While it probably flew under most radars in favour of Sonic Frontiers , Sonic Origins unexpectedly came along and showed the older games the most love they’ve seen since the release of Mania. While this compilation title should have gone a lot further, it still packages the best versions of four classic Sonic games, tying them together with adorable animated shorts. It may be a bit too simple, and it had some ridiculous, inexcusable DLC, but it’s the new best way to play older Sonic games. Hopefully, the rest of the series will be given the same attention s

I feel like a better person for playing Citizen Sleeper . It is the perfect balance of hope and hopelessness, and a story about humanity in a world that feels hellbent on snuffing out any trace of compassion. Less than an hour into his wonderfully crafted text-based RPG, I knew it would have to be my pick for Game of the Year. In its remarkably simple gameplay, you wake up every day and roll the dice, quite literally. Each roll determines how many tasks you can complete, and how difficult survival will be that day. With all the different ways gaming has tried to portray the horrors of capitalism, there’s something beautiful about seeing it explored so simply, but also with so much care. Citizen Sleeper’s themes, story, and mechanics flow together seamlessly, telling a story that will stick with you long after you put it down, making it the best game that 2022 had to of

Roadhog doesn’t often need help staying alive or killing, which means that characters that function independently are a good pick. Flankers, for example, such as Tracer or Reaper, can just go do their own thing while the Hog does

As for support, characters that don’t need to aim in order to heal Doomfist will do better due to his unpredictable mobility, so Mercy, Brigitte, Lucio, and Zenyatta will have better chances. Kiriko requires slight aim but not too much, so that’s viable as w

Life Grip becomes less useful as you can simply shoot your projectile at the weakened hero, which will hopefully kill them and do some splash damage to Lifeweaver. Then, you just need to finish them

New heroes were a major event, and I can still remember the bitter looks of jealousy on their faces as I attended BlizzCon and got to try out all the new things before anyone else. Before the live-service rot began to take effect and a needless sequel reared its head, Overwatch 2 Lore meant something to me. This investment also factored into its queer community at a time when no representation was confirmed in the game itself. It was all fanart, fanfics, and pairings birthed from our own imaginations. But we wouldn’t care so much if the game itself wasn’t brimming with potential.

We could see an action-adventure FPS game with RPG elements where players would manage the town’s resources, upgrading and improving them over time. The game could have a Borderlands or Mad Max feel, with appearances from Junkrat and Road

While not as engaging as Smash Bros. Ultimate , MultiVersus brings enough to the genre on its own that it doesn’t have to live up to that inevitable comparison. It’s fun, it’s full of charm, and it was well-supported after launch. It understands what a platform fighter should be, and areas where the genre can be improved. While it was never my main game to focus on, it’s clear that the future’s looking bright for MultiVer

We merely need a critical distance to recognise what this sort of representation actually means for the landscape, how it came about, and where it could go in the years to come. I’m delighted to see Pharah confirmed as a proud lesbian woman, regardless of the context in which it exists.

With the popularity of stealth hacking games such as the Watch Dogs series and Cyberpunk 2077, a spin-off game covering Sombra’s gang life and their revolution against the government would be an engaging entry into the Overwatch universe. The game could delve into how Sombra learnt to program and hack, and it could potentially introduce characters from the Los Muertos g

Obsidian is just showing off now. Pentiment is like nothing the studio has done before, but it shows how effortlessly its writing can fit other genres, diving into the culture and society of a small medieval town with grace, and far more depth than any of us expected. It’s a true testament to Obsidian’s writing that some of the tensest moments this year came from Pentiment, as I discussed the ideas of Martin Luther in the company of monks. Even without any voiced dialogue, you can feel the hatred and fear in the air. Better yet, even with a somewhat linear premise, every playthrough feels unique, as you soak up the world of Pentiment in the way that you want

Voice lines and emotes sparked a flame of romance, and fans wasted no time turning this into something special. It warms my heart to this day, and Pharah’s reveal as a lesbian has already seen countless comics and pieces of art resurface that solidify how much this confirmation means to us. But thanks to Activision Blizzard being a heartless corporation that relies on LGBTQ+ representation to wash over its sins out of convenience rather than progress, our adoration has already been euthanized.