2022 has indeed been a year of renewals, restarts, respawns even. Everyone across the world has had a go at rebuilding, and overcoming hardships and challenges that were set upon the past few years. With even this year where parts of the world are experiencing their worldwide hardships and conflicts.

But despite all of this, from a political and economical standpoint, the gift of human creativity still shines through adversity. Thus we fall back to our best brand of escapism: video games, especially the ones that offer the best kinds of said ingenuity.

Whether it’s from a heckaton of main and support studios helping out triple-A companies, to even the humblest of backdrops, we at Kakuchopurei plan to celebrate the best the field has to offer with our own top 30 games of the year. No matter what you hear, no matter what your tastes are, no matter what the game’s popularity levels are, or how much controversy it’s knee-deep in, deep down, one fact is certain:

These titles will blow your mind.

Every day from 19th December 2022 to 1st January 2023, we’ll be revealing our cream of the crop one by one. The reason we added these games here isn’t because of their high scores and our glowing praises, but also because they go far and beyond what they offer in their respective genres, and are very important in making 2022 a cultural milestone in gaming.

This will be the hub page for all of the best games of 2022 as handpicked by us, Southeast Asia’s de facto final word on the best video games around be it indie or triple-A offerings.

But first, our honourable mentions:

Marvel – Midnight Suns: Firaxis’ fun turn-based strategy game with Marvel characters and hangout/dating segments.

Citizen Sleeper: A scifi life-sim RPG with fun dice-rolling mechanics, an evocative world, and chill music.

Midnight Fight Express: Want to feel like a one-man army badass in a 3D beat-em-up? From a game made by one guy? This one will sort you out!

Total War Warhammer III: A demanding but fun war simulator set in the Warhammer universe.

River City Girls 2: A good sequel to 2019’s Kunio-kun beat-em-up RPG, now with 4-player co-op and a bunch of new stages.

Nikke – Goddess Of Victory: We didn’t spend as much time as needed, but this gacha third-person rail shooter with the android waifus is a fun crowd-pleaser mobile title.

Tactics Ogre Reborn: The grandfather of strategy RPG turn-based tactics fighting with an epic political-laced storyline gets a lovingly-crafted remake for current consoles. And PC (legally).

Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII Reunion: Wimpy Zack VO replacement aside, this action RPG is definitely worth going back to even if you finished the PSP original a gazillion times.

And now, the best games of 2022!

#30: Bayonetta 3

#29: Scorn

#28: Horizon Forbidden West

#27: Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

#26: The King of Fighters XV

#25: Dying Light 2

#24: Warhammer 40K – Darktide

#23: Neon White

#22: Call of Duty – Modern Warfare II

#21: Metal Hellsinger

#20: Sonic Frontiers

#19: Stray

#18: Souldiers

#17: Live A Live

#16: Gigabash

#15: Cursed To Golf

#14: Rollerdrome

#13: OlliOlli World

#12: Windjammers 2

#11: Mario + Rabbids – Sparks Of Hope

#10: Marvel Snap

#9: Xenoblade Chronicles 3

#8: Vampire Survivors/Holocure

#7: Pentiment

#6: Sifu

#5: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Shredder’s Revenge

#4: Cult Of The Lamb

#3: Tunic

#2: God of War Ragnarok

#1: Elden Ring

The Best Game Soundtracks Of 2022

BFM.my Radio Version

Misc.

Best Movies/Anime/TV Show

The Magic Rain’s Nathalie Tay’s Top 5 Twitch Highlights

SirCloud’s Top 10 Memorable Esports Moments Of 2022

Arief Johan’s Top 5 Southeast Asian Games He Enjoyed & Loved

Az Samad’s Top 10 Things He Loved About His Favourite 2022 Game OST