A reader gives their own personal list of the top 10 games they’ve played this year, even when they don’t particularly like them.
Usually around this time of year it’s time for the best of lists, so I’ve mixed it up slightly by ranking all the new games I’ve played this year.
10. Stray
I almost forgot I’d played this game until I was reminded of it. It’s not bad per se, just a bit forgettable. It starts off well enough but then deviates from its original premise. I’m glad it was in PS Plus because I don’t think I’d be too pleased paying much for it.
9. Kirby And The Forgotten Land
Not a bad game by any stretch but kind of runs out of steam. Kirby transforming himself by ‘inhaling’ objects kind of reminds me of Mario throwing his cap at enemies in Odyssey. The only difference is Kirby is less inventive and by the end of the first few levels you’ve seen everything the game has to offer.
8. As Dusk Falls
Despite not being entirely sold on the art style I’ve mostly enjoyed the narrative of this game, although I am still one chapter away from the end. The plot is engaging and dialogue for the most part is decent. My only slight gripe is some of the characters are pretty hard to root for, especially in the second half of the game.
7. FIFA 23
FIFA used to be my one constant in gaming and I’d buy every instalment. This year I’ve only played the 10 hour trial via Game Pass. It’s a well-made game and from a visual point of view, in terms of graphics and presentation, it’s hard to argue against. Playing the World Cup was good fun. However, it’s not had any significant changes in years now and I’m getting a bit bored with it. I’m hoping they shake things up with the next instalment, when they lose the FIFA licence.
6. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
I played this on Switch, as I thought it was the perfect game for playing on the go or in bed. I had a lot of fun as the combat was a lot more enjoyable and complex than in previous Lego games. I only did a few of the side quests, as my interest in the game had waned somewhat by the end of the main story. If anything, I’d have liked for it to have been on the shorter side and then I might have been more inclined to do the side content. Still, the game is well worth a try if you are a fan of Star Wars or Lego.
5. Horizon Forbidden West
I never finished Zero Dawn but thought I’d give Forbidden West a try after picking it up for cheap. For some reason, compared with other Sony first person adventure games, I just can’t click with Horizon Forbidden West, especially the combat, which to be fair might also be due to my ineptitude. It probably doesn’t help that the story and characters are pretty dull.
Having said that I’d say it’s definitely a step up from the first game. It looks stunning in terms of visuals, and I feel like there’s more emphasis on exploration and the climbing compared to the first game and I especially want to get to the San Francisco area from the trailer, as that looks an interesting place to check out.
4. OlliOlli World
Having never played the first game I thought I’d take a punt on this game and was glad I did. I can’t believe I haven’t seen this game on more ‘best of 2022’ lists. It can be frustrating at times, and frankly after a while it hurts my hands to play it, but it’s still a great deal of fun. Visually, it looks really unique and it’s amazing how whilst being a skateboarding game it feels and plays unlike any other skateboarding game I’ve ever played. It’s more like a platforming game.
3. The Last of Us Part 1
If this was the first time I’d experienced this game I’d probably be putting it at top of this list (I’m still slightly annoyed at myself at buying it again, but I got carried away with the hype). If you haven’t played this game in one form or another I’d say do so. From a narrative perspective I don’t think any other game (other than Part 2) has come close to achieving what Naughty Dog has done in creating an engaging storyline with compelling characters and a level of production values that rival any Hollywood blockbuster.
Often the gameplay comes in for criticism, which I accept to a certain point. The game doesn’t do anything new or introduce new mechanics that haven’t been done before. For myself though this is slightly nit-picky. Naughty Dog might not have reinvented the wheel, but they’ve given it a level of shine and performance most other developers can only dream of.
2. God Of War Ragnarök
I haven’t finished it yet. I’m about halfway through but am really enjoying it. I don’t think it’s quite as good as the previous game. In many ways it’s possibly a bit too similar but it does tweak the gameplay slightly and does have new locations to explore. Some of the discussion around the game has been baffling. I don’t agree with the 10/10 ‘best game ever’ reviews but clearly it’s not a bad game either. My only issue with the game is I find the skill trees and UI a bit confusing. For me it’s a well-crafted game that deserves to be talked about as one of the contenders for best game of the year.
1. Elden Ring
I find this game brutally hard and at times unfair. Sometimes the game doesn’t explain things very well, I lost count of the times I had to look up what a certain weapon or item did. I also gave up playing the game after getting my ass handed to me numerous times by Maliketh, the Black Blade and will probably never finish the game.
However, despite all this I’ve never felt such as sense of accomplishment or played a game that felt so rewarding. My first successful boss fight, beating the Tree Sentinel, beating Margit and Starscourge Radhan… this game has given me so many enduring memories. The combat; music score; and the level, character and art design are all excellent. Elden Ring treads a fine line between being challenging and being frustrating but when it gets it right no other game can touch it.
By reader matc7884
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