Henry Stockdale's Top 5 Games Of 2022 | Winter Spectacular 2022
Game Of The Year remains a contentious subject for many, and it's easy to see why. When your favourite game doesn't receive the recognition you think it deserves, that's understandably disappointing. But when thousands of games release each year, all vying for attention in a crowded field, I've never seen this as a deliberate snub. If I had my way, those award ceremonies with millions of viewers would be packed with JRPGs and VR games, but those are niche genres with high barriers to entry - be it time or cost.
Everything is subjective and in my case, this list is missing a few names you might normally expect. For one, I've never been a Soulslike fan, so Elden Ring is out. Stray failed to hold my attention, I've not played God of War Ragnarok yet, and Horizon Forbidden West didn't hit the heights of its predecessor for me. We all have different tastes and it's important to respectfully recognise that.
If you know me, chances are high that you're expecting VR games here. For several reasons, I'm focusing exclusively on flatscreen gaming. But I'd like to give several titles an honourable mention: Among Us VR, Broken Edge, Moss: Book II, and Shores of Loci, these are all great for very different reasons. That aside, and in no particular, these are my top 5 flatscreen games of 2022.
1. Kirby And The Forgotten Land
Much like Kirby, Henry Stockdale is just an lil dude doing his best in a big bad world.
Thanks to its two-player co-op, Kirby and the Forgotten Land remains a personal highlight this year. With my fiancee only wanting to play Bandana Waddle Dee, we set off together to rescue the missing Waddle Dees, restoring Waddle Dee Town and fending off the Beast Pack. While I've always enjoyed Kirby games and the character, I never considered any of them essential until now. By moving into a full 3D platformer, this is possibly his best adventure yet. My only gripe is… could HAL Laboratory not think of a better name than Mouthful Mode? Anyway.
2. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero
An anime-ass JRPG on Henry Stockdale’s GOTY list?
NO! I AM SHOCKED
OK, this one is slightly cheating since it first launched in 2010. But since Trails from Zero never officially came to the West until September, I'm counting it. Set in the autonomous state of Crossbell, Trails from Zero shows a land at the mercy of its powerful neighbours, each of whom claims sovereignty. It falls into some classic fantasy anime tropes but this is so much more than your average JRPG. Through its politically charged story, versatile combat, and brilliant characters, Zero's still a winner twelve years on.
3. Sonic Frontiers
Ok, but now that we have arrested Yuji Naka how long until we arrest the rest of Sonic Team?
As a Sonic fan, I've learned to expect disappointment from new 3D entries, so Frontiers was a pleasant surprise. Sonic Team's taken a drastically altered approach by focusing on what it calls "open zone" gameplay, freeing his friends across the Starfall Islands after they become imprisoned. There's a few moments where Frontiers feels afraid to let go of Sonic's past, like the cyberspace levels taking us to Green Hill Zone yet again, but this reinvention felt like a crucial step forward. Plus, have you heard the soundtrack? Simply fantastic.
4. F1 Manager 2022
This game makes you feel like you are Guenther Steiner… you fucking fuck.
If you know me, this is probably the most surprising game on this list. Not everyone liked Frontier's debut for this new Formula 1 management series but, as an F1 fan, I had a great time. More akin to Football Manager, you play as the team principal instead of directly controlling a driver, issuing orders from the pitlane. Building my way up as Aston Martin from the bottom of the pack to championship frontrunners over several seasons, few games better encompassed that "one more round" mentality this year than F1 Manager 2022.
5. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Are these the war criminals everyone has a crush on?
As someone who beat every route in Three Houses, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes was a wonderful return to the Fodlan continent. Taking a similar approach to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Nintendo's spinoff replaced Three Houses' turn-based gameplay for hack-and-slash combat. While this became repetitive in places, there are enough gameplay changes to keep this fresh, and I was pleasantly surprised at how faithful it remained to the original's premise.
