Fingers Crossed For These Games to Hit Shelves in 2022
With COVID-19 delays grapping the entire video game industry, looking ahead at 2022 releases can be hit or miss. Of course, we all want every game slated for 2022 to hit the shelves, especially if it’s already been delayed once. Many of the great games we are hopeful of are sequels to previously released hits. This list is a hopeful one. In part, it’s hopeful that these sequels live up to the games that came before. Additionally, it’s hopeful that COVID doesn’t force another delay.
10. A Plague Tale: RequiemÂ
2019’s A Plague Tale: Innocence collected a variety of award nominations, particularly in recognition of its outstanding narrative. Asobo Studio’s quality output has proven to the industry they are ready for the next step. Gone are the days of developing games like the PS2 and Nintendo DS exclusive, Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties. A Plague Tale’s stealth-adventure gameplay mixed with survival-horror-like atmosphere creates a game that will stick in the minds of gamers for a long time. Being only the second sequel they’ve made, A Plague Tale: Requiem has a chance to elevate Asobo to the level of a prestige developer.
9. Splatoon 3
Competitive multiplayer shooters are probably not the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Nintendo. Despite this, Nintendo continues to expand its portfolio with the Splatoon series. This franchise’s meteoric success may have taken many players by surprise, but Nintendo continues to impress gamers and critics alike. Unfortunately, the odds of Splatoon 3 landing in 2022 are not perfect. Many things outside of a small reveal trailer have not been disclosed. However, considering Nintendo’s pattern of keeping their cards close to their chest, fans can have some assurance of the planned release this year. It wouldn’t be unheard of for Nintendo to release a game with little to no notice, akin to their recent Metroid: Dread release.
8. Total War: Warhammer III
With Total War: Warhammer III following the massive success of its 2017 predecessor, the title is bound to take the PC strategy scene by storm. SEGA’s formula of mixing the talent at Creative Assembly, whose Total War franchise is over twenty years old, and the rich lore and setting of the Warhammer universe has garnered a massive fanbase. Not only have the developers merged these two concepts, but the quality of the games themselves should have any PC gamer taking a look at stepping into a general’s boots on February 3rd.
7. S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2
The original release of 2007 S.T.A.L.K.E.R was followed by two more releases in the following years. These new entries into the series were somewhere between expansion and a true sequel, but they were apparently not a far enough advancement for GSC Game World to bestow the official S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 title. The developers officially announced the development in 2010, but following a quick cancellation, the game went dark for years.
In 2018, GSC Gameworld re-announced the title. There was little information until 2 years later when it was revealed, almost surprisingly, on Xbox’s E3 stage. With a slow drip of information since then, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series will be making its way to consoles for the first time in the coming months.
6. Gran Turismo 7
Nearly half a decade has passed since the last Gran Turismo game has cruised onto Sony consoles. In the meantime, Xbox’s Forza franchise has virtually overtaken the competition and now sits at pole position. However, with Forza Motorsports 7 reaching its end-of-life services, there exists a vacuum in AAA racing-sim experiences, since the critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series leans heavily into arcade influences.
Sony now has an opportunity to reestablish Gran Turismo as the premier racing sim. If PlayStation has proven anything in the last decade, it’s that their first-party exclusives have an almost certain quality to them. Many questions may remain about the newest Gran Turismo, but PlayStation can rest assured that Sony plans on making Grant Turismo a technical showcase for the PS5.
More anticipated games after the break!