A look back at 2022: The 10 best games of the year
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A look back at 2022: The 10 best games of the year
Many people will remember 2022 as the year Singapore came back to life, with crowds returning to malls and overseas travel being a thing again. While the lifting of Covid restrictions may have freed us to go out and about, several great games that were launched last year also had many people staying on their couches (or in front of the PC).
Here is a look back at the 10 best games of 2022:
10. Farthest Frontier
Platform: PC (Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1044720/Farthest_Frontier/)
Even though it is still in Early Access on Steam, Farthest Frontier is already making waves as a top city-building game. Featuring a unique gameplay that combines city building, strategy, and survival, Farthest Frontier challenges players to lead their virtual villagers as they eke out a living in the wilderness, while turning their settlement into a city.
Besides the familiar gameplay elements such as construction and resource gathering, Farthest Frontier also throws in a few new ones to keep city builders on their toes. These include bandit raids, crop-destroying weather changes, and a surprisingly complex crop rotation system that players will need to master – or face their villagers starving to death.
Farthest Frontier saw a major gameplay update in November 2022, with more yet to come. An excellent title for gamers who love strategy games and a good challenge.
9. Nintendo Switch Sports
Platform: Nintendo Switch
When Wii Sports was first launched in 2006, the game was so well-received that even the late Queen Elizabeth II was reportedly a fan. Now, 16 years on, its successor is set to charm a new generation of gamers, in the form of Nintendo Switch Sports.
This latest title features six sports (bowling, tennis, badminton, soccer, volleyball, and sword fighting), plus a seventh (golf) added via DLC. With the Nintendo Switch’s better motion controls, sharper graphics and smoother gameplay, this is a great party game for playing with family or friends.
8. Gran Turismo 7
Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
This is a game that really tested the patience of its fans, as there was a good nine years between Gran Turismo 6 and this latest instalment. Made for the PlayStation 5, Gran Turismo 7 lives up to its namesake as a visually stunning game, with beautifully detailed car models and racetracks.
The Gran Turismo series’ flagship titles have always been more of an all-rounded driving simulator and not just a racing game; and this is where GT 7 truly delivers. The game’s main GT mode, where players are tasked to buy, tune up, race, and trade cars to achieve the ultimate Gran Turismo glory, is now better than ever. Detailed car customisations and tuning, as well as a more realistic and dynamic in-game car market, has given the game an added level of authenticity. Game features have also been tweaked to make the title more accessible to casual fans, with the GT Mode’s new Café in-game destination featuring a series of missions to guide players along.
For more details, images and videos, check out our earlier reporting.
7. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Platform: Nintendo Switch
You may have to contend with a few stubborn bugs, but Pokémon Scarlet and Violet still promise to be a great RPG adventure that now lets you catch ‘em all in a fully open world. Like all the other titles in the main game series, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet lets you play the role of an aspiring Pokémon champion as you catch new creatures, train them, and battle your way to the top.
After a few short introductory tasks, players are free to roam the expansive Paldea region that makes up Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s open world gameplay. This means that you can now explore the map as you please and complete the game at your own pace, tackling quests in whatever order you want. Add that to the fact that you can ride a motorbike Pokémon around in these two games, and there’s quite a lot to love about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
6. The Last of Us: Part 1
Platform: PlayStation 5
A remake of the 2013 smash hit, The Last of Us: Part 1 brings players back to the post-apocalyptic world of zombie-ridden buildings and abandoned towns. Like the original, The Last of Us: Part 1 features the same outstanding gameplay and gripping story, all beautifully rendered in the latest generation of graphical fidelity.
With this remake split over two games, players can look forward to a more in-depth experience, with a longer and more detailed storyline. Some improvements have also been made to the game’s AI and audio engine, which together help to deliver a more immersive gaming experience. The Last of Us: Part 1 is a perfect introduction for those who missed the original, and is definitely worth a replay for fans.
5. Wordle
Platform: Multiplatform
While Wordle may have made its public debut in late 2021, it was in early 2022 that this simple word game took the world by storm. You know a game has made an impact when even people who traditionally don’t play games start posting their daily Wordle conquests on social media.
Wordle’s simple game mechanics – players have six tries to guess a five-letter word - and its clean-looking interface (green for correct letters, yellow for letters in the wrong spot) were key to its viral success. One year on, Wordle is still good enough of a vocabulary builder and brain teaser to warrant a game or two every so often.
4. Splatoon 3
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Another much-awaited sequel, Splatoon 3 finally hit shelves in 2022, five years after its predecessor was launched. Now into its third iteration on the Nintendo Switch, Splatoon 3 is familiar territory for fans: players control a humanoid squid character in a post-apocalyptic world, where they use ink-powered weapons to defeat their octopus-like enemies.
While Splatoon 3 brings nothing new to the table, it does offer a much more robust gameplay experience compared to the previous two titles. The single-player mode is plenty of fun, with creative and innovative challenges. Multi-player mode has also been enhanced, with the Turf Wars PVP battle mode being as competitive as ever with brand-new stages, while the co-op Salmon Run mode now features more creative enemies that pose a trickier challenge. Best enjoyed with like-minded friends for its frantic-but-fun multiplayer games.
3. Horizon: Forbidden West
Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
It was a shame that Horizon Forbidden West missed out on getting any accolades at this year’s Game Awards. This blockbuster title, with its expansive game world, immersive gameplay, and outstanding voice acting, deserves more praise.
The sequel to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn, this latest game brings players back again to the role of red-haired robot-dinosaur hunter Aloy, as she tries to rid the world of those dangerous machines. Gamers can look forward to a solid storyline and an outstanding combat system featuring a large variety of enemies and combat styles that is both satisfying and challenging to play. A must-get for gamers who enjoy open-world titles.
Catch our full review for more juicy details.
2. God of War: Ragnarök
Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
A mythic tale of gods and heroes, God of War: Ragnarök is definitely one of our favourite games of 2022. This super-sized sequel to 2018’s God of War boasts impressive graphics, epic boss fights, and a touching story about protagonist Kratos and his teenage son Atreus.
Featuring a pantheon of Norse gods including Odin, Thor, and Tyr, this blockbuster title feels at times more like an epic tale than a videogame. While the in-game puzzles may at times be a little too much, the solid combat, storyline, and amazing voice performance more than make up for it. Get this if you haven’t yet played a God of War title yet; if you’re a fan, you’ve probably completed this game already.
1. Elden Ring
Platform: Multiplatform
You know when a game is going to be the top title of the year when companies mandate off days so employees can play the game on launch day. An open world game that was crafted in collaboration with George R. R. Martin of Game of Thrones fame, Elden Ring is a visually stunning title with solid, Dark Souls-inspired gameplay to match.
Set in the realm of the Lands Between, players can choose their character class at the beginning of the game, and are then free to explore the world, uncovering its lore and secrets. Like Dark Souls, Elden Ring is known for its highly challenging difficulty. But tweaks made to the gameplay mechanics have made this game of the year title more accessible for most players. If adventure is what you are looking for, then you can’t go wrong with the dark fantasy world of Elden Ring.
