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Each year, the tabletop RPG scene expands in exciting new directions. Whether it’s new worlds for long-running games like Dungeons & Dragons or exciting debut projects that tap into unexpected corners of storytelling, it’s a great time to enjoy role-playing with others.

2022 saw an impressive array of new games to tempt playgroups into an adventure. Here are ten of the best, presented alphabetically, each offering new and exciting vistas for discovery.

And if you like your RPGs with a side of excellent board gaming, don’t miss our recent awards for the Best Board Games of 2022.

Coyote & Crow
Publisher: Coyote & Crow Games

The Native American-led team that created Coyote & Crow began with a simple premise: What would America look like if it had never been colonized? Throw in a robust mix of mythology, science, and mysterious individuals gifted with supernatural power, and you have the makings of a fascinating role-playing game.

The technologically advanced civilizations that players explore in Coyote & Crow presume that the last 700 years of history are different than how things happened in the real world. It makes for a intriguing exercise in exploring alternate history, and there’s a lot to enjoy about paging through the core rulebook to discover the engaging fiction that’s been crafted.

But the game makers have also built a nuanced game system with plenty of room for creativity in play. A d12-based resolution check allows for flexibility around a simple core mechanic. Set paths, motivations, and archetypes help shape your character. And traditional experience point acquisition is exchanged for a structure about building your own legend, as established through the completion of specific short and long-term goals.

Coyote & Crow is a rewarding and cleverly constructed game that embraces cultural traditions we don’t frequently see brought to life in the role-playing sphere, and certainly not with this level of purposeful intent. Its creators have been vocal in inviting both native and non-native players to enjoy the game, with guidance for both about how to do so in a welcoming and respectful way. Leave your preconceptions at the door, and expect to find something genuinely fresh.

D&D – Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

For D&D fans who grew up in the 1980s, Dragonlance was almost certainly on your radar. One of the earliest campaign settings for the world’s original RPG, Dragonlance had not only a run of awesome game modules but also a series of fantasy novel series that continues to this day.

The best parts of that setting have been revived in this new update for the 5th edition of the game. While the timeframe is roughly concurrent with major events from the novels, the adventure contained within the new book carves out its own corner of the War of the Lance, and sets players along an exciting path of battles and discovery.

In addition to offering details about the setting, players get access to some fun new options, including the Kender race, a lunar sorcerer subclass, and backgrounds to let you play one of the memorable knights or mages that are part of the Krynn world. But the biggest success is the adventure itself, which embraces a wartime RPG campaign that is fun and exciting, but without glossing over the horrors and brutality of mass conflict.

It’s a lengthy adventure, but in an interesting twist, the RPG campaign can be paused at certain points. If desired, you can then play through a full session of the separate Dragonlance: Warriors of Krynn board game that recently released, which you can alternately snag if you choose to grab the Deluxe combined edition. The results of your board game excursion can then inform the RPG story’s forward pace. Of course, you can leave out the board game part and simply enjoy the excellent campaign.

Either way, this return to Dragonlance has been long anticipated by its fans, and the version that has arrived is a fitting update to an early fantasy gaming classic.

The Darkest House
Publisher: Monte Cook Games

The print version of The Darkest House was released this year after a successful digital launch in 2021. Either option is great, but the digital version is especially well suited to gaming groups that meet remotely, as the entire set up of handouts and other info is managed digitally and can be shared as gameplay progresses.

The Darkest House is a fascinating RPG product, built as it is to be slotted into any existing RPG campaign for a dose of existential horror. Simple adaptation rules translate your characters over into the system when you mysteriously enter the house, whether you’re coming from a fantasy game of D&D, a futuristic Star Trek or Cyberpunk campaign, or another Monte Cook Games world like Numenera.

While The Darkest House is effectively a giant haunted house, it’s a bit more complicated than that – imagine if the house itself was the malevolent entity intent on hating and destroying you. The encounters within are puzzling and disquieting. If you’re hoping to have all the answers to what’s happening inside after playing through, you’ll be disappointed. But if you want a dose of dread that can be added to any RPG you’re already playing, it’s an amazing twist to offer to your group.

