The PCGamesN PC Gaming Awards 2022

The nights are quick, the Johns lengthy, and there’s nary a grey whale to be discovered north of Mexico. This could solely imply it’s the top of the calendar yr. That, or lucha libre has branched out in unusual new instructions.

PCGamesN historically celebrates this time with a couple of round-up articles – look out for our newswipe on New 12 months’s Eve and our Video games Of The 12 months tomorrow – however immediately we pay tribute to 2022’s massive landmarks by way of the PCGN Awards. We’ve bought many acquainted classes the place sincerity is warranted, however since this interest is all about enjoyable, we’ve all the time believed we will’t do it justice with out a few ‘various’ awards to have fun the sillier moments.

Like an emotionally repressed household at Christmas, we begin with our extra honest reflections on the yr simply gone earlier than the discharge of lastly speaking about our emotions drags us down a rabbit gap of more and more lurid and weird confessions. Critically, if for nothing else, stick round for this yr’s thirst-trapping award. In our nook of the web not less than, Hades has so much to reply for.

Finest character

Winner: Iron Fist Alexander from Elden Ring – finest character
Runner-up: The cat from Stray

Because it seems, the very best characters in video games in 2022 aren’t even human. We had numerous love for the lovable kitty in Stray, who simply needed to reunite with their feline mates. They remind us of our personal little furbabies, with our hearts melting because the cat lastly escapes the confines of its dystopian jail. Not all of us are cat folks, although, and we united over the truth that the very best character we met in 2022 is none aside from pot-chad himself – Iron Fist Alexander from Elden Ring, among the best open-world video games ever, not to mention simply 2022.

Whenever you first meet this portly porcelain pot, he’s gotten himself in a little bit of trouble. When you determine to assist him, you quickly realise he’s one of many kindest souls within the land, changing into considered one of your closest allies all through your journey throughout the Lands Between. He’s on the Radahn Competition, hoping to show himself in battle. He will be summoned that can assist you struggle towards the now-corrupt Radahn, and he’s a dependable ally since he doesn’t bugger off as Patches does. You possibly can even discover him within the aftermath of the battle, scooping up fallen warriors to buff himself.

Nevertheless, issues take a flip after you free him as soon as once more, and he assists you in beating the Hearth Big. You’re quickly transported to Crumbling Farum Azula, the place he waits for you on a floating island. He feels that his time has come to show himself as a mighty warrior by combating towards the very best fighter within the land he is aware of: you. This can be a bittersweet second as he shatters into items upon defeat. Nevertheless, he thanks you for the duel and reminds you that he needed this. Together with his dying breath, he proclaims that “the nice Alexander lived as a warrior to his final”. We’ll miss you, pot-chad, and we dedicate this award to your kindness.

Finest Indie

Winner: Stray
Runner-up: Tunic

Whether or not we’re speaking about its heart-wrenching opening, quieter moments equally punctuated by despair and sweetness, or its tearjerker ending, Stray feels particular. Whereas a lot of the sport’s attraction naturally lies in enjoying from the attitude of considered one of our feline mates, there’s far more to it than that. BlueTwelve Studio has crafted a bleak and exquisite posthuman world to discover (and destroy, as cats do), with a thriller so engaging you may’t assist however unravel it like a spool of wool. It’s backed by a fully banging soundtrack too.

Stray is in its factor when it permits you to leap between the alleyways and rooftops of the walled metropolis at your leisure, undoubtedly making it among the best indie video games on PC. There’s a lot to search out and uncover beneath your paws, be they cryptic clues to the whereabouts of mankind amidst this colony of robots with vibrant personalities or basking within the cityscape’s neon glow. Regardless of the perpetually darkish circumstances each you and the residents discover yourselves in, there’s all the time a heat nook so that you can curl up and snooze in (our favorite being the one subsequent to a musician).

You’ll want all 9 of your lives at your disposal, although, for those who’re to see Stray to the top. Swarms of Zurks, suppose Half-Life’s headcrabs that appear cuter however are simply as harmful, placing even seasoned gamers’ agility and puzzle-solving abilities to the check. Right here’s hoping that we will see extra small-scale tasks like Stray, in order that extra indie video games like it may possibly land on their ft. Purr-use our Stray evaluation for our opinion on this kitty’s journey.

Finest stage or facet quest

Winner: Starscourge Radahn boss struggle – Elden Ring
Runner up: The Cathedral from Tunic

Huge man, little horse. Want I say extra? Seems I truly do, and Elden Ring’s Starscourge Radahn boss struggle and facet quest isn’t simply among the best this yr, it’s all-timer.

