Published , by Shack Staff
Published , by Shack Staff
This year will soon be in the rearview mirror. It was stacked with amazing video game releases, and Shacknews is going to be counting down our Top 10 Games of the Year 2022. The Shack Staff each submitted their personal top 10 lists, which were compiled to create a single definitive list that will be etched in Shacknews history. Without further adieu, let’s check out the Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2022. Please take a look at our video, or read along underneath the video embed.
Want to read the list? Hit Next Page to see our text version of the Shacknews Top 10 Games of 2022.
Tunic is an adorably deceptive package. On the surface, it looks like a furry homage to The Legend of Zelda. While there are swords, shields, and, yes, green tunics involved, slashing enemies along a picturesque overworld is only part of the formula that makes this game such an incredible effort.
Tunic is a captivating mystery, one that begins from the moment players hit "New Game" and they're immediately thrust onto a mysterious island without any setup or context. A major part of the experience is putting the story together from scratch, solving the overarching puzzle that is the game's instruction manual, and ultimately saving the island from darkness. On top of everything, survival is far from assured, as enemies attack with a Souls-like toughness that isn't for the faint of heart. (A major plus is that if the combat does prove too tough, there's a No Fail option available.)
All of that wrapped together makes Tunic far better than anybody could have expected and there were already high expectations for it going in.
Tunic is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam platforms. Tunic also won the Shacknews Award for Indie Game of the Year 2022.
There is only one input needed to play Vampire Survivors and it’s the movement stick (or buttons or thumb). Couple this with its simple retro graphics and by all accounts it doesn’t sound like you have a winning formula. I booted the game up, loaded into the first level with zero expectations and before I knew it the sun had set and I was pushing a frankly irresponsible bedtime. Vampire Survivors is immensely satisfying on a level that can only be likened to blasting through waves of shapes in Geometry Wars, narrowly avoiding death. Each upgrade you acquire will add some new effect to your survivor, be it the power of garlic, knives thrown out in the direction you move, a Bible spinning around you, or some other wacky power-up.
Disclaimer: Shacknews' Top 10 Games of the Year list factors in a community vote, while our Top 10 Indies list is made using only votes from the staff. This is why Vampire Survivors is ranked ahead of Tunic, which won Shacknews' Indie Game of the Year Award.
Vampire Survivors is available on iOS, Android, and Xbox platforms.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands was a much needed refresh for the Borderlands franchise. While the classic cell-shaded art style and looter-shooter format are still there, the Dungeons and Dragons-inspired narrative takes players to new territory. It also influences gameplay, with spells and other fantasy weapons being a highlight. It's also a thoroughly hilarious game that lives up to the Borderlands name. This is mainly thanks to some standout performances from Ashly Burch, Wanda Sykes, and Will Arnett.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms.
Horizon Forbidden West is a sequel that effectively builds upon the strengths of its predecessor while also introducing a wealth of new features and quality of life improvements to the mix. Not to mention, it boasts some of the best graphics on next-gen consoles. You can spend hours in the game’s photo mode alone capturing both scenery and Aloy herself in impressive detail.
Story wise, Horizon Forbidden West manages to dig deeper into who Aloy is at her core and how the events of the previous game have impacted her, while also exploring her relationships with her friends. The game’s map is also impressively expansive and can be explored while riding machines similar to the previous game, while further opening things up with the introduction of flying machines to ride. Soaring above the game’s beautiful world, it’s hard not to be in sheer awe of what Guerrilla Games have created.
Horizon Forbidden West is available exclusively for PlayStation platforms.
Splatoon is one of those series that if you know about it, you’re all in. For those who had never ventured into the paint-filled world of Splatoon, this third entry in the series was a great diving in point. I had never experienced a Splatoon title before and the moment I got into my first match in Splatoon 3, I was instantly hooked. After several matches, Splatoon 3 began to reveal its depths to me. Like the ocean-based critters of its world, I was ready to dive deep into the water and drink in the systems. There is a rich ability crafting system, nuances to the various weapons and specials, cosmetics and other customizations, and all of this is before you consider the singleplayer campaign or the Salmon Run wave defense mode. There’s a good reason why Splatoon 3 has stolen the spotlight for our weekly Big Team Building streams.
