As the video above enthusiastically highlights, 2022 has been a monumental year for gaming, especially for enthusiasts wielding a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 console. With global gaming revenue projected to exceed $200 billion annually, the competitive landscape for captivating player bases has never been more intense, leading to an incredible influx of high-quality, diverse titles. From epic open-world adventures to pulse-pounding fighting games and intricate RPGs, the roster of new PS4 & PS5 games released or slated for 2022 offers an unprecedented breadth of interactive experiences. This article delves deeper into some of the most anticipated and impactful upcoming PlayStation titles, expanding on their unique mechanics, narrative ambitions, and the indelible mark they aim to leave on the gaming community.
Unpacking the Most Anticipated PS4 & PS5 Games of 2022
The gaming calendar for 2022 has been packed with releases that push boundaries and redefine genres. Many of these titles showcase the true potential of the PlayStation ecosystem, leveraging advanced hardware for stunning visuals and complex gameplay systems. The following expanded insights provide a more granular look at what makes these games stand out, offering additional context for those eager to explore the year’s gaming highlights.
The Day Before: A New Vision for Survival MMOs
Positioned as a hybrid of The Last of Us‘s grim realism and The Division‘s urban combat, The Day Before has carved out a niche in the saturated survival MMO market. This open-world title immerses players in a post-pandemic America, where scavenging for resources and navigating treacherous environments are paramount. Its blend of PvP and PvE elements, where threats range from relentless zombies to desperate fellow survivors, promises a deeply engaging, emergent narrative experience. Imagine if every encounter could be a moral dilemma, forcing players to weigh cooperation against self-preservation in a beautifully desolate world.
Gotham Knights: The Bat-Family Steps Up
Emerging from the storied legacy of Warner Bros. Montréal, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Origins, Gotham Knights presents a distinct take on the beloved Bat-Family. Set in an open-world Gotham City grappling with the aftermath of Batman’s death, players assume control of Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, or Red Hood. This cooperative beat-em-up deviates from the established Arkhamverse timeline, offering a fresh narrative as the heroes confront both classic villains and the enigmatic Court of Owls. The combat system, while familiar in its rhythmic flow, is augmented by distinct character abilities and cooperative maneuvers, allowing for dynamic team-based takedowns and intricate strategic play.
Evil West: Gothic Horror Meets Wild West Combat
For those who crave high-octane action with a dark fantasy twist, Evil West delivers an arresting vision. Players embody a vampire-hunting cowboy, an aesthetic fusion of Van Helsing and a frontier legend, battling hordes of grotesque creatures in a fictionalized American Old West. The game emphasizes intense, gory combat, equipping players with a diverse arsenal of supernatural gadgets and firearms. This unique premise, combined with the option for co-op play, harkens back to the mid-2000s era of genre-bending action games, promising a visceral and memorable experience as players carve through the occult threats plaguing the frontier.
King of Fighters 15: A Legacy Forged in Combat
As the 15th main entry in a revered franchise, King of Fighters 15 exemplifies mastery in the fighting game genre. Developer SNK, a veteran in arcade combat, launches this installment with an impressive roster of 39 fighters, each boasting unique playstyles and special moves. The iconic 3v3 battle system returns, augmented by the new Shatter Strike mechanic, adding a layer of strategic depth for seasoned players and newcomers alike. With six years having passed since its predecessor, this iteration is meticulously crafted, featuring a hyped-up campaign narrative designed to culminate in an explosive climax, cementing its place as a formidable challenger in competitive fighting circles.
Showa American Story: B-Movie Chaos Unleashed
Showa American Story is an audacious, experimental action RPG that plunges players into an alternate 1980s where Japan occupies the United States, amidst a bizarre zombie apocalypse. Players control a “badass chick” engaging in a frenetic mix of melee combat and gunplay, battling both human and monster adversaries in an open-world environment. The game’s aesthetic is a deliberate homage to B-movies across various cultures, embracing a chaotic, over-the-top sensibility. Its blend of brawler mechanics, monster shooter elements, and open-world RPG progression offers a uniquely wild ride, promising a satirical and visually distinct experience for those craving something truly unconventional.
Sifu: The Art of Vengeance and Aging
Sloclap’s Sifu stands as a testament to challenging, skill-based gameplay, thrusting players into a quest for vengeance through the nuanced world of Kung Fu. Its innovative aging mechanic – where each death advances the protagonist’s age but also imbues them with greater experience – creates a powerful risk-reward dynamic. Players must master a complex combat system, traversing five intricately designed levels, each culminating in a formidable boss encounter. The game demands precision, patience, and a deep understanding of its mechanics, offering an immensely satisfying progression curve as players refine their techniques to achieve flawless, age-defying victories.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake: A Classic Reimagined
The highly anticipated remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic brings one of gaming’s most beloved RPGs to a new generation. Exclusive to PlayStation consoles and PC, this complete overhaul seeks to modernize the iconic narrative and gameplay for contemporary audiences. While details remain scarce, speculation suggests expansions on certain elements and potential narrative alterations, ensuring that even veteran players will find fresh discoveries. The weight of its legacy is immense; imagining a KOTOR with cutting-edge graphics and potentially refined choice-driven narrative systems ignites widespread excitement within the Star Wars community, hoping it lives up to the original’s groundbreaking impact.
