Xbox’s 2022 has been seriously lackluster in the first party exclusive department. Whilst we’ve had some truly great games launch into Xbox Game Pass this year, a lot of folk are waiting for some of those AAA exclusive titles that Xbox has been cooking up. We know what Xbox have got in store for the first half of 2023, made even more fruitful with the stacked delays of Starfield and Redfall. We can only wait and see if Xbox has any more first party titles to announce for the second half of next year.

Whilst the big first party exclusive games are highly sort after and welcomed, we haven’t been without anything to play as third party and Game Pass deals have delivered massively this year in my opinion. Between Game Pass and my backlog, along with deals on the Xbox Store, I’ve never found myself short of something to play this year.

So, as we’re closing in on the end of 2022, what better time to share my top ten games of the year? Let’s get into it!

10 – Road 96

This wasn’t even on my radar when it dropped into Game Pass earlier in the year. Diving into it I was pleasantly surprised by a game that serves up a beautiful journey across country. Road 96 tells an incredible story focusing on the perils of trying to cross a border. It does a wonderful job of portraying a sad, real life issue in a gorgeous way. Visually very pleasing and a treat throughout, with multiple way to take the story and plenty of quirky characters to meet along the way, Road 96 isn’t one to miss.

9 – Dying Light 2

After playing the original and very good Dying Light, I was always excited at the prospect of a sequel. Aside from some technical issues plaguing the game at launch, I couldn’t put this down. Parkour and zombies, what’s not to like? I’m usually one for being quickly burnt out on big, sprawling open worlds, but Dying Light 2 was something special for me. With choices that affected different factions within the city. With a city that turns even more dark and twisted during the night, it was an absolute blast trying to stay human.

8 – Nobody Saves The World

Nobody Saves The World is an outstanding Action RPG from the developers of Guaccamelee. You take on the role of Nobody, with the ability to unlock and switch between 15 different forms, from a bodybuilder, to a slug and even a zombie. Each with their own unique abilities, all useful in their own situations and with the ability to mix and match them between characters. Boasting a gorgeous art style and giving you a great little story with an awesome little world to explore.

Take on different dungeons and try to save the world! This is one I need to get back to as I was pleasantly surprised by how deep it sunk it’s teeth into me. There’s also a recently released DLC titled; “Frozen Earth” and I’m very keen to find the dive to jump back in! This was another pleasant surprise I stumbled upon thanks to Xbox Game Pass.

7 – Tinykin

Tinykin sees you take control of Milo, who arrives on earth to find that he’s incredibly small and time hasn’t passed since 1991. You’ll hunt for and control these cute little colourful creatures called Tinykin. Use them to build bridges to cross gaps or knock down latches to gain access to new areas. Exploring a giant house as a small person has never been so fun, with plenty of different rooms to explore, it’s an absolute treat and yet another hidden gem I’ve played thanks to Xbox Game Pass.

6 – Cult Of The Lamb

Cult Of The Lamb is yet another indie game I couldn’t get enough of. Running your own cult has never been so fun, tricking your gullible followers into doing whatever you please, even reducing them to eating poop! Build up your flock by giving sermons or performing dark rituals, go out, spread the word of your flock and destroy the non-believers. This game is special because it manages to blend dungeon crawling and sim management into one whole package in a brilliant way. It oozes charm with it’s cartoony visuals and fitting audio design to boot. Cult Of The Lamb certainly isn’t one to sleep on!

5 – Vampire Survivors

Indie games on Game Pass have truly helped prop Xbox up this year for me and Vampire Survivors is no exception. Here you have a game that requires you to only move the left stick to play and yet once you pick it up, you’ll find it incredibly hard to put down. It’s got a “one more run” feeling that usually always turns in a “it’s now 3am and I’ve got work in the morning” situation. There is no place to run or hide, it’s up to you to survive for as long as possible against an endless wave of enemies charging at you in their thousands. Easily one of the most simple, yet fun and addictive games I’ve had my grubby little hands on this year, and another win for Xbox Game Pass.

