Better late than never: right?
I had a great 2022, for playing games at least. There was always another title locked in and ready to be played after completing a title. Almost to an overwhelming degree at times. Some may have bemoaned the lack of big hitters throughout the year, not this cowboy, there were no shortage of excellent titles and boiling down everything to a top ten caused me more issues than I originally thought:
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – The night this game launched, we managed to get the full roster of six players online and battered through the campaign. It was chaos, especially trying to keep track of which turtle you happened to be controlling. A beautiful chaos; this captured the sheer enjoyment of those classic sessions of playing on Arcade units or with your friends in the living room. From the animated opening which paid tribute to the animated series, right up until hitting the credits, there was a smile plastered across my face. This a solid beat ’em up with charming visuals and soundtrack that went hand in hand to elevate this experience to something truly brilliant. Still fun on your own but an absolute blast co-op. Similar to Streets of Rage 4, this game is great to play for a co-op session to catch up with other players. I have returned to this game many times throughout the year, it’s short and sweet. If you have an online group, this is definitely worth your time. TURTLE POWER!!
09. Stray – Launching to great fanfare; this seemed like 2022’s answer to Untitled Goose Game. The chance to take control of a cat, nature’s biggest cretin, to ruin the days of unsuspecting robot folk seemed like a dream come true. The amount of detail that has gone into Stray’s character model is astounding. There have been an avalanche of clips with this little furry idiot and their antics uploaded to social media this year and it’s obvious why. So much love and care has gone into creating this Cat with a robot backpack and how they interact with the world. Being rewarded for going full cat and wrecking your surroundings is incredibly satisfying; as you would expect. What was unexpected however, was the bittersweet journey fraught with danger and an incredibly sweet tale of friendship and hope. With the added spice of checking every corner of the map for another chance to cause some mayhem. The narrative hit a lot of the right notes for me and the campaign doesn’t overstay its welcome. Leaving itself open for another chapter or sequel. Fingers crossed they can manage to add a co-op element in their next project.
08. Return to Monkey Island – A game that shocked the landscape with its reveal; with the added bonus of the creative team we didn’t dare wish for. Return to Monkey Island was a nostalgia infused bear hug of a game. The visual style got flack upon its initial presentation; so much so that Ron Gilbert was quoted as being “Sad” after the fan reaction. These “Fans” need to be lined up against a wall and punched square in the throat. Blending abstract visuals that seem to use the original pixel style as a foundation, with added modern flair reminded me of Double Fine’s recent output. Another team that manages to blend their previous works into modern stylings. The game itself is the premium point and click style adventure you have come to expect. The easter eggs and references are simply bursting out of every screen in this game. Most of which will probably be lost on newcomers to the franchise. Although there are two modes, for veterans and first timers, which is a nice offering and provides an enjoyable experience to a broader audience. The ending section required a lot of bouncing around various locations and was close to leaving a sour note near the crescendo. Otherwise, it was a charming adventure and such a sincere experience. I laughed, I cried, I murdered a wonderful tree. I’d do it all again.
07.Nobody Saves the World – Almost forgot about this one after playing it so early in the year. You’re a formless white blob of a character. It was life imitating art. Seemingly dumped in the middle of a magical world that was teeming with monsters and a fair degree of strife. You have the power to change yourself from this disgusting humanoid form to other animals and various creatures. What starts off simply, soon becomes complex as each form has abilities and perks. Abilities can be unlocked and enhanced in the traditional RPG stylings; later on you gain the ability to mix and match different abilities with different forms. This is required to help tackle difficult dungeons later on. Once you get a decent grasp on the skills and the different effects you can create by using your imagination; there is an intensely enjoyable adventure here. Enhanced by a genuinely amusing story, some of the dialogue stands out, especially with Randy The Rad. While the visuals didn’t personally resonate with me, the action is always clear and I certainly can’t fault it on a technical level. A co-op mode is available and although I wasn’t able to find a fellow White Blob to crawl dungeons with, it’d be a fine excuse to return and continue my life as a fantastic horse.
06. Livealive – This title was only available in the west unofficially as a fan translation and if you had access to certain means. I did ponder for a while before purchasing it as, famously, Switch games rarely drop in value. So there was no point waiting for a sale. There are several scenarios in this game. I played through the earliest setting, thinking I may as well go from the beginning to the end. I took control of a green haired caveman called Pogo along with his Gorilla BFF, the two battled their way using flatulence and weaponry to save Pogo’s love interest Beru from a rival tribe. This scenario had no text, the characters grunted and growled at each other. They still managed to successfully convey the story. This didn’t take long to complete before I moved on to Imperial China, where I was teaching some youngsters how to punch tigers in my dojo. Every time zone brought something different and mixed up the play style with some very creative methods. The Street Fighter scenario was a personal highlight. This game feels like it accomplishes what Octopath Traveller set out to do. Remarkable given it’s technically a game from 1994. The HD-2D engine flexes its muscles on this title. The game leaps out of the screen and breathes new life into the classic sprites. If nothing else, this game acts as a showcase of what they can do with this new technology and I’m excited for Dragon Quest III when it’s given the same treatment.
