DualShockers’ Favorite Games of 2022 — Charlie’s Top 10
Equally 2022 (thankfully) comes to a close, the DualShockers staff is coming together to share their personal favorite games throughout the year. Unlike our official Game of the Year Awards, each of these lists is meant to reflect which games stood out personally to each of our staff members. Additionally, whatsoever game — not just 2022 releases — can be considered in each Meridian 10 List.
2020 was the year I spent the most time playing the most games. I ended upward chirapsia 52 [should be ~sixty past the end of the yr] and nonetheless managed to put TONS of hours into games like Super Boom Bros. Ultimate and Tetris 99. That said, I'm going to try to keep those kinds of games out of the running. Having Tetris 99 as my Game of the Yr for 2 years running isn't exactly what y'all want from these lists anyways.
That said, I played some of the well-nigh iconic games of all-time! I really beefed upward my gaming pedigree in a serious way; betwixt benchmarks in game design like Portal to modern classics like God of War (2018), to games that haven't quite aged well like Halo 2'due south entrada, my simply regret is not having played some of them sooner.
I went into this list with nothing but fear in my heart. I played SO MANY amazing games this year. I think I had 30 games in the running from the start and let me tell ya, outside of the top ii, I had no idea what I was doing. In fact, if I didn't one-half to rank numbers 8 through 10, I don't think I would.
Wreckfest | Stadia Release Trailer
10. Mega Man X
As far as activeness platformers go, Mega Man is probably the near consistently expert franchise out there, so when I realized I never rolled credits on this game, I took it upon myself to finally see information technology through to the end. This game is only so damn cool; the spritework, gameplay, music and everything else remind me exactly why I honey SNES games. The synthesized sounds of its wailing, dad rock-esque soundtrack add a sense of high-octane, activeness movie-style energy that make every second of its already fantastic platforming all the more enjoyable.
nine. Lumines
At its core, I think Lumines could be another not-perfect-just-every bit-close-every bit-it-gets state of affairs. Its core loop is addictive and satisfying. It's one of those games where I felt like I could see the code once I got in the swing of things. The pulsating, hypnotic soundtrack shaking my controller and driving my decisions acquired me to lose track of time on multiple occasions.
As someone who LOVES Tetris, Lumines feels like a refreshing yet familiar take on its core gameplay loop, while nevertheless remaining unique plenty that I could play one, get tired of it, and move onto the other without getting bored. Honestly, I wish more people had played this game, considering it's really fantastic and you can even encounter where Raise Studios learned from this game when making Tetris Result.
8. Wattam
Placing this one is hard. Aside from maybe FFVII Remake, no game has made me feel every bit much as Wattam has this year. Information technology'due south funny, it'southward sad, it'due south charming, it'due south heartfelt. I actually can't put into words what this game makes me experience. As a large Keita Takahashi fan, I was so excited to play it. And, unlike many games in recent memory, it fully lived up to the hype for me.
Function of why it was and so impactful and poignant to me was because I played it mid-lockdown. I hadn't seen anyone just my family in weeks, and I was tired of talking to my friends in Discord. While none of the characters in Wattam are remotely human, they gave me some of the purest joy and human connexion I've felt this year when I needed it almost. While its gameplay isn't exactly something I'd describe as deep or complex, information technology's absolutely a securely rewarding experience from start to end.
Check outDualShockers' review ofWattam.
7. Final Fantasy VII Remake
I don't know if I can say enough adept nearly FFVII Remake. Having played the kickoff half of the original mere months before information technology came out, I feel like I can safely say that FFVII Remake had its work cutting out for it. The original's script wasn't that good, permit alone terribly coherent. In fact, I pretty much only knew what was happening about of the time through cultural osmosis.
