With the first half of 2022 behind us, it’s time to get excited about the prime release period for games in the run up to the holiday season.
Developers have an enormous lineup ready for the Christmas period. Whatever you love playing, there’s sure to be something to stuff in your stocking this year.
Here are the game releases to get excited about this fall and winter.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is not technically a new game but a reboot of the 2019 version. It sees the return of Task Force 141, featuring the likes of Captain Price, Gaz, Soap, and Ghost. It’s a continuation of the original story, following the deaths of Russian ultranationalist, Victor Zakhaev and traitorous American, General Shepherd.
Unfortunately, details are light on exactly what the story will be and where the team will be taken, but the online play is sure to shine. Get ready for Call of Duty to return to what it does best, away from all the jetpacks and over-the-top narratives, in October 2022.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
It wouldn’t be a year of gaming without yet another installment in the Pokémon series. Scarlet and Violet are expected to drop in November, just in time for Christmas.
What we know so far is that Pokémon Legends: Arceus, is the inspiration, with a completely open world with no borders. You’ll be able to explore to your heart’s content from the first minute you enter the world.
Hopefully, we will also see some of the innovative features brought to us in Legends, such as the casino. There may even be potential for the in-game casino to resemble online casinos, with a greater array of games and free-play bonuses.
This will be the ninth generation of Pokémon and the region will be based on the cities of the Mediterranean.
The Callisto Protocol
The Callisto Protocol is a survival horror game that is expected to be released at the beginning of December. It marks the debut of the brand-new studio, Striking Distance. The team hopes to be the flag bearers of the next-generation of survival horror games.
This title will take place on one of Jupiter’s moons, inside a maximum security prison. Prepare yourself for the ultimate alien nightmare with The Callisto Protocol.
But, who’s the man behind it? Glen Schofield, the man famous for producing Dead Space, one of the greatest sci-fi horror titles to be made. Interestingly enough, the game is technically set in the PUBG universe.
Highwater
Demagog Studio is an indie developer, but you shouldn’t turn away from this winter release. The first glimpse of Highwater appeared at the Summer Game Fest 2022. What stood out was its artistic style.
Set in a world where the climate emergency has hit, prepare for a landscape that’s utterly flooded. You’ll set out as Niko, on your boat for an epic adventure. It’s a turn-based combat game where you’ll need to make the most of your environment to defeat your enemies.
If you’re looking for something a little slower paced, Highwater is the game for you.
Sonic Frontiers
Sonic is back on all mediums with a brand-new adventure. The world’s most famous hedgehog is back, with a title embracing something called open-zone freedom.
You’ll fight powerful enemies as you traverse the Starfall Islands. Featuring a range of environments, from forests to deserts, you’ll pass awe-inspiring waterfalls and towering structures.
For all intents and purposes, Sonic Frontiers does seem to harken back to its roots, but Sonic is always a fun play either way.
Hogwarts Legacy
Step back into the world of magic with this open-world RPG. Hogwarts Legacy is not a continuation of the Harry Potter series but a look back into the past. Think of it as a clean slate, with new teachers, enemies, and spells.
You play the role of a Hogwarts student in the 1800s. Set hundreds of years before the characters you already know were born, you’ll get to experience an entirely fresh story as you make your return to the wizarding world.
No release date has been set, but it’s guaranteed to be sometime during the holidays.
Conclusion
2022 is set to be an impressive year for games. With hot releases coming out of every genre, you’re sure to find something you’ll love for the holiday season.
What’s more, there’s still time for other studios to excite us. The full list of holiday releases has yet to appear, meaning there could still be some surprises along the way.
What game are you most looking forward to in 2022?