Hunter: The Reckoning
Publisher: Renegade Game Studios

The new edition of Hunter this year joins the broader universe of the World of Darkness games, and the results should please anyone who likes their gaming time to be focused on tracking down all the things that go bump in the night, and making them stop moving.

Where a game like Vampire: The Masquerade commonly focuses on mood and politicking, Hunter is a counterpoint focused more on action, missions, and deadly encounters. As mostly normal humans concentrating on hunting down supernatural threats, there’s a tension and desperation to the action represented in a cool way through additional dice rolled as things get especially dire.

Conflicts are usually against dangerous named supernatural baddies, or the broader societal orgs your small Hunter cell has determined to be compromised. It makes for a more approachable take on World of Darkness content, especially for players who may be more familiar with  traditional tabletop role-playing with its quests and battles. If this dark fiction is appealing, but your group isn’t looking for the heavily atmospheric vibe offered by its cousin game, Hunter: The Reckoning could be just the ticket.  

Into the Odd
Publisher: Bastionland Press / Free League Publishing

Originally published in 2014, this remastered and extended version of Into the Odd opens up the wonderful rules-light game for new audiences. Set in a mysterious and otherworldly industrial setting with hints of Lovecraftian cosmic horror, it’s an intriguing universe to uncover, even if it is only minimally detailed – leaving plenty of room for game masters and groups to make the game their own.

Players take control of explorers delving into the benighted tunnels and sewers beneath the city of Bastion, lending an old-school dungeon crawl vibe to the experience. From character creation to combat, the game system is extremely light on rules, encouraging a freeform and fast-moving approach to play that allows for plenty of experimentation. The threats encountered by a group of explorers are often devastating barriers to best be avoided. But the acquisition of mystical items called Arcana lets you solve any number of problems with creative thinking.

Into the Odd is purposefully strange and surreal – almost dreamlike in its presentation. It solves the dilemma of introducing complicated new game systems by keeping everything as bare-bones as possible. It’s a absorbing game that is easy to pick up and learn, with a unique flavor that should delight those looking for a twist on old-school RPG play.

The One Ring: Starter Set
Publisher: Free League Publishing

Late last year, players first tasted the lovely new edition of The One Ring, which adapts Tolkien’s intricate fantasy world for a new generation of role-playing fun. This year’s starter set is an excellent introduction for players who love The Lord of the Rings but may have been daunted by the big core book.

Beautiful components fill the box, from custom dice to a gorgeous map of some areas players will explore. You also get some pre-generated characters to take out into an opening adventure, mostly focused on the Hobbits and exploring areas around the Shire. There’s a big focus on that part of Middle-earth in this boxed set, with an included dedicated book on The Shire that offers plenty of seeds for adventure. Of course, there are also excellently pared-down rules to get you into the fun, and it’s all presented thoughtfully and streamlined.

This box is one of the strongest starter sets for an RPG in several years. If your group has been grumbling about trying something new, but the imposing weight of a new system might be a point of contention, this dip into the shallow end of the Middle-earth pool is a perfect option.

Nine Arches
Publisher: Nine Arches

Undoubtedly, one of the most unusual gaming projects of the year, Nine Arches impresses with its experimental approach to play and discovery and especially attractive components that make it a joy with which to interact. It's a hard game to categorize, but it might be most accurate to think of it as a role-playing game played in real life, in which the quest cards you draw guide you to actions you feel compelled to explore for yourself, or to take on new personas, skills, or experiences simply for the joy of confronting the challenge. 

Nine Arches builds loosely from the framework of Tarot cards, but it has little, if anything, to do with astrology. Instead, the game includes 52 quest cards. When playing the game, you draw cards and either follow your instincts or use the included guide to help suggest the activities you undertake as indicated by those cards. You might write a poem, book a skydiving trip, or do virtually anything else. And, to be clear, these are actual real-life experiences you're choosing to take on, not an imagined activity in a fantasy world. Afterward, you chronicle your actions and what you discovered about yourself to advance through the game.

