Year of the Games: 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, the Shacknews staff has assembled our annual list of awards. The Shacknews Awards 2022 deliberations were held over the first few weeks of December, and this article contains every single award. Please take a look.

Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2022

Check out our Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2022 article to read more. You can also watch the Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2022 video embedded below.

Congratulations to every studio who shipped a game this year, but sadly there can only be one Shacknews Game of the Year 2022. Congratulations, FromSoftware!

Shacknews Game of the Year 2022 - Elden Ring

Check out our Shacknews Game of the Year 2022 - Elden Ring article to read more. 

Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.

Do it for Shacknews Award 2022 - Lola

Check out our Do it for Shacknews Award 2022 - Lola article to read more. Most years, the Shacknews Staff would have debated the recipient of the Do it for Shacknews Award, but this year's vote was unanimous. Lola did it for Shacknews every day of her life, and the love she exudes will continue to carry on through the people she touched over her seven years on Earth. Please take a look at this tribute video we created.

Thank you, Lola.

Person of the Year 2022 - Hidetaka Miyazaki

Check out our Shacknews Person of the Year 2022 - Hidetaka Miyazaki article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Shacknews Top 10 Indie Games of the Year 2022

Check out our Shacknews Top 10 Indie Games of the Year 2022 to read the list.

Shacknews Indie Game of the Year 2022 - Tunic

Check out our Shacknews Indie Game of the Year 2022 - Tunic article to read more.

Tunic is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Best Open World Game of 2022 - Elden Ring

Check out our Shacknews Best Open World Game of 2022 - Elden Ring article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.

Best Narrative Game of 2022 - Beacon Pines

Check out our Shacknews Best Narrative Game of 2022 - Beacon Pines article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Beacon Pines is available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Xbox Game Pass.

Best FPS Game of 2022 - Tiny Tina's Wonderlands

Check out our Shacknews Best FPS Game of 2022 - Tiny Tina's Wonderlands article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.

Best RPG of 2022 - Elden Ring

Check out our Shacknews Best RPG of 2022 - Elden Ring article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.

Best Horror Game of 2022 - MADiSON

Check out our Shacknews Best Horror Game of 2022 - MADiSON article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

MADiSON is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox platforms.

Best PC Game of 2022 - Teardown

Check out our Shacknews Best PC Game of 2022 - Teardown article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Teardown is available on Steam.

Best Gaming Accessory of 2022 - Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller

Check out our Shacknews Best Gaming Accessory of 2022 - Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Check out our preview to read more about the Victrix Pro BFG controller. The gamepad costs $179.99 and is available at several retailers online.

Best Art Style of 2022 - Pentiment

Check out our Shacknews Best Art Style of 2022 - Pentiment article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Pentiment is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.

Most Improved Game of 2022 - Cyberpunk 2077

Check out our Shacknews Most Improved Game of 2022 - Cyberpunk 2077 article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Cyberpunk 2077 is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.

Best Strategy Game of 2022 - Marvel Snap

Check out our Shacknews Best Strategy Game of 2022 - Marvel Snap article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Marvel Snap is available on Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play.

Best Early Access Game of 2022 - Disney Dreamlight Valley

Check out our Shacknews Best Early Access Game of 2022 - Disney Dreamlight Valley article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Disney Dreamlight Valley is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Steam, and Xbox platforms.

Best Fighting Game of 2022 - MultiVersus

Check out our Shacknews Best Fighting Game of 2022 - MultiVersus article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

MultiVersus is free-to-play on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam.

Best Remake of 2022 - The Last of Us Part 1

Check out our Shacknews Best Remake of 2022 - The Last of Us Part 1 article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

The Last of Us Part 1 is available on PlayStation platforms.

Best Developer of 2022 - FromSoftware

Check out our Shacknews Best Developer of 2022 - FromSoftware article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Check out our FromSoftware topic page for more coverage.

Best Graphics of 2022 - God of War Ragnarok

Check out our Shacknews Best Graphics of 2022 - God of War Ragnarok article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

God of War Ragnarok is available on both PlayStation 4 and PS5 platforms.

Best Mod of 2022 - Sifu Power Ranger Edition

Check out our Shacknews Best Mod of 2022 - Sifu Power Ranger Edition article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

The Sifu Power Ranger Edition mod is available on Nexusmods.

Best Nintendo Switch Game of 2022 - Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Check out our Shacknews Best Nintendo Switch Game of 2022 - Kirby and the Forgotten Land article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available on Nintendo Switch and it even has a free demo.

Best Racing Game of 2022 - Buck Up and Drive!

