Top 10 Best Video Games of 2022

VOICE OVER: Tom Aglio WRITTEN BY: Ty Richardson
With 2022 winding down, it's time to look back at the greatest games to release this year! For this list, we're looking at the video games we consider to have been the best to come out in 2022. Our countdown includes “Elden Ring” (2022), “Sonic Frontiers” (2022), “Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope” (2022), “Horizon Forbidden West” (2022), and more!
Script written by Ty Richardson

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Best Video Games of 2022! For this list, we’re looking at the games we consider to have been the best to come out in 2022. Did you play any of these games? What’s your Game of the Year? Let us know in the comments!

#10: “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” (2022)

Kirby has always been stuck in the 2D plane despite having several games that utilize 3D graphics. Of the few times Nintendo tried to bring him to the third dimension, every one of them resulted in cancellation. “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” broke the mold and gave the pink puyo the “Mario Odyssey” treatment. And it was a thrilling adventure. With wonderfully unique ideas like the Mouthful mechanic and brilliant level design, Switch owners had yet another reason to boot up their machines. The only reason it comes in as low as 10 is because of the technical performance. How does this thing not run at sixty frames per second?

#9: “Sonic Frontiers” (2022)

We know “Sonic Frontiers” is no better than Kirby in the technical performance department, but we can forgive pop-ins when we’re running around at the speed of sound. That flaw aside, “Sonic Frontiers” is a truly remarkable game. Yes, the bar is rather low considering how long it’s been since the last good 3D Sonic game, but “Frontiers” really goes above and beyond with new moves, mechanics, a thrilling soundtrack, and surprisingly responsive controls. Give it an hour or so, and you will understand why this game is actually a ton of fun to play.

#8: “A Plague Tale: Requiem” (2022)

The AA scene, Focus Interactive especially, has brought us a handful of solid titles, but we had never experienced anything quite like “A Plague Tale: Innocence” in 2019. While its sequel falls short with its thirty frames per second and rushed third act, it still manages to offer a creative spin on the mechanics introduced in the first game. Combat and stealth have been expanded upon with new tools, and one of those tools allows you to take control of the rats, resulting in some hilariously gruesome takedowns. If you loved the 2019 original, you’ll certainly enjoy this one.

#7: “Bayonetta 3” (2022)

Oh, man, “Bayonetta 3”, you deserve so much more. In terms of general gameplay and combat, it’s the absolute best game in the franchise. No doubt. But when it comes to technical performance…eh, it would have done better on any other console. Still, what it does bring to the table, Bayonetta 3 brings it with grace and flair that its predecessors cannot match. Also, we can finally play the game in public with its “Naive Angel Mode”, which conceals all nudity. Our only question now is if the series will continue after this, given the way it ends.

#6: “Nightmare Reaper” (2022)

When we say “Nightmare Reaper” is the best FPS we’ve played in years, we mean it is the best FPS we’ve played in years. Journey into the tainted mind of a young woman and slaughter her inner demons as you discover secret areas, unlock vicious weaponry, and attempt to escape the asylum. It’s bloody, it’s violent, it’s fun, and the soundtrack composed by Andrew Hulshult makes it hard to pull away from. We’ll say it again, “Nightmare Reaper” is the best FPS we’ve played in years, and you absolutely NEED this for your PC!

#5: “Horizon Forbidden West” (2022)

“Horizon Forbidden West” certainly has some problems, particularly in how Aloy becomes a total chatterbox and constantly states what you should be doing. It’s really not as strong as the first game in that regard, but does that make it bad? No. “Forbidden West” comes with not just a new ecosystem of machines, but it also holds its own unique environments to enrapture us with their visual beauty and design. On top of that, the character animation has successfully broken away from the original’s uncanny appearances. Of course, you’re better off experiencing this on PS5.

#4: “Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope” (2022)

The first “Mario + Rabbids” was far better than it had any right to be. So, how could you improve on a game that was already fantastic? Give the player more freedom in moving characters, further tighten the kinds of moves they can pull off to enforce some tough decision-making, and rework the skill trees into something more streamlined and fun, encouraging players to invest in more powerful skills. Also, expand upon the worlds by offering side quests and hidden bosses as well as collectibles. The technical performance is not exactly the greatest, but when it’s working, “Sparks of Hope” is loads of fun. Here’s hoping things get spruced up shortly after this video is published.

#3: “Nobody Saves the World” (2022)

From the makers of “Guacamelee” and “Severed” comes one of the best adventure RPGs we’ve played and the best we’ve seen from the indie scene all year. “Nobody Saves the World” sets you out on a journey to find a missing wizard as you use his wand to shapeshift. Use the powers of a mermaid, slug, horse, turtle, and more to traverse caves, fight baddies, and unlock new abilities to mix and match for different playstyles. Whether you like RPGs or games like “The Legend of Zelda”, “Nobody Saves the World” is a total pleasure to play from start to finish.

#2: “Elden Ring” (2022)

There isn’t really much we can say about “Elden Ring” that you haven’t heard a billion times since it launched in February. It truly is an evolution of FromSoftware’s formula, and the majority of the MojoPlays team are big fans of the studio and its previous works. We had one of the more apathetic members of the team - the writer of this video - play it for himself; it consumed him for a month and a half. That is the level of brilliance and excitement that is brimming within “Elden Ring”, and it's why you probably haven’t stopped hearing about it months later.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions…

“Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” (2022)

Easily the Best Lego Game Ever Made

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge” (2022)

Filled to the Brim with Turtle Power!

“Potionomics” (2022)

A Challenging, Charming Potion-Brewing Management Gem

#1: “God of War: Ragnarok” (2022)

We won’t lie - those first few hours are not exactly groundbreaking. But as you creep closer and closer to the ten-hour mark, “God of War: Ragnarok” really begins to show its worth. Now, we aren’t going to go so far as to call it “the best PlayStation game ever made”, but even with the drawbacks the PS4 version inflicted, “Ragnarok” is more about bringing the Nordic duology to a close. New attacks, new mechanics, new characters, and immensely fun side missions make this a package that every PS4 and PS5 owner ought to consider purchasing. Hopefully, this signifies a new direction for developer Sony Santa Monica and maybe someone else can now take the reins of the franchise into another pantheon.