05. Tunic – This has been called “the Indie Elden Ring for people with A-levels” somewhere before. I wholeheartedly agree. A love letter to classic isometric dungeon crawling adventures like the classic Legend of Zelda games. A hack and slash adventure set on a mysterious island you find yourself washed up on. The main focus of the game is the Manual, pages are hidden throughout the game world. There is a secret handshake among the gaming community that originated last year. Those that collected all the manual pages and those that did not. For those that failed to grasp what this game was going for and thought this was a poor man’s version of Death’s Door, well they deserve our pity. They’ll never get to experience one of the most unique experiences you could achieve with a controller in their hands. It’s easy to feel anger towards their misguided and sheltered views, but they can’t help it. They’ll bumble through their remainder of their existence without ever finding true happiness.
Arrogant? Yes! Pretentious? Absolutely! Patronising? Have we met before?
Tunic is a traditional adventure with a vibrant and engaging world to explore. The shortcuts that connect areas for easier traversal will have you kicking yourself as they’re usually hidden in plain sight and it was your poor skills as an adventurer that caused you to miss them. For those who genuinely miss the challenge that games used to provide; grab a notepad and get your grey matter to work here. The little Fox is adorable too, I have to stop myself from buying the Fangamer plush after having a few drinks.
04. Pentiment – Obsidian’s writing has always been heralded as some of the finest in the industry. The real test of their mettle is to release a game without Power Armour, Guns or Giant Spiders to see just how the writing stands on its own two feet. Pentiment is simply that, a game that relies solely on their skills with world building, dialogue and narrative. They pull it off effortlessly. You take control of Andreas Maler, a Journeyman Illuminator living with a local farming family and working for the Monks in the nearby Abbey. To begin with you are thrown into the deep end; with an entire village to meet and converse with. I did find it difficult to differentiate between the characters in the early stages of play. Although by the third act, I could recite each character’s name and explain their family tree and heritage, if you were so interested to hear them. Each character is unique, driven and developed enough to really get invested in. You will find yourself forming favourites among the cast and a few that you’d love to headbutt.
The visuals on first reveal disgusted me. I was under the impression it looked like a flash game from the early days of the internet. Turns out I’m a complete idiot and this game is gorgeous in motion. Josh Sawyer can boot my crotch in the Specsavers of his choice after such a blunder. Each Character is represented by their form of text as they speak. The presentation reflects the character’s social standing, level of education or emotion. The printer in town has his dialogue pressed and revealed in a manner that reflects his trade. The small touches combine to make this one of the most original adventures I’ve played through in 2022.
The game really picks up pace whenever a murder takes place and a friend gets accused. Andreas is tasked with trying to find the true murderer and save his friend from being executed. By this stage you have noticed a few loose strings to pull on and hopefully come to the truth. Having played twice, it’s amazing how much is in this game and can be missed depending on your actions. Each meal which progresses you into the next phase of the day, has the potential to be shared with a multitude of characters. Everyone has noticed something different during their playthroughs and I’ve adored conversing with other players and sharing experiences or theories about our time in Bavaria.
03. Tinykin – During the days of the N64, there was a golden age of collectathon platformers, mostly created by Rare. Then Microsoft bought them and they made a Pirate Game and little else. Other people have tried to recreate and emulate these titles in the past and failed miserably. They mostly fall into the same trap of pumping up the size of the area maps, throwing in multiple playable characters and heaping the map with a variation of collectables with no reward for picking up all that digital litter. Looking at you Donkey Kong 64.
Tinykin is the remedy to all that, One character, snappy traversal and unlockable shortcuts connecting the map as you explore. Meaning you never lose progress and always return to an area quickly if you have a platforming mishap. Throw in the Pikmin-esque Tinykin for some problem solving, collecting or exploring assistance and you’re got the recipe for a great time. Milodane or Milo finds himself stranded on the strange alien planet. To the player we know what’s happened to him. Got on the wrong side of Rick Moranis. But it is a charming experience talking to the multitudes of dwellers on their take of the surrounding areas.
Tinykin is a relaxing, wholesome affair. I haven’t enjoyed a platformer this much since Banjo Kazooie and I do not say that lightly. It’s a bright and colourful experience, filled with little comedy beats that help settle you into one of the most welcoming games ever made. There is something here for every age group. It’s a fairly brief affair but once again this works in its favour. Leaving you wanting more; rather than begging for the credits, like other titles this year.
02. Elden RIng – The Big Dog of 2022 and rightly so. Taking the Dark Souls formula and throwing it into an open world was always going to be catnip for nerds. What they managed to create here was a title that appealed to an incredibly broad portion of players compared to previous Fromsoft titles. So much so I was able to rope the love of my life Philthy into playing and even made a “Hit” podcast chronicling his adventures through the Lands Between.