Check out our Shacknews Best Racing Game of 2022 - Buck Up and Drive! article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Buck Up and Drive! is available on Steam.

Best Sports Game of 2022 - Windjammers 2

Check out our Shacknews Best Sports Games of 2022 - Windjammers 2 article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Windjammers 2 is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox platforms.

Best Co-Op Game of 2022 - TMNT: Shredder's Revenge

Check out our Shacknews Best Co-Op Game of 2022 - TMNT: Shredder's Revenge article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass.

Most Overlooked Game of 2022 - Horizon Forbidden West

Check out our Shacknews Most Overlooked Game of 2022 - Horizon Forbidden West article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Horizon Forbidden West is available on PlayStation 4 and PS5.

Best Expansion of 2022 - The Long Dark: Tales from the Far Territory

Check out our Shacknews Best Expansion of 2022: The Long Dark: Tales from the Far Territory article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

The Long Dark is available on PS4, Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

Best Comeback of 2022 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Check out our Shacknews Best Comeback of 2022 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Check out all of our Shacknews TMNT coverage to read more about this franchise's amazing comeback in 2022.

Best Strand Game of 2022 - Sonic Frontiers

Check out our Shacknews Best Strand Game of 2022 - Sonic Frontiers article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Sonic Frontiers is available on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

Outstanding Achievement in Accessibility 2022 - God of War Ragnarök

Check out our Shacknews Outstanding Achievement in Accessibility 2022 - God of War Ragnarok article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

God of War Ragnarok is available on both PlayStation 4 and PS5 platforms.

Best Multiplayer Game of 2022 - Splatoon 3

Check out our Shacknews Best Multiplayer Game of 2022 - Splatoon 3 article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Splatoon 3 is available on Nintendo Switch.

Best VR Game of 2022 - Among Us VR

Check out our Shacknews Best VR Game of 2022 - Among Us VR article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Among Us VR is available on Oculus and Steam platforms.

Best Xbox Series X Game of 2022 - Grounded

Check out our Shacknews Best Xbox Series X Game of 2022 - Grounded article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Grounded is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.

Modojo @ Shacknews Mobile Game of the Year 2022 - Marvel Snap

Check out our Modojo @ Shacknews Mobile Game of the Year 2022 - Marvel Snap article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Marvel Snap is available on Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play.

Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2022 - Horizon Forbidden West

Check out our Shacknews Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2022 - Horizon Forbidden West article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Horizon Forbidden West is available on PlayStation 4 and PS5.

Best Publisher of 2022 - Nintendo

Check out our Shacknews Best Publisher of 2022 - Nintendo article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Check out more of our Nintendo coverage from this year on our topic page.

Best PS4 Game of 2022 - God of War Ragnarök 

Check out our Shacknews Best PS4 Game of 2022 - God of War Ragnarok article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

God of War Ragnarok is available on both PlayStation 4 and PS5 platforms.

Best Xbox One Game of 2022 - Grounded

Check out our Shacknews Best Xbox One Game of 2022 - Grounded article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Grounded is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.

Best Trendsetter of 2022 - Wordle

Check out our Shacknews Best Trendsetter of 2022 - Wordle article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Wordle is available to play on the NY Times website. 

Best Hardware of 2022 - Steam Deck

Check out our Shacknews Best Hardware  of 2022 - Steam Deck article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Steam Deck is available to purchase on Steam.

Esports Hero of the Year 2022 - UMISHO

Check out our Shacknews Esports Hero of 2022 - UMISHO article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Guilty Gear: Strive is available on Steam and PlayStation platforms.

Shackbattle Game of the Year 2022 - Wreckfest

Check out our Shackbattle Game of the Year 2022 - Wreckfest article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.

Wreckfest is available on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox Game Pass, and Nintendo Switch.

Best DLC of 2022 - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass

With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe firmly sitting atop the all-time best-selling Switch games list, it's impressive with how much Nintendo increased the game's value with the Booster Course Pass. The sheer number of DLC tracks featured is enough to warrant its own separate game. The fact that most of these tracks are returning courses from past Mario Kart titles provides a nice injection of nostalgia when we get behind the wheel.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass is available on Nintendo Switch for free with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.

Best Online Presentation of 2022 - Super Mario Bros. Movie Nintendo Direct

It was hard to know what we were in for with The Super Mario Bros. Movie before the first real reveal. With Chris Pratt questionably cast and very little to go on for the CGI animation, we all waited with baited breath to see if Nintendo and Illumination could overcome the albatross that previously hung on Mario films. That said, they laid many concerns to rest in the Nintendo Direct presentation that had the first Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer. Pratt didn't do so terrible that it was irredeemable and everyone else (particularly Keegan-Michael Key as Toad and Jack Black as Bowser) sounded like they were knocking it out of the park. Also, the animation looks gorgeous and the world is incredibly vibrant. Nintendo and Illumination have done well to dispel our concerns about this movie and it all started at that fateful Nintendo Direct.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be released in theaters on April 7, 2023.

