Due in part to the sheer number of games delayed out of 2021, 2022 has inherited one of the most promising video game lineups in recent memory.
Over 100 games are already scheduled for 2022, and with the new year fast approaching, we’re highlighting the most promising projects on the horizon, from tentpole first-party titles like Breath of the Wild 2, God of War Ragnarok, and Starfield to much-anticipated multiplatform releases such as Elden Ring and Hogwarts Legacy.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the year ahead, so let’s dive in. These are the 47 biggest games coming in 2022, listed chronologically by release date.
Only games with officially announced 2022 release dates/windows were considered for this list. Seasonal (e.g., Spring, Fall) release windows are based on the Northern Hemisphere. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League previously appeared on this list but has since been removed after being delayed to 2023.
Rainbow Six Extraction
Ubisoft kicks off 2022 with Rainbow Six Extraction, a PvE spinoff of its ultra-popular shooter Rainbow Six Siege. Built on the foundation of Siege, Extraction pits teams of three against a parasitic alien threat. The shooter saw multiple delays (and a name change) since it was revealed at E3 2019.
Read our Rainbow Six Extraction review.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
The first big Switch exclusive of the year, Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes Nintendo’s beloved monster-collecting franchise in a bold new direction. Arceus, the series’ first core game set in a (semi) open world, shakes up the traditional methods of encountering and battling Pokemon.
Read our Pokemon Legends: Arceus review.
Dying Light Stay Human
Coming seven years after the release of the original, Dying Light Stay Human brings players to a new region of Techland’s zombie-filled open world. This time around, the parkour playground is four times bigger and developer Techland has worked to create more fluidity between traversal and combat. Oh, and Rosario Dawson (The Mandalorian) will play a major role in the game’s story.
Dying Light 2 for Switch will be released sometime after the other versions. Techland expects to have it ready within six months of the initial February 4 release date (i.e., by August 2022).
Read our Dying Light 2 review.
Sifu
Sifu is a new kung-fu game from Sloclap, the studio behind 2017’s combat-focused RPG Absolver. In addition to smooth martial-arts gameplay, Sifu features a unique mechanic around death: Upon dying, the playable character will come back as an older version of themself — a metaphor for the wisdom that comes with age and experience. However, if you grow too old (i.e., die too much), death will eventually result in a “definitive game over.”
Read our Sifu review.
CrossfireX
Ultra-popular PC shooter Crossfire comes to consoles for the first time early next year. Both the single-player and free-to-play multiplayer modes will be released on February 10. Crossfire developer Smilegate is handling the multiplayer component, while Remedy (Alan Wake, Control) created the two single-player campaigns: Operation Catalyst and Operation Spectre — both of which will be available at launch.
Read our CrossfireX single-player review and our CrossfireX multiplayer review.
Total War: Warhammer 3
Sega’s acclaimed strategy series returns in 2022 with Total War: Warhammer 3. Developer Creative Assembly is introducing two new playable factions — Kislev and Cathay — for this third entry, as part of “the most diverse array of legendary heroes, gargantuan monsters, flying creatures and magical powers that the series has ever seen." Total War: Warhammer 3 will launch into Xbox Game Pass for PC.
Read our Total War: Warhammer 3 single-player review and our Total War: Warhammer 3 multiplayer review.
Horizon Forbidden West
The first of three big PlayStation first-party exclusives on this list, Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s journey as she investigates the mysterious Red Blight threatening life on Earth. It’s one of the most anticipated games of the year, and if nothing else, it promises to be stunning (as evidenced in the trailer below).
Read our Horizon Forbidden West review.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware set loose an unstoppable hype train at E3 2019 when it revealed Elden Ring, a third-person action-adventure made in collaboration with A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin. If our Elden Ring hands-on preview is any indication, Elden Ring just might live up to that extraordinary hype. Thankfully we don’t have to wait much longer to find out, as Elden Ring will be released on February 25.
Read our Elden Ring review.
Shadow Warrior 3
Shadow Warrior, the fast-action FPS that’s lain dormant since 2016, returns in 2022 with Shadow Warrior 3. The series’ next adventure sees protagonist Lo Wang and sidekick Orochi Zilla embark on a quest to “recapture an ancient dragon they unwillingly unleashed from its eternal prison.”
Read our Shadow Warrior 3 review.