It’s a strange and beautiful concoction that is best taken on if you feel you’re open to trying new experiences. Nine Arches is less about an evening of play with friends (though it could be that, in part) and more about a self-improvement journey wrapped in a gamified structure.

Pathfinder Book of the Dead
Publisher: Paizo

Paizo has wasted little time in fleshing out the 2nd edition of Pathfinder since it launched in 2019. Among the many supplements and adventures that have helped to further grow the breadth of the game, few are as enjoyable as Book of the Dead, both to read and for the many new options it brings to your game.

It’s become a near expectation that Pathfinder releases will look attractive both inside and out, and Book of the Dead maintains that reputation with some excellent art and layout considerations. The player options are extensive, providing new ways to fight against the undead, but also providing ways to play as undead PCs, from mummies and vampires to ghosts and ghouls. GMs get a ton of new monsters, undead-themed lands to explore, and a thrilling adventure that puts undead slaying front and center.

One of the best things about Book of the Dead is how much it allows you to take a traditional fantasy RPG setup and turn it on its head with all the undead theming you could want. If that’s always been a branch of the fantasy milieu that fascinates you, this one is worth exploring.

Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook
Publisher: Renegade Game Studios

Renegade Game Studios has been gradually building up a stable of familiar action-focused properties as RPGs, including G.I. Joe and Power Rangers. With its many decades of fiction to pull from, the twist of transforming vehicles, and the overall cool factor of giant robots at war, the Transformers is especially well-suited to the system. It feels like the best implementation yet of the gaming engine.

For fans, a big part of the draw is undoubtedly getting to craft your own Transformer to take into the story. Character creation covers all the bases and lets you set up the kind of character you want to control, whether someone like Bumblebee, Starscream, or any other familiar archetypes from the toys, cartoons, and comics. There’s also a great system around how Energon (the power source for Transformers) can be deployed in clutch moments to turn the tide.

For long years, Transformers has felt like a universe that was an easy fit for an intelligent role-playing system. Thankfully, that’s exactly what fans got here – a mechanically sound, action-oriented game with plenty of flavor and fiction to enjoy.

Vaesen: Mythic Britain & Ireland
Publisher: Free League Publishing

One of the absolute best new RPGs of recent years is called Vaesen, which transported players to a dark twist on Nordic mythology set a couple hundred years in the past. With Mythic Britain & Ireland, that terrific game gains an entirely new setting to explore.

Set loosely in the Victorian era, players now get to investigate everything from the dim streets of London to foggy moors and all the creatures of folklore you might imagine, like Banshees, Leprechauns, and Boggarts. Unlike in the original setting, we also get to meet characters from history and fiction, like Oscar Wilde and Sherlock Holmes. But no matter who or what you explore, there’s plenty to discover or create on your own and three excellent new mysteries (adventures) to take on as a group.

Mythic Britain & Ireland is an expansion to Vaesen, requiring that book to glean play mechanics. But this book is also a robust and substantial expansion in all the ways that matter, including featuring new art by illustrator Johan Egerkrans – which is worth the price all on its own. If you haven’t yet tried Vaesen, pick that up first. If you have and are ready for more, Mythic Britain & Ireland is just what you hope it will be.

If you're looking for more great recent tabletop role-playing games, feel free to peruse our previous years of of this same list, including the installment from 2020 and picks from 2021. And if you want to check out a broader selection of tabletop choices, head over to the Top of the Table hub. 

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Dead Island 2 was announced just a few years after the release of the first Dead Island and a little over a year after Dead Island Riptide – the forgettable and repetitive sequel that did, at least, continue the story of the first game’s survivors. Publisher Deep Silver released some spinoffs after Riptide, like Escape Dead Island, Dead Island: Epidemic, and the 16-bit beat ‘em up Dead Island Retro Revenge, but a full-scale, numbered sequel hasn’t yet happened, despite being announced nearly a decade ago. 

