The 14 most exciting video games of summer 2022

Although we’re almost two years into a new console generation, we’re heading into a relatively light summer in terms of flagship releases. A variety of blockbusters have been pushed back to the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 by the pandemic, which has made a previously impressive lineup seem uncharacteristically thin. However, if you’re willing to dig a little deeper, there are still a whole bunch of games worth getting excited for.

That’s where we come in. We’ve taken the liberty of highlighting some of the most promising titles slated for release between May and August. Some will be games you’ve likely forgotten about, whereas others might be totally new to you. New entries are available in popular mammoth franchises like Sonic and Mario. As it turns out this summer might be slower than we thought.

So, for the days when you’re not crossing another winter game off of your backlog or diving back into that service title you’d previously sworn off, here are 15 of the most exciting video game releases for the summer of 2022.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

Image: Flaming Fowl Studios

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion looks like a particularly strong way to kick off the summer — especially if you dig dark fantasy.

Unacquainted? Gloomhaven, it’s a tactical RPG based on the extremely popular board game of the same name. Jaws of the Lion The game’s next expansion adds many new features, increasing its value. Gloomhaven’s base game alone is deeper and more complex than many of its ilk, so Jaws of the Lion’s arrival will be especially welcome for anyone (un)fortunate enough to have gotten locked in its grip over the last few months.

If you need to be convinced further, read Polygon’s Gloomhaven review, in which we called it “a marvelous turn-based dungeon crawler.” It’s an excellent adaptation of an already excellent board game, particularly because of the Guildmaster mode, which adds original story missions unique to the digital incarnation.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion Windows PCs will get the release on May 17, 2010.

Swansong: Vampires – The Masquerade

Image: Big Bad Wolf Studio/Nacon

Here’s one stealthy little bloodsucker: After being delayed because of COVID-19, Swansong: Vampires – The Masquerade It’s finally here! If you’re one of many people on the lookout for quality single-player games, this is something to keep an eye on — particularly if you’re excited for Bloodlines 2: Vampire: Bloodlines 2The deadline for submitting a request to the Registrar has been extended indefinitely.

Big Bad Wolf developed this idea. Swansong One of the many games built on the popular tabletop RPG is this one Vampire: The Masquerade. This particular adaptation is set in Boston and revolves around a vampire cult’s attempt to unite with opposing factions. You assume control of three different vampires — each from a unique background — and are tasked with uncovering a mystery at the heart of the U.S. underground vampire scene. This is a good idea.

The thing is, all of your detective-ing has to be done in secret — the eponymous Masquerade refers to the ancient practice of concealing your vampirism from humanity. There’s a lot going on here, from strange conspiracies to intense moral dilemmas. And if you’re interested in skulking through Boston as a trio of roguish bloodsuckers … well, that’s a very specific request, isn’t it? And you can’t really get closer than this.

Swansong: Vampires – The Masquerade The release will take place on Windows PC and PlayStation 4 on May 19.

Sniper Elite 5

Image: Rebellion

About the time of World War II’s end, it was established in France. Sniper Elite 5The methodical series’ latest installment is here. Similar to the earlier games, 5 will feature tactical third-person combat, stealth, and a variety of immersive-sim elements — and even newcomers should be able to tell that a game called “Sniper Elite” is focused on, you know … snipers.

In addition to incorporating factors like gravity and wind as well as heart rate, the environment in the game is also a replica of real-life surroundings that has been captured using advanced photogrammetric techniques. If you’re at all interested in a shooter that prides itself on realistically inhabiting WWII, this stealthy jaunt along the coast of 1944 Brittany may very well resonate.

Learn more about the process of how it works. Sniper Elite 5 feels to play, be sure to check out our preview, in which we said it still has “the slowest and most sensual burn among shooters.”

Sniper Elite 5 The following will be made available for Windows PCs, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox One: May 26th, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5.

Diablo Immortal

Image: Blizzard Entertainment

This is the answer to Diablo Immortal over the last few years has been … interesting, to say the least. This was announced at BlizzCon 2018 and fans didn’t like it.

Fans were anticipating news about the following: Diablo 4. Instead, they received a presentation about yet another free-to play mobile game featuring a dizzying array of progression systems. They were quite pissed. However, their impressions have been relatively positive since then.

And what about that? Diablo Immortal It aims at telling a story between the two. Diablo 2 Diablo 3Both are important in the design process. There are six champions to choose from and, as announced in April, the game is also now slated for a simultaneous release on PC — although this likely has more to do with avoiding emulation than appeasing fans.

Diablo Immortal On June 2, iOS, Android and Windows PC will release the new version

Mario Strikers: Battle League

Image: Nintendo

On one hand, you have soccer — a fast-paced, 11-on-11 sport with very precise rules and regulations. Mario is on the other hand. Soccer, that flies in spite of all those.

