GamesBeat news writer Rachel Kaser’s favorite games of 2022

2022 has brought us some great games – it’s been a good year. Any year where I have a really hard time narrowing down my top 5 (or even top 10) list is a win in my books. And this year I’ve had enough games to keep me busy. These are the titles I enjoyed the most in 2022.

Please note that this is not a list of the games I consider the best of the year. GamesBeat already collectively agreed on that. This is a list of the games I loved the most this year, the ones that brought me the most happiness. Rest assured, I think Elden Ring is the best made game of the year and deserves the top spot. But you will not find it in this article. I loved it – I just loved others more.

5. Bayonetta 3

Yes yes, not @ me. You knew I’d put Bayonetta 3 on this list if only because I’m just glad I actually got it. This isn’t a perfect game by any means – Luka wears out his welcome pretty quickly, and the enemies look duller than previous titles. I freely admit that, as a Bayonetta fan, some of the love from the previous titles bleeds through into the new games. Yet Bayonetta 3 has its own charms. It’s a new challenge for Bayonetta, and she proves once again that she can handle it.

I’m all for games getting bigger with sequels, and Bayonetta 3 certainly does. The Demon Slave gameplay fills the already overflowing toolbox of the series, adding even more spectacle to this already spectacular world. The variety of environments also highlighted one of the series’ few weaknesses. ALSO… Jeanne also gets her own levels, so she’s not just revamping Bay’s grounds. Bayonetta fans have been waiting for this game for a while, and I was not disappointed.

4. Horizon Forbidden West

Poor horizon. First, Zero Dawn is topped by Breath of the Wild on its debut, then Forbidden West is overshadowed by Elden Ring. This series can’t get a break. But I’m here to defend Aloy, if only for the joy Forbidden West gave me. I love a beautiful post-apocalypse, and West America after the fall of humanity is beautiful. This world and its dangers put a smile on my face and it was pleasant enough to step back into the world.

The story was a bit weak, in that I didn’t feel like it ended well. But I enjoyed the new characters and returning favorites. I also appreciate that Aloy is a slightly warmer, more open person in this title. Granted, it took me a while to get into the Horizon series, but Forbidden West was a joy to play and I was glad to have the chance to return to this world.

3. Signal

We were inundated with delightful indie titles this year – Stray, Tunic, etc. Games that haven’t been around for a long time, but were a blast. But of them all, Signalis was the only one that gave me chills. It’s the only horror game I’ve played this year that upset and even scared me. It’s a pure distillation of survival horror: solid basics, brilliant atmosphere, none of the bullshit. I only wish it was longer so I could enjoy it more.

Signalis is exceptionally understated, as horror games go. The cutscenes are simple and sparse. The soundtrack is soft and unobtrusive. Even the pixel art, which is inspired by PS1-era horror games, places ghostly shadows over over-the-top gore. Even the story is something told in a whisper, the setting and world established with context clues rather than boatloads of exposition. Maybe it wasn’t everyone’s indie darling this year, but I had a lot of fun with it.

2. War god Ragnarök

I feel like I’m in a bit of a reverse situation with God of War Ragnarök. Back in 2018, I was one of those people confused about all the praise the “new” God of War was receiving. I loved the original games for all their spectacle and felt that imitating The Last of Us was a mind-boggling new direction. I didn’t hate the game – I just didn’t understand what it was trying to do. Now Ragnarök comes in and finally weaves together the threads of the series. It’s not often that a game can evoke genuine tenderness in me, but when I saw Kratos and its long, bloody character arc finally come to an end, it didn’t. something to my heart.

Ragnarok also features a much broader cast of Norse gods, most notably Odin and Thor. They impress almost as much as their Greek counterparts, with their personalities only tempered in comparison to Kratos’s. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t point out Atreus’ greater role, both in the story and gameplay. He proves in the course of the game that he is capable of taking over the torch, and that is nice to see.

1. penance

I want to meet the person from Xbox Games Studios who first heard the pitch for Pentiment and gave it his thumbs up – I feel like we’d be great friends. “Murder mystery set in 16th century Bavaria, where the player is the amateur detective and the art style mimics medieval and early modern illuminated manuscripts and woodcuts” is right up my alley. It’s the sort of thing I hope to create myself one day. It also has two of my favorite mystery tropes: small, supposedly pleasant town where everyone has dark secrets and a totally unprepared citizen becomes an unlikely detective.

Pentiment’s cast of characters is its strongest element. From the sordid murder victim to the stoic religious companions of Andreas to the more uncouth townspeople – I enjoyed all their company, and sitting at the table to eat with them is an investigative mechanic unlike anything I’ve seen before. The game’s time cycle also imposes an element of urgency that most adventure games lack. Maybe Pentiment isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but by God, it’s mine.