[VIDEO] The most anticipated video games of 2022 by the JVFR editorial staff

2022 is a year full of video game promise. After a 2021 financial year that was shy to say the least - not to say disappointing - punctuated by numerous postponements, many players are waiting for this new year at the turn. We are obviously counting on the neo-apostles of the NFT/blockchain duo to put on a show and animate the market(s), but a certain number of more “traditional” projects should obviously brighten up the next twelve months.

Last year's dropouts

As always - and even a little more because of the COVID pandemic - quite a few titles have been pushed back to 2022. A good flanking of games - still undated - appeared in our article from last year, first and foremost the promising Hogwarts Legacy and GhostWire: Tokyo. Big question mark around Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2, which we hope will soon have some reassuring news, just like the ambitious MMO Crimson Desert and Atomic Heart, the intriguing FPS from the east. While the specter of Hollow Knight: Silksong still looms over metroidvania enthusiasts' calendars, the upcoming Batman (but Batman-less) Gotham Knights is also looking for a place in the sun in 2022, much like Stray's feline. On the certainty side, Windjammers 2 will send frisbee from January 20 while Weird West will expose its rather dark vision of the great American West from March 31.

The most anticipated cross-platform games of 2022

Elden Ring (25 février 2022 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5)

Last November's preview only accentuated the feverish expectation that animates dark fantasy enthusiasts and other masochists of all persuasions. If we are no longer so fooled by the real interest of George RR Martin's collaboration in the From Software project, the prospect of roaming in an open world populated by gigantic creatures or getting lost in the meanders of dungeons filled with recesses tricky is quite enticing. Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Hidetaka Miyazaki's studio could offer a new masterpiece to its already well-stocked list.

• Best-case scenario: the new generation has its first major cross-media masterpiece (sorry Cyberpunk 2077)

  
  
  

• Worst-case scenario: shortage of components prevents the majority of players from enjoying it in the best conditions

• Hasty conclusion: a big 9/10 to start the year off right

Callisto Protocol (2022 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5)

When the creator of Dead Space recovers the PUBG license, he imagines… a horror game in space only solo! We are not far from the connected battle royale, but it does not matter: the guy and his new studio have everything it takes to give us our annual dose of thrills, even if for the moment a simple teaser has been published to sharpen our appetite. See you later in the year to find out more!

• In the best case: we store it next to Silent Hill 2, RE: Rebirth and Forbidden Siren

• In the worst case: we store it next to Slender, Agony and Hard Edge

• Conclusion hâtive : you’re so fucked/10

Marvel's Midnight Suns (2022 - PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Switch)

It's been Marvel's overdose for over a decade, but that doesn't stop some content from sticking out. Disney has called on Firaxis (XCOM, Civilization) for a turn-based tactical game that looks more nervous than average. It's a real pleasure to find Blade and his friends - Wolverine, Ghost Rider, Captain Marvel... - in an enjoyable and demanding game: we sincerely hope that the American studio will be able to balance its formula so that the challenge and the variety are there. -you.

• In the best case scenario: challenge and panache to spare!

  
  

• Worst-case scenario: no permadeath at Disney, so no (good) frustration

• Hasty conclusion: between 6 and 8/10 (we like to take risks)

Games already dated: 

• Rainbow Six Extraction (January 20, 2022): we weren't expecting it last year…

• Dying Light 2: Stay Human (February 4, 2022): no one knows what to think of this dented project, but the wait is not very long. 

• King Of Fighters XV (February 17, 2022) : BIM PAM KABOUM :flammes:

• Saints Row (August 23, 2022): Am I the only person on this planet who thinks this Volition reboot looks cool? 

We keep an eye on :

• Steelrising: the atmosphere of the next Spiders promises to be exceptional!

