Connect with gaming and metaverse leaders online at GamesBeat Summit: Into the Metaverse 3 this February 1-2. Register here<\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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I played a lot of great games in 2022, which is something I can say about a lot of years. But looking at my top 10, I\u2019m struck by the variety. And I mean that in terms of game size, scope, platforms and genre.<\/p>\n
It was definitely a good year. I hope you enjoy going through my picks for the best games of 2022. Have a happy New Year, everyone!<\/p>\n
Perhaps a bit long and bloated, but the new God of War is still as impressive a triple-A game as you can find. Most importantly, the combat feels great. I love how much you can customize toward specific builds by equipping different armor for Kratos. Personally, I had fun with a playstyle that focused on dealing extra damage to poisoned enemies.<\/p>\n
Ragnar\u00f6k also works hard to deliver a conclusion that will satisfy fans. I mean, I use the word \u201cconclusion\u201d knowing this won\u2019t be the last God of War ever. But if it was, I\u2019d be OK with that. Ragnar\u00f6k makes for a satisfying end for God of War\u2019s current arc.<\/p>\n
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9. Xenoblade Chronicles 3<\/h2>\n
You\u2019ll always look dramatic if you stand in an open field with your back to the camera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
I\u2019ve been pretty hard on the Xenoblade Chronicles series for its excessive melodrama and, um, questionable character designs. That\u2019s why the third game\u2019s more mature story and cast surprised me. It\u2019s also an example of a big, open world game looking pretty good on Switch. See, Pok\u00e9mon? It can be done!<\/p>\n
The story delivers some big emotional moments, even if it does reach its climax a bit early. But even for a long, 80 hour JRPG, I had a worthwhile time with Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Oh, and it\u2019s music is hauntingly beautiful.<\/p>\n
8. Marvel Snap<\/h2>\n
$\"The$
I\u2019m addicted to snapping.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
I was a big Hearthstone player, but finally felt burnt out on the digital card game after several years. I\u2019m glad Marvel Snap has given me something new in the genre to enjoy. I love its fast-paced matches. The snap mechanic helps you minimize the sting of a bad loss \u2026 or capitalize on a likely victory.<\/p>\n
Also, while I almost never play games on my phone, Marvel Snap has become a big part of my nighttime ritual. Knocking out my daily missions in bed has become my favorite way to end the day.<\/p>\n
7. Pentiment<\/h2>\n
$\"Pentiment's$
Pentiment leaves a big impression.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Slightly more than visual novel but not as game-y as a pure murder mystery experience like Ace Attorney, Pentiment offers something unique. It\u2019s like an interactive, historical slice-of-life with a heaping helping of political, religious and societal intrigue.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a well-written story that isn\u2019t afraid to take its time. This pacing helps you develop emotional bonds with its cast of peasants and monks. Pentiment is a game that\u2019s hard to stop thinking about long after you beat it.<\/p>\n
6. Powerslave: Exhumed<\/h2>\n
Powerslave: Exhumed is a the proto Metroid Prime you need play.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
I\u2019ve been on a big retro shooter kick the last couple of years, and I haven\u2019t enjoyed any of them as much as Powerslave: Exhumed. This is a remaster of an FPS that came out for the Sega Saturn and original PlayStation. Because of this, you experience an earlier take on ideas that Metroid Prime would later perfect. You shoot monsters, yes, but you also need to explore a find upgrades and new abilities to help you reach new areas.<\/p>\n
The Egyptian setting mixed with Quake-esque graphics offer an aesthetic that just rules. It\u2019s retro, but Powerslave was ahead of its time. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so easy to enjoy today, and this fantastic remaster makes that easy to do on modern platforms.<\/p>\n
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder\u2019s Revenge<\/h2>\n
$\"Teenage$
April O\u2019Neil and some other people.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Oh, hey, I\u2019ve also been on a big beat-\u2019em-up kick. Recent games like Streets of Rage 4 and River City Girls have given the genre something of a revival, and Shredder\u2019s Revenge picks up from that momentum.<\/p>\n
It pays homage to those classic TMNT brawlers from the 8-bit and 16-bit days, but Shredder\u2019s Revenge also offers deeper combat and a larger, more developed cast of characters. I mean, just getting to play as April O\u2019Neil immediately makes it a standout for me.<\/p>\n
4. Live A Live<\/h2>\n
Live A Live.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
We had a lot of good RPGs release this year, but Live A Live is the best. A remake of an SNES game that we never got in the U.S., Live A Live has you playing through different chapters set in different points of history. Imperial China, the American Old West and even an Aliens<\/em>-inspired distant future are just some of the games varied settings. <\/p>\n
Each features a fun, grid-based combat system, but with their own unique twists. One scenario is a boss rush that has you picking opponents via a Street Fighter II-style character select screen. Another features barely any combat at all, instead playing more like a visual novel. And then it all comes together in an epic, satisfying conclusion.<\/p>\n
3. Kirby and the Forgotten Land<\/h2>\n
$\"Kirby$
He\u2019s perfect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
I\u2019ve wanted a Kirby 3D platformer since the Nintendo 64 days. After Kirby Star Allies disappointed me so badly on Switch, I wanted one more than ever. Kirby and the Forgotten Land was worth the long wait. It\u2019s an adorable and clever experience that does an incredible job of translating the series\u2019 mechanics into the 3D realm.<\/p>\n
And while, like most Kirby titles, it starts off pretty easy, you can find a fun challenge if you explore the post-game content. It also offers a two-player co-op mode and a banging soundtrack. I\u2019ve been a Kirby fan most of life, and this is easily one of the best entries in the franchise that I\u2019ve ever played.<\/p>\n
2. Neon White<\/h2>\n
$\"Neon$
I couldn\u2019t rest until I mastered Neon White.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
I really got into Neon White. Its level leaderboards gave me a reason to keep playing, which I wanted to do anyways since this movement-based FPS is so much fun. First, I was just trying to beat my friends\u2019 times. Then, I kept going until I got into in the overall top 100 leaderboard. If that sounds like an obnoxious brag, well too bad.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not sure if I can think of many games that are this much fun to just move around in. Even if the story is a bit overbearing, I was happy to overlook that flaw. After all the hours that I poured into Neon White, I\u2019m still getting that itch to return.<\/p>\n
1. Elden Ring<\/h2>\n
$\"Elden$
Mess me up, daddy dragon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Yup, Elden Ring is my No. 1 pick. I was not a huge Soulsbourne guy. I never played more than a couple of hours of any of the Dark Souls games. I beat Bloodbourne and thought that it was pretty good but didn\u2019t fall in love like so many others.<\/p>\n
Somehow, taking that formula and putting it into an open-world makes it all work for me. I love that no matter where I go, I\u2019m going to find something interesting. It was also a blast playing Elden Ring at the same time as, well, seemingly everyone on the planet. Whether comparing builds or helping friends take on bosses, Elden Ring\u2019s social aspect is a huge part of what made it so engaging and unforgettable.<\/p>\n
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\n Mike Minotti<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Connect with gaming and metaverse leaders online at GamesBeat Summit: Into the Metaverse 3 this February 1-2. Register here. I played a lot of great games in 2022, which is something I can say about a lot of years. But looking at my top 10, I\u2019m struck by the variety. And I mean that in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":592877,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27887,1226,46],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-592876","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gamesbeat","8":"category-managing","9":"category-technology"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/592876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=592876"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/592876\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/592877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=592876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=592876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=592876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

Event<\/h3>\n\nGamesBeat Summit: Into the Metaverse 3<\/p>\nJoin the GamesBeat community<\/span> online, February 1-2, to examine the findings and emerging trends within the metaverse.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n