Mario Strikers: Battle League replaces typical soccer with “Strike,” a 5-on-5 version of The Beautiful Game that eschews any semblance of order for unadulterated chaos. You can instead of being able to catch someone offside you can place them on an electric fence. You thought that two-footed challenges were terrible? Wait until you try what you can do with a banana peel. And don’t even get us started on Waluigi, the Mario Maradona is the equivalent.

Mario Strikers Past Fans Titles may inspire you to be more excited Battle League given that it’s the series’ first entry in a whopping 15 years. Mario games are just great all around. This is also a good thing.

Mario Strikers: Battle League Nintendo Switch’s June 10th release will include the following:

Quarry

Image by Supermassive/2K Games

This is in stark contrast with the great family entertainment of Mario Strikers: Battle League, Supermassive’s upcoming horror romp Quarry calls for the coining of a new term: “family unfun.”

That’s not to say it isn’t fun! It’s just not the kind of game you should be playing with your 4-year-old. Quarry follows a ragtag band of nine teenagers working as counsellors at Hackett’s Quarry summer camp. It’s your last day on the job and, with neither kids nor adults around to bother you, you decide to have a party. Yes, a party hosted by teenagers on the final day of camp — what could possibly go wrong?

Naturally, everything goes wrong. As the game progresses, you’ll be forced to make a variety of difficult decisions that determine who lives and who dies. One second you’re bantering away around the fire. Your best friend gets murdered the next. Each of nine characters may be either the protagonist or first victim. There are many different storylines that can be told, which encourages both co-op playthroughs as well as playthroughs with friends.

It’s also worth noting that Quarry — which we previously called “Supermassive’s next swing at Until Dawn-style horror” — looks like a real love letter to old-school horror cinema, complete with cutting-edge performance capture and even a Movie Mode that reduces the amount of player input necessary to finish the story. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart, but if you’re into Supermassive and want an extra dose of summer vibes, this is a promising June release. You know, provided you’re not a scaredy-cat.

Quarry The following will be available on Windows PC and PlayStation 4 as well PlayStation 5 and Xbox One on June 10.

AI: Nirvana Initiative – The Somnium Files

Spike Chunsoft

We know very little about it AI: Nirvana Initiative – The Somnium Files Through some clever hacking tricks, it was revealed. We do know, however that the protagonist of Special Agent Mizuki will make her return. Six years ago, we also knew that the corpse of half of the victim was discovered.

The other half is now up. It’s a bit strange. It’s our opinion too. Playing as Mizuki or Ryuki, Special Agents is your job to solve the puzzle of several half-body serial killers. Trailers show that the game will have multiple timelines. They can hop between their separated torsos and legs.

Other characters such as Kaname Date, a hardboiled detective and Iris Sagan, are set to return. Whether or not they also have a weird narrative affinity for halves is anyone’s guess.

AI: Nirvana Initiative – The Somnium Files The release will take place on Windows PC and PlayStation 4 as well as Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, on June 24, 2012.

Capcom Fighting Collection

Capcom Image

For fans of the classic fighter games this is an invaluable time capsule. Capcom Fighting Collection Included are 10 fighters drawn from their arcade catalog Darkstalkers, Night Warriors, Vampire Savior, Vampire Hunter 2, Vampire Savior 2, Red Earth, Cyberbots, Super Puzzle Fighter 2 turbo, Hyper Street Fighter 2And Super Gem Fighter Minimix. Many of the names used are laughable.

This collection is aimed at retro gamers, but younger people should consider buying it. A collection like this can provide valuable insight into the history of one of video games’ most storied genres, while modern quality-of-life improvements make even the oldest titles in the bundle significantly more approachable by contemporary standards. It even allows online play.

This is it! Street Fighter 6 is on the way, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a fighting aficionado or have no idea what a Roman Cancel is — you’d best get to learning your combos before Ryu Hadoukens you into oblivion.

Capcom Fighting Collection The release will take place on Windows PC and PlayStation 4 as well as Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, on June 24, 2012.

Three Hopes for Fire Emblem Warriors

Image: Nintendo/Twitch

As with most Musou games reception for the announcement Three Hopes for Fire Emblem WarriorsIt has not been all bad. It wasn’t that Byleth has been replaced by a new protagonist called Shez, nor has it got much to do with basing a new story around characters like Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude. It’s just the Musou bit.

Friends, let’s be honest here: Musou is great. It’s all about giving it a shot.

The change in Three Houses’ The change from turn-based, more strategic combat to one on 1,000 battles is dramatic, to put it mildly. Despite this, Persona 5 Strikers Even though the Musou format was adopted, a lot of its strategy elements were retained. Three Hopes Could be just as tactful as Three Houses Before it. You can still order your companions around and exploit enemy weaknesses to your own personal advantage — it has the spirit of Fire EmblemIt may not be the exact style.