• Des RPG : Dragon Age 4, Star Ocean Divine Force, Stranger of Paradise : Final Fantasy Origin

• Des remakes : Dead Space, System Shock

• Des suites : ARK II, A Plague Tale : Requiem, Sonic Frontiers

• Big licenses: Suicide Squads, Avatar, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters, LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga

The most anticipated Microsoft (PC, Xbox) exclusives of 2022

Starfield (11 novembre 2022 - PC, Xbox Series S|X)

Difficult to expect anything from a game of which we have seen three pieces of artwork and some 3D models, and even more complicated to imagine it coming out in the fall. Despite everything, Bethesda relies on its reputation to arouse the curiosity of Elder Scrolls fans, trying to make people forget that we owe them the Fallout 76 disaster: whether it is postponed or not, we will respond all the more at the call of Starfield that it will be available on the Game Pass as soon as it is released. Unstoppable. 

• Best Case: Skyrim in Space

• Worst Case: Star Citizen 2

• Hasty conclusion: postponed/10

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 (28 avril 2022 - PC, Xbox Series S|X)

Almost fifteen years after the first episode, GSC Game World returns to its Ukrainian lands with a sequel that promises to be artistically delicious. Stripped of its vital forces after its closure, in favor of 4A Games (the Metro) and Vostok Games (Survarium), we know very little about the team in place, and its ability to deliver a multiplatform title that holds the road technically. Answer in the spring.

• Dans le meilleur des cas: you are the best friend!

• Worst case: inconsistent 30 fps, bugs everywhere, crashes galore

• Hasty conclusion: Tarkovsky/10

redfall (Summer 2022 - PC, Xbox Series S|X)

A cooperative action game with monsters, coming out during the summer on Microsoft's Game Pass: forget Back 4 Blood, here's Redfall by Arkane (Austin)! The game would look more towards Borderlands than Left 4 Dead, but we will wait for the official communication from Bethesda / Microsoft to place our waiting cursor on the “turbo hot” box (for the moment it is just on “curious hot ").

• Best-case scenario: simply co-op game of the year

• Worst case: been there, done that

• Hasty Conclusion: Game Pass/10

We keep an eye on :

• Perfect Dark: we have absolutely nothing to say about the return of this nice license without being unforgettable

• Forza Motorsport 8 : VROOOOOOOOM !

• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide: "Fans Will Appreciate"

• Senua's Saga : Hellblade II : ça a l'air fou

The most anticipated PlayStation exclusives of 2022

Horizon Zero Dawn : Forbidden West (February 18, 2022 - PS5, PS4)

The videos are terribly envious. The jaw dropping technique, the chiadé universe, the gameplay which seems more nervous and airy, the mind-blowing mechanical creatures: the Dutch at Guerrilla Games know what they are doing, and Sony is holding its heavyweight exclusivity from this start of the year. Here is (finally) a real reason to watch the few drops of consoles between now and mid-February!

• Best case scenario: 40 hours of hair-raising droid hunting! 

• In the worst case: another sequel that does too much

• Hasty Conclusion: Jurassic Park/10

God of War : Ragnarok (2022 - PS5, PS4)

After cleaning up Norse mythology a bit in 2018's masterpiece, Kratos returns to finish the job. The divine bald should show his legendary subtlety to finish the job undertaken on PS4, in the company of his fragile offspring. As far as we are concerned, they could even rust Izanagi, smoke Ra and gut Quetzalcoatl if they want, provided that the mastery of Santa Monica Studio remains intact. End of 2022, beginning of 2023, in the Greek (or Nordic) calendars: we will be there no matter what.

• Best Case: Kratos is Family Magazine's Father of the Year

• In the worst case: see you in 2023

• Hasty conclusion: boy/10

Gran Turismo 7 (March 4, 2022 - PS5, PS4)

After GT Sports, which allowed it to better understand and master the multiplayer challenges of a modern cash game, Polyphony Digital returns with a canonical episode which intends to bridge the gap between the past greatness of its license - 80 million copies sold in the world - and the current demands of a genre somewhat returned to its niche lately. Hundreds of cars and dozens of circuits for thousands of laps: the program promises to be enticing for those who like to go around in circles.

