Level Up Video Game Design

The 16 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2022

Photo Courtesy: BandaiNamco, Santa Monica Studio, Epic Games, WB Games Montreal

Hype is a powerful marketing tool in the gaming industry. How many times have you seen an amazing trailer for a less-than-stellar product? How many demos have you repeatedly played for games that you never purchased? Anticipation can lead to tremendous dissatisfaction… but we'd be lying if we said we weren't excited for some of the games coming out in 2022!

The Souls franchise will enter new territory (on horseback), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will bring out the Russian Doomer in all of us, Bethesda will release another bug-ridden masterpiece , and Kratos will partake in "take your child to Armageddon day." We're taking a look at 16 of the most anticipated games of 2022 today, and we're hoping that the hype doesn't bite us in the butt tomorrow.

Blood Bowl 3

Photo Courtesy: Cyanide Studio

There's a fantasy football pun somewhere in here. Blood Bowl 3 is the latest installment in this satirical series. For those who don't know, Blood Bowl is the unholy lovechild of Warhammer and Madden. This franchise is chaotic, psychotic, devilishly charming, and extremely fun.

The Steam page for Blood Bowl 3 has been up and running since June 2021. Feel free to stop by and wistfully stare at promo material.

Dying Light 2

Photo Courtesy: Techland

We could best describe the first Dying Light game as an open-world, zombie-drop-kicking simulator. Narrative depth wasn't exactly one of that project's strengths, but engaging combat and a robust parkour system were absolutely its saving graces.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human looks to up the ante this February. New weapons, abilities, and craftable items should elevate combat to the next level. And at the end of the day, we can't wait to introduce more zombies to the soles of our boots.

Elden Ring

Photo Courtesy: From Software

" Soulsbornekiro " is not a word we just made up; it refers to Demon's Souls , the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne , and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Pick up any of these titles and you'll find an unforgiving, yet immensely rewarding experience waiting for you.

Elden Ring is the brainchild of Hidetaka Miyazaki (the director of the Souls games) and George R.R. Martin (the creator of Game of Thrones ) . Elden Ring will be the first truly open-world installment in a franchise that's drastically reshaped the gaming industry. We look forward to delving into this world on February 25 — and finding a new name for the Souls series.

Final Fantasy XVI

Photo Courtesy: Square Enix

Once upon a time, Square Enix was the undisputed king of JRPGs. Final Fantasy VII sold well over 12.8 million units internationally in 1997, shattering sales projections and setting new records in the process. 2022 may be another huge year for Square Enix as two highly-anticipated Final Fantasy games are slated for release.

Final Fantasy XVI and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin both look to be action-oriented installments. FFVI looks particularly promising as Ryota Suzuki (the combat designer for Dragon's Dogma and Devil May Cry 5) may be working on this title.

GhostWire: Tokyo

Photo Courtesy: Tango Gameworks

Yokai are strange, often malevolent, Japanese spirits that prowl the streets at night. The Slit-Mouthed Woman, Starving Skeletons, and the Two-Mouth Woman are just a few of Japan's most infamous ghosts and demons. The chances of surviving an encounter with these creatures are slim in real life, but at least you'll have a fighting chance in GhostWire: Tokyo.

This chilling title by Tango Gameworks lets players control Akito, a young Japanese man who battles yokai with psychic powers. GhostWire: Tokyo will be a first-person action-adventure game that features a unique combat system and dozens upon dozens of terrifying Japanese monsters. PS5 owners will get to enjoy this timed exclusive first in 2022.

God of War: Ragnarok

Photo Courtesy: [Santa Monica Studio]

The hands of Death couldn't hold him, the Sisters of Fate couldn't control him, and a years-long hiatus couldn't stop him from starring in one of the best-selling games of all time. Kratos is the God of War, and his story is far from over. God of War: Ragnarok will pick up three years after the events of God of War (2018).

Kratos and his son Atreus are on the Norse pantheon's hit list, and they have precious few allies in Midgard. The Ghost of Sparta is no stranger to cataclysmic events and Ragnarok is literally the Norse word for "Doom of the Gods." We don't see things ending peacefully in this game, but when has Kratos ever had that luxury?

Gotham Knights

Photo Courtesy: WB Games Montréal

Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series reshaped the action-adventure genre throughout the 2010s. Every franchise from Mad Max to Spider-Man to The Witcher borrowed certain gameplay elements from Rocksteady. Each Batman game grew in scope and complexity, but one feature consistently remained absent: cooperative multiplayer.