It combines a superb arrange: a competition devoted to a common who simply desires to die, a plethora of AI from the open world, and among the best boss fights in FromSoftware historical past. It’s the right instance of a shock second, you don’t count on to see a number of NPCs milling about in a location the place you’ve already defeated a boss, and also you count on having the ability to summon them unexpectedly to tackle a giant man even much less. Couple that with an enticing boss struggle, and also you’ve bought perfection.

Starscourge Radahn is on this listing due to the way it reveals FromSoftware continues to be keen to get bizarre, and push the boundaries with its boss fights. The bottleneck of Ornstein and Smough and the problem of the Anonymous King are joined by this boss due to how he’s arrange. The competition construct up and the way it folds in different mechanics, like summoning, make it one other considered one of Elden Ring’s many surprises that may be encountered after over 100 hours, and that makes it particular. This, together with good ol’ Iron Fist Alexander, are simply a few of the causes that our Elden Ring evaluation provides it that coveted 10/10.

Finest mod award

Winner: Half-Life 2 Episode 3 however rubbish
Runner-up: Doom: The Fall of Tei Tenga

Everybody admires Valve’s dedication to high quality, however fifteen years after Half-Life Episode 2, and there’s nonetheless no official phrase on the assorted cliffhangers relating to the Borealis, Aperture Science, and Gordon Freeman. Any individual needed to do one thing, even when that one thing was composed utilizing the Supply engine equal of cocktail sticks, bubblegum, and duct tape.

However, you may, now, in principle, play and full Half Life 2 Episode 3. It exists. It’s on the market. And it’s good. It’s good in the identical manner that Bing could be good if Google out of the blue disappeared – if that is all there’s, you’ll take it, whereas wishing miserably for the higher various. If you wish to see what Half-Life 2 Episode 3 may appear like if sooner or later Valve stated “yeah, no matter, ship it,” that is the mod for you.

Alternatively, for those who’ve ever performed Doom and thought it might do with a bit extra Half-Life within the narrative division, Doom: The Fall of Tei Tenga may be for you. It’s a restoration of all of the concepts id Software program deserted when making the primary draft of the FPS sport, equivalent to its story-based strategy, recreated right into a single sport. It’s a unbelievable work of preservation, bringing a captivating chunk of gaming historical past to vivid, playable life.

Finest narrative

Winner: Return to Monkey Island
Runner-up: Plague Story Requiem

Reviving an adored sequence from the early ‘90s isn’t any imply feat at the very best of instances, however to come back wherever near how revered the unique was is a nigh-on not possible job. If anybody can do it, nonetheless, it’s Ron Gilbert and his group at Horrible Toybox with 2022’s Monkey Island return – sorry, Return to Monkey Island.

And what a return it’s. The sequence is understood for its wit and Return to Monkey Island continues this in prime type, with hilarious dialogue and puzzle options which can be thus far outdoors of the field however by no means so nonsensical you’re left scratching your head for too lengthy. The story is about years on from the earlier instalments, with Guybrush Threepwood – the keen-eyed, bushy-tailed pirate protagonist – telling his son the story of the time he lastly uncovered the key of Monkey Island.

A lot of the sport takes place throughout this flashback, however pivotal moments are damaged up by returning to Guybrush and Boybrush – sure, severely – sitting on a park bench, with the younger pirate wannabe keenly asking questions. Level and click on adventures depend on the narrative as a result of with out a compelling story, there’s nothing to maintain the participant coming again, and Return to Monkey Island smashes it out of the park like by no means earlier than.

Finest ongoing sport

Winner: Genshin Impression
Runner-up: Remaining Fantasy XIV

It’s honest to dislike elements of Genshin Impression, however an space the place you may’t fault the sport is its unimaginable content material cycle. Each six weeks, Mihoyo (Hoyoverse?) releases a considerable replace to Genshin Impression which generally options two new characters, a number of occasions, and a brand new location to discover. Previously yr alone, the map has expanded so as to add an underground mining system often called The Chasm, and Sumeru, a panorama stuffed with each forests and deserts. On prime of that, the three.0 replace lastly launched a brand new factor referred to as Dendro which has inspired numerous experimentation relating to forming groups.

After all, while you’re incomes the cash Mihoyo does from every banner sale, the devs have loads of sources to maintain the cycle going. The one different developer that persistently manages to pump up this quantity of content material all year long is Epic Video games with Fortnite. There are many publishers on the market incomes tens of millions by microtransactions that don’t use the cash to enhance the sport, however it’s clear simply how a lot effort and time goes into every Genshin Impression replace.

