itsGoohi's Top 10 Games of 2022
Hello its me! Its Goohi! Gamer, creator, full time goof. Come hang out on all the major social platforms, to include Twitch and Youtube – @itsGoohi – where I talk about gaming news, announcements, bring in the funnies and play the latest games releasing.
Now that you know a little bit about me, let’s dive into the meat and potatoes. I will be covering my choices for this year’s top 10 games, from the ones that were expected masterpieces, to others that thoroughly surprised me.
10. TMNT: SHREDDER'S REVENGE
Often we see game reviews talk about the technical capabilities of a game, the stories they tell, the gameplay mechanics, etc, and while yes, I do agree that all of these things are very important when it comes to judging a game, sometimes it all just comes down to one simple question: “Did you have fun?”. TMNT: Shredders revenge is a retro game released in a modern era. It takes what made these games so popular to begin with and adds smooth gameplay and awesome graphics that are very faithful to their humble beginnings. As someone who seldom plays side scrolling beat-em-up games like this, I couldn’t pry myself away from this short, yet exceedingly fun adventure.
9. Sifu
Sifu is one of very few games I can say I had to dedicate hours and hours to learn. It’s a game that requires mastering and patience in order to have a chance at progression. Providing challenging gameplay topped with unforgiving mechanics, this game caused me hand cramps, tears of frustration, headaches, and an undeniable amount of joy when I was finally able to progress through an area. Every kick, punch and throw becomes extremely satisfying when you are able to properly fight with your character. The settings, graphics and art style were a breath of fresh air, and the story was interesting enough to keep you entertained throughout. If you are looking for a casual fighting game, avoid this one like the plague.
8. Stray
Aside from the very obvious reason as to why this game gained mass popularity (cute kitty), Stray was easily one of the most enjoyable games that came out this year due to its clever gameplay, explorative immersion and beautiful aesthetics. I was mostly surprised by its moving and emotional story, especially coming from a game where the protagonist cannot speak. Every single NPC brought an incredible amount of charm to the table, the puzzles were clever not frustrating, and the gameplay was very responsive and smooth. Controlling the little cat and maneuvering throughout the several areas had me grinning from ear to ear, this is a must play for even the most casual of gamers.
7. Resident Evil Village
Looking back at this year, there were several horror games on the release dock. The one that stands out to me the most has to be Resident Evil Village due to its impactful characters and smooth gameplay. Following the same formula that they used in the rebooted Biohazard, they brought the main character into a village filled with psychopaths and supernatural chaos. No better setting for a Resident Evil game in my opinion. Although a shorter adventure than what I was expecting, this game was filled with many “OH SH*T” puckering moments, gross gory aesthetics and dark areas. A great horror pick for 2022.
6. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
This is a game that had me cracking up and enjoying good ole video game violence. Tiny Tinas wonderlands brings the Borderlands gameplay, art style and humor to a diet version of Dungeons and Dragons. RPG mechanics like character builds and a small amount of customization were welcomed additions to the otherwise expected gameplay out of a borderlands game. If you are a fan of past games, you will definitely get a kick out of Tina’s crazy antics, as well as other characters voice lines and the overall humor. The main story is fun, especially with friends, and they added the Chaos Chamber modes which provides a hefty amount of replay ability. Great entry to the series.
5. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
I didn’t know what to expect when I first booted up Xenoblade Chonicles 3 being that it was my first game in the series. After the second cutscene (or as I liked to call them, mini movies) I quickly realized this game would take up a big chunk of time, and I wasn’t mad about it. No need to be familiar with previous entries’ story, there is a heavy amount of lore and story to sink your teeth into in this one. Several hours into the game and its still introducing new mechanics, from combat to crafting to world interactions. From the massive landscapes to the challenging yet fun gameplay mechanics, this commitment is one that I do not regret.
4. Bayonetta 3
Another Nintendo game that thoroughly surprised me (in a good way) this year was Bayonetta 3. There is no better way to describe this game other than its batsh** crazy. Over the top anime style cutscenes coupled with fun and challenging hack n slash gameplay made this one of my favorites of the year. I am a big fan of cheesy, over the top action and this serves it to you in a buffet platter. Some of the new additions in the latest entry include sidescroller sections that added a refreshing break from the insane monster fights and you also get to play as a brand-new character. Somehow this game manages to top its predecessors with its antics, and I was here for it.
3. Grounded
I almost forgot to throw this gem onto the list because it’s been out in early access since 2020. We finally saw a full release of this game earlier this year, and after sinking several years into this adventure my buddies and I were able to recently complete this game. Initially drawn in by the quirky concept of playing a shrunken character in a suburban back yard, this game quickly became one of my all-time favorites. Obsidian is a great dev team, they were able to create a charming, yet challenging survival experience with more of a focus on story than survival games are used to. Although Grounded thrives on its simple cartoonish art style, do not let this game fool you. There are in depth crafting and building mechanics that will take lot of resource gathering, time and commitment. Difficult areas, fun bosses, a vast amount of gear to craft and upgrade, humor filled charming characters and a very well put together story made this one of my greatest experiences in 2022.
2. God of War: Ragnarok
I played the original God of War trilogy back in the day, and growing up with the series I was hesitant to be excited when they first announced the reboot back in 2018. Fast forward to the announcement of GoW Ragnarok, where I could not hold back my excitement for the continuation in the series. Finally getting to play the game, experiencing the story and gameplay all over again has been an absolute blast. Although there were no major changes to the 2018 reboots new-found god of war formula, they expanded on everything they’ve brought in the past and put together a brilliant story to top it off. The graphics are breathtaking and the gameplay is solid, responsive and satisfying. From the puzzles to the combat, story and everything in between, this is a tough contender for GOTY.
1. Elden Ring
There is not much left to say about this game. I was initially skeptical on the idea of bringing a SoulsBorne game into an open world but as soon as I walked through the first set of doors that lead out into the expansive and magical landscape all my worries went away. They definitely nailed translating the genre’s formula from a linear to an open world experience. Digging deeper into the world, exploring every nook and cranny and getting my butt handed to me by every single creature of death and destruction was absolutely exhilarating. I wish there was a way to wipe my memory so that I could experience it for the first time all over again. As a massive fan of FromSoftware games I enjoyed every painful second, but the coolest part about the release of this game was that it brought the genre mainstream, giving it the recognition it has long deserved.