Babylon's Fall
Nearly four years after it was announced at E3 2018, Babylon's Fall will be released on PlayStation consoles and PC. Babylon's Fall is another combat-focused game from PlatinumGames, the studio behind excellent action games like Bayonetta and Nier: Automata. It's playable solo or cooperatively with up to three others, though regardless of how you play, it'll require a constant online connection.
Read our Babylon's Fall review.
Gran Turismo 7
Sony's historic Gran Turismo series comes to PS5 on March 4, 2022. Racing fans are keen to see how Sony’s premier racing sim fares in its next-gen debut following the success of Microsoft’s Forza Horizon 5 in 2021. With GT7, Polyphony Digital aims to connect the past of the 25-year-old franchise “to the present and to the future.”
Read our Gran Turismo 7 review.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Stranger of Paradise is a new type of Final Fantasy game — an action-heavy Soulslike from the studio behind Ninja Gaiden and Nioh. Despite significant differences in gameplay compared to traditional FF games, creative producer Tetsuya Nomura assures fans “there's no doubt that the blood of Final Fantasy runs through [Stranger of Paradise’s] veins.”
Read our Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin review.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
The next game from horror legend Shinji Mikami and Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within), Ghostwire: Tokyo is a paranormal first-person game in which 99% of Tokyo’s population has mysteriously disappeared. Despite the studio’s pedigree, Tango says Ghostwire isn’t exactly a horror game, rather an action-adventure “packed with mysterious and spooky elements.”
Read our Ghostwire: Tokyo review.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
The first mainline Kirby game since 2018, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a 3D adventure set in an abandoned, overgrown city. The Switch exclusive is targeting a Spring 2022 release window.
Read our Kirby and the Forgotten Land review.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
This Dungeons and Dragons-inspired Borderlands spinoff comes to consoles and PC in late March. Tiny Tina serves as Dungeon Master for Wonderlands’ story, which includes the return of everyone’s favorite diamond unicorn Butt Stallion and sends players on an epic quest to defeat the Dragon Lord. The voice cast includes some top talent, including Will Arnett as the Dragon Lord, Andy Samberg as Valentine, Wanda Sykes as Frette, and Ashly Burch returning as Tiny Tina.
Read our Tiny Tina's Wonderlands review.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Following multiple delays that date back to 2020, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will (hopefully) be released in 2022. Called the “biggest” LEGO game ever by developer TT Games, The Skywalker Saga is an entirely new retelling of all nine mainline Star Wars movies built in an all-new game engine.
Read our LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga review.
Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals
Night School Studio’s supernatural walk-and-talk adventure is getting a sequel in 2022. Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals is set in the same universe as the original, though it stars a new cast of characters, led by an environmental researcher named Riley. Lost Signals’ gameplay mechanics will largely be familiar for those who played the first, as it features the return of Oxenfree’s signature dialogue system.
Evil Dead: The Game
The trend of asymmetrical multiplayer games based on classic horror franchises continues in 2022 with Evil Dead: The Game. In addition to a PvP mode, in which one player controls the Kandarian Demon, Evil Dead will offer co-op and single-player options. Perhaps best of all, Bruce Campell lends his voice to the game, reprising his role as Ash Williams. Groovy.
Star Trek: Resurgence
Resurgence is a post-TNG Star Trek narrative-adventure created by a new studio that employs over 20 ex-Telltale developers. Unsurprising given the staff's pedigree, dialogue options/conversations will be featured prominently in Resurgence, though developer Dramatic Labs says there will be action sequences as well. The game tells an original story involving the clash of two alien civilizations and features all-new characters as well as fan favorites such as Spock.
The Day Before
The Day Before was thrust into the spotlight in 2021 after the debut of its gameplay trailer on IGN, which garnered over 4 million views on YouTube. As for what players can expect, The Day Before is an open-world MMO survival game set in a zombie-filled, post-pandemic America. In addition to the standard MMO trappings — PvP combat, resource gathering, and social hubs — The Day Before features Animal Crossing-like base building.
Saints Row
Volition’s rebooted Saints Row is decidedly less whacky than the series’ previous two entries, harking back to a balance of ridiculous and grounded last seen in Saints Row: The Third. The reveal was met with some skepticism from longtime Saints Row fans, but Volition is confident in its vision, responding to backlash by saying it’s “not backing down on this game.”
Redfall
Redfall is the next game from Arkane Austin, the studio behind 2017’s excellent Prey. Set in the island town of Redfall, Massachusetts, the co-op shooter lets you (and up to three friends) loose in a vampire-filled open world. It’ll be an Xbox Series X|S and PC exclusive, and it'll be available Day One on Game Pass.
