Welcome back! 2022 is a tumultuous year in the gaming industry and virtually everywhere else. Many games were delayed from the 2022 release schedule and I’m curious if we’re going to see more changes before the end of the year. With that said, a huge number of games are supposed to come out before New Year’s Day. Can developers possibly release this many games in less than six months? I doubt it, but let’s see what happens.
Alfred Hitchcock: Vertigo I suppose anything can become a video game, including Hitchcock's movie library. This dark mystery title came out on PC last year, but it's making a console debut on September 13th, 2022. It seems like Vertigo is diverging significantly from the source material, possibly to avoid predictable outcomes. Your choices and exploration will unlock new directions for the story. I doubt this game has combat, which means it will be similar to Sherlock Holmes and other mystery adventures. If you enjoy cerebral experiences, I'm sure Vertigo will be satisfactory. Atomic Heart This post-apocalyptic FPS is going to be a day one release on Xbox Game Pass, although it doesn't have an official release date yet. It looks frantic, challenging, and tough as nails with influences from the BioShock series. I'm not sure if Atomic Heart is focusing on a robot uprising, alien invasion, or something else. The trailers definitely include machines with organic matter. I don't know what's going on, but the game looks interesting. Microsoft is still listing Atomic Heart on their 2022 calendar, so we'll see what happens. Bayonetta 3 This wild hack and slash game finally has a release date on October 28th, 2022. I've never played the Bayonetta games, but this one looks very fun with tongue and cheek humor. The protagonist is a sassy witch who kicks butt and summons demons to fight kaiju monsters. It sounds like my type of game! Bayonetta 3 is going to be a Switch exclusive. Sorry to the PlayStation and Xbox people. The Callisto Protocol We're getting a scary Christmas with The Callisto Protocol! It's a survival horror game in deep space with a strong homage to Dead Space. This release is coming out during an unusual time, specifically December 2nd, 2022. Most games drop before December, but I suppose it doesn't matter. This game looks really tense with a dark atmosphere, sparse inventory management, and terrifying monsters. You never know. It might turn out better than the remake of Dead Space. The Chant This survival horror game isn't getting a lot of attention, but I'm still curious about it. The Chant features a woman who joined a cult on a remote island and she's probably regretting it because supernatural entities are attacking them. Somehow, she gains her own powers and fights back against the monsters. The gameplay seems to be a blend of action and horror with magical combat. I don't know if this game will be good, but it's worth a shot. The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me It seems like we get a new Dark Pictures title every year. The Devil in Me focuses on a serial killer who rigged a house with elaborate death traps. I have a feeling it's going to be a blend of Saw, Hostel, Cube, and Escape Room. This horror graphic adventure is coming some time in the Fall, possibly around Halloween. Bandai Namco is joining Gamescom, which means a release date could be coming next month. Evil West I'm not completely sure how to classify this adventure game. Evil West seems to be a blend of the Wild West, narrative driven single player games, Doom, and legit horror. Most likely, environments will be linear rather than open world. Evil West is coming in a couple months on September 20th, 2022. I just hope it's not another soulsborne game. Guns exist in certain soulsborne releases, such as The Surge and Remnant: From the Ashes. I know soulsborne games are all the rage, but it’s not my type of genre. God of War: Ragnarok PlayStation fans can stop freaking out because God of War: Ragnarok is dropping on November 9th, 2022. I'm super excited for this sequel. The gameplay and animation looks incredible with a lot of detail. I'm sure it well be mechanically similar to the previous God of War game and that's fine with me. According to the developers, Ragnarok is the final chapter in the Norse saga. Where will Kratos and Atreus travel next? I don't know, but PlayStation will hang on to the God of War IP for a long time. Gotham Knights I thought Warner Bros. Interactive would delay this game, but the October 25th release date remains, so far. It’s refreshing to see something new in the Gotham universe, but the gameplay and graphics look unimpressive. However, I'll check it out anyway. Perhaps, Gotham Knights might surprise everyone. It's always nice to see an underdog exceed our expectations. I usually enjoy third person action games and Gotham Knights definitely fits the bill. Gungrave G.O.R.E. This hectic first person shooter is still coming in 2022, according to its official website. A delay won't surprise me, but the gameplay looks polished and it definitely seems like a Fall or Winter release is possible. Gungrave G.O.R.E. looks very similar to Doom, Wolfenstein, and other shooters with fast pacing. I'm sure this FPS will have a variety of zany and over the top weapons. These types of games can be hit or miss with me. For example, I love the Doom franchise, but the Wolfenstein game are way too hard for me. Let's see what happens. High on Life A lot