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, Hogwarts Legacy, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the year ahead, so let’s dive in. These are the 48 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.
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.
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.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Coming seven years after the release of the original, Dying Light 2: 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.
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.”
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”