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.

17 of 21 photo by Annapurna Interactive

89 #3 (tie): Neon White

The latest critically acclaimed release from indie publisher Annapurna Interactive comes from Ryann Shannon (a writer on Cartoon Network's OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes). The speed-oriented action game blends shooting and parkour with style to spare and breaks for a visual novel storyline which casts you as an assassin from Hell who seeks a chance at redemption (and a move to Heaven) by battling against other demon slayers.

“Neon White is a love letter to turn-of-the-decade internet weirdos. It's full of rule-of-cool anime nostalgia, ear-shredding electronic music, and dialogue ripped straight out of my group chats. It's a genuine game made for an audience rarely prioritised, but even if you don't fit the archetypical person this game was made for, you're still in for the most stylish and satisfying action-platformer I've ever experienced.” —TheSixthAxis

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