22 Third-Party Games To Be Excited For In 2022

With the new generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles already entering their second year of life (and some of us even managing to buy them!) there’s a lot of expectation on video game releases in the year ahead to really deliver on the promise of these supercharged new machines and break free of the shackles of the previous generation.

That’s not to say there won’t be plenty to look forward to for anyone who’s yet to make the jump either, as we look to some of our most anticipated releases for the year and see that the vast majority will still span platform generations for the foreseeable future.

As usual, the below is a list of games that are either confirmed to be – or anticipated to be – released in 2022 and aren’t exclusive to a particular console. We’ve also got lists on the way for games that are exclusive to a particular platform on the console side of things so stick around for those in the coming days.

Of course, with continued challenges facing development studios globally thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the below is subject to change and being pushed back further to 2023 and beyond.

Let’s hope not though, because there’s some seriously exciting stuff to come!

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction

The co-op survival horde shooter genre might have had a bit of a resurgence in recent times with the likes of Back 4 Blood and Aliens: Fireteam Elite, but the idea of mixing those concepts with the moment-to-moment feel of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is certainly an enticing proposition. Sharp strategy and teamwork will be put to the test when this one kicks of a year of gaming in just a few weeks.

When’s It Out? January 20

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

The cheapest copy: $69 at Amazon with free shipping.

Life is Strange Remastered Collection

After the incredible Life is Strange: True Colors released last year it makes sense that players would want to go back and revisit (or visit for the first time) the origins of the series. With both Dontnod’s original episodic series and Deck Nine’s prequel spin-off included with massive improvements to visuals, animation and gameplay this’ll be a real treat for Life is Strange fans.

When’s It Out? February 1

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Dying Light was a surprise hit for many, combining first-person parkour gameplay with a tense, zombie-filled open world survival horror game that only got scarier when day turned to night. Dying Light 2 looks to expand on everything that made the original compelling while fleshing out its world and narrative and giving players even more tools to tackle both the undead and the very much alive.

When’s It Out? February 4

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

The cheapest copy: $74.90 (Standard Edition), $99 (Deluxe Edition) at Amazon with free shipping.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring needs no introduction, especially if you’ve got a FromSoftware fan or two in your life. The studio’s next major title represents a sizeable departure from their previous efforts with a huge open world to be explored. With a premise partly-penned by the one and only George R. R. Martin and the usual menagerie of enormous and grotesque bosses to be punished by, this one’s going to be something special.

When’s It Out? February 25

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

The cheapest copy: $79 at Amazon with free shipping.

Evil Dead: The Game

Sure, it’s yet another asymmetric multiplayer title steeped in 80s horror – but it’s Evil Dead this time! Saber Interactive is giving fans of the iconic franchise a very handsome and fun-looking take on the genre, and although it was delayed into its new release window of February it’s meant that the studio has also been able to add a single-player option which is a nice touch.

When’s It Out? TBA February

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

I hope you’re ready to KILL CHAOS! Everything about this game is incredibly weird – but we’re here for it. Reimagining the world of the original Final Fantasy as an edge lord Soulsborne game is certainly a conceptbut if the most recent playable trial is anything to go off it might actually turn out to be a pretty good time.

When’s It Out? March 18

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

The cheapest copy: $74.90 (PS5), $88 (Xbox) at Amazon with free shipping.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

What else do you do when the Borderlands franchise’s most beloved DLC is a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired campaign directed by the completely chaotic Tiny Tina? Turn it into a full game, obviously! Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands shakes up the established Borderlands formula in a number of ways with fully customisable playable characters, melee and magic attacks and more.

When’s It Out? March 25

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

The cheapest copy: $84.90 (Next Level Edition), $139 (Chaotic Great Edition) at Amazon with free shipping.

Saints Row

A total franchise reboot in a series that had maxed out its ‘wackiness’ factor two games ago, Saints Row looks like just the shake-up the series needed. With its most diverse locale yet, a new band of entertaining main characters and more options for customisation and carnage than ever this should be the perfect thing for those of us missing the fun factor of the open-world crime sims of yore.