Splatoon 3 is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch platform.
One of the most delightful family games on Nintendo Switch this year was without a doubt Kirby and the Forgotten Land. The game sees everyone’s favorite pink puffball tackle 3D platforming with a wealth of vibrant locations to explore, unique copy abilities to use, and the introduction of Mouthful Mode. With this, Kirby can inhale objects and turn himself into things like a car, lamp, cone, and much more.
In addition to the pure, wholesome joy on offer in the main game, Kirby and the Forgotten Land has a home world that you’re able to slowly rebuild for your Waddle Dee pals as you rescue them. Here, you can treat yourself to a feast of mini games, upgrade weapons, and take cozy naps with Elfilin in Kirby’s house. It’s for all these reasons, and more, that Kirby and the Forgotten Land has earned itself a spot in our list of 2022 favorites.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch platform.
Marvel Snap took the Shack Staff by surprise when it was officially released to the public back in October. This Marvel card battler offered a unique spin on competitive card games, with an addicting gameplay loop that had us hooked. The various abilities of each card have made for endless layers of strategy, and we found ourselves constantly comparing and sharing decks. The game is also visually impressive, with some stunning card art and animations to marvel at while playing.
Marvel Snap is available on iOS, Android, and PC platforms.
Zodiacs be damned because 2022 was clearly the Year of the Turtle. TMNT had a big year between a few different games, but the star of the show was absolutely Shredder's Revenge. This game did more than bring back good the good vibes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade brawlers of yesteryear. It refreshed the formula substantially. Up-to-6-player drop-in-drop-out online and offline play in of itself makes this game easy to enjoy with friends, but once you're in there, the fighting also feels great. Every character feels substantially different and plays excitingly diverse. Moreover, the levels are a vast gallery of delightful TMNT lore and easter eggs from the incredibly blatant to the slightly more subtle. It's not a long game to beat, but the fun that we can have alone or with friends kept us coming back for more well after we took down Shredder and rolled credits.
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC platforms.
Santa Monica Studio delivered an unforgettable God of War experience back in 2018. The entirely new direction for the IP took Kratos into the world of Norse mythology, gave him a son, and sent them on a journey. In 2022, Kratos and Atreus returned to continue what they started. To say the team at Santa Monica Studio had a big task on their hands would be an understatement. Despite the challenge before them, what was finally delivered was a tale of mythological proportions, boasting brutal and visceral combat, with a genuine father and son story at its heart. It managed to hit all the right notes, it surprised and delighted, and left many players in tears. It was the perfect conclusion to the saga and deserving of all the praise it received.
God of War Ragnarok is available exclusively for the PS5 platform.
There were some great games that didn't make the cut for our Top 10 Games of the Year 2022 list, but we wanted to give them a proper shout-out. Here's a list of our honorable mentions in no particular order:
And now for the main event...
Elden Ring’s successes are about as rich and diverse as its expansive world. The game dominated the online discourse for months after its release, ushering in a new wave of players that have never before dabbled in a Soulsborne game. It’s won multiple Shacknews awards, built upon the juggernaut that is Breath of the Wild and revolutionized the open-world genre, and even managed to surprise the veterans who thought they had seen it all. The game stands tall among a pantheon of incredible releases in 2022, but the choice was clear, Elden Ring is the Shacknews Game of the Year 2022. You can read more about it in the full Game of the Year article.
Check out our Shacknews Game of the Year 2022 - Elden Ring article to read more!
Elden Ring is available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC platforms.
That's the Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2022. What games should have made the list? What games should be ranked higher or lower? Let us know in the Shacknews Chatty comment section below. Congratulations to all of the games that made our list this year!
Watch the Shacknews Awards 2022 YouTube playlist or read our Year of the Games: 2022 article for all of the awards in one place.