YEAR IN REVIEW: Video Game Surprises in 2022

Just about every year, there is a game that really sneaks up on you. Whether it be you didn’t believe the hype or you just decided to try it on a whim. Regardless, when you picked it up and hit “Start,” you were hooked. And of course, there were quite few video game titles in 2022 that did just that. Sometimes that game even makes you a fan of a whole new series you never once thought about playing. Here at But Why Tho, gaming staff wrote about video games that surprised them the most in 2022. Let us know if you were also surprised by our picks!

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

After the demo and corny clips, I didn’t expect much in the way of a story; I thought the focus had gone into the satisfying crunchy combat. Imagine my shock hours later when I realized just how much heart this game was hiding behind the bravado. It’s absolutely cheesy but all the goofy and ‘bro-y’ moments only made the ending more impactful. Even months later, it remains one of my favorite Final Fantasy stories. It might not be the best game released this year but it’s definitely my favorite. – Eddie

NORCO

I’m not typically the biggest fan of point-and-click adventures, or at least I wasn’t until I played NORCO. The story left me emotionally distraught and I spent days thinking about the impact it had on me. I was expecting a slightly mysterious, run-of-the-mill point-and-click game, but what I got from NORCO was nothing short of a masterpiece. – Kyle Foley

Vampire Survivors

For a game I heard so much about, I was so hesitant to try Vampire Survivors. It felt too simple at first glance. The only control was moving around and selecting items. That seemed quite boring when watching streams about it. Don’t fall for the same ignorant ideals of this game as I did. Vampire Survivors is so uniquely genius with its pick-up-and-play style gameplay, quick 15-30 minute rounds, and clear goals for each attempt with its missions. Plus, getting that perfect run with the right upgrades and strategizing/synergizing with the character you pick is still unbelievably satisfying 80+ hours in. The hype is real for this game; you should do yourself a favor and stop sleeping on it. You won’t regret it. – Mick Abrahamson

Marvel Snap

The sleek presentation, addictive gameplay, fair monetization, and brilliant onboarding exceeded my every expectation and has raised the bar for what a phenomenal mobile gaming experience can be, as well as how a game as a service can keep its fans coming back for more in a way that is fun and respectful of their wallets. – Charles Hartford

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

I am not a turned-based strategy games person. I am historically bad at them because I just have no patience for the time between turns or limited action. So when I walked into Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope I didn’t expect to fall in love with it. And then I did. The humor is amazing, the parody of beloved Nintendo character is superb, the level design is intriguing, and the turn-based combat was the perfect balance of action and strategy. I walked expecting to get surface-level fun from adorable characters and instead got my favorite game of the year. – Kate Sánchez 

Dune Spice Wars

Everyone knows I have been going on and on about Victoria 3, but the game that was my “biggest shock” of the year was Dune: Spice Wars. I am a big city-builder, simulation, management, etc player and over the years I have moved away from your “traditional” RTS (think Starcraft) games over the years. I am not a super fan of the Dune IP, but I do enjoy it so was pretty excited when saw this was coming. The game was tons of fun, and they did a great job of making each faction feel unique. I loved the intricacies of the game of not only having to try to control the map via military or by politics. Knowing that your power can be determined by votes and relationships made the game intriguing, and you really don’t see it all that often. The game is still in Early Access and has a great variety of content along with tons of content coming in the future. It was a game I knew was coming and not thinking about a game that I am constantly following and seeing what all new features and changes they are making. – Matt Donahue

With so many games slated for next year, there are bound to be even more surprises than there were for video games in 2022. We here can’t wait to see what’s in store for gaming and look forward to you joining us on this ride, celebrating one of our favorite hobbies.

Video games surprises for 2022 was individually chosen for each writer without consultation.