Speaking of which, there’s still a large emphasis on your relationships with other characters and how they influence the rest of the game. This one is serious.

… Please?

Three Hopes for Fire Emblem Warriors Nintendo Switch, June 24, 2012

Cuphead: The Last Delicious Course

Studio MDHR

You might like Gloomhaven: Jaws of the LionIt’s an expansion and not a complete game. But still, it’s a Cuphead expansion — which makes it an extremely big deal.

Most people will recognize 2017’s indie smash-hit Cuphead This is a fun, cartoonish and easy game. The game revolves around the brutal boss challenge that pits you as a sentient cup against vicious monsters until you win.

Last Course: The Delectable Cuphead and Mugman will be accompanied by Ms. Chalice in a brand new character. You will also find new weapons and bosses as well as a host of additional features. This is the last adventure of these ceramic slayers. Last Course: The Delectable This is one that’s well worth the effort.

Cuphead: The Last Delicious Course On June 30, Windows PCs, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will get the new Nintendo Switch.

Outriders: Worldslayer

Image: People Can Fly/Square Enix

OK, Outriders: Worldslayer is a bit … odd. It’s technically an improved version of the existing Outriders Experience a brand new campaign and additional gear. There are also fresh ways you can customize your character and make it more personal. But at the same time … it’s still Outriders.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s a good thing. Polygon’s preview of the new version, we said it “improves on the game’s already solid build crafting,” meaning that there is definitely value in People Can Fly’s decision to overhaul the core game. It’s just a bit difficult to know how much fresh material there is for people who have spent the last two years exploring Enoch, or how much of a barrier to entry there may be for fledgling Outriders who are considering arriving late to the party.

It’s worth noting that all of the original content is there, and anyone with an existing Outriders Character can import it into Worldslayer. These elements are sure to ease any concerns that someone might not have enough experience with Enoch in order to really enjoy it. WorldslayerIt is possible, although we don’t think anyone will know until launch at the end June.

Outriders: Worldslayer The following will be made available for Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on June 30, as well as Xbox One and Xbox Series X on Windows PC.

F1 22

Image: Codemasters/Electronic Arts

This is the first and only race game in this collection. F1 22After the success of Forza Horizon 5 Gran Turismo.

Fortunately, F1 The interesting thing about this is that the team has been given the challenge of reflecting real-life Formula One changes. I had the opportunity to talk to Codemasters earlier in this month. Essentially, the studio has taken it upon itself to design the most immersive racing game possible — whether or not they succeed with that fairly lofty task will be apparent in a month and a half’s time.

Codemasters is actually creating a new place for you to show off your vehicles and accessories. Some fans aren’t happy about the microtransactions involved. So, as of now, we won’t know whether the game is an immersive marvel or a money-printing catwalk for cars until early July. Let’s hope it is the former.

F1 22 The following products will be available on Windows PC and PlayStation 4 as well, PlayStation 5 and Xbox One on July 1.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Monolith Soft/Nintendo

It’s been nearly five years since the launch of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, so it’s only natural that Nintendo fans have gone borderline feral about the prospect of Xenoblade Chronicles 3It is only a matter of time.

The bizarreness of the situation only adds to this. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 It is becoming what it should be. The setting of it is directly linked to the other. Xenoblade Chronicles 2, but also the location of the series’ inaugural game — it simultaneously depicts the futures of both, which, when you consider its status as a Xenoblade title, isn’t surprising in the slightest. It’s a bizarre franchise.

Meanwhile, the story takes place on Aionios where opposing nations are fighting each other. It is possible to play with up to seven members of your party, and as three-person teams from each country.

Nintendo has revealed the release of this game, despite it originally being scheduled for September. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 The release date for the game was set to be July 29. At least one game wasn’t delayed, eh?

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Nintendo Switch, July 29, 2012 –

Saints Row

Image: Volition/Deep Silver

Last, but certainly not least: Saints RowThe long-awaited reboot of an old series.

Volition currently has a new version in the works Saints Row It will be the first installment in quite some time. Include You can get out of hell — which many people don’t — it will have been seven years by the time launch rolls around. You can go off Saints Row IVHowever, that will be nine. Almost a decade!

More details about what we can expect Saints Row aren’t in high supply, but we do know that you assume control of a character named “The Boss,” who leaves one of three local gangs to form their own. You have to be the one who dominates all of them.

Like previous Saints Row games, there will be a large emphasis on driving and combat, while you’ll also be able to disguise your illegal businesses as legitimate ones. It’s also cool that the character creator exists.

Saints Row It was initially scheduled for release on February 25, 2022. However, it was moved to November in late August. Given how this year’s release schedule has shaped up, it may be a great palette cleanser to round out the (relatively) relaxed summer.

Saints Row On Aug. 23, the following will be available on Windows PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5: Xbox One, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Xbox One, Xbox One, Xbox One, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series X