🕹️ “Best of the Best of the Best, Sir!” 🎮
December 14, 2022 8:22 AM Subscribe
The 50 best video games of 2022. The Best Game of 2022. The 25 best video games of 2022. The Best Video Games of 2022. The Best Video Games of 2022. The Best Games Of 2022 (So Far). The 10 Best Video Games of 2022. The 25 Best Video Games of 2022. The best new PC games in 2022. The best video games of 2022. The best mobile games in 2022.
If only there was some way to filter through these best-of lists to find which games had most been named. Some sort of meta... oh, never mind, it's hopeless
posted by Tom Hanks Cannot Be Trusted at 8:34 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Tom Hanks Cannot Be Trusted at 8:34 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
It's remarkable to see the New Yorker writing about video games; I guess the medium really has reached full mainstream saturation. (Note the inclusion of Wordle.) Surprised they didn't feature Pentiment higher though, that is an extremely New Yorker game.
posted by Nelson at 8:38 AM on December 14, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Nelson at 8:38 AM on December 14, 2022 [4 favorites]
I reserve the right to be mad that Survivor!.io wasn't on the best mobile games list! I mean, I'm not mad, but I may in the future become mad, so I want it documented. I really liked it! It's basically Vampire Survivors, only zombies instead of vampires, with cute graphics. I spent a truly unforgiveable amount of time playing it this year.
posted by mittens at 8:42 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by mittens at 8:42 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
I missed you, Fizz.
posted by nickmark at 9:01 AM on December 14, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by nickmark at 9:01 AM on December 14, 2022 [6 favorites]
I can't believe every single list snubbed Farmer Against Potatoes Idle, a game I put almost 1200 hours of dissociative non-play into this year.
posted by cortex at 9:02 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by cortex at 9:02 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
I think the game I played the most this year was Vampire Survivors. To be honest, though, it's just that it was there on my desktop and I was waiting for other things to finish. It's not a destination game, like Elden Ring (my no.2) or Horizon Forbidden West (No.3). But if I want to add up all the hours of all the years, Kittens Game is far in the lead by sheer quantity of hours taking CPU cycles.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:03 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:03 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
It was a really great year for games in so many ways. I'm loving Midnight Suns right now which somehow is a great tactics card game mixed with friendship and optional exploration all with loveable Marvel characters.
Grounded was my surprise other game of the year. Just so fun and such a huge (relatively since you're tiny) world to explore made with love. Super fun and accessible with many modes and modifiers.
Immortality is a beautiful attempt at pushing the boundaries of a game as a voyeuristic and reconstructing activity. I love how Sam Barlow continues to push forward on his vision.
Elden Ring took the game type that always gives me the most awe at exploration and made it so huge and still well constructed.
Sifu made me actually feel like Neo in the Matrix when he says, "I know kung-fu."
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:07 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
Grounded was my surprise other game of the year. Just so fun and such a huge (relatively since you're tiny) world to explore made with love. Super fun and accessible with many modes and modifiers.
Immortality is a beautiful attempt at pushing the boundaries of a game as a voyeuristic and reconstructing activity. I love how Sam Barlow continues to push forward on his vision.
Elden Ring took the game type that always gives me the most awe at exploration and made it so huge and still well constructed.
Sifu made me actually feel like Neo in the Matrix when he says, "I know kung-fu."
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:07 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
My Playstation & Nintendo wrap-up showed that these were my top-played games: Witcher 3, Elden Ring, Fallout 4, Red Dead Redemption 2, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Binding of Isaac, & Slay the Spire. These are all on last-gen hardware and they're games that keep on giving. I want a PS5 but considering that I'm still enjoying these "older" games, welp. Back into the wasteland, I go.....
posted by Fizz at 9:09 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Fizz at 9:09 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
This was a very good year for indie games. As far as I can tell, my favorites weren't on any list, so I'll just drop them here:
Butterfly Soup 2 - The sequel to Butterfly Soup, a short (around two hour) visual novel about four Asian-American queer teens. I'd recommend playing the first first (obviously), but they're both quite charming and funny at times, especially if you were a teen in the early-mid 00s. They're both free on itch.io, but you can pay the author if you enjoyed them.