The first iteration of Dead Island 2 was helmed by Spec Ops: The Line developer Yager, as Dead Island developer Techland had parted ways with the property and worked on Dying Light. Deep Silver then handed over development of the game to LittleBigPlanet 3 developer Sumo Digital in 2016, but then, in 2019, Deep Silver announced that Homefront: The Revolution developer Dambuster Studios would be handling Dead Island 2. And that studio has been working on this game since 2018. In my cover story trip to Dambuster’s Nottingham, England studio, various members on the team told me it started with a fresh, clean slate for Dead Island 2. But curiously, Dead Island 2, due out in April, is still set in Los Angeles, California, the setting revealed in the game’s first reveal trailer in 2014. 

Dambuster Studios

Despite seemingly having the opportunity to make Dead Island 2 precisely what it wanted it to be in every way, Dambuster stuck with LA, lovingly referred to in-game and by the studio as Hell-A. I asked game director David Stenton about this decision and apparently, a different setting was never really on the table. 

“I don’t remember there being a lot of debate about doing anything other than LA,” Stenton tells me. “I think for us, we wanted to apply real focus to the game… to the combat and that also extends to the setting as well. LA is such a fantastic iconic location, we didn’t really feel like we needed to bring in any other areas.” 

Stenton is likely alluding to the game’s original logo when it was first revealed in 2014. The D in “Dead” features the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco's iconic landmark. Dambuster tells me that Dead Island 2 will take place in Los Angeles exclusively, so don’t plan on making your way to San Francisco or any other California locations in the main campaign. 

“It just gives us so much opportunity… for the game that we wanted to make, so it wasn’t really a big debate,” Stenton says. 

Dambuster Studios

It’s important to note, however, that despite what the team says about sticking with LA, using the same location from the original reveal – the location fans have assumed Dead Island 2 takes place in for nearly a decade – doesn’t hurt the marketing of this game. While the team feels confident LA is the place for its zombie game, it might also just have made the decision to stick with the location fans have presumed as this sequel’s setting for so long. 

“We started with a clean slate, absolutely, with our own vision,” Stenton says. “We’re not looking too much at sort of what happened in the past or looking at too many other games out there. We’re just really focused on, ‘How do we want to make Dead Island 2 absolutely phenomenal?’ and bring it up to date and deliver a game that we think fans will really enjoy.” 

For more, read our feature about why Dambuster Studios thinks Los Angeles makes for a great Dead Island experience, even if the city isn’t an actual island.

Do you think Los Angeles will make for a great Dead Island setting? Let us know in the comments below!

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Dead Island 2 was announced just a few years after the release of the first Dead Island and a little over a year after Dead Island Riptide – the forgettable and repetitive sequel that did, at least, continue the story of the first game’s survivors. Publisher Deep Silver released some spinoffs after Riptide, like Escape Dead Island, Dead Island: Epidemic, and the 16-bit beat ‘em up Dead Island Retro Revenge, but a full-scale, numbered sequel hasn’t yet happened, despite being announced nearly a decade ago. 

The first iteration of Dead Island 2 was helmed by Spec Ops: The Line developer Yager, as Dead Island developer Techland had parted ways with the property and worked on Dying Light. Deep Silver then handed over development of the game to LittleBigPlanet 3 developer Sumo Digital in 2016, but then, in 2019, Deep Silver announced that Homefront: The Revolution developer Dambuster Studios would be handling Dead Island 2. And that studio has been working on this game since 2018. In my cover story trip to Dambuster’s Nottingham, England studio, various members on the team told me it started with a fresh, clean slate for Dead Island 2. But curiously, Dead Island 2, due out in April, is still set in Los Angeles, California, the setting revealed in the game’s first reveal trailer in 2014. 

Dambuster Studios

Despite seemingly having the opportunity to make Dead Island 2 precisely what it wanted it to be in every way, Dambuster stuck with LA, lovingly referred to in-game and by the studio as Hell-A. I asked game director David Stenton about this decision and apparently, a different setting was never really on the table. 

“I don’t remember there being a lot of debate about doing anything other than LA,” Stenton tells me. “I think for us, we wanted to apply real focus to the game… to the combat and that also extends to the setting as well. LA is such a fantastic iconic location, we didn’t really feel like we needed to bring in any other areas.” 

