12 video games we can’t wait to get our hands on in 2022

The amount of video games that will be released in 2022 has us concerned for the integrity of our consoles and PCs. With many games delayed throughout 2021, that means 2022 is that much fuller with potential releases.

And it’s not a bad problem to have. Video games have come to our aid since March 2020 and offer us plenty of sustained entertainment.

Here are the twelve games we can’t wait to get our hands on in 2022, in order of their presumed/expected release dates.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human

It’s the hotly anticipated sequel to 2015’s Dying Light and the perfect zombie action RPG to add to your list. Yes, it’s an open world, and yes, you’ll be killing plenty of hoards of zombies, but from what we’ve seen so far, the sequel looks like it’s going to be more story-focused and character-driven than its predecessor.

You play as Aiden, an outsider exploring a city where humanity is beginning to thrive again while you search for your sister. It seems like you’ll be navigating the different factions that are growing in this European city and trying to figure out who you can trust and who’s on your side. It’ll be interesting to see how society rebuilds itself amidst a zombie apocalypse and just how much of an effect you’ll have in the game.

Dying Light 2 is set to release on February 4.

Sifu

In Sifu, you play as a young kung-fu student who is on a lifelong quest to hunt down the five assassins who brutally murdered your family. It looks like a fun third-person action/adventure game. But what has us truly intrigued is the combat.

Because every time you die, you resurrect in the same spot but older. This means you’re more powerful because you’re wiser, but you have less health because you’re older. You can also unlock and upgrade abilities, but you lose them upon dying unless you permanently upgrade them. It sounds like a kung-fu version of Deathloop, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This one at least doesn’t look like it will hold your hand as closely as Deathloop.

Sifu is set to release on February 8.

Horizon Forbidden West

We’ve been dying for the sequel since we finished playing Horizon Zero Dawn back in 2017, and not just because we love all things, Ashly Burch.

This sequel takes us away from the setting of the original game into this world’s versions of California, Nevada, and Utah. The different biomes look breathtaking and gorgeous, showcasing the powerful graphics and the variation in weather and landscapes and seeing how the enemies differ in each location. Especially when we get to go underwater.

Speaking of, the enemies look intense in this game. The combat was smooth in the first game, but this looks even more fluid. We want to see what new weapons will make it into our arsenal, too.

Horizon Forbidden West releases on February 18.

Elden Ring

I’m pretty sure my husband would leave me in a heartbeat if he could get his hands on an early copy of Elden Ring. This game is bringing the Soulsborne genre to the open world, and it’s FromSoftware spearheading it, so you know they know what they’re doing. It’s also a fun bonus that the world was created by Hidetaka Miyazaki (creator of Dark Souls) and George R.R. Martin.

It looks gorgeous (that’s a running theme on this list) and looks like it even has a bit of a Breath of the Wild influence on its gameplay and world. Combining that in a Soulsborne game has everyone salivating to play this game. And that story trailer reveal at The Game Awards has us even more impatient for its release.

Elden Ring releases on February 25.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Is this Ashly Burch’s year? Between Horizon Forbidden West and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, the voice actress has certainly been busy.

And it feels like it’s been such a long time since we’ve played any sort of Borderlands-like game, even with the third game releasing in 2019. This is an action RPG and first-person shooter that lets you create your character out of six different classes. What’s different in this game is that you’re able to mix up what skills are assigned to your character, so you can take a lot more creative liberties.

It looks insane, and the voice cast makes it on our must-play list (alongside Burch is Will Arnett, Andy Samberg, and Wanda Sykes).

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is slated to release on March 25.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

We’re always excited for a 3D platformer; having it be Kirby makes it even more special and it’s Kirby’s first true 3D game.

That being said, there’s still not much known about this next installment. It looks like you play in an abandoned world (dare I say… a Forgotten Land?). You’ll collect coins, solve puzzles, and use Kirby’s multitude of powers to take on adorable enemies. It looks like a standard cute platformer in solid Nintendo fashion with a hint of Super Mario Odyssey to it.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is set to release sometime in spring 2022.

Stray

When this game was revealed back before the PlayStation 5’s release, everyone just marveled at the cat wearing a backpack.

Since that teaser trailer, we’ve gotten a gameplay walkthrough trailer as well, giving us a small peek at what this game entails. This is a third-person cat adventure where you are dropped into a mysterious cyberpunk city, injured and lost, and forced to survive. What exactly does “third-person cat adventure” mean for a game? Seems like a mix of stealth, adventure, and puzzle all from the vantage point of a cat.

It’s a very creative idea and looks adorable and most of all fun.

Stray is scheduled to release sometime in early 2022.

Forspoken

Forspoken got the above gameplay trailer at The Game Awards and release date. Even though we still don’t know much about the game’s content, we can’t wait to get our hands on the latest from Square Enix.

You play Frey Holland, who is transported from NYC to the mystery world of Athia where some sort of conflict is apparent. One side doesn’t trust you and the other side doesn’t trust you. You’ll have to use your magic powers and your sentient bracelet to find your way through this world and back home. Square Enix has said this is a narrative-driven adventure and the gameplay will focus more on travel speed and fluidity. It’s certainly piqued our interest.

Forspoken releases on May 24.

Starfield

It’s been described as Skyrim in space, and with how many times Skyrim has been released and re-released, it’ll be nice to have something new.

This is the first new universe for a Bethesda game in 25 years, so fans are excited to get their hands on it. There’s already lore built for the Colony War that takes place three hundred years in the future and 50 light-years away. Starfield starts 20 years after the events of the Colony War in a time of uneasy peace. And it seems like you’ll be crafting your character and exploring space, either in first- or third-person.

This is a console exclusive for Xbox and PC and is set to release on November 11.

Gotham Knights

When you start your trailer with the announcement of Bruce Wayne’s death, you’ve piqued our interest.

Gotham Knights is an action RPG in an open-world Gotham City where you play as one of his four protégés (Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, or Red Hood) as they try to continue Batman’s legacy of protecting Gotham. You can play this game solo or you also have the option of a two-player co-op mode.

Not much has been said since the trailer was released a year ago, aside from it being delayed until 2022, and we’re hoping to get a new look soon!

This is expected to release sometime in 2022.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Any game where you get to play as the villains is a must in our book. And this one looks quirky as heck, with a James Gunn-esque feel to the visuals and the banter, and the combat looks a little like Borderlands. The Game Awards in December gave us a look at the gameplay and it has us even more excited.

The game itself has Amanda Waller creating the Suicide Squad we all know and love for a covert mission in Metropolis. Brainiac has invaded Earth and started brainwashing people, including Superman, Flash, and Green Lantern. It’s up to our anti-heroes to kill the Justice League and save the world!

We still don’t have an official release date for this, but we’re hopeful it’s sometime in 2022.

God of War: Ragnarok

Listen. We’re under no illusions that God of War: Ragnarok will release this year. We even had it on our list last year of games we wanted to play in 2021. But everything still says 2022, so we’re including it.

Because we cannot wait to see where the adventure with Kratos and Atreus takes us. Thor looks to be involved, and how will Atreus deal with the reveal of his true identity at the end of the last game? And how many people are still after Kratos’s head? It’s going to be one heck of an adventure, that’s for sure.

God of War: Ragnarok still doesn’t have an official release date, but we’re hoping for 2022.

What games are you looking forward to playing in 2022 that we didn’t cover? Let us know in the comments!