Every video game lover knows the excitement of sitting down to play a hotly anticipated new video game. The new releases for 2022 include all the usual suspects that range from sports to fantasy. Whereas many of these are new chapters to long-running series, some games are new concepts, and video game recruiters report these successes opening up new opportunities for video game jobs.
Most games in the new 2022 lineup are available in mobile and console versions. While everyone loves the ability to play games on the go with their mobile devices, there is just no substitute for sitting down in front of a big screen to make you feel like you are part of all the action. It’s always a challenge to decide which games to spend your hard-earned time and money on. So, to help you get it all sorted out, here is a list of the biggest console games of 2022:
Breath of the Wild 2
Breath of the Wild 2 was announced in 2019 and slated to come to Nintendo Switch in late 2022. The new installment is a direct sequel to 2017s Link and Zelda from Breath of the Wild with the continuation of the original storyline. Very limited information about the game has been released thus far, but the trailers have revealed a darker theme to the new game.
Madden NFL 2022
This is the 33rd installment of the iconic live-action sports game. Madden NFL 2022 was released in August available for multiple console platforms that include Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5 and Xbox and offers single- and multiplayer modes. New features for 2022 include staff management, an enhanced season engine and weekly strategy profiles.
Mario Kart 8
Nintendo’s Mario Kart has been a fan favorite for years, and the game’s newest incarnation is no exception. Mario Kart 8 continues to make updates, including more realistic graphics and scores of new courses. The game has always been super easy to learn and play, family-friendly and available for Wii U and Nintendo Switch consoles.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Released by Nintendo and available for Nintendo Switch, Kirby and the Forgotten Land takes you on an unforgettable 3D adventure exploring a strange and mysterious world filled with remnants of a past civilization. Of the 13 mainline entries, this is the first version of the game to be offered in full 3D animation and sold over two million units in the first two weeks of release.
Gran Turismo 7
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s 25th Anniversary Edition of Gran Turismo 7 was released in March for PlayStation 4 and 5 and is touted as the most complete lifelike driving simulator in the game’s 25-year history. With classic car designs and iconic tracks, wannabe race-car drivers, automobile collectors and designers can immerse themselves in the aspects of automotive culture that interest them the most.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Published by Activision, Call of Duty: Vanguard is the latest installment of the worldwide phenomenon military action game. The title has been received by fans as rabidly as its predecessors. Call of Duty: Vanguard allows for single- and multiplayer modes and is available for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S console platforms.
MLB: The Show 22
The professional baseball fan answer to Madden’s football fanatics, MLB: The Show 22 is published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S and Nintendo Switch consoles. Like Madden, the new installment of MLB: The Show franchise was a virtual home run as soon as it was released in April and has reached the number five spot in sales so far this year.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Released in January, Pokemon Legends: Arceus from Nintendo Switch is a single-player, role-playing game where battle and action collide in this fresh take on the Pokemon series. The eighth generation of the Pokemon franchise is a prequel to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, taking players back in time to the colonization of Japan. The game has already sold well over 12 million copies, ranking it in the top five video games for the year, and that number continues to climb.
Saints Row
Published by THQ and Deep Silver for play on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and EPIC consoles, Saints Row is the fifth installment in the series. The game is set in what appears to be the desert southwest. The new Saints Row has the same trademark open-world sandbox format the series has come to be known for. This incarnation has a much more serious tone than the somewhat zany Saints Row IV. Reception has been good so far and seems to appeal to the game-playing crowd looking for a slightly campier version of Grand Theft Auto.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5 and the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga can be played as either a single- or multiplayer game. The new game combines the previous Star Wars franchise entries with the complete LEGO treatment that once dominated the video game world. The game’s release had been highly anticipated, and both sales and expectations have been more than met, ranking second in overall sales in 2022.
Elden Ring
Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment and released in February for Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5 and the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles, this long-anticipated game has not disappointed. Elden Ring is a single and multiplayer fantasy action & role-playing game that allows players to travel through a dark and dangerous fantasy world of mystery and intrigue on foot or horseback. However, despite some striking similarities, Elden Ring is unrelated to the Dark Souls franchise. Elden Ring is one of the biggest and most elaborate games ever created and is the top-selling video game of 2022, already selling close to 14 million copies.
Video Game Recruiting for Console Games
The video game market remains competitive, pushing developers and publishers to come up with fresh ideas for new games and fan-favorite franchises. As such, video game recruiting companies report the demand for video game designers and engineers is either holding strong or increasing to keep pace with the constant need to come up with fresh ideas.
The ongoing demand for qualified game developers has opened up the market for remote gaming jobs. This allows companies to find the experienced people they need anywhere in the world to make and market successful games. At DAM, we work with some of the industry’s most respected game development studios and never charge a fee for job-seeker assistance and placement.
