The best of the year…
And so, we reach the end of 2022. A year packed with incredible games, hefty rumours and some fantastic reveals. But which of the games are the absolute best? Well, fear not, as we’ve put together a top ten, as well as a few additional categories to have a read through! This piece will focus on the Top Ten, with the additional categories included in the video and podcast episodes below!
10 – Metal Hellsinger
Metal Hellsinger fuses an FPS with a rhythm action game, alongside a brutal, pumping soundtrack to give an experience like few other. Essentially Doom meets Rock Band, it’s an absolute ton of fun, and deserves your attention. The sheer exhilaration when you hit the 16x multiplier and the vocals kick in is something to behold, and when you play it with the volume up loud, you can’t help but nod your head in time with all of your attacks. A fantastic title.
Ben: Metal Hellsinger started off quite slow, but by the end of the second level I was all in. A brilliant blend of action, music and stunning visuals at times, there aren’t many games that grab you by the throat and don’t let up quite like this. Hammering away at the final boss while Serj Tankian from System of a Down was screaming in his melodic fasion was an absolute joy, and it’s a game I’ve dipped back into quite a bit
9 – Marvel’s Midnight Suns
What do you get when you give Firaxis, one of the best strategy developers on the planet, full access to the Marvel Universe? Well, you get the engrossing and deep title that Midnight Suns became. Something of an off-radar hit, it ended up becoming one of the best games of the year with its mix of card based battling, RPG elements and fantastic story. If you’ve got any affinity for Marvel at all, then you should go check this one out!
Ben: Midnight Suns is a game that I thought would be very good, but turned out to be nothing short of great. The combat is perfectly paced, and has that intangible Firaxis quality, but the side stories and relationship building are what set this apart from the likes of XCOM and other titles. I’ve yet to finish it due to Christmas and other stuff getting in the way, but man, what a game this is.
8 – TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge
TMNT Shredder’s Revenge is a pixel-perfect throwback to the arcade games that everyone knows and loves from our favourite half-shelled heroes. Frantic combat, varied characters and plenty of depth all combine to create a wonderful experience.
Gari: What can I say about TMNT: Shredders Revenge. This is how a game with its retro look and feel should be created to celebrate the retro gaming from the 90s. It’s clear that the developers respect the old retro scene so much when you start playing this game. From the beautiful retro visuals to the incredible soundtrack and everything in between including its fantastic and varied gameplay styles depending on which Turtle you use. TMNT: Shredders Revenge has a lot more depth than I every thought it would have once the story has been completed but it keeps you busy with collectibles to keep you occupied. The level of respect shown here to the by gone era of gaming is astonishing. If you love side-scrolling beat-em-ups and a retro feel, then this is one for you. TMNT: Shredders Revenge is a beautiful love-letter to retro gaming which is just as great to play as it is to gawp at.
7 – Pokemon Legends Arceus
The first of a couple of Pokemon games released this year, Arceus gave us the title I think most people have wanted for ages. A 3D Open World game that has a ton of stuff to do, Arceus scratched an itch that people had, and left them hungry for more!
Nico: Pokemon Legends Arceus absolutely blew away all the pre-conceptions I had of it. I went from thinking it would be a spin off Pokemon title I’d try out to ...