Best video games 2022: top releases for Xbox, PC and PS5 - from Pokémon to Lord of the Rings

A new year is here, and with it, plenty of new video games for fans to get excited about.

Whether you want to blast away bad guys, give yourself a scare, or unwind with some violence-free exploration, 2022 has something for everyone.

So which games should you be keeping an eye out for as the year progresses?

Here are 15 of the best looking games coming this year.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Nintendo Switch

What is it? Pokémon Legends: Arceus re-imagines the design and direction of the long-running franchise, while retaining the core gameplay that has allowed the games to endure in fans’ hearts for nearly 30 years.

The main objective of the game is to compile Hisui’s first Pokédex for the region’s Survey Corps by capturing and studying the wild creatures that inhabit the region.

When can I play it? 28 January

Dying Light 2 Stay Human

PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? After a troubled development cycle, which included writers and long-time employees reportedly leaving the company amid rumours of conflicting visions of the game, Techland’s sequel to its cult hit of 2015 finally got gold status recently, confirming its February release date.

Gameplay demos have shown fans can expect much of the same, but with refinements to the parkour and melee systems and a new European setting.

Techland have also hyped up the storyline, with different factions promising multiple playthroughs to see everything The City has to offer.

When can I play it? 4 February

Horizon Forbidden West

PS4, PS5

What is it? The sequel to 2017’s hugely successful Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West will again see players take control of Aloy, as she explores a dystopian world of animalistic machines.

The original was one of the games of the year when it came out and hopes are high for the sequel – given it will arrive on a more powerful console in the PS5, and introduce a number of new features, such as water exploration.

When can I play it? 18 February

Elden Ring

PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? One of the more intriguing game collaborations sees director Hidetaka Miyazaki link up with Game Of Thrones author George RR Martin, to create a brand new open world for gamers to explore.

Fans of Miyazaki’s previous games – including notoriously punishing titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne – will probably expect a serious challenge, although there have been hints the difficulty may have been dialled down a notch or two.

When can I play it? 25 February

Gran Turismo 7

PS4, PS5

What is it? 2021’s saw the release of Xbox’s killer racing app in the form of Forza Horizon 5, and now it’s the turn of Sony to get in on the act.

The latest instalment of the long-running series of driving games is sure to be another visually impressive recreation of motorsports, and though it’s much more realistic than Forza’s take on hurling supercars across the terrain, it’ll still be a blast.

When can I play it? 4 March

Tunic

PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? Mixing elements of old-skool Zelda games with combat reminiscent of Dark Souls’ weighty sword swings, Tunic looks set to be one of the indie hits of the year.

You play as a cute fox adventuring through an equally cute world; but don’t let the cuteness fool you, there’s plenty of peril between you and your objective.

When can I play it? 16 March

Saints Row

PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? The Saints Row games started as a serious contender to Grand Theft Auto’s open-world crown, and embraced silliness more with each new installment.

The last game in the series saw you playing as  a superpowered president protecting the world from an alien invasion.

This reboot of the series dials back the madness somewhat, but we’re assured it will still provide plenty of tongue in cheek moments.

When can I play it? 26 August

Starfield

PC, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? Starfield is likely to be the next big open-world role-playing exploration game and has even been described as ‘Skyrim in space’ by makers Bethesda – and they should know, they made Skyrim.

Due to be released in November, the game sees players assume the role of a character in space exploration organisation Constellation, in the wake of a civil war in the solar system.

Bethesda is promising an expansive, epic universe filled with such a range of quests and activities, that every player’s experience is different.

When can I play it? 11 November

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? The first Lego Star Wars game was released way back in 2005, kick-starting an unlikely franchise of film/video game crossovers set in versions of their source materials’ world adorably recreated with plastic bricks.

Combining platforming with puzzles, each game since has been a fun-for-all the family kind of affair, and The Skywalker Saga is a brand new game with fresh recreations of the first six of Star Wars’ episodes, as well as Lego versions of the newer three.

It looks set to expand on the gaming series’ well-trodden format with some bold new ideas, including interplanetary exploration, and with 100s of characters and secrets to discover, will no doubt be a charming addition to a Star Wars fan’s collection.

When can I play it? TBC

Dead Space

PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? Released in 2008, Dead Space remains a horror classic (and one of this writer’s favourite titles of all time), dropping players into the atmospheric setting of an abandoned space freighter overrun with lethal, zombie-like “xenomorphs”.

The graphics and lighting effects of the time - not to mention stellar sound design - still hold up beautifully today, but this remake will take advantage of much more powerful games consoles to deliver an even more high-fidelity experience.

Not one for the faint of heart, Dead Space is a thrilling sci-fi/horror adventure, and one that should be even more terrifying with a lick of graphical paint.

When can I play it? TBC

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? An intriguing prospect for fantasy fans, this curious release will look into the backstory of one of the genre’s most famous but least understood characters.

While you might be picturing epic battles and bloodthirsty action, the makers are promising something a little different, with gameplay focusing instead on stealth and parkour elements.

Crafting also promises to feature strongly, while players will experience the inner struggle memorably brought to life in the film series between the two sides of Gollum’s personality.

When can I play it? TBC

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia

What is it? The first Avatar video game - released to coincide with James Cameron’s first film in 2009 - was a standard movie tie-in affair that didn’t create very much fanfare.

There’s not much to suggest Ubisoft’s second attempt will do the same, and fans may lament the move to the gaming giant’s well-worn open-world format too.

But, with early trailers showcasing lush, jungle-like areas to explore and thrilling set pieces, could this be something of a sleeper hit?

When can I play it? TBC

The Callisto Protocol

PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

What is it? We’ve already mentioned Dead Space’s in-space horror earlier in this article, but it gets a second mention here with The Callisto Protocol.

A spiritual sequel to that franchise, this is the first game from Striking Distance Studios, founded by Dead Space co-creator, Glen Schofield.

Taking place in 2320 at a prison colony called Black Iron located on Jupiter’s moon Callisto, the player takes the role of a prisoner finding themselves in the midst of an alien invasion that appears to have been engineered by the prison’s warden.

When can I play it? TBC

God of War Ragnarök

PS4, PS5

What is it? The latest instalment in the series picks up a few years after the events of the previous game, with protagonists Kratos and his son Atreus searching for a way to prevent the prophesised Ragnarok – End of Days.

Armed with new skills, powers and weapons, you will go on a quest to rescue the Norse God of War, Týr, in search of answers.

For the first time in the series, you will be able to visit all of the Nine Realms – but standing in your way are Thor and Freya, both of whom seek vengeance for the deaths of their respective sons at the hands of Kratos.

When can I play it? TBC

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

Nintendo Switch

What is it? When the original Breath Of The Wild game was released in March 2017 as a Nintendo Switch launch title, the bold step in a new direction for the Zelda franchise was rightly heralded as a masterpiece.

The desire for a direct sequel has been strong ever since. Anticipation reached fever pitch with the E3 2019 teaser trailer.

Despite Nintendo remaining tight-lipped on the game’s development ever since, fans of the series can expect a return to the lush and beautiful kingdom of Hyrule, as Zelda and Link strive to save the kingdom in another epic adventure packed with innovative puzzles and exploration aplenty.

When can I play it? TBC

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