4 – High On Life

Dropping into Game Pass just before we see the end of 2022, High On Life has that crude, very adult over the top humour sqaushed into every nook and cranny. It’s either going to be a make or break depending on what you find funny, but as a massive fan of Rick & Morty (as the R&M purge suit tattoo on my forearm proves) it wasn’t going to be hard for High On Life to hit the right notes in the humour department for me. With a basic but fun gameplay loop, take a bounty, mow down enemies and then defeat a boss, it’s actually a very cool experience that kept me with a smile on my face throughout. You’re a solo team of one human, accompanied by wacky, rude talking guns. It’s so nice to see this one doing so well, placing quite high in Game Pass and even in the top paid in places. I can’t wait to see what Squanch Games cooks up next, because High On Life is brilliant.

3 – The Callisto Protocol

It wasn’t hard for me to build up hype for The Callisto Protocol in the run up to launch, considering I’m a huge fan of the Dead Space franchise. Safe to say The Callisto Protocol was everything I was expecting. A gorgeous yet creepy romp around in space. An awesome experience around a dark, infected Black Iron Prison in space. With an incredible atmosphere and some truly grotesque looking monsters, horror fans do not want to miss this one. Already accompanied by a prequel podcast (The Helix Station) which is brilliant in itself, Callisto can easily be the foundation for something with longevity and I’ll happily take more from Striking Distance.

2 – Signalis

Signalis is a horror masterpiece. Offering a classic survival horror experience set in a dystopian future. Signalis manages to take inspiration from Resident Evil and Silent Hill and wears these references on it’s sleeve proudly. I can’t overstate how captivated I was during my time with this game. I adore the art style, which gives off an old school survival horror feeling, paired with some really great audio design, it’s truly a horror experience not to miss. Even more impressive this was developed by Rose-Engine, comprised of only two developers! Another indie in my list, another game included in Xbox Game Pass and a true competitor for that survival horror crown.

1 – A Plague Tale: Requiem

Ever since the moment I got my hands on A Plague Tale; Requiem, I knew it was going to be a tough one to beat for my personal 2022 Game of The Year. Requiem managed to greatly build upon it’s predecessor. I enjoyed this one to it’s fullest, even so much as to go back to mop up the 100% and check off all those achievements. A heart wrenching story and emotionally driven experience that’ll leave you with an empty box of tissues. Incredible voice acting work from the cast that truly helps bring the world to life, with visuals that can sometimes make you forget you’re playing a video game.

Filling up my Game DVR instantly is testament to how stunning this looks. So many times I found myself stopping and ignoring the objective to just observe the world and take it all in properly. Requiem just manages to totally suck you into it’s world and make you care about the characters, leaving you with that drained, empty feeling by the time you reach the credits. An epic journey from beginning to end and I cannot sing it’s praises enough. GOTY 2022, a MUST PLAY.

Final Thoughts

A lackluster year for Xbox didn’t stop me from keeping busy. I’ll be rounding out the year with roughly 80 games completed and have thoroughly enjoyed my gaming time this year. There are of course many more than just ten games I’d have liked to included in this list, such as; Shredder’s Revenge, The Chant, Escape Academy, and MADiSON to name a few. Xbox needs to bring the heat with their first party exclusives in 2023 and beyond, but for 2022, seven out of my top ten were included in Game Pass.

I’ve certainly got my monies worth out of the service this year and, so long as Xbox can actually deliver on their promises next year, that value proposition is only set to get better. Happy gaming, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, let’s get our game faces ready for 2023.

PS – I just want to take an extra moment to thank Complete Xbox for taking me under their wing this year. I’ve made some great friends on through Twitter and Xbox who I try to play games with regularly, leading me to make even more great friends with the team at Complete Xbox. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2023.