POLL: The Best Video Games of 2022!

It’s that time of year again when we round up the best of pop culture from the last 12 months! Join us as we answer: What were the best video games of 2022? Then, add your own opinion to our poll at the end!

The geeks of Sideshow’s official Facebook group have spoken. The following video games are some of the best releases of 2022. They gave players control of cats, Tarnished, and godkillers to live out our achievement-grabbing fantasies. Get to know the details of these titles as well as what makes them special enough to top this year’s Best Of Video Games category!

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1. God of War: Ragnarok

Developer: Santa Monica Studio, Sony Interactive Entertainment

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

This highly anticipated sequel to the smash-hit reimagining of Kratos in 2018’s God of War dropped late in the year, but topping titans is all in a day’s work for the scruffy Spartan. God of War: Ragnarok electrified fans more than Thor’s mystic hammer with its return to the Norse pantheon, continuing the deepening mystery of Atreus, the death of Baldur, and Odin’s attempt to stop the apocalypse by any means necessary.

With a mix of combat, puzzle-solving, and roleplaying elements, the game dazzled players with strong performances, a well-written story, and even more mythological realms to explore. God of War: Ragnarok received universal acclaim from critics and is tied with two other titles in the franchise for highest MetaCritic rating. This stunning sequel continues and improves upon every promise of epic adventure laid out by the first game.

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2. Elden Ring

Developer: FromSoftware, Bandai Namco Entertainment

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Elden Ring was one of the biggest releases this year, beginning its domination in February. As another action roleplaying release by FromSoftware, gamers gladly lined up for its punishing combat, complex character customization, and expansive open-world map that allowed players to take their Tarnished anywhere at any point to battle the beasts that awaited in the Lands Between.

Most notably, Elden Ring boasts a narrative from George R. R. Martin as well as Hidetaka Miyazaki. Steeped in fantasy pedigree, the story introduced such memorable characters and bosses as Starscourge Radahn, Ranni the Witch, and the Turtle Pope (also known as Miriel, Pastor of Vows). As a Souls-like game, this challenge isn’t for everyone. But many gamers who stuck with the story have gone on to repeat the entire game and find ways to increase the challenge for themselves. As if the Scarlet Rot wasn’t bad enough the first time around.

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3. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge

Developer: DotEmu, Tribute Games

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One

Totally retro! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge game takes a lot of visual cues from the classic beat ’em up arcade games of yesteryear. Combined with modern game engines, this side-scrolling pixel game kicked shell and sold 1 million copies the week it released. It also featured the return of the 1987 TMNT voice actors, and both arcade and story modes that heavily emphasized co-op.

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge features a robust playable cast including Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo, and Michelangelo as well as allies Master Splinter, Casey Jones, and April O’Neil. It also takes players on a whirlwind tour of iconic villain boss battles like Krang, Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady, Baxter Stockman, Chrome Dome, and more. If you can overlook the rather short Story Mode, this game has lots of party potential — gather up your friends and take turns as your favorite turtles!

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4. Horizon Forbidden West

Developer: Guerilla Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

An anticipated followup to 2017’s acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn, the PlayStation-exclusive Horizon Forbidden West launched within a week of Elden Ring and managed not to get swept under. Once again, players took control of the intrepid Aloy, this time exploring a post-apocalyptic version of the United States known as the Forbidden West. This visually rich and imaginative world is populated by even more monstrous machines to avoid or combat.

Fans flocked back to this game, which strengthened the successes from the previous entry and provided an even bigger open map to explore. Technical errors at launch have since been smoothed out, allowing us to enjoy the sprawling adventure in this action RPG. And for those who finished the main narrative, a DLC called Burning Shores is set to release in April 2023, meaning fans won’t have to wait another five years to revisit the epic setting.

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5. Stray

Developer: BlueTwelve Studio, Annapurna Interactive

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Only one game this year let us live out the dream of making biscuits, sleeping on furniture, and meowing endlessly at robots — the hit cyberpunk feline adventure Stray. Outside of the adorable protagonist, the appeal of this title is that it presents players with a compelling story set in an imaginative future, bringing hope to a bleak cyber-city after the disappearance of humanity. Stray blends open-world elements, puzzle-solving, and light combat and stealth as the kitty explores the world with the help of a robot companion.

Launching on the PlayStation 5, the game makes use of the enhanced tactile response of the controls to emphasize the rumbly purrs and tension of scratching couches and rugs, giving gamers plenty of immersion. Stray also boasts cute Easter eggs to beloved properties like Back to the Future, Skyrim, Gravity Falls, and more — it’s a quick, engaging adventure that will capture your heart with a simple little pspspsps.

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Which video games dominated your play time this year? Did we miss your favorite? Take our poll and then let us know over at side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!