Year in Review: GamesIndustry.biz's Top Games of 2022

As 2022 draws to a close, the GamesIndustry.biz editorial team took a moment to share their personal favorite games from the past year. The selection criteria were simple: the games didn't have to be released in 2022, but rather ones that resonated with our team members for various reasons. We've compiled a roundup of our Games of the Year pieces, which are now live on the site. Looking ahead to the new year, we're excited to see what's in store. Notably, Vampire Survivors made a strong impression on both Marie Dealessandri and Brendan Sinclair, earning it a spot on our list twice. Marie stumbled upon the game by chance and was drawn in by its unique blend of simple combat, addictive replayability, and complex progression systems, all at an unbeatable price point of £2. In contrast to more intricate games like Sam Barlow's Immortality, Vampire Survivors offered a refreshing simplicity that brought her joy. Marie's full write-up can be found here. Brendan discovered Vampire Survivors later, playing the mobile version earlier this month, and was reminded of the thrill he experienced playing Geometry Wars on the Xbox 360. However, he noted that Vampire Survivors offers a rogue-lite experience that changes over time, with random power-ups and the ability to unlock new characters, weapons, and levels. Brendan is still exploring the game's depths and is excited to discover more. His full write-up is available here. James Batchelor delved into various Spider-Man media this year, culminating in Insomniac's 2020 follow-up to Marvel's Spider-Man. He found that Miles Morales built upon the foundation laid by the 2018 masterpiece, with distinct differences in combat and abilities. The game's plot also felt more personal, taking place in Miles' Harlem home, which gave it a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man feel. James concluded that Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales not only lived up to the original but surpassed it in many ways, and he can see himself replaying the adventure multiple times. His full game of the year write-up is available here. Danielle Partis spent an impressive 600 hours playing Bungie's live service FPS in 2022 and crowned it her game of the year. She jumped back into the game ahead of The Witch Queen campaign DLC and found that the new content would have made all the difference in her decision to continue playing. The introduction of fresh story-driven missions, repeatable short quests, and secrets to uncover kept her engaged. Danielle also appreciated the time she spent playing with her partner, who helped demystify the game's complex lore and content. She concluded that Destiny 2 is her game of the year because it extended beyond her PC and into other aspects of her life, offering a captivating sci-fi universe that's unfortunately gated for newcomers. Her full write-up is available here. Jeffrey Rousseau fell in love with ValiDate: Struggling Singles in your Area, a visual novel that explores the dating lives of a vibrant cast. The game revolves around the theme of honesty, encouraging players to make thoughtful choices rather than opting for the most impressive or showy option. Jeffrey praised the game's diverse cast and its unapologetic exploration of queerness and self-discovery. He concluded that ValiDate is his game of the year because it's a genuine and unwatered-down representation of people of color navigating their lives, which can be messy and complicated. His full write-up is available here.