Steelrising: Clockwork Rebellion in Alternate Paris
From Spiders, the studio that honed its craft through titles like Greedfall, comes Steelrising, a unique action combat game set in an alternate 1789 Paris. Players control Aegis, a sophisticated clockwork automaton, embroiled in a fantastical version of the French Revolution where King Louis XVI’s robotic army terrorizes the city. The game combines challenging, fast-paced combat with a dark, gothic atmosphere and a truly unique aesthetic. Its intricate enemy designs and deeply immersive world-building position Steelrising as a potential pinnacle of Spiders’ narrative and mechanical evolution, offering a compelling blend of historical intrigue and fantastical combat.
Stray: A Feline Adventure in a Cyberpunk City
Stray captivated audiences with its simple yet brilliant premise: playing as a cat in a decaying cyberpunk world inhabited by robots. This semi-open-ended adventure tasks players with solving environmental puzzles, navigating tight spaces, and interacting with the world from a unique feline perspective. The game’s charm lies in its meticulous attention to detail, replicating realistic cat behaviors while weaving a compelling narrative of companionship and discovery. It stands as a prime example of creative, outside-the-box game design, proving that thrilling gameplay doesn’t always require human protagonists, and can derive immense depth from unconventional perspectives.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: A Fantastical Borderlands Spin-Off
Gearbox Software’s Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands injects a vibrant dose of high fantasy into the established Borderlands formula, inspired by the chaotic imagination of its titular character. Released on March 25th, 2022, this spin-off is a loving send-up to tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, allowing players to create their own multi-class Fatemaker. The signature looter-shooter gameplay is intact, but enemies are replaced with fantastical creatures, and the sci-fi setting gives way to whimsical medieval locales. It offers a refreshing thematic departure while retaining the series’ irreverent humor and satisfying gunplay, appealing to both Borderlands veterans and fantasy RPG enthusiasts.
Hogwarts Legacy: Your Own Wizarding World Adventure
After years of anticipation and conflicting reports, Hogwarts Legacy is expected to finally open its magical doors in 2022. This open-world action RPG transports players to a 19th-century Hogwarts, long before the events of Harry Potter, allowing them to create and customize their own student. The game promises an expansive narrative and unparalleled freedom to explore the iconic castle, its surrounding grounds, and beyond, uncovering ancient secrets and mastering powerful spells. Imagine forging alliances, making choices that shape your destiny, and experiencing the wizarding world in a way that truly puts your unique story at its center, diverging from the linear narratives of previous adaptations.
Little Devil Inside: Whimsical Art Meets Monster Hunter
First announced in June 2020, Little Devil Inside has consistently piqued interest with its distinctive art style—a charmingly minimalist aesthetic contrasted with genuinely intriguing monster designs. The game blends exploration across diverse environments with Monster Hunter-esque combat mechanics, allowing players to track and battle formidable creatures. Cooperative play further enhances the experience, enabling friends to tackle its challenging encounters together. Its comedic bits in trailers and surprising depth to combat promise an indie gem that skillfully marries whimsical presentation with robust, engaging gameplay, offering a uniquely artistic yet challenging adventure.
Atomic Heart: Soviet Sci-Fi Anarchy
Atomic Heart represents a bold dive into alternate history, set in a bizarre, retro-futuristic Soviet Union where scientific experimentation has gone awry. Confirmed for a 2022 release, likely in the fall, this open-ended adventure draws clear inspiration from immersive sims like BioShock and System Shock. Players craft makeshift weaponry to combat an array of horrifying sci-fi monsters and deranged robots, navigating environments oozing with unique style and creative design. The game’s blend of visceral combat, psychological horror, and an utterly unique aesthetic ensures a memorable and visually striking experience, appealing to those who appreciate narrative depth intertwined with chaotic action.
Saints Row: A Reboot with Chaotic Roots
Volition has rebooted the anarchic Saints Row franchise, bringing the series back to a slightly more grounded, yet still fantastically chaotic, foundation. Slated for August 23rd, 2022, this new iteration introduces a fresh cast of characters in a vibrant, fictionalized Southwestern city. Players can create their own boss and embark on a series of outlandish high jinks, combining the signature action, explosions, and humor that define the series. While aiming for a tone reminiscent of Saints Row 2 and 3, the reboot seeks to carve its own identity, promising new avenues for player agency and over-the-top sandbox mayhem within a fresh narrative context.