Forspoken
Forspoken has all the makings of a sleeper hit. From its interesting Isekai premise to its frenetic “magic parkour” traversal system, Square Enix’s open-world RPG has the potential to deliver big on both its narrative and gameplay. The developer is aiming to create the “highest quality visuals ever” for an open-world video game, and it was all realized by a superstar writing team that includes Gary Whitta (Rogue: One: A Star Wars Story) and Amy Hennig (Uncharted).
Gotham Knights
Batman is dead, and the duty of protecting Gotham has fallen to Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Hood — Gotham Knights’ four playable characters. The third-person brawler supports single-player and two-player co-op with a combat system that’s been “entirely redesigned” from the developer’s Batman Arkham game.
Scorn
We were disturbed (and delighted) when Scorn resurfaced in May 2020 with an all-new trailer showcasing its H.R. Giger-inspired aesthetic. The first-person horror game will finally be released in 2022 as an Xbox Series X|S console exclusive.
Starfield
Another Xbox Series X|S and PC exclusive, Starfield is the next epic single-player RPG from Todd Howard and Bethesda Game Studios. Howard describes Starfield as “Skyrim in space,” though he also noted it’s “a bit more hardcore of a role-playing game than we've done in the past.” The RPG will be Bethesda’s first game developed using its Creation Engine 2.
And while we’ve yet to see gameplay, BGS’s vision for Starfield became clearer over this past year; we now have details on Starfield’s mod support, robust character customization, first- and third-person viewpoints, and main factions.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
It’s been a long road to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. The game was first announced in 2010, rumored to be canceled in 2011, then actually canceled in 2012. Years later, developer GSC Game World started fresh on the series’ first numbered sequel, re-revealing it in 2020 as a “unique blend of FPS, immersive sim, and horror.” It will launch into Xbox Game Pass and will be a Series X|S console exclusive for three months.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
2022 offers gamers an opportunity to return to Middle-earth, this time as the mischievous Gollum. Unlike Lord of the Rings’ previous “Shadow of” games, Gollum isn’t an open-world action-RPG, rather a narrative-focused adventure with an emphasis on stealth and platforming.
Company of Heroes 3
Relic’s legendary World War 2 RTS returns in 2022 after a nine-year hiatus. Company of Heroes 3 is set in the Mediterranean theater and introduces new features to the series such as tactical pause and a fully dynamic campaign map. While looking ahead with new innovations, Relic is also looking to its past for Company Heroes 3; the studio says this third installment will be more like the original Company of Heroes than its sequel.
Homeworld 3
The nearly 20-year wait for Homeworld 3 will come to an end in late 2022, when Gearbox releases the long-awaited space RTS sequel. Set generations after the events of Homeworld 2, Homeworld 3 raises the stakes with larger-scale battles, higher unit caps, and massive structures. It will include a campaign, multiplayer, and a co-op mode "with a roguelike twist," according to developer Blackbird.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Marvel’s Midnight Suns is the next game from renowned strategy studio Firaxis. As a highly customizable character known as The Hunter, you’ll be joined on your quest to take down Lilith by notable Marvel heroes such as Iron Man, Captain America, Doctor Strange, and Wolverine. Midnight Suns stands out from the studio’s previous work as it incorporates a card battle system into its broader tactics gameplay. The system ties abilities to cards in a deck, similar to games like Slay the Spire.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Revealed at E3 2021, A Plague Tale: Requiem is Asobo Studio’s follow-up to A Plague Tale: Innocence. The first was regarded as one of 2019’s best narrative-focused games, and Requiem looks to build on that success with the return of brother-sister protagonists Amicia and Hugo. It will come to Xbox Game Pass at launch.
Arc Raiders
Arc Raiders is a co-op shooter from an all-new developer: Embark Studios, a team headed by former EA exec Patrick Söderlund and comprised of ex-DICE developers who worked on Battlefield and Star Wars: Battlefront. Set in a gorgeous sci-fi world, the free-to-play third-person shooter features 3-player co-op and an emphasis on teamwork.