Stenton is likely alluding to the game’s original logo when it was first revealed in 2014. The D in “Dead” features the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco's iconic landmark. Dambuster tells me that Dead Island 2 will take place in Los Angeles exclusively, so don’t plan on making your way to San Francisco or any other California locations in the main campaign. 

“It just gives us so much opportunity… for the game that we wanted to make, so it wasn’t really a big debate,” Stenton says. 

Dambuster Studios

It’s important to note, however, that despite what the team says about sticking with LA, using the same location from the original reveal – the location fans have assumed Dead Island 2 takes place in for nearly a decade – doesn’t hurt the marketing of this game. While the team feels confident LA is the place for its zombie game, it might also just have made the decision to stick with the location fans have presumed as this sequel’s setting for so long. 

“We started with a clean slate, absolutely, with our own vision,” Stenton says. “We’re not looking too much at sort of what happened in the past or looking at too many other games out there. We’re just really focused on, ‘How do we want to make Dead Island 2 absolutely phenomenal?’ and bring it up to date and deliver a game that we think fans will really enjoy.” 

For more, read our feature about why Dambuster Studios thinks Los Angeles makes for a great Dead Island experience, even if the city isn’t an actual island.

Do you think Los Angeles will make for a great Dead Island setting? Let us know in the comments below!

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This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian invites Game Informer's Kyle Hilliard to help him put a bow on 2022. That's right: It's the second annual All Things Nintendo Awards episode! Join Brian and Kyle as they talk about the best games across various categories and send 2022 off in style.

If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram: @BrianPShea. You can follow Kyle on Twitter: @KyleMHilliard.

The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we can celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to talk about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, they'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and even look back on the classics we all grew up with. A new episode hits every Friday!

Be sure to subscribe to All Things Nintendo on your favorite podcast platform. The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:05:22 – Best Action Game
00:09:08 – Best RPG
00:15:27 – Best Sports or Racing Game
00:20:06 – Best Indie Game
00:24:05 – Best Multiplayer
00:27:57 – Best Compilation
00:32:36 – Best Remake or Remaster
00:36:10 – Best Content Updates
00:40:12 – The "Better Late Than Never" Award
00:45:22 – Most Wanted Game for Switch
00:52:47 – Best Third-Party Game
00:54:41 – Best Nintendo Game
00:59:56 – Definitive Ranking
01:08:00 – eShop Gem of the Week: Switch 'N' Shoot

If you'd like to get in touch with the All Things Nintendo podcast, you can email AllThingsNintendo@GameInformer.com or by joining the official Game Informer Discord server. You can do that by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the All Things Nintendo channel under "Community Spaces."

For Game Informer's other podcast, be sure to check out The Game Informer Show with host Alex Van Aken, which covers the weekly happenings of the video game industry!

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Metal Gear Solid creator and Death Stranding director Hideo Kojima and Metal Gear Solid publisher Konami parted ways with each other back in 2015 and since then, there hasn't been a mainline entry in the famed MGS series (although there was the not-so-great Metal Gear Survive in 2018). 

While there's no reason to believe Kojima and Konami are teaming up again anytime soon, it seems the latter might be preparing for some kind of return to MGS. Longtime MGS producer Noriaki Okamura wrote in a recent issue of Famitsu that "2023 will be a year of many announcements," as reported by Gematsu. 

In this special end-of-the-year issue of Famitsu, multiple Japanese developers and producers wrote quick teases about what 2023 might hold for them. It's here where Okamura teased that 2023 will be a year of announcements for Konami Digital Entertainment. More specifically, he said "Other than [the educational edition of Momotaro Dentetsu announced last year], 2023 will be a year of many announcements," and that his keyword for 2023 is "long-awaited," as noted by Gematsu. 

Now, this could just be his way of saying that Konami, as a whole, will make some announcements and that maybe some of them will be long-awaited by fans. However, given that it's Okamura – a longtime MGS producer – saying this, there's reason to believe that maybe he's teasing a return to the MGS series. Perhaps we're getting a remake of one of the games, or maybe a new mainline entry. Only time will tell. 

In the meantime, read Game Informer's ranking of the Metal Gear Solid series. 