Every patch has sufficient story mode content material to maintain you busy all through the entire month, and there’s loads of alternatives to attain free primogems while you need to add characters to your roster. Whereas there are legitimate considerations in regards to the gacha system, for those who select to not spend any cash within the sport, Mihoyo provides gamers an opportunity to unlock characters on banners in the event that they’re keen to place the time in. Genshin Impression’s inventive fight system and forged of trendy characters can hook you in after just a few hours of enjoying, and earlier than you understand it, you’ll be ready for the following replace to drop so you may spend hundreds of primogems on the most recent character banner.

Shock of the yr

Winner: Vampire Survivors
Runner-up: Trombone Champ

Taking a look at Vampire Survivors, you may surprise what folks see in it. Even being thrown in for the primary time – a Castlevania-esque vampire hunter with an auto-firing whip slaying bats in a subject – you’ll in all probability question if this may presumably be the sport everybody was telling you that you just ‘should attempt.’ It isn’t a sport that makes a giant first impression; as a substitute, it’s a roguelite delight that step by step worms its manner below your pores and skin, endlessly teasing you with that subsequent improve, slightly style of true energy, the promise of yet one more run.

Every of these runs brings one thing contemporary – one other character to attempt, a weapon improve that turns your puny axe throws into a hoop of whirling scythes, and even entire new mechanics that utterly overhaul your strategic potential. Whereas the auto-attack techniques may at first make the sport seem to be it performs itself, actually excelling at Vampire Survivors is all about cautious motion and positioning to optimise your weapons’ output and farm foes as quick as feasibly potential. That is made all of the extra satisfying because of its driving, old-school soundtrack; residing as much as Castlevania’s music isn’t any small feat, however it performs admirably.

Vampire Survivors masterfully blends idle video games and roguelikes to create one thing new and thrilling. It was a discount at its preliminary beef burger worth, however even with the price of entry raised for the total launch you’d be laborious pressed to search out one thing that provides extra bang on your buck in 2022. Our honourable point out goes to Trombone Champ, for turning every part from DragonForce solos to Prime Ministerial resignations into an much more pleasant mess.

Lawbreakers Legacy Award, offered by Anthem

Winner: Saints Row
Runner-up: Dying Mild 2: Keep Human

It was clear from the outset that Saints Row had an not possible job: rebooting a wildly irreverent open-world sport sequence that kicked off within the mid-2000s, sustaining the raucous comedy spirit however updating it for a contemporary viewers. Whereas the fashionable Saints Row ticks numerous the bins that would seem on an inventory titled ‘cool issues about Saints Row video games,’ that by no means fairly comes collectively into something greater than a sport that oddly feels aged in an unfamiliar, lifeless new city.

Let’s be clear about one thing right here. Saints Row wasn’t a dud as a result of it’s ‘woke,’ no matter that tiresome time period is meant to imply immediately. Attempt to think about Saints Row the Third popping out in 2022 – the humour, the references, and the gameplay itself would all really feel woefully dated, and Kanye West’s ‘Energy’ kicking on as you parachute onto a skyscraper to shoot up a mafia pool occasion wouldn’t be the identical in any respect.

The world has modified whereas the Saints have been away, and if something, Saints Row failed to alter sufficient to maintain tempo. There’s a quaintness to enjoying this yr’s Saints Row that’s at odds with its gestures at zoomer relatability. The outcome seems like a sport you’d see in a TV present, with out a clear viewers of its personal.

Finest 7/10

Winner: Metallic: Hellsinger

It doesn’t matter what you hear, 7/10 is an efficient rating. 7/10s are good video games. And furthermore, the thesis behind our long-running ‘finest 7/10’ award is {that a} 7/10 can generally be, if not precisely higher, then extra enjoyable than one burdened with the actual expectations of upper scores. Whether or not it’s an occasional bug that’s extra amusing than irritating, or a modesty of ambition that permits you to know you don’t should strategy it with the identical form of terrified reverence that Pink Useless Redemption 2 calls for, you may calm down with an excellent 7/10. For 2022, PCGamesN provides that accolade to Metallic: Hellsinger, the demonic FPS sport with a musical twist.

Troy Baker’s soothing southern drawl and a surprising steel soundtrack alone are sufficient to place Metallic: Hellsinger on this class’s prime spot. The rhythm-game side actually units this sport aside although, encouraging you to deal injury on the beat to extend your hit streak – and thus your probabilities of survival – including to Metallic: Hellsinger’s attraction, and making your darkish journey by hell extremely enjoyable.

