The 20 Best Video Games of 2022 So Far

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – July 7, 2022

Which games impressed professional reviewers the most during the first half of the year? Above, we rank the best-reviewed videogames released between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022 by Metascore. Games must have at least 7 reviews from professional critics to be eligible for inclusion.

Note that ...

If a game was released on multiple platforms, we included only the version receiving the largest total number of reviews (usually, but not always, the PS5 or PS4 version).

Multi-game compilations and newly released ports of games released in prior years on other platforms are excluded, unless they are substantially different from the prior release(s) (for example, an HD remaster of a previous-gen game that also adds some new content). We have also excluded DLC.

13 of 21 photo by SEGA

86 #8: Total War: WARHAMMER III

Following two previous releases in 2016 and 2017—each warmly received by critics—Total War: Warhammer III is the third melding of Creative Assembly's Total War strategy franchise and Games Workshop's Warhammer fantasy series. So once again you'll find Total War's trademark mix of turn-based strategy and real-time tactical combat set within the world of Warhammer (here, specifically, in a larger-than-ever area ranging from the Lands of the East to the Realms of Chaos). Playable races include the the Tzeentch, the Nurgle, the Slaanesh, the Kislev, and the Grand Cathay—in fact, there are nine playable Legendary Lords to choose from, including the Daemon Prince. There are various single- and multi-player modes—including huge new tower-defense-inspired "Survival" battles.

“An essential play for any fans of the strategy genre, Warhammer 3 is quite possibly the best Total War entry to date. Bigger, better, and bloodier than its predecessors, this conclusion delivers everything that fans were asking for – and then some.” —NME

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