The 11 most anticipated video games of 2022

As we look forward to 2022 (and yes, we’re aware of what an inherently paradoxical sentence fragment that happens to be), it’s not hard to see some bright lights on the gaming calendar. Sequels to some of the most beloved video games in recent memory dot the list of new releases, from the second coming of the (second coming of the) God Of War, to a direct sequel to one of Nintendo’s most successful reinventions of all time.

Meanwhile, we’ve got new titles from the minds behind everything from Skyrim to The Evil Within to Pokémon. That’s to say nothing of a genuinely interesting set of original offerings, including titles where you’re stalked by a murderous choo-choo train or play as an adorable lost cat.

And so, we present The A.V. Club’s Most Anticipated Video Games Of 2022.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus (January 28)

The Pokémon franchise has shifted between a frankly staggering array of genres over the last 25 years, running the gamut from traditional monster-catching RPGs to photography simulators to pinball games. But it’s rarely, if ever, indulged in the world of action gaming. That’s set to change with the release of Arceus, which will see players run around a semi-open world, catching various pocket monsters by the tried-and-tested method of hurling magical balls at them; the only difference is that now would-be Masters will actually take control of their own creatures in order to have them beat the hell out of their soon-to-be friends. [William Hughes]