Best new games of 2022, from God of War Ragnarok to Forspoken

2022 is already proving to be a huge year for best-in-class video games, with the likes of Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarok, and Horizon Forbidden West leading the stellar lineup.

After a year that delivered plenty of incredible highs including Resident Evil Village, Metroid Dread, and Deathloop, 2022 has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, there are plenty of exciting games on the horizon to look forward to.

Whether you want to step into the boots of DC’s most iconic supervillains, get your next open-world RPG fix, or experience your own extraordinary wizarding adventure at Hogwarts, there’s something for you below.

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The best games of 2022 so far

Here are the best games of 2022 that you can play right now. We thoroughly recommend every single one, but we’ve also included links to our reviews if you need a little extra persuasion.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

• Release date: January 28, 2022
• Platform: Nintendo Switch

Pokemon fans have been calling for a twist on the tried-and-tested franchise formula for years, and they got it with Legends: Arceus, an expansive prequel set in a feudal-era Sinnoh known as the Hisui region – long before Pokemon and humans lived in harmony.

Trainers need to survey distinct environments, catch loads of Pokemon, and complete the region’s first-ever Pokedex. As well as original Hisuian forms and never-before-seen evolutions, longtime fans can expect new battle features, some terrifying Pokemon encounters, and loads of post-game content.

Read our Pokemon Legends Arceus review.

Lost Ark

• Release date: February 11, 2022
• Platforms: PC

Set in the stunning, medieval-inspired universe of Arkesia, Smilegate’s Lost Ark made an impressive mark not just on the MMOARPG genre, but on gaming as a whole when it finally got a wide release in February, reaching over 1.3 million players on Steam just one day after it came out.

Combat is flashy and fast-paced, dungeons are vast and full of treasure, and there are loads of classes to choose between, from a Deathblade assassin to a magic Sorceress, with each one bringing something new to the game – so you can play how you want to.

Read our Lost Ark review.

Horizon Forbidden West

• Release date: February 18, 2022
• Platforms: PS5 and PS4

For fans of post-apocalyptic adventure games, it doesn’t get much better than 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn – so you’ll be glad to know its sequel, the highly-anticipated Forbidden West, takes everything that was good about the original and improves on it in almost every way.

With underwater exploration of lakes and seas, brand new tools like the Shieldwing and Pullcaster to play with, and an even bigger map than last time to explore – which looks absolutely stunning, by the way – it’s one of the most exciting releases of the year.

Read our Horizon Forbidden West review.

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Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

• Release date: February 22, 2022
• Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

While it’s not technically a new game, The Witch Queen is arguably the best expansion that Destiny 2 has received so far, earning it a spot on our ‘best games of the year’ list.

Marking the beginning of the end of the Light and Darkness saga, it brought plenty of content including the twisted Throne World, a new Glaive weapon, and a Legendary Campaign. Most importantly, it helped breathe new life into a five-year-old game and made us excited about its future.

Read our Destiny 2: The Witch Queen review.

Martha is Dead

• Release date: February 24, 2022
• Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC

There was plenty of controversy surrounding Martha is Dead before it was even released, especially with the news that certain scenes would be censored on PlayStation consoles, but fortunately, the actual game more than lived up to the hype and it feels destined to become a horror classic.

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Set in Tuscany during the 1940s, the game follows Giulia as she hunts for the truth behind her twin sister’s traumatic murder. What follows is a psychological horror that pushes plenty of boundaries, but if you can stomach the gore and shock, it’s a brilliant game with a story that will stick with you beyond the credits.

Read our Martha is Dead review.

Elden Ring

• Release date: February 25, 2022
• Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X| S, Xbox One, and PC

From the minds of Dark Souls creator, Hidetaka Miyazaki, and the author of the iconic A Song of Ice and Fire novels, George R. R. Martin, comes Elden Ring. The long-awaited FromSoftware title finally arrived in February, and it didn’t disappoint, with many already calling it their favorite game of the year.

There’s clear inspiration from Dark Souls, but with plenty of new features to enjoy like the impossibly big open-world map and the ability to fight on horseback. Combine this with a huge collection of unforgiving boss fights and tough-but-rewarding progression, and it’s easy to see why it’s won so much acclaim.

Read our Elden Ring review.

Gran Turismo 7

• Release date: March 4, 2022
• Platforms: PS5 and PS5

Gran Turismo has been bringing the racetrack to living rooms around the world for over two decades now, so naturally, expectations were high for its first foray onto the PS5 – and we’re pleased to say that it goes above and beyond them, becoming one of the best driving sims on PlayStation ever.

In our review, we praised the “ridiculous array of content and absorbing racing mechanics” in the game, as well as the outstanding visuals and immersive use of PlayStation tech that helps it rise to the top. There are also plenty of gameplay modes that give it loads of replayability.

Read our Gran Turismo 7 review.

Biggest games still to come in 2022

Here are some of our most-anticipated games still to come in 2022. Not all of them have concrete release dates yet, but as long as there aren’t any delays, they should be out this year.

