After numerous game delays and pandemic setbacks, the video game industry finally felt like it was back in full swing in 2022. With the year nearly coming to an end, it is about time that we make a final tally of the best video games released in the last 12 months.
In this article, Gurugamer is going to showcase the top 10 best action games released in 2022.
1. God of War Ragnarok
Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
God of War Ragnarok presents a fantastic conclusion to the Norse saga. The story is incredible, the combat is even better than that of the first game. There are some great additions to combat style and combat challenges - not too difficult and not too easy. Certain enemies are hard enough to keep you entertained. I would say the story was slow in the first 3-4h of gameplay but it picked up greatly.
The game is so ultra-polished that it comes pretty close to perfection. And man, what an eye-opener the graphics are. One of the few real next-gen titles. And one of the best games ever made.
2. Elden Ring
Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Elden Ring, while imperfect, is the best implementation of an open-world action RPG that I've ever played. It feels like the culmination of every iteration of FromSoft's 'Souls games into one truly amazing experience filled with intrigue, struggle, and eventual triumph.
Elden Ring is basically Dark Souls 4, or Dark Souls but now you can sneak, jump, and ride a steed around the open world areas. You start by creating a character and choosing a class to determine your starting gear and stats (e.g. Astrologer to be a spellcasting sorcerer, or Samurai to be a katana-wielding DEX melee build). You progress through the game by traveling around the map and finding items/gear to upgrade your equipment setup and defeating enemies to gain 'runes" that you can spend to level up or buy items from shops.
3. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Monolithsoft has managed to create something truly special with the latest installment in the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise. While not as polished as the previous games, it's still an interesting story with unique gameplay.
Combat is revolutionized in this game with the ability to change the class of any character. When classes are mastered, abilities can be shared between classes. You can freely switch between party members in and out of battle, all of whom have their own classes with mastered abilities and inherent strengths and weaknesses.
4. Horizon Forbidden West
Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Aloy's journey through the Forbidden West is a grand one complete with awe-inspiring environments as you take down new machines with an expanded arsenal. Although the story is lacking the personal touch of the first game, if you're looking for an action-filled adventure with thoroughly enjoyable gameplay then you certainly can't go wrong with Horizon Forbidden West.
Mechanically, Forbidden West improved upon everything from the last game, most notably melee combat, the map, and the animations.
5. Sonic Frontier
Platform: All
As a long-time fan, Sonic Frontiers is the most fun I’ve had with a 3D Sonic game since Generations. This game does have issues, but as a whole, Sonic Frontiers is a really good time and moves the series a few steps in the right direction.
The gameplay in Sonic Frontiers is really fun. I believe Sonic hasn’t controlled this well since the Adventure series. I found the moment-to-moment gameplay exploring and platforming across the islands to be really enjoyable throughout the entire game.
6. Bayonetta 3
Platform: Nintendo Switch
I must say, the wait was definitely worth it. This is the most definite Bayonetta experience, Team Little Angels really outdone themselves with this one. Everything that was added in the previous two titles is present, and more.
Platinum has done an amazing job on the game with the hardware. This game is magnificent, the most ambitious of the trilogy and the most fun. The variety of combos, the fights with the demons, the weapons gameplay, they put so much into this game, too bad it's all marred by the switch hardware. Bayonetta 3 took me from laughter to tears and that's all I asked for.
7. Stray
Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
Stray is a third-person, adventure, puzzle, walking simulator game that is set in a dystopian cyberpunk world, in which you control a cat, that tries to go back to the surface after some unfortunate events happened.
The player controls a cat that has fallen into a walled and isolated city populated by robots and small metal-eating creatures called Zurks. The cat is led to a lab where it ends up finding a new companion called B-12. During the journey back to the surface the player meets new robots, helps out friends, and tries to survive whilst doing cat stuff like pushing objects to the ground and meowing.
8. Dying Light 2
Platform: All
It's a good game, but it's not great. DL1 was 100% better than this game, and it's pretty disappointing. The parkour is better in DL2 and is very fun, but in basically every other department (story, combat, atmosphere, etc), DL1 is just so much better. DL2's combat is fun, don't get me wrong, but it just feels so... empty. In DL1, I used to run around (even at max level in power and legend) and kill zombies for an hour, because it was fun to just mindlessly kill zombies.
The combat felt weighty and (semi) realistic, it wasn't perfect, but it was perfect for a game like DL1. In DL2, I actively avoid all forms of combat. It just doesn't feel as good as DL1. Human combat is better, but it still feels kinda weird.
9. Splatoon 3
Platform: Nintendo Switch
This might be the best Splatoon so far and is the proof that a gaming company can release a FULL Complete package and not a work in progress like so many ‘shooter games’ released these days. It’s a multiplayer masterpiece, has an excellent single-player story campaign, a cool Splatoon x Tetris sub-game, and that Salmon Run mode is better than ever.
10. Neon White
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC
Neon White is a game you'll love if you're all about the gameplay. In that department, it offers fast-paced platforming & decision-making challenges, which culminate in a constantly rewarding & enjoyable gameplay loop. You will be running through a level, checking your time, replaying said level to collect gifts for other characters & then replaying it again & again & again to shave those precious few extra seconds off the clock.
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