The last few weeks of the year are the most exciting time for many people, for different reasons. Some love the Christmas vibes, while others are super happy about all the Black Friday sales. However, for most gamers, it’s the Game Awards and all the potential announcements that generate curiosity.

Like every year, The Game Awards 2022 will return in December and showcase some of the best games of the last twelve months. Some will win awards, while others will get praise. However, only one will receive the biggest recognition and become the Game of the Year. Sadly, it won’t be one of these games, which all missed the nomination list despite their good scores.

10 LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is Lego’s attempt at recreating the cult-classic Star Wars Skywalker Saga into one. The game came out in April 2022 and is available on platforms such as Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

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Similar to other LEGO games, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a solo/co-op experience that showcases the story of all three Skywalker trilogies. Hence, the game is divided into 9 episodes and 45 unique levels. It’s a complete package full of explorable planets, iconic locations, and cool gameplay mechanics.

9 Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon Legends Arceus

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is one of the latest action role-playing games in the long-running Pokemon series. The title came out in January 2022 and showcased iconic creatures like Rowlet, Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and more. Upon release, the game became an instant hit, with over 10 million sales and positive reviews.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus features an exceptional time-travel storyline and truly lets players feel the magnificence of the Hisui region. It offers full 3D visuals, a revamped combat system, Zelda-style exploration, the ability to ride creatures, and more.

8 Tunic

Tunic

Players saw many action-adventure games in 2022, such as Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and more. However, not many came close to the nostalgic feel and Zelda-like gameplay design of Tunic. The Finji title came out in March for PC and Xbox, and in September for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

Tunic features a classic isometric view gameplay design, where players maneuver like the good old Zelda games. But this time, they do it as a cute fox who’s exploring a world full of secrets, uncovering powers, and defeating ferocious monsters.

7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder's Revenge

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games are usually a hit or miss, as they always try to experiment with the general formula. However, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge goes back to its roots. It gives players the ultimate nostalgia trip with classic arcade-style gameplay and 16-bit visuals.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge came out in June 2022 on all major platforms, and in November on PlayStation 5. Over the months, it became one of the highest-rated action beat ‘em ups of the year that features both solo and a co-op mode.

6 Neon White

Neon White

Neon White is a fast-paced first-person shooter with puzzle design elements and anime aesthetics. The game is one of the highest-rated Annapurna Interactive titles of 2022, with other releases such as A Memoir Blue Stray, Hohokum, Hindsight, and Open Roads. The game holds a solid 90 out of 100 on Metacritic.

Neon White stands out due to its amazing art direction and speedrun-style gameplay mechanics. It features a story of a demon slayer assassin in heaven, who is parkouring around and taking down monsters in the fastest time possible.

5 NORCO

NORCO

Norco is an adventure game from a less-known developer, Geography of Robots. It’s an indie title from a Swedish video game publisher Raw Fury, known for other games such as Sable, Townscaper, Call of the Sea, and more.

Norco is a point-and-click, story-rich adventure title with elements of investigation. It’s a game set in an alternate universe, where players explore a “surreal and distorted South Louisiana” while solving the mystery of their missing brother. From visuals to the atmosphere, this game is truly one of a kind. Perhaps that’s the reason it sits at 88 on Metacritic.

4 Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the latest entry in the long-running Kirby series. The Nintendo exclusive came out in March and quickly became known as Kirby Odyssey among players who felt it shared many elements from the other iconic game, Super Mario Odyssey.

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Kirby and the Forgotten Land is mostly a single-player adventure platform game that features a fully 3D world where players can explore the mysterious world full of unique structures. Gameplay-wise, this game truly takes the concept of Kirby and its shape-shifting abilities to another level, which explains why this Switch title holds 85 on Meta.

3 Total War: WARHAMMER III

Total War WARHAMMER III

Total War: WARHAMMER 3 is the latest title in the legendary Total War franchise, which has over 19 games in total. Like many other games in the series, the newest entry is a PC exclusive and only available on Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows.

Total War: WARHAMMER 3 is a turn-based strategy game with elements of real-time tactics and large-scale battles. It’s the conclusion to the ongoing trilogy and one of the highest-rated games in the franchise, with an 86/100 Metascore.

2 Sonic Frontiers

Sonic Frontiers2

Sonic Frontiers has divided gamers into two sections. One side hates it, while the other thinks it is the best Sonic game in years. The Sega title came out in November 2022 and holds an 80/100 Metascore. The user score is even better, at 8.6/10 on Metacritic and 10/10 on Steam.

Sonic Frontiers is the true revitalized 3D implementation of the character, similar to what Nintendo did for Mario in Super Mario 64. Hence, its highly experimental, which explains the massive difference between its review scores.

1 Bayonetta 3

Bayonetta 3

Just when people began thinking that the classic hack-and-slash era was gone, PlatinumGames released Bayonetta 3. The latest entry in the popular Nintendo series came out in October and instantly became a hit among players. Score-wise, the action-adventure title became one of the best-reviewed titles of the year on the Switch.

Bayonetta 3 is an epic must-play experience on Nintendo’s console and certainly one of the last big exclusives before The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The game packs everything, from an engaging storyline to timeless combat and dozens of mind-blowing weapon designs that can make the most overpowered anime weapons look like toys.

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