My Favorite Games: 2022

 Another year, another list. When we reached the tail-end I was weirdly starting to feel as if this year was a little top heavy. As I made my final push I came to realize I was wrong. Turns out there was a ton of good games and I had incredible difficulty deciding this top ten. This year had everything, from triple-A games that absolutely exceeded expectations to indie darlings that came out of nowhere. Here's my top 10 favorite games of 2022.

Pokemon S/V

"She was busy with work.
Hardly ever came home."

This game is so damn close to being so much higher on my list. I absolutely love what they've done narratively here. It's not like it's some kind of mind-blowing feat of literature but there's an emotional depth there while still reminding me that this is for kids. It's definitely the type of story that if I did play it as a kid I would remember it into adulthood and refer to it fondly as it would have contained some of the more emotionally engaging moments of media in my youth a la Lion King or Prince of Egypt. It's absolutely unforgivable that a triple-A game like this released in the state that it was in, but dammit the stuff they did narratively and the concepts they had gameplay-wise I was so into. I don't think I've completed a Pokémon game or Pokédex faster. Hopefully this is a stepping stone to more quality stories as well as improvements in optimization.

Metal: Hellsinger

Rock On

It's the way that I started listening to The Agonist after this game. I don't listen to the genre of metal so much anymore these days, but occasionally I do get into the mood. This game immediately slung me into it. I know I'm a rogue-like whore, but BPM just didn't do it for me. Metal: Hellsinger actually works as a streamlined narrative as opposed the vagueness of a game in the rogue-like genre. Taking it's concept in a more rhythm game scoreboard direction allows for a cohesive narrative to be present. The gameplay feels very smooth and the songs rip. While the bosses all look the same, their gameplay mechanics do differ. Oh, and that final boss, what a fun time! The game is short and the ending implies there might not be more and I hope that's the case. I do so badly want more of the Hellsinger.

Grounded

"It's no Lemon Crime."

Honestly, wasn't quite sure what to expect from Grounded. I was like, ok, an excuse to be all small and build stuff, cool. This will scratch a new Raft/Minecraft type itch I have. What I didn't know was I was in for a neat narrative and a landmark-focused world a la Fallout. This makes sense, the Obsidian Fallout games were my personal favorites and it's neat to see the studio add this to their wheelhouse. Not only does the game have all the stuff to do in a building simulation game it has a fascinating B-movie story to boot with heart at the center of it's lore. The enemy variety is great and the creative approach to backyard biomes had me enjoying this so much more than I thought I would.

Neon White

I can't believe God Himself decided
to bless me with the thing I love most:
a completely clueless boy.

What a rad game and what a passionate community. This was one of my favorite games to stream because the community who's into it are very active. They didn't necessarily back seat game or anything like that, but rather they were very into viewing my journey. For those who don't know, Neon White is meant to be speed ran. There's so many ways to go about a level that can just cut your time progressively. The creativity in the movement of it all made it such a blast to embrace. The characters are very colorful and silly. They carry the story very hard along with that need to find the next speed running puzzle. In a weird way it's also a resource manager, with you managing the cards per stage. While I can't see myself becoming a true speedrunner of the game I will continue to appreciate it from afar.

Powerwash Simulator

*Powerwashing sounds*

I originally did not have Powerwash Simulator on my must play list. Honestly, I never know what to expect with any of the Simulator branded games. BBQ Simulator is straight unhinged, same with Goat Simulator. Firefighting Simulator is rip-roaring multiplayer fun. They all lean into the goofiness often is how I feel. I was pleasantly surprised to be pitched Powerwash Simulator which isn't nearly as absurd as the other Simulator games. By comparison it's actually pretty grounded. It was the perfect chill and vibe game. I was also told there is a story and as I played it I was delighted to see what kind of story that was. Even now, sometimes to wind down before bed I'll pop on Powerwash Simulator, and think to myself "What a lovely time."

Digimon Survive

"See you when I get back!"

