The previous year of 2021 had a lot of great games released. Whether at the start of the year with Hitman 3, Monster Hunter Rise, and New Pokémon Snap, closer to the end with Forza Horizon 5, Epic Chef, and Farming Simulator 22, or even in the middle with the likes of Lake, Mario Golf: Super Rush and Rush Rally Origins. Even if your lists are different, I’m sure there’s at least three for each period you could name.

For this year, there are already numerous games we know about that have dates, and plenty that are confirmed for this year with nothing but a release period (or not even that in some cases). Just like with last year, I’ll be talking of those games I’ve got my eye on along with a few wishlist options. I promise I won’t repeat all of those from last year (that’s probably going to be a lie).

I can’t start this off without talking about LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. This is the year. I feel it. Three years since it was first teased at Celebration Chicago, after two gameplay trailers and delays, Spring 2022 will be the final date. Whether that be March, April, or even May the Fourth, we’ll soon be exploring this blocky galaxy that TT Games have constructed.

Whether it can match the wishes I have for it remain to be seen, but this is easily the largest LEGO game we have ever seen. Even if we haven’t seen much of it yet. From the galaxy map revealed in the second gameplay trailer, there’s 24 planets to be exploring, not including a possible 25th (depending on how Starkiller Base/Exegol are handled), along with other space-based locations such as the Death Stars and other space stations.

It will be the best tie-in game for every film, and it all comes in one package. I’m interested in seeing how the stories for each film are handled, as there are differences that have been noted with some parts – such as with Boba Fett attacking the Millennium Falcon on Bespin. No matter whether such alterations are small or big (such as visiting Padmé’s family on Naboo), it will still be an enjoyable experience for all.

And sticking with LEGO for just a bit longer, the next game after The Skywalker Saga is no doubt well into pre-production. Just which IP TT Games have gone for is anyone’s guess, but there’s one I would want above others. I’ve already given a concept of it last year, as Harry Potter could do with a revisit. There’s a lot of potential to craft the greatest tie-in games to the films, just as with The Skywalker Saga, but with Harry Potter there is the books to draw upon for extra content. No matter which IP they use for their next game, I’m sure I’ll be enjoying it just as much as The Skywalker Saga.

One game that is very close is Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The open world Pokémon adventure releases at the end of this month, giving players the chance to explore a Sinnoh region before civilisation took the land over. Much the same as Monster Hunter, there’s distinct areas to visit that are open environments, rather than the entire region being one huge map.

Battles are much the same as ever, but with the slight change of no longer having just one attack per turn. Instead, various stats of the Pokémon will determine how many attacks they can put in, so if you’re faster you can get two or even three attacks before your opponent can get one. There’s also modifiers with the agile and strong styles, which will affect action speed and action power.

Journeying to the past of Sinnoh – when it was known as the Hisui region – also brings with it some other changes. Completing the Pokédex this time requires research of the Pokémon you wish to add to it, undertaking tasks to fully understand each pocket monster, rather than just a single catch to see all its data. PC boxes are not a thing here, so you’ll send Pokémon to ranches and decide who to take with you on expeditions. Along with other things. There’s so much I could talk of with this one, but it’s less than a month away. May as well find out for ourselves when it arrives.

Sonic Frontiers is at the other end of the year, coming in close to December for its release. There’s very little we know of this one, barring what the rumours say. I’m not going to dive into any of those. What I’m hoping for with the game is that the environments are great to explore. That the moveset for Sonic can utilise the fast yet fluid movement that I feel the series should strive for.

One other thing I’m hoping for is other characters. Whether playable or not, I don’t really mind, but I want them to have a more substantial role than seen in recent games. Even though Forces tried, they still felt like cheerleaders owing to the fact barely anyone did anything. With this game, I want to see them in the action, reacting to events that they are a part of. Whenever we see more of it, I’m hoping it will tell us whether my wishes are coming true.