Splatoon 3

• Release date: Summer 2022
• Platform: Nintendo Switch

Splatoon has become quite the surprise hit for Nintendo, offering all the fun of competitive online shooters while replacing gun-toting violence and trash talk with paint splatters and wholesome community content.

The third-person shooter is now approaching its third outing, and while it doesn’t look drastically different from what’s come before, there are loads of upgrades to look forward to including fresh stages, a bow-shaped weapon, and new moves to help you evade and attack.

Forspoken

• Release date: October 11, 2022
• Platforms: PS5 and PC

With a team consisting of Final Fantasy XV developers and writers with credits including Uncharted and Rogue One, there’s a whole lot of anticipation for Square Enix’s upcoming action-adventure RPG, Forspoken.

The game follows a young New Yorker called Frey Holland as she’s ripped from her city lifestyle and transported to the “beautiful and cruel” world of Athia, where she gains newfound magical abilities and some slick parkour skills to take on the monstrous creatures that roam the land.

From the footage we’ve seen so far, it looks stunning, and Frey (portrayed by Charlie’s Angels star Ella Balinska) is shaping up to be a very cool protagonist. It’s coming to PS5 and PC in May 2022.

Gotham Knights

• Release date: October 25, 2022
• Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X| S, Xbox One and PC

In Gotham Knights, the next big release from the devs behind Batman: Arkham Origins, gamers will once again descend upon Gotham City – only this time, Batman is dead. Instead, it’s up to Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Red Hood to keep the city safe from The Court of Owls.

The game is designed with co-op in mind – although solo play is an option too – with each of the four vigilantes having their own set of skills; Batgirl is a hacker, Robin is trained in stealth, Nightwing is an acrobatics specialist, and Red Hood excels at combat.

With an exciting cast of superheroes and the promise of open-world RPG action, Gotham Knights looks like it could be the premier superhero game of the year.

God of War Ragnarok

• Release date: 2022
• Platforms: PS5 and PS4

The long-running God of War franchise got a new lease of life in 2018 when, after countless sequels and spin-offs, it received a soft reboot that introduced fans to Kratos’ son Atreus and garnered universal acclaim from both critics and gamers.

With the upcoming follow-up Ragnarok, the stakes have never been higher for Kratos; the titular prophecy looks set to be fulfilled, promising the death of Gods and the end of days itself, and the Norse mythology era of the series reaches its dramatic finale.

There’s no official release date for God of War Ragnarok yet, although recent rumors have pointed to a September 2022 launch window. Fingers crossed all goes to plan.

Hogwarts Legacy

• Release date: 2022
• Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X| S, Xbox One and PC

For Harry Potter fans who spent years secretly hoping for an invitation to Hogwarts to drop through their letterbox, the upcoming open-world RPG Hogwarts Legacy – which is set to release at some point in 2022 – looks like it’ll be the next best thing.

Players will create a fully-customizable character and be at the center of their own magical adventure as they master spells, create potions, and battle Dark Wizards, ultimately deciding whether to use their powers for good or evil.

It will be set in the 1800s, though, so don’t expect to see Luna Lovegood or Professor McGonagall make an appearance as you traverse the hallowed halls of Hogwarts.

MultiVersus

• Release date: 2022
• Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X| S, Xbox One and PC

With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate dropping its final DLC content at the end of 2021, fans of fighting games with ridiculous crossover rosters might want to turn their attention towards MultiVersus, a free-to-play alternative from Warner Bros.

If you’ve ever wondered who would win in a fight between Batman and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, or Wonder Woman and Arya Stark from Game of Thrones… well, you’ll soon be able to find out. There’s more to be announced soon, so expect this lineup to get even wackier.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl came and went without much fanfare – it recently hit zero viewers on Twitch – so here’s hoping MultiVersus can stick around a little longer when it arrives at some point in 2022.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

• Release date: 2022
• Platform: Nintendo Switch

Nintendo’s 2017 masterpiece The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is widely considered to be one of the greatest games of all time, so naturally, hype levels for its currently-untitled sequel are through the roof.

We really don’t know much about the game beyond a couple of short trailers, but it looks like it’s going to follow a similar format to the original, letting players once again traverse the vast open-world of Hyrule – only this time they’ll be able to soar through the skies and explore floating islands.

If Nintendo manages to stick to its 2022 release schedule, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 will most likely be the must-have game of the year for Nintendo Switch players.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

• Release date: 2022 (although there are rumors of a delay to 2023)
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X| S, and PC

There have been countless opportunities – some good, some bad – to live out your superhero fantasies in gaming over the last few decades, so the prospect of instead stepping into the shoes of one of the most iconic supervillain teams of all time is a pretty darn exciting one.

You’ll get to do just that in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the next big project from Batman: Arkham creators Rocksteady Studios. With the Caped Crusader dead, and Brainiac taking control of the Justice League, it’s up to some of DC’s best villains to take them down and save the world.

Much like 2021’s excellent big-screen outing The Suicide Squad, this new game looks like it’s going to honor everything that’s great about Harley Quinn and co, from the colorful visuals to the dark humor and that over-the-top violence.

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