While Owen Garvey was working hard at an internship with Expat Living, we thought it would be a great opportunity to pick his brains about gaming. (We know plenty about furniture, travel, schools and food, but we’re not expert gamers!) Here are Owen’s five favourite video games of 2022.
#5 Sifu
Sifu is a beautiful game that can be played in just under 2.5 hours. It features street fighter-like gameplay in 3D. It gives the player the ability to stack up combos, making them crave the need to try and get a higher score. With the Smack! and Chops! the gameplay is still refreshing, giving the player a different experience from the traditional street fighter games. The boss battles provide a similar feeling to the Ghost of Tsushima boss fights and provide enough of a challenge that the game is not easy, but you keep coming back. Overall this is a great game that you don’t have to dedicate large amounts of time to beat.
#4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Sometimes you just want to experience a game from the past. Shredder’s Revenge allows you to do that, while also experiencing something new. It’s a classic arcade-type affair with newer graphics and classic controls. As you begin to learn the controls and the moves, you’ll become better but the game’s bosses will get harder with your progression. It’s not easy, but if you like video games like me, you’ll always come back wanting more. The game provides Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Easter Eggs along with 2.5 hours of challenging fun.
#3 LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
After years of growing up playing the LEGO Star Wars game, I was expecting the same type of thing here, only remodelled towards a new story. But once I started playing this, I couldn’t stop. The controls are fresh and the graphics make it feel as if it’s a movie and not a game. The developers have also compiled some of the most memorable Star Wars moments into the game, making you want to go back and watch all of the movies. This is a great casual game to play and I would highly recommend it. Oh, and as usual, this game includes the typical iconic corny jokes that we all love in LEGO games.
#2 Horizon Forbidden West
This is an open-world game filled with many missions. If you don’t want to follow the story, you can break off and visit the many settlements around the map or even complete side missions. Compared to its predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn, the visual appearance is amazing. This game is filled with challenges but is easily completed depending on the difficulty you choose. It provides almost 30 hours of fun, with beautiful juxtaposition of the characters. From the spear made of silicon chips to the T-Rex made of metal, the game is amazing and interesting and provides a huge level of satisfaction when completed.
Bonus Halloween Recommendation: The Quarry
Are you the type who craves horror movies and spooky stories? Then play The Quarry late at night! The storyline is incredible. When you finish, you’ll wish you had the ability to play it again for the first time! I don’t want to spoil the amazing story, but if you have some extra time – especially around Halloween – I definitely recommend this game.
#1 Elden Ring
Elden Ring was by far my favourite video game of 2022. The game provides an open-world experience that is beautiful and fun but also reflects many aspects of our favourite quest TV shows, movies and books. As there are no directions provided, you are forced to find your own quest, making you feel connected to your character. The bosses are challenging and sometimes take hours to beat, but for some reason I always caught myself trying just one more time. The game’s combo moves are rewarding and make you want to fight mini-bosses over and over again. It’s an amazing game and, with 123 hours of gameplay, one that makes you feel like you’re completing an epic task. And that’s why Elden Ring is my number one favourite game for 2022.
Thank you so much for reading my take on the top five releases of the year, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
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