Crystal Project - A exploration-focused game with JRPG combat. Not much plot to speak of, but the combat is very well designed and exploring the world captivated me. I almost never get into JRPG combat systems, but this one did a good job of luring me in. It also has a demo that's five hours or so long and your progress carries over to the full game.
They're both only on PC as they were both made by individual developers, but they're worth a shot if you have access to one.
posted by No One Ever Does at 9:11 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Butterfly Soup 2 - The sequel to Butterfly Soup, a short (around two hour) visual novel about four Asian-American queer teens. I'd recommend playing the first first (obviously), but they're both quite charming and funny at times, especially if you were a teen in the early-mid 00s. They're both free on itch.io, but you can pay the author if you enjoyed them.
Crystal Project - A exploration-focused game with JRPG combat. Not much plot to speak of, but the combat is very well designed and exploring the world captivated me. I almost never get into JRPG combat systems, but this one did a good job of luring me in. It also has a demo that's five hours or so long and your progress carries over to the full game.
They're both only on PC as they were both made by individual developers, but they're worth a shot if you have access to one.
posted by No One Ever Does at 9:11 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
My hot-take is that Tunic would have better without the combat.
posted by simmering octagon at 9:36 AM on December 14, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by simmering octagon at 9:36 AM on December 14, 2022 [8 favorites]
Self-validation Through Describing Why My Expensive Self-Xmas-Present That Could Be Construed As A Commercial But It Is Not A Commercial Is Awesome Warning:
The steam deck is by far the best linux machine that I have ever had.
Mouse/keyboard/monitor/powered usb hub is needed for it to go into desktop mode. Steam's "add non-steam game" functionality is a kicker.
My steam library was dormant after apple's architecture change. Now I'm working on making my steam deck replace my apple laptop.
posted by NoThisIsPatrick at 9:51 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
The steam deck is by far the best linux machine that I have ever had.
Mouse/keyboard/monitor/powered usb hub is needed for it to go into desktop mode. Steam's "add non-steam game" functionality is a kicker.
My steam library was dormant after apple's architecture change. Now I'm working on making my steam deck replace my apple laptop.
posted by NoThisIsPatrick at 9:51 AM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
I, too, set up a lot of hobby Linux machines and agree that the Steam Deck is by far the best I've ever had. It even runs many Windows apps better than a comparable Windows device. It really helps make time for current games (like Vampire Survivors, and Pentiment) and also for getting around to things that have been on the reading list for years.
posted by Phssthpok at 10:06 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Phssthpok at 10:06 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Backpack Heroes went some way to fill the hole that FTL left in my heart.
posted by bonehead at 10:08 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 10:08 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
I listen to the Triple Click podcast hosted by old Kotaku writers. They seemed to really love Citizen Sleeper, Case of the Golden Idol, and Elden Ring.
posted by AlSweigart at 10:17 AM on December 14, 2022
posted by AlSweigart at 10:17 AM on December 14, 2022
Immortality, Pentiment, Norco, and Dorfromantik I enjoyed a lot and are my favourites of the year.
Citizen Sleeper feels like it should have been my right up my alley, but I really hated it. I understand why people liked it and I am happy that they did.
All the big games that I played, and make up swaths of these lists, were fine, but are ultimately just more of the same I've played before. I really don't get much out of them anymore and I don't want to spend hours on their content treadmills.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 10:30 AM on December 14, 2022
Citizen Sleeper feels like it should have been my right up my alley, but I really hated it. I understand why people liked it and I am happy that they did.
