15 Best Games of 2022

Needless to say, 2022 was a messy year for the games industry. Frequent delays, social media outbursts from voice actors and an abundance of leaks—including GTA 6, all suggest the year will go down in history for all the wrong reasons. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Some top games launched in 2022. The type that we’ll be talking about for years to come. There were breakthroughs in open-world design, accessibility, performance and fan service. So you can consider our list of the best video games a celebration of the year’s highest points to ensure 2022 goes out on a positive note.

How We Picked the Best Games of 2022

To arrive at this list of products, the Man of Many team went through hours and rigorous testing, implementation and analysis before culling it down to the very best. Over the last 12 months, we’ve worked on curated products that push boundaries and pioneer new fronts, across the automotive, fashion, lifestyle and technology verticals. Sure, we love getting the latest piece of kit in our hands, but being able to point out the benefits and shortfalls objectively is at the heart of what we do.

When it came to selecting the best video games of 2022, our selection criteria was as follows:

• Audience/Critic Reviews: Our selected titles received a Metacritic rating of 78% or higher. This ensures audiences and critics have a heightened appreciation of our top games.
• Original Releases: 2022 was another big year for re-releases, with enhanced versions of acclaimed titles, including Persona 5, Portal and The Last of Us. In the interest of fairness, we’ve excluded games that qualified for the list in previous years.
• The Game Awards 2022: The Game Awards is an annual celebration of the industry and an opportunity to recognise creative and technical excellence. The 2022 winners were recently announced and played a part in our selection criteria. We also included mention of the winners and nominees in our list.
• Overall Execution: The Man of Many team played a ton of titles in 2022, and our experience forms the largest part of the selection process.

Best Video Games of 2022

• Best Overall: Elden Ring
• Best Co-op: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
• Best RPG: Weird West
• Best Sports Game: NBA 2K23
• Best Racing Game: Gran Turismo 7

1. Elden Ring

Taking top honours at The Game Awards 2022, Elden Ring lifts the acclaimed FromSoftware formula to the next level thanks to its gorgeous open world and relentless challenges. The setting of The Lands Between grants immense freedom and exploration to tackle the possibilities in any way you see fit. In this regard, the world is more akin to Breath of the Wild than Dark Souls, Bloodborne and the likes. But all the elements that make the Souls-like genre so popular are present, and Elden Ring is finely-tuned to sit atop the genre its developer redefines with each new title. A worthy winner of Game of the Year.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Metascore: 96%
The Game Awards: Game of the Year (Winner), Best Game Direction (Winner), Best Narrative (Nominated), Best Art Direction (Winner), Best Score and Music (Nominated), Best Audio Design (Nominated), Best Role Playing (Winner)
Developer: FromSoftware
Directors: Hidetaka Miyazaki, Yui Tanimura
Genre: Action, RPG

2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Inspired by arcade classics, Shredder’s Revenge is a love letter to the Ninja Turtles and an overdue return to the beat ‘em up genre they helped define. The fast-paced action, classic gameplay and familiar theme song pack a powerful nostalgic punch that’s hard for any old-school gamer to pass up. Designed for couch co-op with a few friends, prepare for great nights accompanied by discussions on why shared screen multiplayer is superior.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Metascore: 87%
The Game Awards: Best Action Game (Nominated), Best Multiplayer (Nominated)
Developer: Tribute Games
Director: Jonathan Lavigne
Genre: Beat ‘em up

3. Return to Monkey Island

Another blast from the past. Return to Monkey Island concludes the classic series and finally reveals the Island’s ‘secret,’ a mystery that appeared as though it would never be solved. Series creator Ron Gilbert returns after thirty years, bringing that signature humour and a wicked new art style to wrap up the story of Guybrush, Elaine and LeChuck with emotion, style and finesse.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Metascore: 87%
The Game Awards: Innovation in Accessibility (Nominated)
Developer: Terrible Toybox
Director: Ron Gilbert
Genre: Adventure

4. Weird West

Weird West blends supernatural horror and RPG elements, crafting a western unlike any other. This indie gem lacks the cinematic qualities of many modern games, but its intriguing characters and deep mechanics contribute to an experience that’s just as immersive and memorable as the classic RPGs that inspired it.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Metascore: 81%
Developer: WolfEye Studios
Director: Raphaël Colantonio
Genre: Action RPG

5. Immortality

Immortality is the best FMV game ever made. Masterful writing, directing and acting are on show which work in unison to elevate the interactive film genre to be on par with its contemporaries. Writer/Director Sam Barlow gets better with every game, and the engaging story and puzzles ensure Immortality is one for the ages. Those with an active Netflix subscription can download a free copy to their phones.

Available on: PC, Xbox, iOS, Android
Metascore: 88%
The Game Awards: Best Game Direction (Nominated), Best Narrative (Nominated), Best Performance (Nominated)
Developer: Half Mermaid Productions
Director: Sam Barlow
Genre: Interactive film

6. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope

The unlikely pairing of Mario and Ubisoft’s family-friendly Rabbids worked wonders the first time, and their second encounter delivers on all fronts. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope pairs excellent tactical combat with a bright world brimming with puzzles and quirky characters that should scratch the itch for a new XCOM or 3D Mario adventure.