Best Gore of 2022 - Scorn

Scorn is a game that really gets under your skin, literally. The gross-out gore in this Giger-inspired horror game is filled with visuals that are hard to get out of your head once you've seen them. Most of it involves blood, or other parts of the body that are better kept on the inside. It's one we won't be forgetting anytime soon.

Scorn is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.

Pop! Goes the Culture! Presents Best Adaptation of 2022 - Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is the blueprint for proper video game adaptations: Take an interesting universe, put it in the hands of talented artists, and give them the creative liberty to make something unique. Studio Trigger gave us a compelling cyberpunk story packed with memorable characters and moments. It was so impactful that it strongly contributed to Cyberpunk 2077's resurgence this year.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is available to stream on Netflix.

Best Cameo of 2022 - Lil Nas X (League of Legends)

We’ve been in and out of love with League of Legends for a while over the years, but 2022 was undoubtedly a surprising and exciting time for the game. There was the robust competitive year, the regular release of enjoyable new content, champions, and systems, and plenty more. However, Riot Games swung for the fences with its guest talent this year. We’re talking about none other than the appointment of Lil Nas X as “President of League of Legends”. It was one of the most out-of-left-field things when we learned he would be taking part in LoL’s end-year competitive festivities. Ultimately, Lil Nas X delivered big time when he and Jackson Wang kicked off the League of Legends Worlds 2022 Championship. His hit single “STAR WALKIN’” permeated the post-season of LoL and made for a memorable kickoff to the game’s esports finale. All of these things and more are why Lil Nas X gets the Shacknews Award for Best Cameo of 2022.

Check out more of our League of Legends coverage.

Best Platformer of 2022 - Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land was a delightful return to form for the iconic pink protagonist. The setting was a welcome departure from what we've come to expect from the series, and the new Mouthful Mode made for some hilariously cute moments. In a year that brought a diverse offering of platforming games, Kirby's latest adventure stands as the best.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available on Nintendo Switch and it even has a free demo.

Best Free-to-Play Game of 2022 - Marvel Snap

Marvel Snap is not just an incredible game that happens to be free-to-play, but it's designed in such a way that players can thoroughly enjoy it without ever feeling pressured to spend a dime. There's a stigma around mobile games and their implementation of microtransactions, and Marvel Snap manages to avoid all of those distasteful pitfalls.

Marvel Snap is available on Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play.

Best Action-Adventure Game of 2022 - Tunic

Of all the games that came out this year, Tunic was one of those that reminded us of the simple fun and beauty of exploration and combat that we longed for from old Zelda games. Players embark on a charming journey through a mysterious and sometimes unforgiving world to discover treasures and rebuild a sacred book full of magic and secrets. Tunic's charm is only matched by its mysteriousness. The game is presented in a foreign language, and yet it is all somehow coherent as you adventure and unravel the secrets of the book, page by page. There were a lot of games that cast us on interesting adventures full of action through the year, but few captured a refined sense of wonder and curiosity that spurred us onward in our quest like Tunic.

Tunic is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and Xbox Game Pass.

Best NPC of 2022 - Blaidd (Elden Ring)

Blaidd is a character in Elden Ring that is so very easily missed, but he's a stalwart companion once you begin your adventures with him. He's a wolf-headed giant of a knight wearing a striking furred cloak and beautifully ornate greatsword, and he serves as the faithful companion of the witch known as Ranni. Once you offer to help Ranni, Blaidd is a regular companion in your journeys and he's a great one at that. He meets you at Radahn's Festival and even helps you beat the dastardly Elden Lord. He awaits you in the underground where you ponder the mystery of the Eternal City of Nokron together as well. Blaidd is a daunting ally and a friendly face wherever you meet him, and it makes a the revelation of what he truly is in the end heartbreaking. If that we could have journeyed all the way to the end together, good wolf.

Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.

Best Music of 2022 - Metal: Hellsinger

When it comes to video games with fantastic soundtracks, 2022 was packed full of outstanding entries. After heated deliberation, the indie rhythm shooter Metal: Hellsinger ended up taking home the win for best music. Not only does Metal: Hellsinger combine Doom-like combat with bombastic heavy metal music that layers on top of itself as you play, but the soundtrack actually sports a wealth of popular musicians.

