Game Informer's Top Scoring Reviews Of 2022
It’s no secret that 2022 is off to a raucous start with multiple game of the year contenders hitting within the first couple of months of the year. Even with highly-rated hits like Elden Ring, Dying Light 2, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and Horizon Forbidden West building the foundation of exceptional games of the year, there’s a lot still yet to release. This list will be your guide to every gaming experience Game Informer considers a must-play in 2022, encompassing the best games you can play on platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC, among others.
Below you'll find a list of the top-scoring games of 2021, beginning with the top scorer and going down. Any game that scores between a 10 and an 8.5 makes the cut. Each entry also features a small blurb and a link to the full review. We'll update the list with eligible titles as the year progresses, so be sure to bookmark this page if you ever need recommendations on what to play next. Have fun!
Elden Ring
From Software's dark fantasy action RPG offers up an incredible, unforgettable adventure. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Tunic
Tunic is a wonderous adventure replete with mystery, discovery, and heart. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
March 16, 2022 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC), September 27, 2022 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch)
Vampire Survivors
Every part of Vampire Survivors is built to make it impossible to resist that next run. Read review
Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android
Release Date:
October 20, 2022 (PC), November 10, 2022 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One), December 8, 2022 (iOS, Android)
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
Techland has crafted a monster of a sequel that is bigger and better in almost every way. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
February 4, 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), TBA (Switch)
God of War Ragnarök
Ragnarök may lack the unique impact of the prior game, but everything that worked so well the first time comes forward, along with a story that earns the proper definition of the term epic. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Release Date:
Neon White
Neon White isn't just one of the best games of the year, it also speaks to a highly specific audience many just don't anymore. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC
Release Date:
June 16, 2022 (Switch, PC), December 13, 2022 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4)
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
Gearbox's latest looter shooter is the studio's best effort yet. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
Endwalker caps off a story over a decade in the making in spectacular fashion and cements it as one of the series' best entries. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac
Release Date:
Horizon Forbidden West
Zero Dawn was a great proof of concept, but Forbidden West shows Guerrilla Games still has plenty of thought-provoking and compelling places to take Aloy’s adventures. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Release Date:
Norco
Norco feels like a precious relic from the Golden Age of point-and-click adventures, propped up by some of the best surrealist storytelling in recent memory. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
March 24, 2022 (PC), November 17, 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration
With Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, Digital Eclipse has set a new bar for future historical compilations in video games. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
Citizen Sleeper
A refreshing take on the cyberpunk genre, both in narrative and gameplay. Read review
Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Release Date:
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
Bungie has crafted an excellent expansion, but it is squarely targeted at its most fervent players. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC
Release Date:
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Kirby's first 3D adventure is stellar, using a variety of abilities, locations, rewards, and new gimmicks to keep things fresh and exciting throughout. Read review
Platforms:
Switch
Release Date:
Live A Live
Square Enix's long-lost 1994 Super Famicom RPG is reborn in a glorious way. Read review
Platforms:
Switch
Release Date:
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Sparks of Hope's more dynamic combat and emphasis on flexibility places it well above its predecessor. Read review
Platforms:
Switch
Release Date:
Metal: Hellsinger
Metal: Hellsinger near perfectly combines fast-paced shooting with precise rhythm gameplay that left us ready for what's next with this series. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
September 15, 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), December 8, 2022 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 is an action-packed and enjoyable progression of the beloved hero-shooter franchise, but one that feels less revolutionary and more iterative than expected. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
Return to Monkey Island
Return to Monkey Island feels like a homecoming, of returning to those sepia-toned days where I first relived the exciting adventures of the intrepid Guybrush Threepwood in The Secret of Monkey Island many years ago. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Release Date:
September 17, 2022 (Switch, PC), November 8, 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)
Rogue Legacy 2
Rogue Legacy 2 expands almost every aspect of the original, offering a bigger, and better rogue-lite experience. Read review
Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
April 28, 2022 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC), November 9, 2022 (Switch)
As Dusk Falls
Interior/Night's debut interactive drama doesn't rely on fantasy or familiar characters to hook you. Great characters and an intriguing story are more than enough all on their own. Read review
Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
Ms. Chalice brings her A-game in an entertaining and challenging send-off for Cuphead and Mugman. Read review
Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7 serves as a showcase for Polyphony Digital's love of automobile and racing culture, and delivers one of the best racing experiences on the market today. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, PlayStation 4
Release Date:
March 4, 2022 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4), February 22, 2023 (PlayStation VR2)
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus charts an exciting new direction for the series, while still maintaining many of the core tenets that made Game Freak's franchise so beloved in the first place. Read review
Platforms:
Switch
Release Date:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
Shredder's Revenge is a raucously fun throwback that recaptures the glory days of TMNT brawlers. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
June 16, 2022 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC), November 15, 2022 (PlayStation 5)
Diablo Immortal
Diablo Immortal is a great translation of the Diablo formula for mobile devices, but certain monetization decisions sully an otherwise excellent experience. Read review
Platforms:
PC, iOS, Android
Release Date:
June 2, 2022 (iOS, Android), TBA (PC)
Loot River
Its roguelike structure can be taxing, but Loot River is a hard-to-put-down loop of puzzle-solving traversal and intense combat. Read review
Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Firaxis embraces bombastic action and superpowers while leveraging its years of strategic expertise in this deep and lengthy strategy/RPG. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
December 2, 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), TBA (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch)
Mini Motorways
Mini Motorways is a fun fusion of the city-building simulation and puzzle genres. Read review
Platforms:
Switch, PC, Mac, iOS
Release Date:
September 19, 2019 (iOS), July 20, 2021 (PC, Mac), May 11, 2022 (Switch)
MLB The Show 22
Sony's yearly baseball game continues to perform well on the field and finds new ways to deliver excitement within the single-player and online spaces. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch
Release Date:
Need For Speed Unbound
Need for Speed Unbound strikes the right balance of style and substance to deliver the franchise's best game in years. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
Pentiment
Pentiment is a wonderfully unique storytelling experience overflowing with respect for the historical era it strives to recreate. Read review
Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Recipe For Disaster
Recipe for Disaster shows that it's not easy to manage a restaurant, but it can be extremely satisfying. Read review
Platforms:
PC
Release Date:
Rollerdrome
Roll7's skating shooter delivers a thrilling experience that's all about comboing kills. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date:
Saints Row
Saints Row is a joyous return to form that delivers plenty of humor and some rough edges. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Sonic Origins
Sonic Origins sets out to deliver the best way to play these four beloved titles, and for the most part, it accomplishes that mission. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
Splatoon 3
Splatoon 3 improves upon the first two titles in nearly every way, delivering the series' best game to date. Read review
Platforms:
Switch
Release Date:
Temtem
Temtem may look like a copycat on its surface, but its deviations from the Pokémon formula pay off considerably. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Release Date:
The Quarry
Supermassive Games finds its horror stride again and delivers a gripping experience with choices galore. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Tinykin
Don't let this charming Pikmin-like platformer sneak under your radar. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
Two Point Campus
Two Point Campus is a deeply-engaging management sim that doesn’t force you to punch down, and it’s more enjoyable for it. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong
Player choice is propped up in fun and challenging ways within conversations and crime scene investigations. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
Weird West
This action RPG subverts expectations, twisting well-trodden cowboy tropes into dark fantasy vignettes brought to life by sandbox simulations. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Young Souls
Young Souls may not shatter the mold for beat 'em ups, but its well-designed combat and impressive presentation make it a stand-out. Read review
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC
Release Date:
August 17, 2021 (Stadia), March 10, 2022 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
For more of our top reviews from recent years, head to the links below.