All the big games that I played, and make up swaths of these lists, were fine, but are ultimately just more of the same I've played before. I really don't get much out of them anymore and I don't want to spend hours on their content treadmills.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 10:30 AM on December 14, 2022
(There's a Vampire Survivors release for iOS/Android now, if that's something that you might be interested in.)
The game I spent the most time playing this year was probably KnotWords (I posted about it here before), but it's less of an amazing game and more of a game that's just perfect for me.
posted by box at 10:48 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
The game I spent the most time playing this year was probably KnotWords (I posted about it here before), but it's less of an amazing game and more of a game that's just perfect for me.
posted by box at 10:48 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Just a reminder to everyone writing these lists that Shadows Over Loathing did, in fact, come out this year.
You know, because you all obviously overlooked it.
posted by Hamusutaa at 10:51 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
You know, because you all obviously overlooked it.
posted by Hamusutaa at 10:51 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
A thing I'd wish I'd known: Tunic is only a Souls game if you don't realize it's a puzzle game.
(Geez, the mobile situation is grim.)
posted by mhoye at 10:53 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
(Geez, the mobile situation is grim.)
posted by mhoye at 10:53 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Elden Ring, Tunic, & Neon White.
… Seriously ya'll, play Tunic.
Trade proposal: I’ll stop sleeping on Tunic if you stop sleeping on Vampire Survivors.
Also Tactics Ogre Reborn would never make lists such as these, but if you’re a fan of Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea then you really, really owe it to yourself to pick it up. It’s a full price remaster but worth it. Goes double if you have a Steam Deck (probably also Switch, haven’t tried).
posted by Ryvar at 10:57 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
… Seriously ya'll, play Tunic.
Trade proposal: I’ll stop sleeping on Tunic if you stop sleeping on Vampire Survivors.
Also Tactics Ogre Reborn would never make lists such as these, but if you’re a fan of Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea then you really, really owe it to yourself to pick it up. It’s a full price remaster but worth it. Goes double if you have a Steam Deck (probably also Switch, haven’t tried).
posted by Ryvar at 10:57 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
We just did a podcast about the best games of 2022 to play with your family this holiday season when everyone's gathered together. Stuff to play with the kids, stuff to play with your brother-in-law that you both kinda remember from 1994 that was re-released this year in a modern retro compilation, stuff to play with grampa who liked that remote that was also a tennis game from a decade ago. This was a good year for playing together. There's something for just about everyone.
posted by Servo5678 at 11:11 AM on December 14, 2022
posted by Servo5678 at 11:11 AM on December 14, 2022
As both an homage to the Portal games and a great puzzler in its own right, The Entropy Centre is Actually Very Good. As a mild spoiler, it suffers very slightly from the Mass Effect 3 Problem, in that the last few minutes are a radical and somewhat dissatisfying narative swoop at a sharp angle from the main narrative line at the very conclusion.
It's a mild stain on an otherwise excellent game, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. If you want That Portal Feeling back, this is your game.
posted by mhoye at 11:41 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
It's a mild stain on an otherwise excellent game, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. If you want That Portal Feeling back, this is your game.
posted by mhoye at 11:41 AM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Do any of these lists have TMNT: Shredder's Revenge on them? It is a damn near perfect couch game.
I will continue to sing the glory of Citizen Sleeper.
Just a reminder to everyone writing these lists that Shadows Over Loathing did, in fact, come out this year.
Given what came out about Zack Johnson in 2019, I'm going to continue to ignore anything in the Loathing-verse. Whole thing is too tainted for me to deal with anymore, even if he's not a part of the new game.
posted by curious nu at 12:06 PM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
I will continue to sing the glory of Citizen Sleeper.
Just a reminder to everyone writing these lists that Shadows Over Loathing did, in fact, come out this year.
Given what came out about Zack Johnson in 2019, I'm going to continue to ignore anything in the Loathing-verse. Whole thing is too tainted for me to deal with anymore, even if he's not a part of the new game.
posted by curious nu at 12:06 PM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Vampire Survivors has a $2 DLC coming out in a little while. They're adding a few new characters, new weapons, and most interestingly, a new level that's got more going on than just a bunch of repeating tilesets. I'll give them two bucks for that.