I have a fond place in my heart for Digimon, but within my circle of friends it didn't feel as prominent. I hadn't really consumed much content outside of it's third iteration and I never played any of the games really. My friends Zen and Soft&Wet PROMISED me that this one was special. Soft&Wet even went as far as to buy me a copy. I owed it to him to play this game. What I wasn't expecting was to be so shaken up. This isn't what I remember of Digimon. They took my own childhood perception of it and threw it at a concrete wall. What splattered is a genuine piece of art that explored the consequences of such creatures existing. It delves deep into childhood traumas and concepts that many children deal with. A fascinating look at growing up and faults in communication/understanding. I cannot recommend this game more to anyone who craves both nostalgia and something new. Hell, even anyone who is looking to have their childhood concepts challenged, this game deserves to be played.

AI: The Somnium Files - NirvanA Initiative

We live in a simulation.

The sequel to one of my favorite games to stream steps it up. It provided everything and then some from the original. It has dance numbers, ridiculous characters, and sci-fi noir vibes. For those who don't know, film noir is one of my absolute favorite genres and I studied quite a lot of it at university. Once again here we find ourselves with unreliable narrators, but it does so in quite a different way. The occurances of the crimes involved in this game happen 6 years apart and the lines in between are blurry. It all accumulates to possibly my favorite somnium of both games. Unlike the bombastic final somnium of it's predecessor we find ourselves in the midst of something truly intimate and tragic. I genuinely hope this series gets one more go. I'd like to stop by for one more dance party with these characters, if only to continue sharing this streaming experience with some of my favorite friends in Pxlhearts.

Signalis

Remember your promise

Haunting. Truly, truly haunting. Somehow, someway, this beautiful treasure of an indie game managed to capture the essence of classics such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Not only that, the actual mechanics of the gameplay have a hand at the game's themes and concepts. This is the kind of nostalgia I can stand by. Rather than just rehashing something we've seen before the game knows what makes those games great and revolutionizes them for the modern audience. The story continues to stick with me heading into the new year and I cannot wait to see what else this studio does. If anyone longs for the classic puzzle-solving horror survival of yore, look no further. You'll find something truly extraordinary.

Elden Ring

No maidens. Touch grass.

If a number of games are but a faint echo of Breath of the Wild then Elden Ring is what happens when you take that echo and push it through a megaphone. It is a natural evolution of the genre and in many ways surpasses it. There's a reason it's the most accessible of the souls games and why tons more people have played it. The game has managed to somehow be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be. It might take a little time in order to make the game as easy as you want it to, but all the tools are there. It is on the agency of the player to obtain it. This, along with my favorite game of the year, have managed to live up to the astronomical hype that has been placed before them. Too often we see the failures (ahem, cyberpunk) but we truly are blessed here, in the the year of our lordt 2022, to have both Elden Ring and this next game that have shattered all expectation.

God of War: Ragnarok

"For the sake of our children,
we must be better."

To choose between this game and Elden Ring seems truly unfair. Both games are so vastly different and have so much so lived up to the hype bestowed upon them. As a book end finale the story is truly complete and thrashed me with such emotional heft I could not help but really embrace the character Kratos has become after all these years. I was never the biggest God of War fan, but this revisit to the character and the way they've molded him into a father who is constantly learning... I'll be thinking about it for a long time. This is also another one of those cases where nostalgia has a faint hand, but what truly shines here is how much is learned and how much a character has grown. We've peeled back the layers on Kratos and what's left here is one of the most memorable gaming experiences of the past couple of years.

I'm glad I can compile this list. It was a busy year for me video game wise. Hopefully more on next year's list will be played on stream! I also have a couple of games I've yet to visit for this list that unfortunately had to be put on the backburner due to time. These include Horizon Forbidden West,  The Quarry, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Bayonetta 3, and Stray. Here's to another year of great games!

Clash of Kings, Queens, and Everything-In-Betweens

 I feel as if it's been a hectic year for most. I also feel every year is hectic for most. However, in the midst of all the hullabaloo and nonsense too I can say for the first time in a long time I feel as if I've been a part of something that I can look back at that was creative, fulfilling, and bright. The Charity Clash was something I threw out as a kind of ha-ha to a couple of friends that some part of me fully expected to get shot down. I know, I know, woe is me, but it's such a distinct place for me to be in that shows a genuine image of a me at the beginning of the year to the person I am at the end. I wanted to take the time to acknowledge a couple of goons who have been a part of all this in some shape or form because I find it important to let them and other people know how this seemingly little thing feels so big to me.