Ark 2
Ark 2 is a video game with giant dinosaurs and Vin Diesel. That should be enough to base your purchasing decision on, though if you must know more, it’s an action-adventure/survival game set in a hostile world that blends prehistoric environments and far-future technology.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Announced back in 2017 (and properly revealed in 2021), Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person, open-world action-adventure game set in a never-before-seen part of Pandora. Like the film, Frontiers of Pandora pits the Na'vi against humans and their mechs. It’s in development at Massive Entertainment, the Ubisoft studio behind The Division.
Bayonetta 3
PlatinumGames finally showed off Bayonetta 3 in September 2021, four years after the game was first announced. The long-awaited reveal showed off Bayonetta’s new moves and hairstyle, along with our first look at new enemies and areas within Bayonetta 3’s ravaged Tokyo. It’ll be released sometime in 2022, exclusively on Switch.
The Callisto Protocol
Horror fans are going to want to keep an eye on The Callisto Protocol, a new sci-fi/horror game helmed by Dead Space creator Glen Schofield. While the Callisto Protocol looks the part of a Dead Space spiritual successor, it’s actually set in the same universe as a different game: PUBG. Regardless, Schofield and co. are aiming to “make the scariest game on next-gen platforms.”
God of War Ragnarok
Sony’s biggest first-party release of 2022 is undoubtedly God of War: Ragnarok, Santa Monica Studio’s follow-up to IGN’s 2018 Game of the Year. Ragnarok continues the father-son story of Kratos and Atreus, while introducing new characters from Norse mythology such as Thor and Odin.
Hogwarts Legacy
2022 is the year Harry Potter fans will finally be able to embark on their own adventure through the Wizarding World. Based on teaser footage, Hogwarts Legacy includes many of the activities you’d expect from a proper Harry Potter RPG: character creation, the Sorting Ceremony, magic lessons, potion brewing, Quidditch, and more. It will seemingly be released sometime after April 15.
Kerbal Space Program 2
Beloved space/physics sim Kerbal Space Program returns in 2022. The sequel introduces new parts, spacecrafts, and buildings, as well as quality of life improvements such as a moveable launch tower and a skippable launch countdown. Developer Intercept Games says it’s “creating a reliable foundation on which players and modders alike can build for another decade or more.”
Layers of Fear 2022
A new horror game in the Layers of Fear series is slated for 2022. Developer Bloober Team revealed the project with a teaser trailer, showcasing its use of Unreal Engine 5. The series’ previous entry, Layers of Fear 2, was released in 2019 and earned a 9/10 from IGN.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
Even with Elden Ring, Starfield, and the next God of War due out in 2022, the year’s biggest game is arguably Breath of the Wild 2 (official title TBA). Nintendo has been tight-lipped about the sequel thus far, though it did reveal some Breath of the Wild 2 gameplay at E3 2021. Breath of the Wild sits atop our list of the best Switch games and at number five on our list of the best video games of all time.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
The unexpected Nintendo-Ubisoft collaboration continues in 2022 with Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, a sequel to 2017's Mario + Rabbids Battle Kingdom. The follow-up features less linear levels, a more fluid combat system, and nine playable characters, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, and their Rabbid counterparts.
Nightingale
Nightingale is a shared-world game from Inflexion Games, a new studio comprised of ex-BioWare developers, including the renowned studio's former GM Aaryn Flynn. It's billed as a survival-crafting game with first-person combat featuring guns, melee weapons, and magic. Nightingale is housed in a fantastical Victorian setting, which Flynn says is "as rich and full of history and life as anything we’ve worked on in the past."
The Outlast Trials
The Outlast Trials is a co-op spin on Red Barrel’s terrifying horror franchise in which you attempt to survive sadistic, Cold War-era human experiments. While the series’ first two games were strictly single-player, Outlast Trials can be played alone or with up to three others — as the developer said, “It’s always better to shit your pants in good company.”
Sonic Frontiers
After months of rumors and speculation, Sega officially unveiled Sonic Frontiers, the next main entry in the blue blur's series. We saw our first proper teaser for the game just as 2021 came to a close, teasing the "open zone" gameplay, environments, and more in a game that aims to “lay the foundation” for future Sonic titles, according to Sonic Studio’s Takashi Iizuka.
Splatoon 3
Nintendo’s colorful shooter is back with its familiar ink-splattering multiplayer and an all-new single-player campaign. Called Return of the Mammalians, the campaign focuses on the return of mammals to the world of Splatoon. It’s multiplayer, meanwhile, retains its core mechanics while introducing new weapons and customization options.
What is your most anticipated game of 2022? Vote in the poll below or let us know in the comments!