Also the latest build has character x level tickyboxes so if you're a rabid completionist (cough) you can track whether you've hit lvl 80 with each character on each level. Something to nibble on occasionally, perhaps.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:16 PM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also the latest build has character x level tickyboxes so if you're a rabid completionist (cough) you can track whether you've hit lvl 80 with each character on each level. Something to nibble on occasionally, perhaps.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:16 PM on December 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
These are some good lists with some great games. Pokemon Arceus is a delight even though the boss battles are deeply flawed, and Pokemon Scarlet is a disappointment in comparison. I've got a bunch of these indy games going onto my wishlist which, when trying to add them, I got nostalgic for the days when online publishers would actually link to things not on their own website. Polygon and Kotaku in particular only link you to their earlier reviews of the games, which maybe have links, but I'm just going to google rather than checking. *grumpy* *grumpy* *grumpy*
posted by 3j0hn at 1:22 PM on December 14, 2022
posted by 3j0hn at 1:22 PM on December 14, 2022
My hot-take is that Tunic would have better without the combat.
posted by simmering octagon
I felt this way too. I spent just under the 2hr refund threshold trying to get into it but stopped because fumbling around the baddies never clicked with me. Something about the motion and the way the character responds to input felt super spongy and slow.
I took the refund money and put it toward Death's Door which really scratched the itch I thought I could get at with Tunic.
posted by Evstar at 2:30 PM on December 14, 2022
posted by simmering octagon
I felt this way too. I spent just under the 2hr refund threshold trying to get into it but stopped because fumbling around the baddies never clicked with me. Something about the motion and the way the character responds to input felt super spongy and slow.
I took the refund money and put it toward Death's Door which really scratched the itch I thought I could get at with Tunic.
posted by Evstar at 2:30 PM on December 14, 2022
I think literally the only video game from 2022 I've played is Islets, a charming version of Hollow Knight and so on where everyone is nice and nothing is made of dead bugs. It's on none of these lists.
posted by one for the books at 6:28 PM on December 14, 2022
posted by one for the books at 6:28 PM on December 14, 2022
I got Tunic! Glad to report they added a reduced difficulty mode awhile back. I turned it on after the second combat death. Mobs that'd kill me in 4 hits now take 10-15. There's still some mild challenge and fun in combat but it definitely lets you focus on the exploration part more. Personally I hate dodge roll invulnerability frames as a game mechanic, so this is perfect for me.
posted by Nelson at 7:24 AM on December 15, 2022
posted by Nelson at 7:24 AM on December 15, 2022
Haven't finished Tunic, Nelson, but I agree 1000% on invulnerability frames.
I was up against a wall with some boss, fire giant maybe, in Elden Ring and finally went to the internet for advice. "Oh, just dismount your horse when that attack is coming, duh. The "i-frames" are longer than the attack". (Had to go look up i-frames).
Dumb. Dumb dumb dumb. My magic horse and I should both be killed. But nope; battle went from impossible to simply hard.
Elden Ring is a bad game, for a variety of reasons, but that is the biggest one for me. (Obviously just my opinion).
posted by booooooze at 12:47 PM on December 16, 2022
I was up against a wall with some boss, fire giant maybe, in Elden Ring and finally went to the internet for advice. "Oh, just dismount your horse when that attack is coming, duh. The "i-frames" are longer than the attack". (Had to go look up i-frames).
Dumb. Dumb dumb dumb. My magic horse and I should both be killed. But nope; battle went from impossible to simply hard.
Elden Ring is a bad game, for a variety of reasons, but that is the biggest one for me. (Obviously just my opinion).
posted by booooooze at 12:47 PM on December 16, 2022
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posted by simmering octagon at 8:29 AM on December 14, 2022 [2 favorites]