The next year is almost upon us, and with it comes a slew of PC games. I’ve got my eye on first-person shooters, strategy games, horror titles, and other genres. Below, you’ll see my picks for PC Invasion’s Most Anticipated Games of 2022.
Granted, some of these were supposed to come out this year, but they got delayed due to the pandemic. I am hoping that they finally get released in the coming months. Likewise, you can take a look at my Games of 2021 if you’re interested.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
If we’re going by chronological order, then Dying Light 2 Stay Human leads the pack owing to its February 4 release date. My wife and I absolutely loved the original (she’s a huge fan of horror games, especially those with zombies). As such, we definitely want to see what’s in store.
We’re looking forward to huge environments and an open-world setting that’s filled with terrifying creatures. Maybe we’ll even play some co-op. Lord knows my old rig is already gathering dust.
Total War: Warhammer III
A couple of weeks after Dying Light 2 comes out, we’ll see Total War: Warhammer III on February 17. This rounds out the trilogy, adding factions such as Kislev, Cathay, and the Ogre Kingdoms. There are even four Daemons of Chaos armies.
In any case, I’ve made no secret of my love for Warhammer-related stuff. Moreover, I’ve been covering various DLCs like The Twisted & The Twilight and The Silence & The Fury. Let’s just say that Total War: Warhammer III is something that’ll keep me glued to my seat. And, yes, I pray to the Great Horned Rat that we’ll finally get to play as Thanquol in the campaign.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
February is definitely the most crowded month in the coming year. On February 22, we’ll see Destiny 2: The Witch Queen. This major expansion pits Guardians against Savathun and the Hive, now infused with twisted powers that come from the Light.
To be fair, Destiny 2 is a very grindy game that really requires you to invest a lot of time. Still, I’ve got my fingers crossed that The Witch Queen, similar to Season of the Lost, is front-loaded with a lot of content to keep me satisfied.
Elden Ring
You know what? There’s a good chance that I won’t see sunlight during February. Just before the month ends, on February 25, we’ll have Elden Ring. This dark fantasy game is one of the most anticipated releases in 2022, and with good reason. It’s made by FromSoftware, so you can expect punishing boss fights, well-hidden secrets, and visceral combat. Likewise, George R. R. Martin helped out with the game’s mythology and worldbuilding aspects.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok
After completing Wrath of the Druids and The Siege of Paris, I’m eager to see Eivor’s next adventure in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok. It comes out on March 10.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the recent games rekindled my interest in the Assassin’s Creed franchise because of how much they’ve embraced the fantasy and mythology settings. As such, an expansion where Eivor accepts his/her identity as Odin, while facing challenges at the ending of the world, sounds right up my alley. Likewise, I’m looking forward to Crossover Stories, if any, just to have a chance to spot fan favorites once more.
WWE 2K22
Let’s get this out of the way: WWE 2K20 was atrocious. So, why am I looking forward to another game in the series? Well, it’s primarily because we know of how WWE 2K21 got canceled, to the point that Visual Concepts ended up focusing on the next title instead (which comes out in March 2022).
I’m eager to see if the studio managed to learn from the lessons of the past. Additionally, I still love pro-wrestling video games, and I still want to make more create-a-wrestler (CAW) athletes. Granted, I’m also worried that we might get a severely depleted roster due to the cuts that happened in previous months.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X1fufate4Y
Stray
Stray stars a cat who goes on an adventure in a futuristic world. What more needs to be said? It’s a cat game and it comes out in early 2022.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me
I’ve been covering the titles that are part of The Dark Pictures Anthology. These include Man of Medan, Little Hope, and, most recently, House of Ashes. Each horror game in the franchise uses a historical event or creepy legend as a backdrop, followed by a twist. You then need to make the right decisions and pass quick-time events (QTEs) to ensure that everyone survives.
There’s a good chance that The Devil in Me will come out in October 2022, just in time for Halloween. Moreover, we might see its own take on H. H. Holmes, the serial killer who earned the moniker of “The Devil in the White City,” and the hotel dubbed as the “Murder Castle.” You’ll even notice Saw vibes from the trailer.
Starfield
Starfield is touted as Bethesda’s first new universe in 25 years. I’ve played (and loved) The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, and I can’t wait for this to launch on November 11. This sci-fi RPG will, in all likelihood, cause me to lose countless hours.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Vermintide and its sequel became huge hits. In 2022, we’ll see the next iteration – Darktide – which is set in the Warhammer 40,000 or 40K universe. It will feature frantic first-person action and four-player co-op. Your characters will be up against hordes of Nurgle’s followers in the underbelly of a Hive City.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Space Marine 2 is yet another game that’s set in the grimdark Warhammer 40K universe. The original game came out a decade ago, and this sequel marks the return of Captain Titus. He has survived and is now bolstered by Primaris Marines. And, yes, you’ll be battling countless Tyranids, too.
As an aside, given that this is the third major Warhammer-related title that’s expected to launch next year, I’m honestly expecting a Warhammer movie, too. Maybe Henry Cavill wounds up portraying Neoth/the God Emperor of Mankind (if it’s a 40K film) or Emperor Karl Franz (if it’s a Fantasy film). Either way, you can toss a coin to the Emprah!
Genshin Impact – The Sumeru Update
Genshin Impact is already one of my Games of 2021, and it’s still part of my Most Anticipated Games of 2022 list. This has genuinely become my go-to timesink, and it’s not just because I’ve written a lot of guides. It’s all due to how miHoYo has managed to craft a vibrant world filled with majestic landscapes, memorable characters, and numerous secrets. The first two regions, Mondstadt and Liyue, were available from the get-go. Meanwhile, parts of the region of Inazuma were released in subsequent updates.
In 2022, we’re bound for the new continent of Sumeru, which is expected to have Southeast Asian, Indian, and Middle Eastern aesthetics. It could be released in bits and pieces, similar to Inazuma. Alternatively, we could visit smaller areas initially, akin to Dragonspine and the Golden Apple Archipelago, before we venture to the continent proper.
Company of Heroes 3
It’s been a while since I last played the Company of Heroes games and I have my sights set on this. Company of Heroes 3 takes place in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II. You can bet that there’s a lot of strategy and planning involved as your squads attempt to defeat opposing forces to capture territories.
Sniper Elite 5
Speaking of World War II, Sniper Elite 5 takes the series to France. It’s 1944 and the Allies are about to breach Hitler’s Atlantic Wall. Sinister plots abound, and Karl Fairburne must help the French Resistance or the landings will utterly fail. Yes, I certainly want those vicious sniper kill cam sequences.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
This sequel to the 2004 Bloodlines game has me salivating at the thought of another World of Darkness RPG, especially with Paradox Interactive at the helm. Truth be told, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, which came out in February 2021, greatly disappointed me. The visual novel games, Coteries of New York and Shadows of New York, flew under my radar and I’ve yet to play them. As for Swansong, I’m not quite keen on it. So, yes, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is the one that has piqued my interest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYvWfDxhm_s
Honorable Mentions: Early Access games – Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Valheim
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Valheim were released as Early Access titles in March 2020, October 2020, and February 2021 respectively. I covered these when they initially came out. Although they are playable, a lot of features and functions remain incomplete. I’ve got my fingers crossed that they’ll eventually launch in full in 2022.
Well, these are my Most Anticipated Games of 2022. I may have forgotten others, but these should do for now. Hopefully, we’d all see these in the coming months. Happy holidays, peeps!
Published: Dec 23, 2021 06:00 pm