Much like 2021, 2022 was a hell year, but at least we had videogames! I didn’t play that many new games this year - my most played game is Personal 5 Royal, according to Sony - but I at least played ten of them, and I can surely put them in some kind of order and decide which one was my favorite! I wish you happy holidays and that 2023 is a bit less terrible than the year we’ve just went through!
10 - Pokemon Violet
This year was good - in theory - for Pokemon. We had the interesting Legends: Arceus at the beginning of the year, and now the very neat Scarlet & Violet. It seems like for some people, this new direction - more freedom, you can see the Pokemons wander around and can just beat them up without a fight, etc. - taken by the games is lauded by some as the right direction for the franchise, and I can certainly see great things in the future. Violet is pretty cool, it would be higher on my list if I had played it more, but I didn’t take the time, so here it is!
9 - Mario + Rabbids: Sparks Of Hope
A bit in the same boat as Pokémon, I didn’t have time to fully beat Mario + Rabbids 2. Improving upon the original in many key aspects, the tactical gameplay still totally works, although I’m not a biggest fan of the additions in the exploration sections of the game and wouldn’t have minded it to be a more straightforward “go to the next battle” affair. There was also maybe a bit too much unused customization and choice for my taste, and I used the same team over and over because the game never really forced me to change things around. Still really liked it!
8 - Tactics Ogre: Reborn
Fairly low on my list, this incredibly dense remake of a PSP remake of a SNES game could’ve been a slam dunk - 2022 was a good year for strategy titles - but for me it felt unfair, frustrating and too random for a tactics game. The confusing story didn’t grab me, and very few characters did as well, but the game thankfully managed to “click” after I had exploited an infinite money exploit and bought enough of the best healing items to last us forever. It is a game we are still going to spend countless hours on trying to fully complete, because there is a lot to do, and it stays challenging all the way through, but I wish it had been tweaked a little more to be on the modern side.
7 - Stray
Stray was a fun exploration platformer adventure game where you control a cat in a strange futuristic city with impressive environments and some dangerous hazards. It wasn’t the longest experience of 2022, nor was it the more mechanically complex, but exploring that world through the eyes of a cat was certainly remarkable and we’ll remember it for a good while. I’m glad the game didn’t overstay its welcome as well.
6 - Soul Hackers 2
Probably not the best Shin Megami Tensei spinoff of all time, I had a blast with Soul Hackers 2. What the game lacked in the dungeon department - where a massive bland maze with no discerning characteristics was the main side dungeon you were expected to spend a lot of time exploring - it made up with characters, battle mechanics, music and overall good vibes. Maybe the demon fusion system could’ve been tweaked, maybe they could’ve voiced more dialogues, but that would’ve all been icing on top of a pretty delicious demonic cake.
5 - Live-A-Live
I had slightly played the original SNES Live-A-Live infinite years ago, and this remake completely caught me off-guard. Giving the player multiple JRPG stories with sometimes varying playstyles culminating in an ultimate chapter where everything somehow comes together, this is one great game. Of course, Edo Japan is a nightmare without (and even with) a guide, and some of the mechanics can feel dated, but Megalomania is one of the best battle themes of the year, and this game overall is one of the best as well.
4 - Triangle Strategy
Another strategy game we have completely finished, exploring every nook and cranny on that timeline to wring all the strategy juice out. Triangle Strategy does a few more things - in my opinion - better than Tactics Ogre on the story and character side of the equation, and the more modern gameplay certainly was more palatable to me. It was really fun to play and figuring out everything about the world and the characters was compelling to move forward.
3 - Fire Emblem: Three Hopes
Fire Emblem Three Houses was one of my favorite games the year it came out and when they announced a Warriors version, I really was overjoyed. Three Hopes does a cool thing where it’s a slightly different story featuring the same cast of characters, the gameplay is spot-on and while it is not a perfect game I had a blast going through absolutely all of it. Spending more time with the Three Houses characters is always a good time and the new protagonist was pretty good too!
2 - Xenoblade Chronicles 3
This is another game we’ve dumped infinite hours into. Xenoblade 3 is such a big surprise for me, a game with a party of six interesting characters, a massive world filled to the brim with quests and stories, decent writing and a compelling plot, a ton of mechanics layered on top of each other. I’m really glad I’ve stuck with this one - I had previously dropped off 1, 2 and X - but 3 is really amazing. It’s a technical marvel as well, running on the switch as it is!
1 - Kirby and The Forgotten Land
Kirby and The Forgotten Land is just a perfect game. It’s cute, it’s fun, there is a ton to do and you’re always having a good time. The move to 3D absolutely works and I have nothing bad to say against it. I did everything there was to do in Kirby and I had a great time the whole way through. Big smile on my face. Thanks Kirby!