For example, when playing Metal: Hellsinger you can enjoy tracks featuring the likes of Serj Tankian from System of a Down, Randy Blythe from Lamb of God, Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer, and Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy to name just a few. Given the soundtrack was custom created for the game, it also offers the unique benefit of being playable and streamable without the concern of DMCA issues looming overhead.

Furthermore, the stacked roster of iconic talent that Metal: Hellsinger’s soundtrack boasts has lent itself to some truly incredible real-life performances including a headbang-inducing concert held at 2022’s Gamescom.

Metal: Hellsinger is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Game Pass.

Best Nintendo Switch Port of 2022 - Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 is one of those games that felt like it was always meant to be on the Switch. As a JRPG powerhouse that you can sink endless hours into, it’s the perfect game to play on the couch or in bed. Hopefully Persona fans saw this award coming.

Persona 5 Royal is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass.

Best Water of 2022 - Horizon Forbidden West

When it comes to games with beautiful water, one of the top standouts in 2022 was without a doubt Horizon Forbidden West. In addition to the game’s expansive assortment of water to splash around in from rivers and oceans to lakes and streams, the game boasts some impressive water-based tech.

For example, Horizon’s ocean wave system was one of the most complex systems built in the game according to one of the devs. Remarking on this Jan-Bart Forbidden Beek notes on Twitter that, “It uses a sequence of images that contain 3D vector displacement to make it possible to have waves break and collapse on themselves. Something that is hard to do, especially if it also needs to work on PS4.”

With this sort of tech and attention to detail you owe it to yourself to check out Horizon Forbidden West if you haven’t done so already, especially if you consider yourself a video game water connoisseur.

Horizon Forbidden West is available on PlayStation 4 and PS5.

Best Sound Design of 2022 - Horizon Forbidden West

Sound creates such a unique atmosphere for a game that can give to or take away from its overall performance and Horizon Forbidden West is a splendid menagerie of sound. Whether you're out in the world wandering or inside of a cave searching for the answer to a quest, Forbidden West is alive with the sounds of the natural and unnatural world. The machine screeches, buzzing, and scraping in the game served to make them all the more memorable, and the way the soundscape hits you when its near you and echoes when it's further away is truly incredible. The game is beautiful, frightening, unnerving, soothing, and so much more thanks to its soundscape, and it all serves in the purpose of bringing effective aural life to this game's vibrant and vast world.

Horizon Forbidden West is available on PlayStation 4 and PS5.

Best Pet of 2022 - Torrent (Elden Ring)

Elden Ring constantly throws curveballs at you. In a world where we never knew what to expect next, Torrent was a constant. This spectral steed got us out of countless sticky situations and was by our side throughout the treacherous journey through The Lands Between. 

Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.

Best Puzzle Game of 2022 - Escape Academy

Nothing is quite as puzzling as being locked in a room filled with puzzles with the goal being to escape. We’re big fans of escape rooms here at Shacknews, so it should come as no surprise that Escape Academy has won our Best Puzzle Game of 2022 award. What sets Escape Academy apart from all the other contenders this year? As Ozzie put in his Escape Academy review, it manages to nail the feeling of being in an escape room, solving well-crafted puzzles, while weaving in a cooperative mode that enhances the experience. As for the puzzles, the fact it is a video game means the team at Coin Crew Games can create puzzles that wouldn’t be possible in the real world. If you want to flex that brain of yours, dive into Escape Academy and see for yourself why it’s won our Best Puzzle Game of 2022 award.

Escape Academy is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Game Pass.

Quietest Lobby of 2022 - Halo Infinite

For a game that started so well in 2021, this year has been a bit of a tough one for the beloved franchise. This category isn’t about putting a game on blast – it’s about recognizing a title that we adore, one that we wish got a bit more love and attention, and Halo Infinite fits the bill. You know it’s a valid winner for this award when Sam Chandler, someone playing from Australia, find more matches with 180+ millisecond ping when playing with his mates than matches based on Oceania with 15 millisecond pings. The lobbies are too quiet, there are too few players actually playing, and it’s beginning to show. We want nothing more than to see Halo rise once more and, hopefully, bring more players back in. Here’s hoping we get to talk about the game at the end of 2023 for our “Most Improved” category.

Halo Infinite is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.

Game that should be on Switch 2022 - Deep Rock Galactic

Deep Rock Galactic might just be the best Left 4 Dead game since L4D. You and three mates take on the role of stocky dwarves, each with their own weapons, abilities, and tools. Your goal is to mine beneath the earth, collecting rare resources to fill a quota. Where’s the “zombie” portion of this Left 4 Dead comparison, I hear you ask? Well, every so often, swarms of alien bugs will overrun your crew. You’ll be minding your own business, setting up an oil refinery, only to spend the next several minutes backed into a corner, calling down an ammo drop, and desperately trying to revive your fallen ally. We’ve loved it on PC, we’ve sunk time into it on Xbox, and we dug our way through PlayStation, and now it’s time it comes to Nintendo Switch. So, come on Ghost Ship Games, let us do it for Karl on Switch.

