesn’t reach the highs of the base game, but it is still more Resident Evil Village and that is a good thing.

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OlliOlli World: Void Riders

OlliOlli World is replayable enough, but that doesn’t mean it still can’t get DLC. Void Riders remixes a few levels from the campaign and takes players to otherworldly areas while also introducing UFOs that provide vertical boosts. It is not a vital piece of DLC, but it is a good batch of stages that ends on a high note with a “boss” level unlike anything else in the game.

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Lost Judgment Expansion The Kaito Files Gets Release Date

Lost Judgment: The Kaito Files

Lost Judgment: The Kaito Files lets players play as Kaito and this new perspective adds a whole new way to play the game. Kaito has two fighting styles that let players focus on weapon-based offense or precision-based counters, both of which work nicely together and yield more options. His animal-like demeanor is hilarious, but the game still manages to tell a serious and more honed tale. This all makes The Kaito Files a nice throwback to the Yakuza games (which are now called Like a Dragon) while also setting the stage for a promising future for the Judgment series.

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Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

Cuphead is a fantastic boss rush platformer and that level of quality has translated to its DLC, which is cleverly titled The Delicious Last Course. This expansion adds a handful of new bosses that are bigger in scope and more visually impressive, proving that Studio MDHR learned quite a bit making the core game. It may be the last serving for now, but it’s a good final dessert.

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