2022 is shaping up to be another massive year for the gaming industry, with sequels to games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and God of War set to finally release, as well as new IPs that are highly anticipated. While some of the best games of 2021 included titles like Halo Infinite and Resident Evil: Village, 2022 could feature an even more impressive lineup. From Horizon Forbidden West to Sifu, there should be something for every type of gamer this year.
The pandemic saw the delay of many highly anticipated AAA and indie games last year. While a few of them, like Halo Infinite, managed to be released in 2021, a great majority of delayed games are going to be released in 2022. Although some of the games listed below have set scheduled days they will be released, there are still many, like God of War Ragnarok, that have yet to see an actual release date. This could mean that these games might be delayed until 2023 or longer.
The games listed below are from both AAA and indie publishers. With Elden Ring and Starfield releasing this year, there are going to be a lot of exciting new RPG games in 2022. Many of these are sequels or spin-offs of existing IPs, but there are also a few that are original properties. Many indie developers are leading the charge into original IPs, the most notable being Annapurna Interactive’s Stray and Sloclap’s Sifu.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Extraction Releases January 20
Originally slated for a 2021 release, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Extraction saw quite a few delays. A spin-off of Ubisoft’s popular PvP FPS game Rainbow Six Siege, the game features co-op multiplayer where players must team up with one another to defeat a zombie-like, alien parasite. Boasting the return of operators from the original game like Sledge, Smoke, and Nomad, Extraction will have a storyline, including 13 missions players can play through at launch. Ubisoft has plans to provide continuous support for the game in the future, with Rainbow Six: Extraction‘s post-launch roadmap having been revealed last November. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Extraction is set to be released for PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and Stadia.
Anticipated 2022 Games – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Fans of Pokémon were surprised and ecstatic to see a Breathe of the Wild-esque open world Pokémon game announced with Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The game will allow players to catch and research Pokémon in the open world Hisui region, featuring loads of clans, villages and areas to explore. An RPG, Arceus will allow players to create their own character and follow the story of the Jubilife Village and its characters living within. Pokémon Legends: Arceus will be released on the Nintendo Switch January 28.
Dying Light 2 Finally Releases February 4, 2022
Techland recently showcased a grueling cinematic story trailer for Dying Light 2, its upcoming zombie hack and slash game. The original Dying Light was underrated, boasting a unique zombie premise and innovative gameplay. Involving intense chase sequences, a day and night system, and fluid parkour mechanics, Dying Light 2 hopes to build upon the smooth gameplay of the first.
Dying Light 2 adds new mechanics like gliding to the game, and introduces a brand new choice-based narrative, allowing the player to make choices that will influence and shape the world around them. Set 15 years after the events of the first game, Dying Light 2 boasts an open world four times larger than its predecessor. After experiencing numerous delays, Dying Light 2 is set to be released on PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch.
Indie Game Sifu Is One Of 2022’s Most Anticipated Releases
Created by indie developer, Sloclap, Sifu is a beat ’em up third-person game with rogue-like elements. Playing as a man seeking vengeance, the player must fight wave after wave of assassins, utilizing martial arts techniques to defeat their enemies. Every time the player dies, however, the character ages, gaining more experience to defeat the foe who took their previous life. Players should be careful though, as there is a certain point where a death could be their last. Featuring an interactive environment and outstanding martial arts choreography, Sifu is set to be released on the PlayStation 4/5 and on PC February 8.
PlayStation Exclusive Horizon Forbidden West Drops February 18
A sequel to the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s journey, where she must uncover the secrets behind the Forbidden West to save the world. Set in a dystopian future where dinosaur-like robots roam the Earth, Horizon Forbidden West takes place in the San Francisco area. Remnants of the old world exist with landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, however, for the most part, this world has changed completely. An expansive RPG with a large open world, Horizon Forbidden West will come out for both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as an exclusive.
FromSoftware’s Elden Ring Is A Massive 2022 Video Game
Elden Ring was delayed by about a month due to quality assurance recently and is arguably one of the most anticipated releases of 2022. It had even won the Most Anticipated Game Award at 2021’s Game Awards. Revealed in 2019, thousands of players were itching to get their hands on the game, with some even paying thousands of dollars to play it early.
Developed by FromSoftware Inc., Elden Ring features complex Souls gameplay and a narrative written by the legendary author of the Game of Thrones series, George R.R. Martin. The game also features an expansive open world and will include key elements from FromSoftware’s previous games, such as bonfires and bloodstains. Elden Ring will be released on PC, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One, and Series X/S February 25.
Forspoken Will Release May 24
Square Enix’s Forspoken is another major release to look out for in 2022. Boasting a tactical and complex magical combat system, Forspoken tells the tale of Frey, a New Yorker from the real world who is transported to the magical world of Athia. Given fantastical abilities, Frey must defend Athia and defeat the creatures and beings that wish to do the world harm. Forspoken is set to release on PC and PlayStation 5.
Starfield Will Be Skyrim In Space
Originally announced by Bethesda Game Studios in 2018, Starfield has generated a lot of hype over the years. It will be the first of Bethesda’s games to use the Creation Engine 2, an upgrade of the engine used to make games such as Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Starfield is set to be a massive space roaming action-adventure game with customizable characters, companions, and an ever-changing story. Despite the lack of gameplay trailers, Starfield remains a long-awaited game by many fans of the RPG genre. Starfield will be an Xbox Series X and Series S exclusive and will also be released on PC November 11.
God Of War Ragnarok May Be The Most Anticipated PS5 Game
Santa Monica Studios’ God of War Ragnarok reveal trailer generated a ton of hype at 2021’s PlayStation showcase. As many are excited for the upcoming sequel to 2018’s illustrious God of War, there are many who are worried that it may suffer some delays due to the fact that it has not had a set release date yet. These worries, however, are most likely unneeded as a recent rating revealed that God of War Ragnarok‘s release date will be sooner than anticipated.
God of War Ragnarok will continue the story of Kratos and his son, Atreus, trekking through the war-torn realms of Norse mythology. This will be during the doomed era of Ragnarok, so expect plenty of death and destruction in this action-packed god-killing story. Featuring brutal combat and gorgeous animations, God of War Ragnarok will be released as a PlayStation exclusive for the PS4 and PS5.
Sci-Fi Game Stray Is 2022’s Most Hyped Cat Simulator
A game where you play as a cat in a dystopian, robot-controlled world, Stray is Annapurna Interactive’s newest upcoming video game for the PlayStation 4/5 and PC. There’s not a lot of information known for this one, though based on Stray‘s gameplay trailer the story will be about a cat helping a drone decipher some robot languages while avoiding some alien-like enemies known as Zurks.
Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Sequel Should Release In 2022
Planned for a 2022 release, Breath of the Wild‘s sequel will bring players back to Hyrule as Link. The trailer featured Link going on adventures across the iconic series setting, solving puzzles and battling enemies in true Legend of Zelda fashion. Revealed in Summer 2021, there has not been a lot of information about the game since. All that is known is that Nintendo plans to reuse the same engine and world as the first game. The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is set to be released on the Nintendo Switch.