When’s It Out? August 23

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

The cheapest copy: $78 (Day One Edition), $139 (Notorious Edition) at Amazon with free shipping.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

It feels like it’s been a long, long time coming but 2022 will be the year we finally get the most ambitious LEGO video game yet. Throwing out the linear structure and pulled-back camera of previous games, The Skywalker Saga features an over-the-shoulder camera, expanded combat and an open-ended campaign spanning the nine Skywalker Saga films.

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When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC

Sonic Frontiers

An open-world Sonic the Hedgehog game? Sign us up! The blue blur is enjoying a quiet renaissance lately thanks to the surprisingly good live-action film and some decent video game releases, but Frontiers is set to either be a proper comeback moment for Sonic and friends or a failed experiment in 3D Sonic gameplay. Time will tell.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

Daedalic Entertainment might not be the most well-known studio from a development perspective, but that hasn’t stopped them being trusted with this fairly unique project in the Lord of the Rings universe. Gollum is a fascinating character that deserves a bit of time in the spotlight and to have his story heard, so a starring role in a gorgeous-looking action-adventure game might be just the ticket.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Plague Tale: Innocence struck a surprise chord with many of us when it released in 2019 with fantastic storytelling and characters, and a simple but well put-together adventure. The sequel will hopefully flesh out its stealth mechanics while adding tens of thousands more rats on-screen thanks to the power on next-gen gaming. Next-gen rats!

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Set five years after the events of 2016’s indie darling, Oxenfree II promises to continue the original’s penchant for mind-bending mystery combined with its distinct dialogue system and gorgeous art.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Switch, PC

Hogwarts Legacy

Portkey Games has been radio silent about its highly-anticipated take on the Harry Potter universe, likely for very obvious reasons, but hopefully the game manages to reappear this year and separate itself from controversy enough that fans can enjoy a gorgeous, open-world action RPG set in the beloved universe.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Gotham Knights

WB Games Montreal is tackling the open world Gotham template established by Rocksteady with a multi-character action adventure where a second player can drop in at anytime for co-operative play. Playing as Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin and Red Hood players will face off against the secretive Court of Owls and restore justice to Gotham City.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Meanwhile, Rocksteady is tackling a different band of anti-heroes in the Suicide Squad. Unlike Gotham Knights, this one’s actually set in the Batman: Arkham universe, albeit from a different perspective, and will see players take on the roles of Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Harley Quinn and King Shark – switching between them at will in single player or playing with up to three others to fill out the entire team.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

DokeV

Coming from the developers behind Black Desert, DokeV is a jaw dropping-ly gorgeous open world creature-collecting game that looks as deep as it is stylish. The vibes are absolutely infectious, and if it lives up to the promise of its spectacular visuals it could well be a massive hit.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Shadow Warrior 3

Flying Wild Hog and Devolver Digital have been cooking this one up for a while, modernising the template established by the series’ initial 2013 reboot with even more over-the-top action and freedom of movement. Think DOOM Eternal with heavy Japanese and Chinese cultural influences.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

Star Ocean The Divine Force

This was a surprise announcement last year for a franchise that still has a hungry fanbase. It looks to feature the series’ staple sci-fi fantasy aesthetic and intoxicating combat with a huge and varied cast of characters.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Park Beyond

Theme park building sims are great and all, but what if they encouraged you to craft rides that straight-up break the laws of physics and public safety? That’s the question that Park Beyond hopes to answer while also making an attempt to fit the experience on a console controller more intuitively than anything else in the genre has managed to date.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Trek to Yomi

A superbly stylish samurai adventure that evokes classic Japanese cinema and combines it with vicious, stylish combat. The black and white, cinematic presentation looks to change up scene-by-scene as players engage in gameplay from multiple perspectives and fend off the forces of evil.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Atomic Heart

This Bioshock-esque first-person action RPG has had our eye for some time, so hopefully this year is the year we finally see it release. The alternate-reality Soviet Union sci-fi setting is incredibly intriguing and the grotesque, intelligent enemies should prove to be a tense and formidable challenge.

When’s It Out? TBA

Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One PC

Stay tuned for our picks of the games to look forward to on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch in 2022 coming soon!