of games are coming out in October, including this cartoonish first person shooter. High on Life is a day one release on Xbox Game Pass. It takes place in a colorful and chaotic space environment while the player controls several alien weapons. Each gun will have a different ability and purpose, giving people several options for combat. I'll give this game credit for originality. The market is oversaturated with shooters and this one might stand out pretty well. Hogwarts Legacy We're still waiting for a release date, but the official website is still claiming 2022. At the moment, I'll take their word for it. Hogwarts Legacy appears to be a massive game with exploration, dueling, potions, classes, magical creatures, and more. Honestly, I'm tired of Harry Potter and this game looks like a nice reprieve with an original story, an earlier setting, character creation, and other fascinating elements. If the release year sticks, Hogwarts Legacy is coming out during the holiday season. The Last of Us Part I Nobody asked for this remake, but we're getting it anyway. Recent marketing and gameplay footage looks more like a remaster than a true remake. However, it might be the definitive way to play The Last of Us on the PlayStation 5 with more impressive graphics, accessibility features, and controls. Unfortunately, the gameplay appears to be virtually unchanged from the original release. If you really want to experience The Last of Us again, it's coming out on September 2nd, 2022. Midnight Fight Express This isometric brawler will be a day one release on Xbox Game Pass. I'm still figuring out the general theme, story progression, and gameplay. Regardless, Midnight Fight Express looks like an exciting game with fast pacing, physics based mechanics, and maybe some light RPG elements. I'm sure this game will be short, fun, and generic. You can play Midnight Fight Express on August 23rd, 2022. PAC-MAN World Re-PAC I don't believe PAC-MAN World has a lot of demand for a remake either, although it might have a stronger justification than The Last of Us. This platformer should be whimsical, fun, short, and sweet. It might be a surprise hit, considering the original PAC-MAN World spawned two sequels. Video game mascots are making a huge comeback and it might be time for Pac-Man to enter the arena. Party Animals This cartoon brawler doesn’t have a release date, but Microsoft is claiming a 2021 launch on Xbox Game Pass. I’ll give this game credit for being considerably different than the average modern release. It’s a multiplayer game with a similar style to Gang Beasts. Who can possibly resist adorable stuffed animals beating the snot out of each other? I’m in! Pokémon Scarlet and Violet The alleged console wars between PlayStation and Xbox makes me laugh because Nintendo is usually the one who runs away with it all. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is probably the most anticipated title for many gamers this year. It’s a huge evolution for the franchise with a true open world environment and several game mechanics from Pokémon Legends: Arceus. I assume Scarlet and Violet will continue to use turn based combat, but it will probably include less repetition and more variety in the wild. This mainline entry comes out on November 18th, 2022. Slaycation Paradise At the moment, retailers are listing this isometric roguelike game for September 2nd, 2022. It shares the same release date as The Last of Us Part I, so this indie game will probably launch at a later time. This goofy and violent game looks kind of clunky, yet humorous and entertaining with zany combat and hoards of enemies. Basically, the premise includes a zany post-apocalyptic future where vacationers travel through different portals to kill aliens, zombies, robots, etc. Inevitably, you’ll die, they’ll scrape up what’s left of you, send you to the med bay, and then you can go back to blow up more enemies. I would call it a comedy version of Westworld. Somerville This post-apocalyptic indie game is another enigma. Somerville takes place during an alien invasion, but many elements are unclear, including the gameplay and a potential launch date. I just know it’s on Microsoft’s list of 2022 releases. It seems like this game will feature linear progression and stealth mechanics. One of the trailers also showed the protagonist flying in a UFO. I guess we’ll see what happens when it arrives on Xbox Game Pass. Star Trek: Resurgence If you’re a Trekkie, this graphic adventure should be your type of game. Star Trek: Resurgence is a choose your own adventure title and I’m pretty sure it won’t have combat. Truthfully, I think the industry needs more graphic adventures, but it seems like the public wants Call of Duty instead. I don’t have a huge background in Star Trek lore, although this type of game might suit my personal taste quite well. The official website is still claiming a 2022 release year, so it deserves a place on my post. That’s a crazy list! I’m sure we’ll see more delays and it might not be a bad thing. Developers need to leave some inventory for 2023. It seems like social media is labeling 2022 a bust for gaming, but I have twenty examples on this post. Are you waiting for any of these games? Leave a comment. Good luck figuring out the right games for your inventory and I’ll see you again next week!
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May 2019
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