Biggest games of 2022: From G.R.R. Martin’s Dark Souls to Skyrim in space

Despite some major releases, 2021 saw dozens of video games postponed due to disruptions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the situation has not eased up on the pandemic front, more than 100 major game releases have been officially scheduled for 2022. While it’s impossible to cover all of them individually, here are some of the most anticipated video game releases of 2022, in no particular order.

Elden Ring (February 25, 2022 | Windows, PlayStation, Xbox):

Announced in 2019, Elden Ring is an action RPG being developed by FromSoftware of Dark Souls fame and appears to be a Souls game conceived on a much grander scale. If the November 2021 playtest is anything to go by, Elden Ring promises players access to a gargantuan, dark, and mysterious open world, and boasts a combat and class system with more depth than any of the Dark Souls games.

If that weren’t enough, the worldbuilding for Elden Ring was done by none other than famed fantasy author G.R.R. Martin, known for writing the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series that spawned Game of Thrones. If the game launches without any major bugs or other issues, it could well be among the top games of 2022.

Dying Light 2 (February 4, 2022 | Windows, PlayStation, Xbox):

The much-anticipated sequel to 2015’s survival horror action RPG, Dying Light, Dying Light 2: Stay Human promises to take the former’s parkour zombie-killing formula to a different level, aided by new generation gaming technology. Set in the midst of a global zombie apocalypse, the events of Dying Light 2 are set 20 years after the events of the first, and puts the player in the shoes of a new protagonist named Aiden Caldwell in humanity’s last standing settlement: the City.

Apart from Dying Light’s signature day/night cycle, parkour mechanics (which, by the way, have been greatly expanded), and brutal melee combat, the player can choose to ally with different factions and player choices will actively shape the game world and affect the lives of the characters living in it.

Horizon Forbidden West (February 18, 2022 | PlayStation):

Horizon Forbidden West is the sequel to 2017’s post-apocalyptic open world adventure, Horizon Zero Dawn, and will put the player in the shoes of familiar protagonist Aloy. A huntress by trade in a world where dangerous robotic animals roam the land, Aloy finally makes the journey to the land alluded to previously as the Forbidden West.

The game not only boasts massive graphical and gameplay upgrades, but will also add a new layer to exploration by allowing players to investigate underwater areas and uncover various mysteries.

God of War: Ragnarok (TBA, 2022 | PlayStation):

God of War needs no introduction and fans are in for a treat in 2022: not only is the 2018 game being finally released for PC, but Sony Interactive Entertainment has also announced the release of the ninth instalment in the series, God of War: Ragnarok, which is a sequel to the 2018 game.

Taking place three years after the events of God of War (2018), the new game will see Kratos and his son Atreus tackle seemingly insurmountable odds as the nine realms face apocalypse. Originally slated for a 2021 release, the game was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but despite delays, remains one of the most anticipated releases of 2022.

Gotham Knights (TBA, 2022 | Windows, PlayStation, Xbox):

Developed by WB Montreal, the studio behind the renowned 2013 game Batman: Arkham Origins, Gotham Knights is set in a parallel world where Batman is dead. With Gotham’s protector gone, it falls to the rest of the Bat family, Batgirl, Robin, Red Hood, and Nightwing, to keep the city streets free of crime.

The action-adventure game promises to build on the famous combat system of the Arkham series, will offer a vast open world to explore, and will primarily be a single-player game with an option for two-player co-op.

Saints Row (August 23, 2022 | Windows, PlayStation, Xbox):

After some outrageous releases over the past decade that saw players becoming superheroes or going to Hell (literally), Saints Row is going back to its roots in 2022. The Saints Row reboot will see players tackle much more, erm, humbling challenges, such as building a massive criminal empire from the ground up in a fictional city known as Santo Ileso in the American Southwest.

The game was initially scheduled for a February release, but was pushed back to August to ensure that it’s a polished game at launch.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (TBA, 2022 | Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch):

In a marked departure from previous action-packed entries under The Lord of the Rings intellectual property, Gollum will tell the story of Smeagol, whose entire life is entwined with the One Ring.

A stealth game with little-to-no combat, Gollum will allow players to experience important and incredible moments from The Lord of the Rings from the perspective of the titular Gollum.

Hogwarts Legacy (TBA, 2022 | Windows, PlayStation, Xbox):

Fans of the Harry Potter series have been asking for an open-world game set in the wizarding world, and it looks like they’re finally going to get it.

Hogwarts legacy is an open-world action RPG game set in the Harry Potter universe, and will follow the adventures of a student at Hogwarts during the 1800s. It is being developed by Avalanche Software and will be published by Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment. While a final release date has not been announced, WB had stated earlier that they plan a 2022 release, towards the end of the year.

Starfield (November 11, 2022 | Windows, Xbox):

While you might not have heard of Starfield, it could well be one of the best games of 2022 if executed well. Set in the year 2310, Starfield is an action RPG being developed by Bethesda of Skyrim and Fallout fame.

Starfield is the first new intellectual property by Bethesda in 25 years, and, as one would expect, it has been described as a Skyrim-esque game set in the vastness of space. The player will step into the shoes of an explorer and will have to navigate a complex, politically-charged, and mysterious game world. The game will offer players the option to experience the adventure in both first and third-person perspectives.

Honourable mentions:

The list above is far from exhaustive and there are dozens of other major titles that have been announced for 2022. Among them, Sifu (February 8, 2022 | PlayStation), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (TBA, 2022 | Switch), Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (TBA, 2022 | Windows, PlayStation, Xbox), Total War: Warhammer 3 (February 17, 2022 | Windows), and Gran Turismo 7 (March 4, 2022 | PlayStation) get special mentions as there are a lot of expectations riding on them.