[Source: Gematsu]

How do you want to see the Metal Gear Solid series return? Let us know in the comments below!

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Game delays are a part of life. You know the old saying, a delayed game is…well, you know. It’s undeniably a bummer to see a title you’re excited about slip into the following year, but it’s generally for the best to ensure a quality product at release. 2022 has had a growing handful of high-profile setbacks, and we’ve assembled them all in one alphabetized list for a handy reference.

Arc Raiders

Arc Raiders was set to be the debut title from Embark Studios, a team of ex-DICE talent led by former EA head Patrick Söderlund. The co-op shooter about fighting off robots from space made a splash during last year's Game Awards. In a surprising twist, however, Embark announced months later it was delaying Arc Raiders to next year to focus on launching another shooter project first. This title, formerly known as Project Discovery and christened as The Finals during Gamescom, had quickly progressed through development, causing Embark to focus on releasing it first with Arc Raiders arriving sometime afterwards. 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Many assumed Ubisoft's open-world Avatar game would launch around the December premiere of the theatrical sequel, The Way of Water, but we suppose it wouldn't be an Avatar project if it didn't suffer a setback. To ensure Frontiers of Pandora successfully kickstarts what Ubisoft hopes will become a larger gaming franchise for James Cameron's sci-fi universe, the game will instead arrive sometime next year at the earliest – it could even wind up hitting in 2024. 

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

The folks at Team Reptile didn't think releasing its stylish homage to Jet Set Radio in 2022 would allow them the time to give it the attention they feel it deserves. As such, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk will skate to release sometime next summer. It's been too long since we've gotten a Jet Set Radio game, so we can't wait to see how this turns out. 

Company of Heroes 3

Company of Heroes 3 was set to launch on November 17, but developer Relic Entertainment wasn't satisfied with how its military RTS was shaping up. The team wants to spend extra time squashing bugs and making sure Company of Heroes 3 lives up to fan expectations, so the game will now release for PC on February 23 and come to consoles later in the year. 

Deliver Us Mars

This unexpected sequel to hidden gem Deliver Us The Moon looks bigger and better in every way. So much so that developer KeokeN Interactive wants to spend more time preparing Mars for players' arrival. As such, Deliver Us Mars was pushed out of September and will lift off on February 2. 

EA Sports PGA Tour

First announced in 2021 with a Spring 2022 launch window, PGA Tour marks EA’s return to making golf games after a years-long hiatus. The publisher nabbed exclusive rights to the Masters Tournament and the game even includes the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Unfortunately, we don't know much more about the game besides a few courses and events, and EA has only offered vague timeframes for launch. It recently pushed the game to Spring 2023, a year after its original projected arrival. 

Forspoken

Luminous Productions' fish-out-of-water fantasy adventure faced its second delay, moving it from October 11 to January 24. Square Enix states the game is essentially complete and is in the final polishing phase and that the delay was a "strategic decision." October has quickly become crowded with big releases, so perhaps Square wants to pluck Forspoken from the pack so it can garner more attention in the traditionally lighter month of January. Hopefully, the extra time does this promising action RPG justice. 

Goodbye Volcano High

This dinosaur-themed coming-of-age tale was one of the first PlayStation 5 games to debut, but it's been largely MIA since its 2020 reveal. It was supposed to drop this year, but working in the pandemic has forced the small developer KO-OP to give the game some extra TLC, including rewriting the story from scratch. Goodbye Volcano High is now slated to arrive sometime next summer. 

Hogwarts Legacy

As the summer progressed and delays hit left and right, we had a sneaking suspicion Hogwarts Legacy would also slip out of 2022. After all, developer Avalanche had kept pretty quiet about the open-world wizarding game since its first gameplay showcase in March. It confirmed these fears by breaking its silence to finally announce a release date for Hogwarts Legacy: February 10. Unfortunately, Avalanche later changed gears to a more staggered release. Hogwarts Legacy will indeed hit that February date for current-gen and PC, but last-gen console players will have to wait until April 4. Switch fans have to hold out even longer, as the game doesn't launch for that platform until July 25. 