Gotham Knights might just scratch that itch — up to four players can take on Gotham City's most dangerous criminals by taking control of Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin, or the Red Hood.

Horizon Forbidden West

Photo Courtesy: Guerrilla Games]

We aren't here to reignite any arguments concerning the eighth console generation, but we will say this; a slew of amazing games were exclusive to the PS4. One of those games was Horizon Zero Dawn, which earned critical praise and commercial success back in 2017. Guerilla Games are looking to go 2-for-2 with their follow-up title.

Horizon Forbidden West is coming to PS4 and PS5 on February 18, 2022. Players will once again help Aloy do what she does best — uncover ancient mysteries and hunt robotic dinosaurs. This already looks like a must-have title for PS5 owners.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Photo Courtesy: Nintendo

Masahiro Sakurai is revered by the gaming community as the mastermind behind the Super Smash Bros. franchise. However, Kirby is one of Sakurai's first creations. Not only does this explain why Kirby gets top billing in the Smash series, but it also explains why Kirby games are so amazing.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a 3-D platformer slated for release in Spring 2022. The pink powerhouse will explore a world very similar to our own while copying and dropping foes by the dozen.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (official title TBA)

Photo Courtesy: Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a game that hardly needs an introduction. It swept at awards shows in 2016 and 2017, broke sales records all over the world, and spawned more memes than we can count. If you had a Nintendo Switch in 2017, this game was an automatic buy.

Nintendo is looking to outdo themselves with Breath of the Wild 2 next year. We know precious little about this title, though that hasn't stopped fans from comparing it to The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. We'll ultimately see if those comparisons are justified next year.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Photo Courtesy: Nintendo

Pokémon Legends: Arceus will take trainers back in time and set them loose in a sprawling world filled with old and new Pokémon. Many fans have noticed similarities between this game and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Breath of the Wild was (and honestly still is) a critical darling, so Arceus following in its footsteps might not be such a bad thing. Either way, Pokémon fans can snag this Nintendo Switch exclusive in late January.

Salt and Sacrifice

Photo Courtesy: Ska Studios

Salt and Sacrifice is the long-awaited follow-up to Ska Studio's Salt and Sanctuary . Both of these games take a great deal of inspiration from the Souls series as well as Castlevania and Metroid . Ska Studios is a " two-person, two-cat team" who've released several popular indie titles like the Dishwasher games and Vampire Smile.

Players can look forward to experiencing a tight combat system, brooding setting, and enigmatic storyline when this title drops next year. And players can also expect to die a lot, as Salt and Sacrifice looks just as challenging as its predecessor — if not more so.

Sifu

Photo Courtesy: Sloclap

"Sifu" is the Chinese word for "master" as well as the next title by Sloclap — the French studio that brought us Absolver in 2017. Just like Absolver , Sifu is all about martial arts; players will take control of a young fighter who gradually evolves into a martial arts master with time.

Absolver placed a great emphasis on multiplayer combat, but Sifu will be a strictly single-player experience. This game also seems to have roguelike elements woven into its DNA, as players will lose certain abilities upon defeat while permanently unlocking others for later playthroughs.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl

Photo Courtesy: GSC Game World

GSC Game World released S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl way back in 2007. The game resonated with fans across the globe thanks to its haunting atmosphere, tense gameplay, and numerous references to the Strugatsky Brothers' novel Roadside Picnic and Andrei Tarkovsky's 1979 film Stalker.

Over a decade after the release of 2009's S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, this revered series is finally making a return. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl invites players to explore "the Zone" once again on April 28, 2022. Just know that lost treasures and ancient artifacts aren't the only things you'll find out there.

Starfield

Photo Courtesy: Bethesda

Bethesda is still attempting to repair its reputation after a series of PR controversies, and The Elder Scrolls VI is still nowhere in sight. Suffice it to say, there's a lot riding on Starfield's success.

This interstellar RPG promises to let players explore the cosmos, build settlements, and battle extraterrestrial threats. Bethesda's become synonymous with broken promises to many gamers, yet the anticipation for Starfield remains palpable.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction

Photo Courtesy: Ubisoft

Rainbow Six Siege experienced an extremely rocky launch, to say the least. A slew of patches and consistent updates helped the 6 v. 6 tactical shooter gradually recover. Now, it's a staple at some of the world's largest esports tournaments. Rainbow Six Extraction is a spin-off that will take this long-running series in a new direction.

Three-player teams will square off against parasitic aliens called Archæans. Teamwork will still be vital in Extraction , as will resource management and situational awareness. Players with a Left 4 Dead -shaped hole in their hearts might find solace in Rainbow Six Extraction .