Published , by Shack Staff
Published , by Shack Staff
As 2022 comes to a close, the Shacknews staff has assembled our annual list of awards. The Shacknews Awards 2022 deliberations were held over the first few weeks of December, and this article contains every single award. Please take a look.
Check out our Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2022 article to read more. You can also watch the Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2022 video embedded below.
Congratulations to every studio who shipped a game this year, but sadly there can only be one Shacknews Game of the Year 2022. Congratulations, FromSoftware!
Check out our Shacknews Game of the Year 2022 - Elden Ring article to read more.
Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.
Check out our Do it for Shacknews Award 2022 - Lola article to read more. Most years, the Shacknews Staff would have debated the recipient of the Do it for Shacknews Award, but this year's vote was unanimous. Lola did it for Shacknews every day of her life, and the love she exudes will continue to carry on through the people she touched over her seven years on Earth. Please take a look at this tribute video we created.
Thank you, Lola.
Check out our Shacknews Person of the Year 2022 - Hidetaka Miyazaki article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Check out our Shacknews Top 10 Indie Games of the Year 2022 to read the list.
Check out our Shacknews Indie Game of the Year 2022 - Tunic article to read more.
Tunic is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Check out our Shacknews Best Open World Game of 2022 - Elden Ring article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Narrative Game of 2022 - Beacon Pines article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Beacon Pines is available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Xbox Game Pass.
Check out our Shacknews Best FPS Game of 2022 - Tiny Tina's Wonderlands article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best RPG of 2022 - Elden Ring article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Horror Game of 2022 - MADiSON article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
MADiSON is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best PC Game of 2022 - Teardown article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Teardown is available on Steam.
Check out our Shacknews Best Gaming Accessory of 2022 - Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Check out our preview to read more about the Victrix Pro BFG controller. The gamepad costs $179.99 and is available at several retailers online.
Check out our Shacknews Best Art Style of 2022 - Pentiment article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Pentiment is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.
Check out our Shacknews Most Improved Game of 2022 - Cyberpunk 2077 article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Strategy Game of 2022 - Marvel Snap article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Marvel Snap is available on Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play.
Check out our Shacknews Best Early Access Game of 2022 - Disney Dreamlight Valley article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Steam, and Xbox platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Fighting Game of 2022 - MultiVersus article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
MultiVersus is free-to-play on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam.
Check out our Shacknews Best Remake of 2022 - The Last of Us Part 1 article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available on PlayStation platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Developer of 2022 - FromSoftware article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Check out our FromSoftware topic page for more coverage.
Check out our Shacknews Best Graphics of 2022 - God of War Ragnarok article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
God of War Ragnarok is available on both PlayStation 4 and PS5 platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Mod of 2022 - Sifu Power Ranger Edition article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
The Sifu Power Ranger Edition mod is available on Nexusmods.
Check out our Shacknews Best Nintendo Switch Game of 2022 - Kirby and the Forgotten Land article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available on Nintendo Switch and it even has a free demo.
Check out our Shacknews Best Racing Game of 2022 - Buck Up and Drive! article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Buck Up and Drive! is available on Steam.
Check out our Shacknews Best Sports Games of 2022 - Windjammers 2 article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Windjammers 2 is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Co-Op Game of 2022 - TMNT: Shredder's Revenge article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass.
Check out our Shacknews Most Overlooked Game of 2022 - Horizon Forbidden West article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Horizon Forbidden West is available on PlayStation 4 and PS5.
Check out our Shacknews Best Expansion of 2022: The Long Dark: Tales from the Far Territory article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
The Long Dark is available on PS4, Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Comeback of 2022 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Check out all of our Shacknews TMNT coverage to read more about this franchise's amazing comeback in 2022.
Check out our Shacknews Best Strand Game of 2022 - Sonic Frontiers article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Sonic Frontiers is available on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Outstanding Achievement in Accessibility 2022 - God of War Ragnarok article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
God of War Ragnarok is available on both PlayStation 4 and PS5 platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Multiplayer Game of 2022 - Splatoon 3 article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Splatoon 3 is available on Nintendo Switch.