Not merely did FFVII Remake recontextualize and revitalize a story that I'd argue isn't terribly enjoyable compared to other JRPGs from its era, simply it somehow took a soundtrack that's revered as i of the greatest game soundtracks of best and made information technology not only better, but smarter. The themes and motifs in the music human activity as an extra layer of storytelling on top of the metanarratives and subplots, while still allowing a story that's both new and former to shine. That all cumulates in an catastrophe that's equal parts ballsy, captivating, and exciting in every way.
I finally got to feel why then many people honey this game and its characters, and even had a chance to autumn in love with it myself. Like I said; I can't limited how much pure joy I experienced while playing this game. Its characters are loveable, its earth is lively, and its gameplay and combat are exhilarating. I'thou glad that this is the first JRPG that I've ever beaten outside of Pokemon, because it merely resonated with me then much.
Check outDualShockers' review ofFinal Fantasy VII Remake.
6. Cuphead
"Cuphead is the Nighttime Souls o–"
Oh? We're not doing that anymore? Okay, fine.
Cuphead isn't just proof that no genre of game truly dies, only it's also the best example of how to balance difficulty and advantage in a game. It totally eats Mega Human being's lunch 20 years after the fact, and I'grand very okay with that. Even if information technology didn't sport some of the best art and music in contempo memory, it'd even so be 1 of my favorites, merely I'd be lying if I said the urge to hear more of its fantastic music and encounter its gorgeous art didn't propel me even farther.
I call up there's also something to be said almost games of its ilk that respect the thespian's time. Lots of harder, more than skill-based games tend to lean heavily on the thought that they're the only game worth playing and learning every frame of every enemy'due south attacks is worthwhile. To me, that only matters if the reward is counterbalanced out in a way that results in a consequent push button-and-pull between reward and punishment like it is in Cuphead.
Check outDualShockers' review ofCuphead.
5. Metroid Fusion
As a franchise, Metroid stands in rarified air. No other game is able to plant such a strong sense of place and atmosphere, especially with the technical limitations that hamper it. Outside of Super Metroid, Fusion has some of the about interesting, experimental attempts at things similar horror that aren't actually explored in games like information technology, even in the Metroid franchise.
On summit of the themes and incredibly cool cinematic experiments made in this GBA classic, Fusion's map is fantastic. Not only does it provide satisfying Metroid-fashion exploration, only it does so in ridiculously well-paced, seize with teeth-sized, and diverse sections of the abandoned space station so pads them with some fascinating world-edifice and cinematic moments.
4. Grand Theft Machine 5
In a twelvemonth where everyone strove for their own version of 'normal', games like Fauna Crossing: New Horizons became instantly successful. While I certainly enjoyed my time with it, GTAV gave me a sense of normalcy that Creature Crossing couldn't, while still nailing charm and comedy, albeit in an entirely different way.
There were moments when I was in total awe, like when the sun hit the right bespeak in the horizon equally I was driving my lavish sports car through Los Santos and "Roundabout" by Yep was merely starting to play; that simply felt cute. And and so seconds later, Trevor is berating some poor innocent soul about one of the seemingly infinite things he has to complain well-nigh.
GTAV manages to nail only about everything it sets out to do in a really impressive way; it can offering pointed satire hand-in-paw with some seriously impaired fun. Information technology'due south hands one of the best and well-nigh impressive games of the generation.
Cheque outDualShockers' review of Grand Theft Auto V.
3. Resident Evil four
In that location's a very specific era of gaming that I near entirely missed, starting from the launch of the Nintendo 64 upwards through the launch of the Wii that I know nigh nothing almost bated from Super Smash Bros. Melee. Games similar Metroid Prime andResident Evil 4 most totally eluded me until this year. Being a long-time 2nd Metroid fan, I found myself a little let down by Metroid Prime.
On the other hand, Resident Evil 4 was my first game in the franchise and it didn't disappoint. I could experience the DNA of a ton of other franchises I've played and loved from it, similar Call of Duty, The Last of Us, and Deadly Premonition. The thing that I establish the near surprising aboutRE4 was only how charming it was. I generally avert horror and survival-horror as a genre considering neither their gameplay nor characters are quite compelling enough to keep me interested.
