‘Elden Ring’
Given the sheer scale of this open-world role-playing game, it’s quite possible it will feature in similar lists next year. Even after playing for dozens of hours, there are still so many discoveries to be made that for all but the most dedicated of gamers, much of “Elden Ring” will still qualify as a new game deep into 2023. The game looks beautiful, and technically it was both familiar and challenging — meaning that while the combat system was fairly easy to get to grips with, the wide range of skilled enemies and powerful bosses meant you could never relax your guard. This hugely ambitious game is now the benchmark for all future RPGs.
‘Wordle’
At the other end of the development spectrum was 2022’s most written-about game, “Wordle.” (Yes, it launched on the web in 2021, but its popularity really bloomed in December last year when developer Josh Wardle added the emoji-style display of guesses that has become ubiquitous on social networks.) Its beauty lies in its simplicity. Every day there’s a single new five-letter word that players must guess/work out within six attempts. The greatest satisfaction generally comes from getting it right second time, since the first time is pure guesswork. The mechanics of the game are so straightforward that pretty much any English-speaking person, from kids to pensioners, can pick up and play immediately. And it became a daily ritual for millions, sparking a real feeling of community around it. Wardle famously sold the game to the New York Times Company for a reported seven-figure sum.
‘Stray’
One of the many COVID-19-delayed releases of 2022, “Stray” was worth the wait. You play as a lost cat wandering through a run-down cybercity populated by droids. The main tactics, as you might expect from a cat, are stealth and mischief. While the droids aren’t too much trouble, the city is also home to more-dangerous creatures from which you must escape if you’re ever to find your kin. The way the developers managed to capture the lovable but weird feline character of the eponymous lead meant this dystopian sci-fi game was easy to get emotionally involved in.
‘God of War Ragnarok’
The Spartan god-killer Kratos and his troublesome son Atreus continued to explore the world of Norse mythology in this action-adventure, the follow up to 2018’s “God of War.” Set three years after that game, “Ragnarok” covers the titular world-ending event predicted at the end of the previous game. Fans would be familiar with the combat system, but there were some nice upgrades, including far more versatility for Kratos’ shield, and Atreus’ vastly improved magical abilities. With nine realms to discover and explore, “Ragnarok” offered great value for money, while the generally excellent voice acting and characterization made for an immersive experience.
‘Neon White’
Has there ever been a more chaotic (in a good way) game than “Neon White”? A hectic, no-time-to-think single-person shooter/platformer/puzzler/parkour speedrunner that demands 100 percent concentration but does its best to distract you with a cast of incredibly (though amusingly) annoying enemies. Demons are wreaking havoc in hell. You — an assassin named White — must wipe out as many as you can for the chance to live permanently in Heaven. But you’re also playing against other demon slayers (also annoying) chasing the same prize. Along the way you’ll pick up various cards that will grant you improved weaponry, but that you can choose to discard to gain special movement abilities that make traversing the divine environment much easier. “Neon White” will leave you breathless.
‘Norco’
Developers Geography of Robots used the skeleton of a classic point-and-click adventure game to create this beautiful and genuinely moving exploration of rural decay and of someone searching for purpose. It’s set in an ‘alternate version’ of the titular small town in Louisiana, which — in both real life and the game — is home to a huge petroleum refinery. Kay has returned to the town following the death of her mother. “Norco” has some of the best writing of any video game (of this year or any other). The elements of magical realism that drift into the downbeat narrative somehow serve to make the story even more grounded and affecting. It’s easy to get lost in its haunting atmosphere.
‘Immortality’
2022’s most original game was this full-motion video effort from director Sam Barlow. Ostensibly, players are attempting to discover what has happened to the fictional model-turned-actress Marissa Marcel. She was the star of three unreleased movies shot three decades apart, and the player must run through clips from those three films (as well as interviews, TV appearances and behind-the-scenes footage), pausing and clicking on items or people to gain further information. Piecing together the non-chronological plot is tricky enough, but it’s when you get to the story behind the story that “Immortality” becomes a game that will occupy your brain for hours, even when you’re not actually playing it.
