It’s so great to see Sony’s PS5 consoles on shelves this year as the shortage issues seem to have been solved, so there’ll be plenty more consoles in homes in 2023 ready to experience some of the great titles released in 2022.
Sony once again performed well with exclusives, but it’s the introduction of the new tiered PlayStation Plus subscription that I ended up getting a surprise benefit from. At first, I thought the Game Trial section was rubbish, but since then I’ve actually purchased two of the games from that list, so I guess it does its job.
10: Sifu
Sifu is a beat ’em up video game set in modern-day China, players control the child of a martial arts school’s sifu who seeks revenge on those responsible for their father’s death.
09: Horizon: Forbidden West
Return to the distant lands of Horizon to fight bigger and more awe-inspiring machines, and encounter astonishing new tribes as you return to the far-future, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon.
08: FIFA 23
This will be the last Fifa game that EA Sports will produce as they move away from the FIFA brand and instead create EA Sports Football next year. You generally know what you are going to get in a sports game, slightly better graphics and gameplay than last year and a few new features, like choosing an actual manager as your avatar and the Hypermotion 2 action replays. The addition of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar makes this relevant and fun to play as you try to get your country through for ultimate glory.
07: A Plague Tale Requiem
A Plague Tale: Requiem is the sequel to the award-winning adventure, A Plague Tale: Innocence. That picks up the story after Amicia and Hugo escape their devastated homeland, and travel far south, to new regions and vibrant cities. There, they attempt to start a new life and control Hugo’s curse.
06: Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
This Borderlands spin-off was one of my favourite releases this year, blending the action and humour of the Borderlands series with a Dungeons and Dragons parody. It’s been years since I’ve played D&D but the game brought memories flooding back in. The surprise voice cast includes Andy Samberg, Will Arnett, Wanda Sykes and Ashly Burch as Tiny Tina. An epic quest that I discovered through PS Plus trial and ended up buying.
05: Stray
Since it was first announced everyone was excited to play Stray from BlueTwelve Studio and published by Annapurna Interactive. The story follows a stray cat who falls into a walled city populated by robots, machines, and mutant bacteria, and sets out to return to the surface with the help of a drone companion, B-12. It’s a beautiful tale that is a little short, but I’ve found myself going back in to play on multiple occasions.
04: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
This is COD back doing what it does best, with impressive visuals and see’s the franchise return to the top of the pile after some lacklustre outings. Fight alongside iconic team Task Force 141 and dive into the multiplayer that includes the new Call of Duty Warzone 2.
03: Gran Turismo 7
I’ll admit driving games don’t generally sit so high on my lists however this game has that extra something special. Whether you’re a hardcore enthusiast or casual racer (like me) you’ll find Gran Turismo 7 outstanding. Play the GT Campaign, Arcade, and Driving School, and grab a steering wheel controller with gear stick and pedals for a great experience even though it does make full use of the Dual Sense controllers capabilities.
02: Elden Ring
This mega-hit was developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc and is a fantasy action RPG and FromSoftware’s largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril (lots of peril), be prepared to die a lot. The stunning design will leave you in awe and the gameplay mechanics are superb which is why it’s topped many lists as a Game of the Year.
01: God of War: Ragnarok
(doccydarko.com GOTY)
Probably the best all-around use of the PS5 and Dualsense control to date, this is a must-own title for the PS5 especially if you played 2018’s God of War. The story is a beautiful tale of father and son, as the threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer, Kratos and Atreus find themselves faced with a choice: between their own safety or the safety of the realms.
Some huge releases this year made it a great time to be a PlayStation gamer and 2023 looks to be even bigger with the introduction of PlayStation VR on February 22.