• Best case scenario: Gran Turismo 1/2/3

• Worst Case: Gran Turismo 4/5/6

• Hasty conclusion: Gran Turismo 7 will be a good car game

We keep an eye on: 

• Final Fantasy 16: when I was in high school, we laughed imagining "FF XVI on PS5 in 2022". Here we are, and we are no further ahead than in 1999…

• Forspoken (May 24, 2022): it's technically difficult, but let's hope it won't be its only argument

• Goodbye Volcano High: because we really liked GNOG!

The most anticipated Nintendo Switch exclusives of 2022

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (Fin 2022 - Switch)

With 25 million copies sold, Breath of the Wild has more than satisfied the series' historical fans. He invited new generations of players with a stunning proposal, and the time has come to drive the point home with this sequel. Nintendo is not the type to play the revolution card twice in a row, but the bases are solid enough to once again seduce the masses if the visual and fun finds are there. Answer at the end of the year

• Best case scenario: GOTY 2022! 

• Worst case scenario: a nice sequel that only sells for 15 million

• Hasty conclusion: more destructible weapons/10

Pokemon Legends: Arceus (January 28, 2022 - Switch)

For 25 years, Pokemon has been dragging its frenzied immobility, even as its fans grow and evolve. With Arceus, the license seems to get out of its irritating conservatism a bit by opting for an open world, which unlocks new possibilities for deploying its universe and its gameplay ideas. Whether the game is up to par or not, it will most certainly sell well. But it's a bit of the future of this golden goose that plays out at the end of January, while the Switch is at its peak. It would be for Pokemon Company not to miss each other.

• Best-case scenario: The future of the series is all mapped out, and it's looking good

• In the worst case: the future of the series is all mapped out, and it is mouairf

• Hasty conclusion: could have done better/10

Bayonetta 3 (2022 - Switch)

Four years after its announcement and despite the reassuring words of its producer Hideki Kamiya, Bayonetta 3 is a scary project. The series struggles to sell despite two episodes of high quality, driven by unparalleled energy and inventiveness. It is not certain that the Platinum Games license will continue after this third installment, taking with it one of the king genres of yesterday's video games. Let's give Bayonetta 3 the welcome it deserves!

• In the best of cases: a virtuoso and perfectly crazy swan song

• In the worst case: a dented project for a half-hearted conclusion

• Conclusion hâtive : don’t fuck with a witch/10

We keep an eye on :

• Sea of ​​Stars: an old-school RPG from the developers of The Messenger!

• Triangle Strategy (March 4, 2022): a chatty tactical coming out on my birthday? DAY ONE

• Splatoon 3: “It's not about painting life. It's about making the painting come alive. "No idea what that means, but it's a pretty sentence

• Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp: the Switch is the perfect setting to welcome the redesign of these emblematic Game Boy Advance titles

• Kirby and the Forgotten World: cutie/10

• Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope: an accessible and clever tactical game, two strong licenses, a DA that shines

• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk: A "tribute" to Jet Set Radio from the developers of Lethal League. We are curious to say the least

The most anticipated indie games of 2022

Hundreds of independent games will also try to find a place in the sun. We are thinking in particular of the management/strategy/city builder games Terra Nil, Pharaoh: A New Era, Dwarf Fortress, Flat Eye or even The Wandering Village. Metal Slug Tactics, Oxenfree II or Darkest Dungeon II will mark the return of franchises known and appreciated in their respective fields. We can't wait to tell the world about Sifu and Trek to Yomi, while Tactical Breach Wizards, Sommerville, Open Roads and Immortality will also have their say. We don't forget either the next Playdead (Limbo, Inside), or even the sea serpent The Last Night.

And since we couldn't decently ignore the few PC exclusives, don't forget that Homeworld 3, Baldur's Gate 3, Total War Warhammer 3, Victoria 3, Company of Heroes 3 and Kerbal Space Program 2 will also be released this year. .