Gaming and Collecting Podcast: Bill's Top 10 Games of 2022
In all honesty 2022 might have been one of the strangest years in gaming for me personally due to a number of factors ranging from personal life changes to a somewhat all over the place year in terms of releases that appealed to me personally as a gamer. In retrospect there was a good amount of games that I found very enjoyable so to round up the year here’s my 10 personal favorite titles to release this year.
10. Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series
So this one came kinda out of nowhere but was overall a pleasant surprise for me as a fan of the series since it’s inception back in 1997, with the collection compiling the 2008 Wii remake of the original game along with its 2001 sequel original released for the PlayStation 2 bringing both game back into the spotlight for a new generation to enjoy alongside longtime fans.
9. Pokémon Legends Arceus
Quite possibly one of the most pleasant surprises to release this year, Legends Arceus in a lot of ways was the breath of fresh are that the series needed finally moving the series beyond its stagnant formula in favor of a new approach to the the series gameplay. Even if it is flawed in a lot of ways the game was truly the first time developer Game Freak tried in a long time, something I wish they continued with there follow up also released this year… but I digress.
8. Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
Another classic series to to see a revival this year, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined would notably be the first entry in the franchise since 2001’s Pocky & Rocky with Becky with the game reimagining the quirky top down shooter for a new generation with its same challenge and fun multiplayer action. An absolute must play for fans of classic SNES era games.
7. Rune Factory 5
The long awaited return of Marvelous’s iconic series of farming sim RPG hybrids, with the fifth entry being a particular joy to play featuring the same great gameplay now with HD graphics modernizing things for the current generation while also appealing to longtime fans.
6. Stray
Another game that kinda came out of nowhere for me this year, Stray was a game that I originally picked up due to my fondness for cats, but late fell in love with due to its solid adventure gameplay and design that were surprisingly deep alongside a rather complex plot which was unexpected but welcome as one of the more refreshing titles of the year!
5. Sonic Frontiers
Oh Sonic where do I even begin with this one. In all honesty it’s know secret that the Sonic franchise has seen it’s fair share of ups and down over the years with inconsistent titles (aside from games like Mania and Origins) continuing to show the series lack of focus and somewhat confused fan base. Frontiers changes things up featuring new open world ideas that while not perfect show a ton of potential for the series future with decent gameplay and fun levels to explore, easily being the most fun I’ve had in a 3D Sonic game since Generations in 2011.
4. The DioField Chronicle
One of many RPG’s released by Square Enix this year, The Diofield Chronicle would feature some fun strategy based RPG mechanics similar to titles like XCOM featuring free movement during the players turn instead of the more traditional tile based set up, combining a number of elements from across the genre alongside a pleasant story and presentation.
3. Live A Live
Another Square Enix title released this year, Live A Live would notably be a remake of the 1994 Japan only Super Famicom game of the same name rebuilt from the ground up using Square Enix’s amazing HD-2D game engine, finally bringing this forgotten classic to the rest of the world and showcasing its unique stealth based tactical RPG gameplay enhanced by some beautiful graphics.
2. Triangle Strategy
Notably Square Enix’s second title to make use of there spectacular HD-2D game engine, Triangle Strategy Unlike its turn based counterpart Octopath Traveler would instead use a Tactical RPG set up similar to games like Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics, with the game continuing to fill that particular gameplay niche that I have come to adore in recent years helped by its compelling story and spectacular visuals and presentation.
1. Soul Hackers 2
Honestly I didn’t see this one coming this year but I have to say this may have been one of the most pleasant surprises to release this year. Soul Hackers 2 was notably the sequel to Atlus’s 1997 title Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (released internationally in 2012) along with being a part of there flagship Shin Megami Tensei franchise which appealed to me greatly as a fan of the Persona series, with much of my enjoyment coming from the game’s beautiful visuals and excellent gameplay and story easily being the game that has really stuck with me more then anything this year.