Check out our Shacknews Best VR Game of 2022 - Among Us VR article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Among Us VR is available on Oculus and Steam platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Xbox Series X Game of 2022 - Grounded article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Grounded is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.
Check out our Modojo @ Shacknews Mobile Game of the Year 2022 - Marvel Snap article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Marvel Snap is available on Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play.
Check out our Shacknews Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2022 - Horizon Forbidden West article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Horizon Forbidden West is available on PlayStation 4 and PS5.
Check out our Shacknews Best Publisher of 2022 - Nintendo article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Check out more of our Nintendo coverage from this year on our topic page.
Check out our Shacknews Best PS4 Game of 2022 - God of War Ragnarok article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
God of War Ragnarok is available on both PlayStation 4 and PS5 platforms.
Check out our Shacknews Best Xbox One Game of 2022 - Grounded article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Grounded is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.
Check out our Shacknews Best Trendsetter of 2022 - Wordle article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Wordle is available to play on the NY Times website.
Check out our Shacknews Best Hardware of 2022 - Steam Deck article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Steam Deck is available to purchase on Steam.
Check out our Shacknews Esports Hero of 2022 - UMISHO article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Guilty Gear: Strive is available on Steam and PlayStation platforms.
Check out our Shackbattle Game of the Year 2022 - Wreckfest article to read more. You can also watch the deliberations for this Shacknews Award in the video embedded below.
Wreckfest is available on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox Game Pass, and Nintendo Switch.
With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe firmly sitting atop the all-time best-selling Switch games list, it's impressive with how much Nintendo increased the game's value with the Booster Course Pass. The sheer number of DLC tracks featured is enough to warrant its own separate game. The fact that most of these tracks are returning courses from past Mario Kart titles provides a nice injection of nostalgia when we get behind the wheel.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass is available on Nintendo Switch for free with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
It was hard to know what we were in for with The Super Mario Bros. Movie before the first real reveal. With Chris Pratt questionably cast and very little to go on for the CGI animation, we all waited with baited breath to see if Nintendo and Illumination could overcome the albatross that previously hung on Mario films. That said, they laid many concerns to rest in the Nintendo Direct presentation that had the first Super Mario Bros. Movie trailer. Pratt didn't do so terrible that it was irredeemable and everyone else (particularly Keegan-Michael Key as Toad and Jack Black as Bowser) sounded like they were knocking it out of the park. Also, the animation looks gorgeous and the world is incredibly vibrant. Nintendo and Illumination have done well to dispel our concerns about this movie and it all started at that fateful Nintendo Direct.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie will be released in theaters on April 7, 2023.
Scorn is a game that really gets under your skin, literally. The gross-out gore in this Giger-inspired horror game is filled with visuals that are hard to get out of your head once you've seen them. Most of it involves blood, or other parts of the body that are better kept on the inside. It's one we won't be forgetting anytime soon.
Scorn is available on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is the blueprint for proper video game adaptations: Take an interesting universe, put it in the hands of talented artists, and give them the creative liberty to make something unique. Studio Trigger gave us a compelling cyberpunk story packed with memorable characters and moments. It was so impactful that it strongly contributed to Cyberpunk 2077's resurgence this year.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is available to stream on Netflix.
We’ve been in and out of love with League of Legends for a while over the years, but 2022 was undoubtedly a surprising and exciting time for the game. There was the robust competitive year, the regular release of enjoyable new content, champions, and systems, and plenty more. However, Riot Games swung for the fences with its guest talent this year. We’re talking about none other than the appointment of Lil Nas X as “President of League of Legends”. It was one of the most out-of-left-field things when we learned he would be taking part in LoL’s end-year competitive festivities. Ultimately, Lil Nas X delivered big time when he and Jackson Wang kicked off the League of Legends Worlds 2022 Championship. His hit single “STAR WALKIN’” permeated the post-season of LoL and made for a memorable kickoff to the game’s esports finale. All of these things and more are why Lil Nas X gets the Shacknews Award for Best Cameo of 2022.