RE4 wasn't just charming, but information technology represents a perfect balance between cheesy, action B-picture and survival-horror in both its gameplay and story that Resident Evil seemingly hasn't been able to nail since then. In fact, thanks to RE4, Resident Evil: Village is one of my most anticipated games of 2022.
2. Slay the Spire
I realize that 2022 is the year of Hades, and while I wanna give all my respect to young Zag and all his horny friends, Slay the Spire was my all-merely-constant roguelike companion in the months since I beginning booted it up in July. On the toilet, during grade, before bed, in the motorcar; whatever time I wanted to play something to only kill fourth dimension, I'd kick upward Slay the Spire, throw on a podcast, and let the time melt. It ofttimes replaced melatonin equally something to help me become to bed which, in a year that's been stressful every bit hell for a lot of reasons, has been all but necessary.
Outside of its involvement in my personal life, Slay the Spire is an incredible game in its own correct. It does what few roguelikes are able to do and balances run length, mechanics, and gameplay styles expertly in a really addictive way that respects your time.
1. Super Mario Galaxy ii
Putting Super Mario Galaxy ii at number one was the easiest choice I fabricated this year. In a yr when 3 of the greatest 3D platformers of all-fourth dimension made it to Switch in the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection, leaving the all-time game in the franchise backside, this absolute gem made me glad I decided to take my Wii U with me when I moved out of my parents' firm mid-lockdown.
I don't believe there's such a thing every bit a perfect game; no matter how close some may be, at that place'due south always something that tin can be better. That said, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is equally close equally it gets. Fifty-fifty compared to the get-go Milky way, at that place are no bad levels. When people compare Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Globe, they talk well-nigh how Earth blows SMB3 out of the h2o in so many ways. While I disagree in that context, I think that comparison is apt for the Super Mario Milky way games.
Ironically, the two even bear music and smaller gameplay-level elements from their respective games, with a lot of Super Mario World's DNA showing up in Milky way 2. Yous tin can tell this game was made with all the extra, over-the-top, underutilized ideas that were cut from the first one.
Super Mario Galaxy was my first platformer; it was my first Mario game. It should by all accounts win out due to nostalgia, especially since I forgot basically all of Mario Galaxy 2 afterward playing information technology in 2022. If y'all haven't had a take chances to play this game, you owe information technology to yourself to play it. I'd argue information technology'due south the best commemoration of the Mario franchise out there (aye including Odyssey) and the best 3D platformer of all-fourth dimension.
Check outDualShockers' review ofSuper Mario Galaxy 2.
Cheque out the residue of theDualShockers staff Height 10 lists and our official Game of the Year Awards nominees:
December 23:Lou Contaldi (Full general Manager) // Ben Bayliss (Features Editor)
December 24: Grant Huff (Senior Staff Writer) // Camilo Olmedo (Associate Staff Writer)
Dec 25: Kris Cornelisse (Staff Writer) // Ricky Frech (Reviews Editor) // Ryan Meitzler (Editor-in-Chief)
December 26: Michael Ruiz (Correspondent) // Mehrdad Khayyat (Senior Staff Writer)
December 27: Sam Woods (SEO Editor) // Peter Szpytek (Video Editor)
December 28: Scott White (Video Editor) // Justin Kucharski (Associate Staff Writer)
December 29: David Gill (Staff Writer) // Allisa James (Senior Staff Writer)
December thirty: Rachael Fiddis (News & Culture Editor) // Cameron Hawkins (Staff Writer) // Charlie Wacholz (Staff Author)
Dec 31: Otto Kratky (Executive Editor) // Mario Rivera (Video Director)
January 1: Iyane Agossah (Managing Editor) // Logan Moore (Special Guest)
January 4: Game of the Yr Awards 2022 Official Winners Revealed
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