Can We Talk About How Stacked 2022 Gaming Is Looking?

The holiday window is in its infancy. This time of year, many of the biggest blockbuster launches hit digital and store shelves. This year’s holiday window promises a ton of big releases that we’re all eagerly anticipating from franchises like Halo, Far Cry, and Metroid, but we can’t ignore the looming leviathan that is 2022.

Elden Ring

The Scene is Ready

This year’s holiday season should continue to build momentum, with players having little to no time to recover after the endless releases. Right out of the gates, we have two hotly anticipated games – From Software’s collaboration with George R.R. Martin Elden Ring, and Game Freak’s most unique experiment with the mainline Pokémon franchise in decades, Pokémon Legends: Arceus – launching on the same day in January. If you believe that this is a coincidence, then look no further than Feburary. The shortest month of year is February. Living in Dying Light: Stay Human Horizon Forbidden West Destiny 2: Witch Queen Saints Row The King of Fighters, XVAnd the brawler of great promise Sifu

Things slow down after the first few months, at least for games that have hard release dates. Yes, there is the new racing-sim game. Gran Turismo 7, the D&D-meets-Borderlands looter shooter, Tiny Tina’s WonderlandsYou can also find the retro strategy RPG here. Triangle StrategyThe March issue of. STALKER II: The Heart of ChernobylThe release date for solid titles is rare, with the first one coming out in April. Except for Bethesda’s next major title, you know. Starfield, which for some reason already has a release date of November 11, 2022; I guess maybe this date pays tribute to Bethesda’s most popular game, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which launched on November 11, 2011 – Who knows? However, the hit games have not stopped with those that are released on solid dates.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: The sequel to The Legend of Zelda

Beyond the Opening Acts

While most of these games have already been released, they are undoubtedly heavy-hitters. But, if we look at the current list of games scheduled for release within 2022 and beyond, it will be obvious that this is just the beginning. If you only look at triple-A games, there are tons of amazing titles. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: The sequel to The Legend of Zelda God of War Ragnarok Redfall Bayonetta 3 Splatoon 3. Marvel’s Midnight Suns Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Mario and the Rabbids Sparks Hope Rainbow Six Extra Kirby and The Forgotten LandThere are many others. These titles are not limited to smaller but equally exciting games that recall past franchises, such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Shredder’s Revenge And Metal Slug Tactics

From Sequels to popular games like Two Point Campus Salt and Sacrifice A Plague Tale: Requiem Company of Heroes III Slime Rancher 2 Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince, and Earthlock 2 are also on the docket, giving players, even more, to look forward to.  Meanwhile, The Callisto Protocol is set to pay homage to Dead Space, while Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is sure to please fans of Suikoden. Those embedded in the comic book world have way more to look forward to than the aforementioned Midnight Suns, as DC is also bringing the heat with both WB Games Montréal’s Gotham Knights and Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League scheduled for next year. 

God of War: Ragnarok

It’s undeniable that 2022 has some incredible games lined up for release, but before we get too carried away with the coronation ceremony, I think some perspective is in order.

Stacking Up

When I look at the long list of games currently scheduled to hit in 2022, I absolutely think it outshines the last couple of years. However, how would it stack up against some of the best years of all time? Many point toward years like 1997 (Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Final Fantasy VII, GoldenEye 007, Star Fox 64), 1998 (Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Half-Life, StarCraft, Banjo-Kazooie, Spyro the Dragon, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Grand Theft Auto, Gran Turismo, Pokémon Red & Blue, Baldur’s Gate, Mario Party), or 2007 (Assassin’s Creed, Mass Effect, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Portal, BioShock, Super Mario Galaxy, Rock Band, Crysis, God of War II) as the greatest years in the history of gaming, but often overlooked are the later years in the 2010s. 

For example, just a few years ago, in 2017, we received a new contender for the greatest years of all time, as players were treated to an onslaught of outstanding games, many of which are now considered among the greatest of all time. In that calendar year, which also included the launch of Nintendo Switch, players received Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Horizon Zero Dawn, Persona 5, Nier: Automata, Fortnite, Resident Evil 7, Hollow Knight, Sonic Mania, Night in the Woods, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, Splatoon 2, Injustice 2, Uncharted: Lost Legacy, Nioh, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Cuphead, Divinity: Original Sin II, Prey, What Remains of Edith Finch, Metroid: Samus Returns, Destiny 2Please see the following: a shocking number of other massive, critically acclaimed games. 

Just a year later the industry increased its greatness by releasing 2018 which included Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man. Ultimate, Forza Horizon 4 Return of the Obra Dinn Dragon Ball FighterZ Frostpunk and Monster Hunter World, Celeste. While 2017 and 2018 are great, the years prior, which helped to create series and genres we enjoy today, will be remembered as the greatest years ever.

The 2022 list of video games includes many sequels as well as new series by established developers. However, there are plenty of other franchises that will be released next year. The trick with forecasting ahead is that we don’t know many new franchises are worth keeping an eye on until we get closer to their release dates and learn more about them. Are we likely to get the first game in the next series that will rival Grand Theft Auto in 2022? It is highly unlikely. However, it is possible to be totally blindsided. This article doesn’t mention the game that we associate most with 2022 as our future selves recall.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade II

Senua’s Story: Hellblade II

Unknown

Although 2022 may not have the historical importance of 1997, 1998 or 2007, there are many games which capitalize on previous successes and carry on the legacy of the games of the past. This could make it more probable that the year 2022 has the same history as those years. These are just a few of the many surprises that may emerge from this list that we don’t know about. After all, how many people in 2014 could have foreseen a crowdfunded indie darling like Undertale bursting onto the scene as one of the most beloved games of 2015?

Many publishers are now focusing on shorter marketing cycles. Take 2021 as an example. We didn’t even know that games such as Metroid Dread and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy existed when we started the year. What number of games will you see like this in 2022? And when do they launch for the holiday season in 2020? Other games, like those currently in development, won’t be released until the holiday season. Overwatch 2Senua’s Story: Hellblade IIPlease see the following: FableRelease dates for the new calendar year will finally be announced. It could get even more wild than 2022 looks.

As we have seen over the past two years, there is no guarantee that a game will be released, especially as development studios continue to struggle with the virus. Also, any game, regardless of the studio, pedigree, or franchise, could turn out as a flop. With so many new games coming to our homes over the next 15 month, it’s difficult to know where to find the funds and when to play them. 


Which 2022 release is the most exciting? Are you excited for the following releases? What would 2022 look like if everything goes according to plan? Feel free to comment below, if necessary. Have a wonderful day!

#Talk #Stacked Gaming