A Plague Tale: Requiem: Amicia’s Continued Nightmare
Asobo Studio’s A Plague Tale: Requiem continues the harrowing journey of Amicia and Hugo, picking up directly after the acclaimed A Plague Tale: Innocence. This sequel thrusts the siblings into more exotic, visually stunning locales, while significantly expanding Amicia’s combat and stealth capabilities. Trailers showcase even more stunning graphics and genuinely disturbing scenarios, with the rat plague reaching unprecedented scales of horror. The game promises a deeper, more mature narrative, introducing new characters while retaining the emotional core that resonated with so many. As a 2022 release, it seeks to elevate the blend of stealth, puzzle-solving, and survival horror that defined its predecessor, further solidifying its place among top narrative adventures.
Ghostwire: Tokyo: Supernatural Shibuya
Tango Gameworks, renowned for its horror expertise, delivers Ghostwire: Tokyo, a first-person action game set in a Shibuya where the population has mysteriously vanished, replaced by malevolent supernatural entities. Releasing March 25th, 2022, the combat system is a standout, blending elemental “Ethereal Weaving” spells with traditional weapon combat, feeling almost like a mystical Doctor Strange FPS. This title is a unique blend of urban exploration and paranormal encounters, potentially being the last PlayStation-exclusive Bethesda game post-acquisition. Its distinct visual style and innovative approach to first-person combat offer a fresh take on the horror genre, engaging players with its eerie atmosphere and satisfying mystical powers.
Elden Ring: FromSoftware’s Open-World Opus
FromSoftware’s highly anticipated Elden Ring, a landmark release in February 2022, marks a monumental shift for the acclaimed developer. Taking their signature challenging combat formula—honed through titles like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro—into a vast open-world setting, it promises an unparalleled sense of discovery and brutal difficulty. The game benefits from a rich lore framework established by George R.R. Martin, weaving a complex narrative into its exploration of the Lands Between. Its breathtaking monster designs, expansive environments, and intricate world-building ensure a wild, unforgettable adventure for players eager to test their mettle against its formidable challenges and unveil its deep mysteries.
Gran Turismo 7: The Pinnacle of Racing Simulation
Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo 7, launched March 4th, 2022, is a masterclass in automotive realism and simulation. The developers’ renowned attention to detail is evident in every meticulously rendered car and track, offering a hardcore, realistic racing experience. This installment expands on previous entries with an even greater selection of vehicles, extensive customization options, and deep tuning menus that cater to the most dedicated petrolheads. With some of the most gorgeous racing game graphics ever seen, Gran Turismo 7 delivers a dream come true for simulation enthusiasts, providing an immersive, detailed, and utterly authentic driving experience across both PlayStation consoles.
Horizon Forbidden West: Aloy’s Next Grand Adventure
Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s journey directly after Horizon Zero Dawn, expanding on its critically acclaimed predecessor in every conceivable way. This sequel plunges players into a larger, more perilous world teeming with new robotic threats and environmental challenges. Aloy gains enhanced abilities, a greater arsenal of items, traps, and gadgets, and significantly improved traversal options including advanced climbing, grappling hooks, and paragliding. The game’s narrative depth, stunning visuals, and evolution of its unique combat system have garnered widespread praise, affirming its status as a benchmark for open-world action RPGs and a highlight among 2022’s PlayStation offerings.
God of War Ragnarök: Kratos and Atreus’s Epic Conclusion
Potentially the biggest release of the year, God of War Ragnarök promises the next epic chapter in Kratos and Atreus’s Norse saga. Following the resounding success of 2018’s God of War, this sequel aims to go “bigger and badder” with more enemy variety, expanded combat mechanics, and a vaster world to explore. The core appeal remains its compelling, character-driven story, which masterfully blends mythological grandeur with intimate family dynamics. Fans eagerly anticipate how Santa Monica Studio will continue to evolve the combat and narrative, hoping Ragnarök not only lives up to but surpasses the monumental expectations set by its predecessor, delivering an unforgettable conclusion to this leg of their journey.
Additional PlayStation Releases to Keep on Your Radar
Beyond the headliners, 2022 is brimming with other promising titles that deserve attention. Lies of P, a dark fantasy take on the Pinocchio story, offers a Soulslike challenge that could surprise many in late 2022 or 2023. Sniper Elite 5 continues its tradition of precision-based tactical stealth, appealing to fans of methodical gameplay. Forspoken introduces a compelling narrative with dynamic traversal and magic combat in a fantastical realm. ELEX II provides a sprawling, choice-driven open-world RPG experience. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin reimagines the classic Final Fantasy narrative with a brutal action-oriented combat system. Dying Light 2 Stay Human delivered a robust zombie parkour experience early in the year, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns combines tactical RPG elements with iconic comic book heroes. Sonic Frontiers marks the blue blur’s foray into open-world design, promising a new era for the franchise. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown aims to revive the luxury open-world racing genre. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga offers a charming, expansive retelling of all nine films, and OlliOlli World brings a vibrant, accessible, yet deep skateboarding experience. These diverse PlayStation games contribute to a truly spectacular year for console gaming.
