The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom brought childlike joy I never thought I could experience again, where it shows that when it comes to human ingenuity and creativity, the sky’s the limit. It is a true watershed moment of game design.
From every angle you can imagine, from its clever storytelling and cinematic stylings to its excellent survival horror aspects, Alan Wake 2 absolutely sings.
“Metroid Prime Remastered” is a perfect reminder of the ways that Nintendo helped to shape the industry, but it’s also a reflection that sheds light on a greater creative void from Nintendo since that original 2002 release.
It is a testament to how good Jedi Survivor is as an overall package that, even though it had some technical deficiencies that can be seen as deterrents, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of what is one of the best Star Wars games in the modern era.
Sony Santa Monica did incredible work with this, and if you have ever liked the God of War franchise at any point, I can’t imagine a better love letter for the fans.
In many ways, playing through Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth feels like the dream game many envisioned when they stepped out for the first time to a world full of wonder and possibilities back in 1997.
There’s so much that can be said about how special Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is, from its evocative exploration of grief, its incredible combat system, its artistic presentation, and its emotionally stirring soundtrack.
While not perfect, the risks Square-Enix took with Final Fantasy XVI to focus this game on a genre completely different from many of its prior entries did manage to pay off in dividends.
The Last of Us Part II remains a fascinating sequel to one of gaming’s most celebrated franchises, and its No Return addition makes it more replayable than it was four years ago.
If Monster Hunter World was Capcom's attempt at making their ever-growing franchise more accessible to a bigger audience, Monster Hunter Wilds pretty much perfects it, providing an entry that's sure to satisfy longtime fans and create new ones as well.
The JRPG greats eventually grew to become genre stalwarts, and I certainly see a future where, upon great iteration and improved storytelling, Granblue Fantasy also gets there.
The Rising Tide serves a fitting end to Final Fantasy XVI, reminding me of the ways this entry rose above the challenge while also tripping in a few spots.
Both The Lake House and the Night Springs DLC packs feel like slightly flawed but well deserved victory laps for this long-in-development project.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is a true return to form for Treyarch and a great showpiece for Raven Software.
Let’s not mince words: after more than a decade of dormancy, seeing Ninja Gaiden return with this much confidence feels triumphant.
It may not be my absolute favorite game of 2022, but it certainly is one of the most fun from this year.
If what you wanted was another excuse to revisit Final Fantasy 16 outside its New Game+ and Arcade Mode, I feel this is a solid reason to return to its world.
Even if you are not a big fan of the Avatar property, if you have enjoyed Far Cry in the past and are curious to see how Ubisoft is slowly evolving their tried and true formula, or if you just want a beautiful place to get lost in, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora definitely fits the bill.
For a developer’s first rodeo, I truly appreciate the unique angle they found in occupying the middle ground between the character action games it apes, and the ever popular modern action game From Software has popularized.
While far from flawless, Outlaws proves that the ultimate fulfillment of the Star Wars game we’ve dreamed of is within our grasp.