Screen Rant's Gaming Editors Reflect on the Defining Titles of 2022

As we look back from the perspective of 2026, the year 2022 stands as a monumental period in interactive entertainment. It was a year where long-awaited AAA behemoths finally arrived, while innovative independent titles carved out their own legendary status, creating a diverse and unforgettable gaming landscape. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles became firmly established in living rooms, and the Steam Deck emerged as a revolutionary portable platform. This era also saw a wave of impressive current-generation enhancements for beloved classics, refreshing older adventures for a new audience. Amidst this rich tapestry, the editorial team at Screen Rant each found personal champions, games that defined their year through unique experiences, compelling narratives, and pure, unadulterated fun.

Lara's Personal Favorite: Pokémon Violet

Selected by Lead Gaming Editor Lara Jackson, Pokémon Violet offered a distinctively cozy and liberating experience amidst a year of epic, high-stakes releases. For Lara, the joy came from the simple pleasures of exploring the Paldea region with Pokémon companions and engaging in the unexpectedly delightful sandwich-making mechanic. While the title was noted for its technical issues at launch, it represented a fresh, open-world evolution of the classic monster-catching formula, rekindling a passion for the franchise and paving the way for further exploration in titles like Legends: Arceus. It was a testament to how personal connection and nostalgic innovation can define a game of the year.

Austin's Standout Indie: Chained Echoes

In a year dominated by blockbuster budgets, Features Editor Austin King found his game of the year in the indie gem Chained Echoes. This title served as a profound love letter to the classic JRPGs of the SNES and PlayStation era, masterfully blending homage with innovation. It cleverly played with established conventions while paying respect to inspirations like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI. Austin praised its effortless combination of a lovable cast, an excellent musical score, beautiful pixel artistry, and deeply engaging turn-based combat, all wrapped in a sprawling, compelling narrative. Chained Echoes proved that heart and design ingenuity could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the year's biggest releases.

Cody's Artistic Choice: Pentiment

For Reviews Editor Cody Gravelle, Obsidian's Pentiment was an unparalleled artistic achievement. He argued that its brilliance lies in its singular nature; it is an experience utterly unlike any other, demanding to be played to be understood. Drawing a parallel to the divisive yet acclaimed Death Stranding, Cody described Pentiment as a work of "granular genius," where even the smallest narrative revelation feels monumental within its spiraling, detective-style tale set in 16th-century Bavaria. It was a game confident in its unique vision, a bold, egotistical undertaking that, in his view, was entirely justified by its execution.

The Cultural Phenomenon: Elden Ring

FromSoftware's Elden Ring was not just a game; it was a cultural event, and it captured the top spot for two Screen Rant editors. Features Editor Ewan Paterson, who had previously struggled with the studio's punishing titles, found himself completely captivated by the Lands Between. He praised the game for exemplifying the unique strengths of the medium, offering a breath of fresh air in the open-world genre by forgoing map clutter in favor of pure, rewarding exploration and environmental storytelling. The shared sense of discovery through in-game player messages created a cherished communal experience, helping him finally "click" with FromSoftware's distinctive design philosophy.

Features Editor Kyle Gratton saw Elden Ring as the magnificent culmination of a journey that began with Dark Souls. For him, it cemented FromSoftware's position in a league of its own, combining incredibly precise and varied combat with a world of endless awe and mystery. The game not only lived up to years of unprecedented hype but exceeded it, becoming a legitimate phenomenon that dominated discourse and brought legions of new fans into the fold. Kyle considered it a potential once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece, yet remained confident in the studio's ability to surpass it.

Tash's Emotional Journey: Stray

Features Editor Tash Martell awarded her game of the year to the feline adventure Stray. While she enjoyed the relaxing comforts of Disney Dreamlight Valley, it was the unexpected emotional depth of Stray that left a lasting impression. The game combined the inherent appeal of controlling a cat with simple yet enjoyable platforming, fun puzzles, and a surprisingly heart-wrenching narrative. With minimal, text-based dialogue, it masterfully drew players into the poignant journey of a lost cat and its robot companion in a hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic world, earning a perfect score from Screen Rant for its execution.

William's Addictive Gem: Vampire Survivors

In a year of epic-scale adventures, Guides Editor William Cennamo championed the minimalist brilliance of Vampire Survivors. This indie title shone as a beacon of addictive gameplay, with its simplified controls, compelling upgrade systems, and the purest incarnation of the "just one more run" feeling. For William, it was the true game of the year, a title he returned to repeatedly, perfecting runs with different characters from the whip-wielding Antonio to the area-controlling Dommario. He argued that after conquering the grandest beasts and completing the most complex quests, players would always return to the masterful, genre-defining simplicity of Vampire Survivors.

Akshay's Strategic Pick: Triangle Strategy

Guides Editor Akshay Bhalla found his favorite experience in the tactical RPG Triangle Strategy. While it may not have swept award shows, it perfectly scratched the itch for a deep, classic tactical experience. Akshay praised its nail-biting narrative, which warranted multiple playthroughs, and its innovative "convictions" and voting system. This mechanic added a fresh layer to the formula, directly impacting both the story's direction and the conditions on the battlefield. Despite also loving titans like Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarok, it was the world-building and character dynamics of Triangle Strategy that provided him with the most enjoyment.

Chris's Unanimous Argument: Pentiment

Updates Writer Chris Teuton presented a straightforward and emphatic case for Pentiment as the undisputed game of the year. His argument was simple: anyone who disagreed simply hadn't played it yet. He highlighted the game's accessibility through Xbox Game Pass on both console and PC, noting the convenience of cloud saves that allowed players to jump between platforms seamlessly. For Chris, Pentiment was not just a contender; it was the definitive champion of 2022, an experience so unique and compelling that it demanded recognition from all who engaged with it.

The Lasting Legacy of 2022

Looking back from 2026, the selections from Screen Rant's editors highlight the incredible diversity and quality that defined 2022. From the open-world revolution of Elden Ring and Pokémon Violet to the intimate narrative craftsmanship of Pentiment and Stray, and from the strategic depth of Triangle Strategy to the addictive loops of Vampire Survivors and the nostalgic innovation of Chained Echoes, each game carved out its own space in gaming history. This collection of titles demonstrates that a "best game" is deeply personal, defined as much by the experience it provides as by the technical achievements it boasts. The year 2022 gifted players with a rich library of worlds to get lost in, challenges to overcome, and stories to remember, setting a high bar for the years that followed.