Available on: Switch
Metascore: 86%
The Game Awards: Best Family (Nominated), Best Sim / Strategy (Winner)
Developer: Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Paris
Directors: Davide Soliani, Damiano Moro
Genre: Turn-based strategy, puzzle

7. Wordle

Including Wordle in our best games of 2022 list may prove a contentious move. But it’s also the only game we’ve played consistently for months on end. This web-based puzzler took the world by storm early in the year and continues to be a popular topic in group chats and lunchrooms worldwide. Capturing the charm of a daily newspaper puzzle and blending unexpected competitive elements, Wordle became routine for many, and its owner, The New York Times, asks nothing in return. The free-to-play title is a bright beacon towering over a sea of microtransactions, forced ads and increasing RRPs.

Available on: Web-based
Creator: Josh Wardle
Genre: Puzzle

8. Sifu

If decades of practice and discipline are the best ways to show off your martial arts prowess, then Sifu is arguably a close second. This intense action game features a rewarding combat system and an immense challenge without cheap deaths. Add in the unique ageing system and what you have is one of the best video games of the year and a developer punching well above its weight. There’s even a movie adaptation on the way from John Wick’s creator, so expect Sifu to be in discussion for years to come.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Metascore: 81%
The Game Awards: Best Indie (Nominated), Best Action Game (Nominated), Best Fighting (Nominated)
Developer: Sloclap
Director: Jordan Layani
Genre: Beat ’em up

9. OlliOlli World

Don’t be fooled by the colourful and cartoonish design. OlliOlli World has no relation to Adventure Time. Instead, you’re looking at a rewarding skater with deep mechanics and a rich library of tricks. All elements work to form one of the best extreme sports titles in years. We recommend downloading a copy whether you’re a casual gamer or someone who grew up shredding schools and blasting Millencolin in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Metascore: 87%
The Game Awards: Best Sports / Racing (Nominated)
Developer: Roll7
Director: John Ribbins
Genre: sports, skateboarding

10. Bayonetta 3

There’s no shortage of hack ‘n slash action games, yet Bayonetta 3 puts them all to shame. The over-the-top, oh-so-satisfying combat of this quirky, very Japanese franchise is raised to new heights, and the Nintendo Switch handles it all rather well. The story presented is far from perfect, but we can look beyond the narrative when all other elements are firing on all fronts. We can’t wait for the inevitable Bayonetta 4!

Available on: Switch
Metascore: 86%
The Game Awards: Best Action Game (Winner)
Developer: PlatinumGames
Director: Yusuke Miyata
Genre: Action adventure

11. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

The LEGO games have always provided a solid mix of fan service and family fun. But LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga ups the ante with improved gameplay and immersive visuals that make the familiar minifigs appear as though they were pulled straight from the (expensive) playsets. The latest entry in this long-running series even crams in content from all of the main films, spinning a lighter, humorous take on a galaxy far, far away. We’ll go so far as to argue the force is stronger with LEGO Star Wars than with the entire sequel trilogy!

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Metascore: 82%
The Game Awards: Best Family (Nominated)
Developer: Traveller’s Tales
Director: James McLoughlin
Genre: Action adventure

12. The Quarry

Developer Supermassive Games have a long history of crafting cinematic horror experiences, and The Quarry is their best to date. Spanning a single night, a group of camp counsellors are left behind to endure the blood-thirsty creatures that emerge during the full moon. What unfolds is a story that adapts to your decisions but is far less punishing than what the genre typically delivers. This is a more accessible choose-your-own-adventure regarding gameplay, yet the gore and more keep it strictly adults-only.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Metascore: 79%
The Game Awards: Innovation in Accessibility (Nominated)
Developer: Supermassive Games
Director: Will Byles
Genre: Survival horror, interactive drama

13. NBA 2K23

NBA 2K23 pairs improved gameplay with best-in-class visuals and improved AI for what developer Visual Concepts, or at least the publisher, described as one of the most immersive sports products in modern gaming. We tend to agree. There are improvements across the board with this latest entry, and the return of The Jordan Challenge is the icing on the cake.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Metascore: 80%
The Game Awards: Best Sports / Racing (Nominated)
Developer: Visual Concepts
Director: Christian Papierniak
Genre: Sports, basketball

14. Gran Turismo 7

In our review, we described Gran Turismo 7 as a love letter to everything on four wheels. It’s equal parts driving simulator and celebration of car culture. You can see this in the realistic feel of the 400-plus rides, all created with astonishing attention to detail. The latest entry also makes the franchise more inviting to newcomers without sacrificing anything that makes it special.

Available on: PlayStation
Metascore: 87%
The Game Awards: Best Audio Design (Nominated), Best Sports / Racing (Winner)
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Director: Kazunori Yamauchi
Genre: Racing, simulation

15. God of War Ragnarök

Did you think we’d forget about Kratos? Not a chance! God of War Ragnarök bookends our best games of 2022 list, but if we ranked them all in order, we’d be looking at the top. This blockbuster sequel lives up to the acclaim of its predecessor and, in some ways, rises even higher. It’s an action-packed, emotionally charged epic that must be played. Unfortunately, Ragnarök didn’t take home top honours at The Game Awards 2022, even though it’s worthy of the prize. Regardless, you’re looking at one of the absolute best PlayStation games.

Available on: PlayStation
Metascore: 94%
The Game Awards: Game of the Year (Nominated), Best Game Direction (Nominated), Best Narrative (Winner), Best Art Direction (Nominated), Best Audio Design (Winner), Best Performance (Winner), Innovation in Accessibility (Winner), Best Action / Adventure (Winner)
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Director: Eric Williams, Cory Barlog
Genre: Action adventure

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