Since I’ve talked of my three other cores, I may as well talk about my latest core. Power Rangers is very close to its major change, with a cinematic universe involving films, TV, and comics. How about throwing games into the mix, as well? And not just celebratory ones like Battle For The Grid. There’s the ability to tell a good story with a game that can explore things differently than the TV shows or even films could, so why not use that to full effectiveness?

To reel off a few more of the known games, there’s a new Test Drive Unlimited coming, which will give us a new place to be exploring in Hong Kong Island. A 1:1 recreation of the island, even if not accurate, will be fun to be driving around. High-end luxury car culture will be the focus here, hopefully with all the fun events that the old two games provided. Hopefully KT Racing can do good with it, as I really want to see the series come back on a high note.

Park Beyond is an interesting one. A theme park builder that seems as though it’s going for a more story-driven approach to the genre, with the website and trailer introducing some of the characters we will encounter. And speaking of that trailer, it showed off some of the crazy contraptions we’ll be able to research and place without the park. It is very unlikely to be the next Thrillville, but I definitely wouldn’t say no to being able to explore on foot and maybe even take some photos from that ground level.

A new Saints Row is coming, and is reinventing everything players know about the Saints. Probably not the best idea when your audience have been so invested in the current Saints, but maybe it can work out for the best. The gameplay still looks typical Saints Row fare, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Along with a world that’s very American Southwest styled, this game should be an excellent one to be enjoying.

But the game that will easily top it is GTA V Expanded and Enhanced. Yeah… It’s another joke entry for this game after already appearing in What I’m Waiting For Volume 9. The butt of jokes that follows on from The ‘Definitive’ Trilogy, we’ve not really seen much of it that should make people want to buy it. It’s most likely just a next-gen upgrade we’ll be paying full price for. Throw in Liberty City and some Story Mode content, and maybe I’ll bite.

Of course… We had the Trilogy released last year, with V E&E this year… Maybe it’s time for the next GTA? It definitely won’t be released this year, but surely we can get an announcement this year? It would be great to know where we’re going for the next GTA – whether Vice City or somewhere completely new, and just how large this next Rockstar world will be.

I can’t end this without talking about Mario Kart. 8 Deluxe is still a fun time, but it is getting close to eight years without a new one. It might still be a best seller, but we need something fresher. Live: Home Circuit and Tour don’t cut it. A full roster of new tracks, returning old favourites, and more crossover potential. New modes are also something that I’d wish for. I’ve talked about such before.

There’s plenty of other games to mention that are coming this year, but I’m not going to extend this article too much more with all of that. Splatoon 3 will be this summer’s big game from Nintendo, unless of course they announce something just as big for around that time. Shredders is bringing some extreme snow sports next month, which seems to have some kind of a story-based progression while also allowing for some open world exploration.

Two Point Campus is a new game from the team that gave us Two Point Hospital, this time focused on an area that business management games rarely venture. Are you able to run a university that is loved by all who attend? Or will it be a soul-crushing money-grabbing experience that only you as the manager will be happy with? Kirby is here with his first full 3D adventure, exploring the Forgotten Lands that seem to be some kind of human city long abandoned. We shall see when it releases.

And a special mention goes to Hitman 3, which is set to be getting new content across this year. New maps, storylines, and ways to play – including a VR mode for PC players. That will very likely add a whole game’s worth of content to it. The Elusive Target Arcade also means there’s a great challenge mode coming.

Already then, there’s a lot of games for this year to be enjoying. And with events like E3 and various company-specific ones set to be held throughout the year, that number will increase. It will be a great year for games, perhaps one of the best. But what are you hoping will come this year? What are you going to get this year?

Images Taken From:
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Gameplay Trailer 2
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Official Trailer
Sonic Frontiers Announce Trailer
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Welcome to… Trailer
Saints Row Game Awards Gameplay Trailer
Splatoon 3 Announcement Trailer