The First Time Our Swords Touched Tips

The first game we played was decided on was a random spin of the wheel. The wheel of fate happened to land on a little multiplayer platform builder called Ultimate  Chicken Horse. This was exciting for me because 1. I love Ultimate Chicken Horse, and 2. I get to share to other goons the joy that is Ultimate Chicken Horse. As it neared I realized something that this event would ultimately (haha) become for me: a way to showcase my amazing friends. This was especially important to me because I ended up inviting someone who made a lasting impact on me in the tail end of last year. That's Travis or Shrimpy Nobashi. I still constantly tell the story of how I remember we met. It brought to me this unbridled joy that showed how, some way, and in an immediate fashion I was wholly accepted. In fact, a lot of my year has been defined by actually finding a group of friends that embrace a lot of the quirks and loves I have while also sharing what they've taken to. I feel bad that we live kinda far away in what feels like the biggest city in the world because I want to hang out with you more. You made the first Charity Clash so exciting and thrilling while somehow having this cool demeanor about it. The match was so close and thrilling! I really hope you enjoyed it and I think most of all I want to play a board game with you soon. I cannot understate how your welcoming energy made me feel as I tried to get involved with the FGC.

Oh, this was also, for me, the event that raised the most money. I remember crying after it was done thinking wow... I feel validated... in a decade of creative beatdowns and no-gos that shred of hope within me stood up. It was an absolute flood of emotion. I feel as if I owe so much this year to this moment and to everyone who did donate thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Team: Shrimpy Nobashi, Praujekt

Boomer Bingo

The next game played would be the first of the chosen games and pxlhearts chose one of their classics: 7 Days to Die. Now we were in the throes of it. How would our follow up fare? Thank goodness that creative Asher was now awake and wanted to make sure this was a great follow up to an already great first outing. I shelled out for a shiny jpeg made by snkagawa and started to recruit a team that I thought would bring the ha-has. This was also rad in the sense that it would be the first time Stef, Jess, and I talked about playing a game creatively. There wasn't a true competitive mode in 7 Days to Die so how would we go about it? My long time friend in the Bot Lane Kvjams suggested to me that we take a competitive Minecraft approach and play 7 Days to Die Bingo. I brought it to the table and we immediately got to coming up with goals which was one of the funnest parts to be honest.

To Mark: I need you to know that you introducing me to Vtubers and actively engaging in the here or there of anime makes my day every time. During this clash I figured I'd bring you on as a cooler methodical head and you didn't disappoint. Your team kill during this stream might be the hypest moment of all the clashes and I look back on that highlight periodically.

To Phil: My roommate of 4 years. My friend for over a decade. I'm glad that we've been friends for this long. You never cease to make me laugh. How you come up with this many jokes is so unhinged. I'm glad we can still talk cooking, romance anime, and video games even if we're not living together anymore.

I tasted defeat this event but the next would take this clash to a whole new place.

Team: Tinfoil, Hentaiface, Praujekt

Kings, Queens, and Everything-In-Betweens Gambit

This is the game where I would say we started to test each other's boundaries. I brought Chess to the table. The main reason I wanted Chess was to challenge them in a game that would test both our abilities to learn. I'm cringe and enjoy learning things. The unfortunate truth is the nature of our careers and how it's impossible to provide even a little in terms of time for that. I still feel a certain anxiety hoping they had fun regardless. I enjoyed so much of how much I learned! Jmayday was such an excellent teacher. You really opened my eyes to what Chess could be. Also, shoutouts to some of my homies who taught me Chess in the North Carolina mountains during a bachelor party. It really was a full blown anime arc.

Even though he couldn't be there the entire time I'm so glad that BigNonsense was enthused enough to participate in this event. You're truly one of my best friends and I'm so glad to have you in my life. You've acted as an encouraging soundboard throughout all of charity clash and I really hope I can have you in more going down the line. You cannot comprehend how I feel to have your support.

