So yesterday we kind of played a Negative Nancy of sorts when we talked about the most disappointing things in gaming in 2022, from the brouhaha surrounding the Activision Blizzard/Microsoft merger to the failure of Square Enix’s U.S. properties to G4 and whatever the hell it was. But let’s turn that frown upside down, because it’s time to talk about the best stuff. And 2022 was loaded with all kinds of this, with great games and surprise moves that won the fans over. So, yes, it’s time to get all positive and talk about the highlights from a momentous gaming year. Let’s go!
Cowabunga Says It All
Wow. Not only did we get one terrific Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game this year – we got two. Along with Tribute Games’ outstanding beat-em-up Shredder’s Revenge, which brought the best kind of classic vibes and wrapped them into a new, instantly replayable experience; but we also got Konami’s very impressive Cowabunga Collection, which brought back some of the greatest games in the heroes’ history. Both games are well worth picking up and might even score a mention in our best of 2022 list. All that’s missing now is Vanilla Ice and his “Ninja Rap.”
GO NINJA GO NINJA GO!
Vampire Survivors Hooks Everyone
What the heck is Vampire Survivors and why are we so addicted to it? One of the biggest indie darlings of the year, Survivors is all about taking on armadas of enemies while piling on weapons to use to your advantage. Oh, and it’s also about that sweet, sweet loot, as well as that awesome Castlevania vibe we get from the visuals and music. It’s currently a hit on PC and Xbox Game Pass; and it just came out for mobile, so, yeah, now you have no excuse. You have to kill thousands of vampires and you have to do it now.
Hang On, Steam Deck Is Good?
At a time when it could’ve been laughed off as some kind of expensive, elaborate joke, Valve actually made the Steam Deck a contender for one of the best handheld gaming systems out there. It’s incredibly easy to use, supports a ton of games on the service (not every game, but it’s getting there), and has the best kind of display and interface. What’s more, you don’t actually have to wait months to get one now. It’s readily available, and you might even get it shipped to you before the new year. How’s that for a 2022 miracle?!
Yes, Goldeneye Is (Almost) Back
Although it still has yet to officially make its debut (Christmas, maybe?), Rare, Microsoft and Nintendo pulled off a nice feat in bringing back Goldeneye 007 from the N64 days. And though it does have some quirks with its release – no online play on Xbox or HD visuals on Switch – it’ll no doubt bring in millions of players with its classic goodness. The fact that we’re getting it at all speaks volumes about the love of the retro gaming industry. However, this still doesn’t offer any solution for those damn screen peekers – or, for that matter, Oddjob. One step at a time, I suppose.
The Game Awards Delivered
Never mind the dude with the weird Bill Clinton rant or the fact that Al Pacino and Animal from The Muppets actually appeared on the same show. This year’s The Game Awards was nothing short of fantastic, thanks to some key reveals that we’ve been waiting for. Hades II is on deck to dominate our 2023; Star Wars Jedi: Survivor looks amazing; Death Stranding 2 is on the way and is as weirdly cool as ever; and Kevin Conroy gets one final go-around as Batman out of sheer tribute. We’ve got a full list of the best moments here, so read on!
Want a sweet new game console to send your year out with a bang? We’ve got just what you need with our giveaway!