Check out more of our League of Legends coverage.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land was a delightful return to form for the iconic pink protagonist. The setting was a welcome departure from what we've come to expect from the series, and the new Mouthful Mode made for some hilariously cute moments. In a year that brought a diverse offering of platforming games, Kirby's latest adventure stands as the best.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available on Nintendo Switch and it even has a free demo.
Marvel Snap is not just an incredible game that happens to be free-to-play, but it's designed in such a way that players can thoroughly enjoy it without ever feeling pressured to spend a dime. There's a stigma around mobile games and their implementation of microtransactions, and Marvel Snap manages to avoid all of those distasteful pitfalls.
Marvel Snap is available on Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play.
Of all the games that came out this year, Tunic was one of those that reminded us of the simple fun and beauty of exploration and combat that we longed for from old Zelda games. Players embark on a charming journey through a mysterious and sometimes unforgiving world to discover treasures and rebuild a sacred book full of magic and secrets. Tunic's charm is only matched by its mysteriousness. The game is presented in a foreign language, and yet it is all somehow coherent as you adventure and unravel the secrets of the book, page by page. There were a lot of games that cast us on interesting adventures full of action through the year, but few captured a refined sense of wonder and curiosity that spurred us onward in our quest like Tunic.
Tunic is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and Xbox Game Pass.
Blaidd is a character in Elden Ring that is so very easily missed, but he's a stalwart companion once you begin your adventures with him. He's a wolf-headed giant of a knight wearing a striking furred cloak and beautifully ornate greatsword, and he serves as the faithful companion of the witch known as Ranni. Once you offer to help Ranni, Blaidd is a regular companion in your journeys and he's a great one at that. He meets you at Radahn's Festival and even helps you beat the dastardly Elden Lord. He awaits you in the underground where you ponder the mystery of the Eternal City of Nokron together as well. Blaidd is a daunting ally and a friendly face wherever you meet him, and it makes a the revelation of what he truly is in the end heartbreaking. If that we could have journeyed all the way to the end together, good wolf.
Elden Ring is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.
When it comes to video games with fantastic soundtracks, 2022 was packed full of outstanding entries. After heated deliberation, the indie rhythm shooter Metal: Hellsinger ended up taking home the win for best music. Not only does Metal: Hellsinger combine Doom-like combat with bombastic heavy metal music that layers on top of itself as you play, but the soundtrack actually sports a wealth of popular musicians.
For example, when playing Metal: Hellsinger you can enjoy tracks featuring the likes of Serj Tankian from System of a Down, Randy Blythe from Lamb of God, Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer, and Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy to name just a few. Given the soundtrack was custom created for the game, it also offers the unique benefit of being playable and streamable without the concern of DMCA issues looming overhead.
Furthermore, the stacked roster of iconic talent that Metal: Hellsinger’s soundtrack boasts has lent itself to some truly incredible real-life performances including a headbang-inducing concert held at 2022’s Gamescom.
Metal: Hellsinger is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox Game Pass.
Persona 5 is one of those games that felt like it was always meant to be on the Switch. As a JRPG powerhouse that you can sink endless hours into, it’s the perfect game to play on the couch or in bed. Hopefully Persona fans saw this award coming.
Persona 5 Royal is available on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass.
When it comes to games with beautiful water, one of the top standouts in 2022 was without a doubt Horizon Forbidden West. In addition to the game’s expansive assortment of water to splash around in from rivers and oceans to lakes and streams, the game boasts some impressive water-based tech.
For example, Horizon’s ocean wave system was one of the most complex systems built in the game according to one of the devs. Remarking on this Jan-Bart Forbidden Beek notes on Twitter that, “It uses a sequence of images that contain 3D vector displacement to make it possible to have waves break and collapse on themselves. Something that is hard to do, especially if it also needs to work on PS4.”
With this sort of tech and attention to detail you owe it to yourself to check out Horizon Forbidden West if you haven’t done so already, especially if you consider yourself a video game water connoisseur.
Horizon Forbidden West is available on PlayStation 4 and PS5.