An open adventure awaits in Fromsoft’s latest title. A level of freedom that broke their own mould. Although, if you find yourself wiped out in a single strike, it’s a fair indicator you’ve taken a wrong turn. When you find yourself in this situation it may be worth exploring elsewhere. The freedom carries over into your character build too, there are many weird and wonderful combinations of skills out there and everyone has their favourite. I am an advocate for the mighty Winged Scythe and lean towards Faith. Full George Michael build. Each Player has their own preference and it’s impressive how many possibilities there are to play around with.
Like their previous titles, the experience boils down to frustration and elation. You get pitted against some incredibly difficult foes and have to bring yourself up to level or skill set to finally taste victory. They have found a lot of success with this formula but this hybrid of open world adventure and the “One More Go” nature of the bosses has resulted in something truly excellent. The exploration through the Lands Between alone is impressive, the map just keeps expanding and unfolding the further you venture through. Locations that seem like background decorations in the early portions of the game, are fully developed locations just waiting to be explored. The Lore and world building has become a running joke in many circles due to its opaque nature. There is a rich story waiting to be unearthed in this game and as accessible as they may have made the rest of the game; Fromsoft haven’t budged on how they tell their stories. You still have to do some digging and keep your eyes open.
In a year that was littered with bloated sequels that simply tried to one-up their previous entries; with more of the same and not actually delivering anything close to innovation. It was refreshing to see a game break out of its pigeonhole and attempt to deliver something outside of its comfort zone. Risky manoeuvre when you’re handling a beloved series of games, but respect where it’s due. Fromsoft have pulled off something truly remarkable and won over a plethora of new fans in one fell swoop. Thankfully some people in the AAA space still have the stones to bring something new to the table.
01. Citizen Sleeper – A title that had flown completely under my radar. Trailers and reviews failed to grab my attention. But with a rainy weekend with no adulting duties demanding attention. This was a “Game Pass Try” title. If I didn’t gel with it, no matter, it would only cost the time invested. Turns out it was the best choice made in 2022. I can recall putting the controller down during a certain ending, three in the morning and quietly reflecting on what had unravelled in front of me. This game is something special and can get under your skin in a manner that no text based, dice rolling RPG should be able to.
There is a person, the biological you, in suspended life somewhere in the galaxy. The “consciousness” of this person is placed into a Sleeper Unit which is what you control during the game. Your background is hazy, but only people who have no other options become sleepers. These units are slaves, tasked with the most dangerous tasks that should only fall upon technological beings, but still require human levels of sentience. They are the bottom rung of the ladder. The Sleeper Unit you take control of has escaped from its life of servitude, but it hasn’t shrugged off the shackles completely. You are property of your employer and they will take extreme measures to reclaim you. Alone and sleeping out of a shipping container, you find yourself trapped on Erlin’s Eye, a hostile and alien place. With a body that requires regular maintenance and nourishment. People aren’t kind to a Sleeper. Many people refuse to acknowledge you as anything close to a person. With no currency, no friends and seemingly no hope; the beginning to Citizen Sleeper can make it seem incredibly daunting.
What unravels is your journey to build a life for yourself: you quickly find work and source the stabiliser to keep your body from failing and slowly build a new network of friends. The first thing that jumped out was the writing, these characters are brought to life by text and character avatars alone. No Voice Acting, Motion Capture or Daddy Issues to trick you into thinking the story is excellent here. Character development and world building; great old fashioned storytelling. You slowly unlock areas and in each area you are sure to meet more of the locale, each with their own story to tell or history to uncover. Each area usually has some form of store or work opportunity. Eventually you find a comfortable rhythm and life doesn’t seem so bad on the Eye.
The soundtrack is a haunting collection of gentle synth-wave that burrows under your skin and finds itself home. Comforting yet mysterious, it captures the essence of this game perfectly. The OST was included on the Steam copy of this game; I double dipped to relive the adventures on Steam Deck. The melodies sweep from haunting to tense with ease and capture the temperament of each scenario flawlessly.
Your days begin with a certain amount of dice rolls, higher rolls will allow better outcomes for your daily tasks. You can still use lower rolls but run risk of unfavourable outcomes. Certain tasks, especially those involved with storylines have time limits, which can put the pressure on. You can only accomplish a finite amount of tasks in a day, depending on your dice rolls. If your condition falls below a certain threshold, you lose a dice, meaning it’s harder to recoup your losses unless you get yourself back to top condition.
The main goal revolves around escaping the Eye and removing yourself from the sights of the company that owns you. There are many routes to take to get to this goal and multiple endings, they’re all fantastic. Having played through this title multiple times to see them all; this game inspired me into an incredibly rare completionist run. There has been free episodic DLC added throughout the year that transcends the base game for investment. The final piece is set to launch in 2023 and it can’t come soon enough. A pleasure from beginning to end and a game that I’ll return to many times in the future. Citizen Sleeper is easily my Game of the Year.
-DeadbeatpunK