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Then there was God of War Ragnarok which helped bookmark the PlayStation brand this year. It swept The Game Awards with many categories but didn’t quite take home the coveted Game of the Year award. The AAA games on these systems were great, but there were a lot of good smaller games too. It’s time to highlight the hidden gems of 2022.
7 Batora: Lost Haven
Batora: Lost Haven is a top-down action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic future. The game begins with Avril and Mila exploring some ruins when Avril goes into a dream. In there she meets the embodiment of the Moon and Sun and is granted the power to harness both along with a deadly blade and gun.
Both forms can solve puzzles through various means and they can cancel out attacks from enemies depending on which form is taken. Flashing between two colored forms is a similar gameplay mechanic to Outland, which was a Metroidvania that came out in 2011. It’s been a while since a game tried this gimmick and it mostly works for Batora: Lost Haven aside from some pacing issues.
6 Chenso Club
Chenso Club is an action platformer with randomized elements similar to a roguelike. Players begin with Blue who has a chainsaw as a weapon. The further players progress through the game, the more characters they will unlock who have different abilities and weapons. Every run players take will randomize level layouts, so no two experiences will be the same.
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There’s not much of a progression system in the game besides unlocking characters and stages. It’s a simple indie game with basic platforming and action controls and playing a small game like this in co-op can be enjoyable for some mindless fun.
5 Powerslave Exhumed
Powerslave was a first-person shooter carved from the DNA of many 90s games like DOOM, Wolfenstein, and the list goes on. It was originally released for the Sega Saturn in 1996 with a couple of ports following that. There was a planned sequel but it was canceled. The game itself was ahead of its time as it is a Metroidvania shooter.
Players explore ruins around Egypt, uncovering tools and weapons that can unlock doors in previous levels. The remaster via Powerslave Exhumed does little to improve things besides a very basic graphical smoothing effect. It definitely feels like a 90s shooter, warts and all, which may be intriguing for some diehard fans out there.
4 Shadow Man: Remastered
This game was originally launched in 1999 on PC, PS1, and Nintendo 64. It wound receive one sequel in 2002 as a PS2 exclusive and since then things have been quiet until now. Shadow Man: Remastered is a port of the original with a few touch-ups done to make it look more modern like the graphics.
It’s an action-adventure game similar to how the old Tomb Raider games played. Players are a voodoo warrior who has to fight between the world of the living and the dead to stop Jack the Ripper from becoming something more sinister. It’s a wild premise to be sure and a bit janky around the edges, but still a neat concept.
3 Terror Of Hemasaurus
Terror of Hemasaurus was clearly made as an homage to the Rampage series. There is a story involving a Godzilla-like beast that washes ashore in an iceberg and a cult that forms after this discovery. The narrative is not important for those that want to get straight to the arcade-like action though.
Level designs are simple, giving players some set goals in the campaign like killing a certain amount of civilians a certain way. The game is essentially a chaotic playground for players to live out their Kaiju fantasies alone or with friends and it’s a good time.
2 Wavetale
Wavetale starts with a young girl, Sigrid, helping her grandmother collect sparks. After completing her task, their island is overtaken by a wave, sending Sigrid adrift. She wakes up to find a shadow girl willing to help her walk on water and the adventure begins from there as Sigrid journeys to free her oceanic land of this incoming wave of darkness.
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The basic jump and attack functions are fine, but what sets this game apart is the wave-riding mechanics. There’s also a grappling feature that creates amazing momentum if paired with wave riding. The art also helps brings this magical journey to life.
1 Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr
It’s hard to keep track of this series because it seems like there is a new game every minute. Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr is a PS5 and Xbox Series X port of a game that came out in 2018. It includes DLC along with some graphical upgrades to make it feel a bit more modern.
It is an action RPG like Diablo but set in space, offering players a plethora of class choices to aid the Space Marines in their crusade against the Orks. For those who can’t wait until June for Diablo 4, now is a great time to jump into this righteous clone.
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