Kerbal Space Program 2

Kerbal Space Program 2's launch has been delayed several times since its reveal in 2019. Developer Star Theory isn't shy about taking as much time as possible to make sure the space sim is as "breathtaking" as fans expect. Though it's a bummer to have stay grounded for several months longer, who would want to deny those adorable Kerbals a smooth liftoff? Thankfully, fans don't have to wait long to finally play Kerbal 2; it enters Early Access on February 24. 

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

In March, Nintendo made the heartbreaking announcement that Breath of the Wild’s sequel would arrive in Spring 2023, a timeframe that has since been narrowed down to May 12. While we didn't get the Zelda vs Elden Ring Game of the Year throwdown some gamers salivated over this year, we’ve become increasingly conditioned to waiting around for this game. What’s nearly a year-long delay?

Metal Slug Tactics

We’ve been excited about this bold tactical spin-off to Metal Slug since its E3 2021 announcement. The game largely vanished from the spotlight since then, however, reemerging when publisher Dotemu announced it was pushing the game to next year to polish up the experience. Hopefully, the extra time does Metal Slug Tactics good; it has a ton of potential.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Night School Studio had been suspiciously quiet about Oxenfree II: Lost Signals for a game slated to release this fall. Unfortunately, that's because it's pushing the eerie adventure game to work on polish as well as adding more localization features. 

Planet of Lana

Fans of cinematic puzzle platformers like Limbo should keep an eye on Planet of Lana. The upcoming game, revealed at E3 2021, stars a young girl and her cat-like companion who explore a vibrant planet filled with giant robots and corrupted creatures. We'd hoped to get our hands on it this year, but developer Wishfully Studios pushed the game to next Spring to ensure quality without overworking the staff. 

Pragmata

Pragmata’s delay has likely been met with the most indifference because we hardly know anything about its strange premise of an astronaut partnering up with a powerful young girl. It also never came close to approaching its original launch window. Capcom revealed the sci-fi title in 2020 and slapped it with a 2022 release. Two years is plenty of time to forget about Pragmata for a while, but in 2021 Capcom pushed the game to 2023 before we even got married to the idea of it arriving this year. Capcom has been tightlipped on Pragmata so it’s hard to know why it tacked on an extra year of development, but we’re itching to see more of this fascinating title in the near future.

Redfall

Arkane Studios’ bloodsucking open-world co-op title needs to slumber a bit longer. On its face, Redfall may look like nothing more than "Left 4 Dead but with vampires" – it pits you and up to three other friends against hordes of deadly night creatures. However, it's still designed to be enjoyed as the story-driven single-player Arkane experience that fans love. That said, we’re itching to see if and how the studio applies the immersive sim elements from Dishonored or Deathloop to a multiplayer format. We just have to wait until the first half of 2023 now.

Replaced

Replaced turned heads during the E3 2021 Xbox Showcase thanks to its stunning pixel art and dystopian '80s aesthetic. Unfortunately, world events have presented a roadblock. Developer Sad Cat is based in Belarus near Ukraine and some of its designers have been caught in the crossfire of Russia's invasion. Several team members had to relocate for their safety, adversely affecting the game's development and forcing a delay. Of course, the well-being of the employees is infinitely more important and we hope Sad Cat is able to bounce back sooner rather than later. 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 developer GSC Game World is based in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, which has been heavily bombed in the ongoing Russian invasion of the country. Several of its developers had to flee the city, and some have even taken arms to help defend it. Needless to say, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 wasn't going to hit its December launch date and will arrive sometime next year, thanks in part to GSC resuming most of the development at a new studio in Prague, Czech Republic. 

Sea of Stars

Sea of Stars comes from Sabotage, the team behind The Messenger, and serves as an RPG prequel to the 2018 action game. Players control two characters who wield the power of the sun and moon to battle an evil alchemist, and the game's influences include Illusion of Gaia and Chrono Trigger (even sharing the same composer). Though Sea of Stars never had a firm 2022 release date, Sabotage confirmed the game will slip into 2023 in order to avoid crunching the staff while polishing up the experience. 