Deep Rock Galactic is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Game Pass.\

Best Old School Throwback of 2022 - TMNT: Shredder's Revenge

It was an altogether great year for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a whole, but the absolute peak of that greatness was undoubtedly Shredder's Revenge. This beat'em-up from DotEmu and Tribute Games didn't just bring good TMNT brawler action back. It also refined it in fantastic ways. Six-player play; April, Splinter, and Casey Jones as playable characters; and very easy local and online drop-in-drop-out co-op play made this an absolute delight to play with friends. It's also stuffed to the brim with great cameos and easter eggs any TMNT fan can appreciate and an absolutely bopping soundtrack perfect for laying Foot Clan beat downs. Put all of these things together and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge was a brilliant kick in the nostalgia and beautiful modern refinement of the arcade action of yesteryear.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass.

Biggest Surprise of 2022 - Marvel Snap

Spend any amount of time playing video games and you’ll basically feel like you’ve seen and heard it all. Very little actually manages to surprise you. So you can imagine our, well, surprise when Marvel Snap grabbed our attention, sunk its teeth into our palm, and refused to let go as we dove head first into one of the best card games ever made. We could wax poetic about Marvel Snap for days (and we did during our deliberations), but the short of it is that the game manages to be approachable but complex, challenging yet fair, and most importantly: incredibly addictive. The short nature of the matches means it’s easy to pick up and put down and the constant collecting of cards taps into that desire to find the one that’s right for your deck. If you see us holding our phones, moving them around while going “Ooh” and “Aah” there’s a good chance we’ve just upgraded one of our cards and are admiring the new graphics. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by Marvel Snap, making it the ideal victor for this award. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a deck to build and foes to crush.

Marvel Snap is available on Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play.

Best Headshot of 2022 - Prodeus

In a year with no new Doom game, Prodeus felt like a true spiritual installment in the influential first-person shooter franchise. This rock n' rolling shooter delivered some intense violence, including a dope headshot. You go up against some powerful foes during your journey, and nothing is as satisfying as quickly dispatching them with a well-placed headshot.

Prodeus is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass.

Best Voice Actor of 2022 - Kevin Conroy (MultiVersus)

It feels unfair to think that we could ever move forward to a future with Batman where Kevin Conroy isn't voicing the character. Conroy embodied Bruce Wayne and Batman in a way no one else has ever reached. He gave the character a distinct life all his own and made it work opposite of Mark Hamill's Joker for decades across the likes of Batman: The Animated Series, the Arkham series, and so much more. His performance in MultiVersus is one of his last as the character before his untimely passing and Conroy brought Batman to life here as much as anywhere. His quips and even unique dialogue with certain characters in MultiVersus were so fun to listen to as we played. Many may pick up the cowl and pretend to play Batman. Conroy was Batman, and we couldn't thank him enough for all he gave the character.

MultiVersus is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.

Best Ongoing Game of 2022 - Destiny 2

Destiny 2 continues to be a game that we keep going back to. Every single week, no matter what’s going on, you’ll find us in orbit, looking at our build, and plotting out our next grinding session. For a game that has been going on since 2017 and has had its fair share of ups and downs, it’s a testament to how great it feels to play that we’re back in there each week. Plus, the release of the Witch Queen expansion ushered in one of the best campaign experiences. That Legend difficulty setting is just perfection. Throw onto this crafting and you’ve got yourself ample reason to return to the game each week. With promises of a seasonal shakeup on the horizon and the impending release of Lightfall, we couldn’t be more excited to be a Destiny 2 player.

Destiny 2 is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.

Best PC Port of 2022 - Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales was a stunning game to have alongside the PS5 at launch, and its PC port is somehow even more gorgeous. The graphical flexibility of PC allows for even more customization, making this heartfelt web-slinging adventure prettier than it's ever been.

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is available on Steam, Epic Games Store, and PlayStation platforms.

That is the end of the Shacknews Awards 2022. Congratulations to all of the winners, and thank you to all of our viewers, readers, and supporters. We wish you all a very Happy New Year. 

Shack Staff

Shack Staff stories are a collective effort with multiple staff members contributing. Many of our lists often involve entires from several editors, and our weekly Shack Chat is something we all contribute to as a group.