The start of a new year means 12 sparkly fresh months of news releases. And 2022 has some real blockbusters waiting for you.
Dying Light 2
We’ve spoken about Dying Light before, and we’re stoked to see a second outing for a real Time Out fave. This Mirror’s Edge / zombie survival hybrid looks an absolute belter, and will see your plucky parkour specialist take on enemies both living and dead at break-neck speeds high above the ground. The city is your battleground, but with three factions vying for control, you’ll have to pit them against each other to make it to sunrise. It looks beautiful, even if most of the antagonists are quite rotten and revolting…
Release date: February 4, 2022
God of War: Ragnarok
Now this is a series that needs no introduction. One of the biggest blockbusters to come out of the pioneering next-gen consoles way back when, God of War is a meaty slasher with plenty of punch (as the title suggests). Unruly and uncontainable Kratos now has his sights set on the Norse pantheon and, aided by his boy Atreus, is out to stop Ragnarok. Anyone who has caught Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok will now the event is pretty apocalyptic, and having snuffed out plenty of mythical divine beings on his travels, it would seem silly of Kratos to let a little end-of-the-world sundering ruin his hot-streak.
Release date: TBA, 2022
Hogwarts Legacy
We reckons this is as close as you are ever going to get to an owl dropping a Hogwarts acceptance letter down your chimney. This open world RPG will see you dive into the wizarding world of Harry, Ron and Hermione – just don’t expect to run into them in the Gryffindor common room as the whole adventure takes place in the late 1800s, long before the boy who lived got up to all his shenanigans. Players will have the run of the castle, as well as the vast environments beyond its walls, and from learning spells to taming fantastic beasts, it looks to be a really magical experience.
Release date: TBA, 2022
Horizon Forbidden West
Dinosaurs (kinda). But in the future. And they are also robots. Horizon Forbidden West as a concept is definitely out there, but it’s a visual stunner and this second instalment promises to be all the more shiny. It picks up six months after the events of Horizon New Dawn, with Aloy heading out West in far-future America with the aim of settling in a brave new frontier. Standing in her way are the now established mechanical monsters as well as mysterious new threats that we can’t wait to loose an arrow at.
Release date: February 18, 2022
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
You’ve got to catch ’em all, as the old strapline goes. But we are way beyond the original 150 Pokemon these days and there are yet more coming to the epic series. In a first for the title, players will be transported back to a time “long, long ago” when Pokemon roamed the vast wilderness of the world. Despite its pre-Ash and Pikachu timestamp, this is a mega evolution for the game. The revised battle mechanics seamlessly interact with the fresh sandbox look and feel, creating a fluid that no other Pokemon game boasts. Are you going to be the very best?
Release date: January 28, 2022
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction
Tom Clancy has always hit the mark. As far as stealth shooters go it has Hall of Fame status. But even the OGs can be lured into new realms and this bold newcomer to the franchise is sure to divide opinion. On this outing, Clancy and co are charged with infiltrating an alien compound to nullify what could be the world’s gravest threat. Expect thrills, spills and plenty of headshots.
Release date: January, 2022
Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
We didn’t think it possible, but little Link took his legacy to brave new heights with Breath of the Wild. And it was so nice that he decided to do it twice. A big miss from the previous instalment of Zelda was the famed dungeons, but all that looks to have been addressed in 2022’s sequel. Having felled Calamity Ganon, Link and Zelda venture into the catacombs beneath Hyrule, only to unintentionally resurrect the villain while harnessing a long lost magical power. Will it be enough to see Link beat his old foe one last time?
Release date: TBA, 2022