So why solely 7/10? Certain, Metallic Hellsinger is a good sport with good mechanics and a singular really feel, however it nonetheless doesn’t belong with the likes of Stray and Elden Ring. The gameplay itself is fairly primary, barely altering from stage to stage. The bosses get harder, however even that doesn’t really feel clean because of a few steep, mid-level issue spikes. Following the story of Unknown – instructed by Troy Baker as speaking cranium Paz – offers a false sense of accomplishment to maintain you going by the repetitive ranges, and there’s a level of replayability with international leaderboards after each Hell, however it’s simply not sufficient. That stated, Metallic: Hellsinger is a wonderfully gratifying sport for a short while, however might have been an eight or 9 if the story had been developed extra by gameplay than a easy narration, and if the Hells and the creatures that dwell inside them had been extra various. As a enjoyable, visually-appealing, rhythm-FPS for followers of steel music although, Metallic: Hellsinger is value a playthrough, and is completely positioned as 2022’s finest 7/10. Dive into our Metallic: Hellsinger evaluation for extra.

The ‘You’re Nonetheless Not Bloodborne’ Award for finest PlayStation unique that really got here to PC

Winner: God of Warfare 2018
Runner up: The Final Of Us Half I

Don’t get us flawed: after many years of platform holders utilizing their IP as a foremost promoting level, we PC players are thrilled that the true console unique is an more and more uncommon sight. Xbox now treats Home windows as an extension of itself, and a lot of the newest Sony exclusives – typically of a uncommon high quality that proved key to the PlayStation 4’s success – have come our manner. In 2022 alone, we’ve had God of Warfare 2018, The Final Of Us Half I, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Miles Morales, Persona 5 Royal, and Uncharted 4 by way of the Legacy of Thieves Assortment.

However to cite Mr Burns considering his birthday presents, although they embody a fist-sized diamond, genie lamp, and unicorn, we received’t get what we actually need.

God of Warfare 2018 is a unbelievable sport and The Final Of Us – within the unbiased opinion of Craig Mazin, who’s directing and can revenue from its TV adaptation – has the “open and shut” biggest story ever instructed in videogames. However they’re nonetheless solely the very best PlayStation exclusives that aren’t Bloodborne.

Shut however no potato award

Runner up: Gotham Knights

Stepping out from the shadow of the Arkham sequence was all the time going to be a herculean job for Gotham Knights; in spite of everything, it’s a Batman sport that kills off the caped crusader within the first couple of minutes. Developer Warner Bros Montreal will get so much proper, with a narrative worthy of its predecessors and a delectably sassy Alfred appearing because the glue that binds the Bat household by their grief. Sadly, the superhero sport additionally proves that larger isn’t all the time higher.

We see the biggest Gotham thus far, however even the Batcomputer isn’t immune to border charge stutters when zipping by town. It’s chock full of recent RPG mechanics that try so as to add a Diablo-like flavour, however incomes new tiered gear feels nearly meaningless when the following set’s simply across the nook. And there are extra collectables than you may shake a stick at – Batarangs, graffiti avenue artwork places, and landmarks – however the paltry rewards for finishing every set make you’re feeling extra cheated than the final. I imply, come on, even primary gliding abilities you begin with in earlier entries are locked behind a gratuitous ability tree. Try our Gotham Knights evaluation for extra.

The Hades Legacy Award for Achievements in Thirst Trapping

Winner: Scorn
Runner-up: Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 2 close-ups

Huge, lengthy bones. Glistening curves. Smooth, fleshy orifices which you can repeatedly enter. Ignore all of the blood, cartilage and uncovered muscle tissue, and in some ways, Scorn turns into a protracted, totally interactive allegory for sexual activity. It’s complicated, irritating, you’ll in all probability must verify on-line for what you’re meant to do, and on the finish of it you’re feeling prefer it each went on too lengthy however was additionally, one way or the other, too quick.

‘Playable intercourse’ is the dream of many a sport participant and sport designer alike, and Scorn, in its personal immensely grotesque and unremittingly bleak manner, delivers on that dream. The entire sport is a bewildering mess of components and fluids, and if somebody walked in when you had been in the midst of it, you’d in all probability battle to clarify your self. Scorn stars. ScornHub. Hardcore Scornography. The alternatives for puns are limitless. It’s not the sexiest sport, however mirroring lots of people’s – particularly formative – congressional experiences, it may be the sport that’s probably the most sex-like.

To a lesser extent, the assorted shut ups of Valeria in Name of Responsibility Fashionable Warfare 2 are an admirable runner-up in 2022. It begins with that interrogation scene, the place she’s leaning proper into Cleaning soap’s face. After that, CoD by no means misses an opportunity to have an excellent leer at Valeria, one thing to which the following social media cult, simping for Valeria, will testify.