I also look back fondly at this event because it would be the first of these Clashes that I would do with my sister, I know she's heard this probably a trillion times but you've been my longest tenured friend and I'm glad we make people jealous with how close we are as siblings. This was huge for me because you also got to partake in helped local children's hospitals to which you were the primary reason I did those charities. I really couldn't ask for a better sister nor could I fathom having any other. I'm glad you wanted to partake in this one.

Finally Zen. There's so much I wanna say about you but that could occupy a whole entire other blog post. Only within the context of this Charity Clash I can say I was insanely hyped that you were interested in being a part of my Chess squad. Your fighting game knowledge still pushes me and excites me on a day to day basis, which makes it an exciting fit for Chess. I still get hyped thinking about that stand off you had with Jess which was the longest game without a piece taken. You've been a truly amazing friend this year and I'm so glad you're also a part of Charity Clash lore now.

Team: Zenosuke, BigNonsense, Doriosaur

Halo Halo

Oof, in many ways Halo was rocky to say the least from the start. Originally intended to be Halo: Infinite, we found the game so poorly optimized that it was impossible for my wimpy computer to play it on stream. Instead we opted into playing Halo:Reach. The intent here was that I wanted a First Person Shooter and, similar to Chess, I wanted to learn the ins and outs. As we neared the date neither team really had time to practice. I remember only having one day. While my intent was there I think I could have approached prep and consideration better for this one. Regardless it was very successful charity wise, still fun, and I think tested my friendship with pxlhearts more that ultimately resulted in a healthy step forward even if it didn't seem like it at the time.

My team for this event was assembled with some of my favorite local goons. I brought on not only Phil again, but his brother Paul. Paul is one of the kindest souls I know and I'm glad both he and Jenni continue to invite me to things. I really look forward to what y'all do content wise going forward since the Food challenge is something I look forward to every year now. Of course there's KvJams, this time not only providing advice but actually playing. We've played so many games for so long. We're also just family and I'm so glad to have you as a brother.

Team: Hentaiface, Slam, KvJams

Improv Magic

In hindsight Witch It! was wild. For a time it seemed like we were going to have like 16 people playing it. Leading up to the event the number of people fluctuated and I was genuinely unsure how many people were going to be involved for both teams. In the end it still ended up being our game with the most participants and there were so many highlights from each member. What was fun for me was I had originally intended to keep the hunter roles locked. I realized this was a mistake and on stream changed the mindset for the better which provided wild results.

A big highlight was Toophunkey who surprised me with how good he was at hunting. I started putting him in more and he wowed me. He found some people in an insane fashion, it genuinely looked like he was cheating. Double-whammy with this pick, he's also one of the funniest goons I know. To this day he still is the purveyor of my most viewed clip on Twitch.

Of course we can't forget stackofbears, the speed run king. You make humor seem so... seamless. I'm always glad when we hang out because I can fully expect a good laugh. I'm very glad that we've done so much more streaming this past year. You had some wacky hiding spots in this clash and provided great sound bits during commentary.

We had a run back with sister unit, Phil, and Zachy poo. Specific shout out to my sister unit who showed up after a dental appointment talking with a lisp.

Team: Toophunkey, Stackofbears, Hentaiface, Praujekt, Doriosaur

Dessert

The last game of the year was Overcooked 2 and like a food critic I found myself reflecting on what we have done.

I have to reiterate this. pxlhearts effectively made my year infinitely better. I feel as if in many ways we grew as friends and creators. You both wow me every day and I'm so lucky to include y'all in my cadre of daily constituents. I hope we can keep this going as long as we can and here's to it continuing to change us for the better.

And, of course, Praujekt, Zachy poo. An absolute king. You're one of the goons who made me fascinated with learning games. Starting with DBD and continuing to have patience with various things, which is funny thinking of you. I have so many clips that I can look back on of our streams together and it's amazing what all of this has turned into. Thank you and here's to a constant parade of incredible jokes and content.

Team: Praujekt

Thank you to my friends who have tuned in to the magic that is the Charity Clash. Shout outs to my Discord homies. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store.