Skull and Bones

Ubisoft's open-world pirate game has been lost at the sea for years and has been hit with yet another delay just when it seemed like the publisher had righted the ship. Skull and Bones will now set sail on March 9 instead of its November 8 launch. Polish and balancing has been cited as the primary reasons for the delay, though reports have also suggested that Ubisoft wants to ensure the experience, namely progression, doesn't feel shallow. 

Sons of the Forest

The sequel to survival horror romp The Forest has quietly gestated in development for a couple of years, and we expected to get our hands on it during the Halloween season after its May launch was delayed. But developer Endnight Games explained to fans that achieving Sons of the Forest's large scope necessitates a few more months of work, so it pushed the game once more to next year. On the bright side, Sons of the Forest finally has a concrete release date: February 23. 

Starfield

In June 2021, Bethesda confidently announced Starfield would land on November 11, 2022; the eleventh anniversary of Skyrim’s launch. Unfortunately, the publisher’s new space-faring IP needs more time on the assembly line and was delayed in the same breath as Redfall. Despite the setback, we were largely impressed with Starfield's first gameplay demonstration at the Xbox/Bethesda Showcase in June, and we only hope the extra time in the oven results in an experience that matches its overwhelming potential. 

Star Trek: Resurgence

The former Telltale Games designers at Dramatic Labs are letting Trekkies steer their own narrative ships in this original choice-driven adventure. Unfortunately, they'll have to wait until April to go where no one has gone before, and hopefully, the delay will be worth it. 

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Rumors had swirled about Suicide Squad’s delay before developer Rocksteady confirmed the worst, so at least the blow was softened a bit. While we won’t get to (hopefully) take down Superman and the League this calendar year, we trust that Rocksteady will take whatever time it needs to do the Suicide Squad justice. It also helps that the late great Kevin Conroy has been confirmed to reprise his role as Batman. 

Tchia

Tchia has been one of the most promising-looking indie titles since its reveal in 2020. The game stars a young girl who has the power to transfer her spirit into the bodies of animals and objects, controlling them from within. The game also takes cues from games like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker with its focus on sailing between multiple islands, and you can also explore underwater and soar through the skies on a glider. Developer Awaceb wants to ensure Tchia lives up to its potential and needs the rest of 2022 to pull it off. 

Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown

Test Drive Unlimited's big comeback landed a September 2022 launch date a year in advance, demonstrating KT Racing's apparent confidence it could cross the finish line in time. Alas, it was not to be. In order to ensure Solar Crown reaches the sky-high bar of quality the team is aiming for, the game was not only delayed, but its PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were canceled. According to the studio, abandoning the last generation will allow Solar Crown to take full advantage of current hardware. 

from Game Informer https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/12/29/the-biggest-2022-games-delayed-to-2023
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Mobile games

Each year, we pull together picks for the best in the tabletop gaming scene, so we can share some of the coolest projects you might bring home to your table. 2022 brought an array of wonderful games, showing the ever-expanding scope and creativity unfolding in the scene. Here are ten of the most enjoyable, including cooperative and competitive experiences, running the gamut in scope from massive sprawling adventures to simple joyous party games and everything in between.

Each game this year turned out to be remarkably different from most of the others on the list, but each captures the fun and excitement of board gaming in a unique way. Check out the complete alphabetized list below, and check back soon for selections of the Best Tabletop Role-Playing Releases of 2022.

Ahoy
Publisher: Leder Games

Leder has developed a well-deserved reputation for asymmetrical competition and a unique artistic aesthetic that manages a rare feat in gaming – you know this studio’s games instantly, even before you play a session. The team’s newest success story is Ahoy, a swashbuckling pirate-themed adventure that is more manageable and easier to learn than some of the team’s prior efforts.

Players control different factions as the sea gradually opens up to exploration, represented by modular tiles that ensure each play will be different. One player dominates the sea lanes, while another is in a sort-of active rebellion, while yet others might be smugglers taking advantage of the chaos – but everyone is trying to control regions and battle each other until there is only one true lord of the seas.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Publisher: Modiphius Entertainment

It’s been more than a decade since Skyrim hit our gaming screens to high acclaim. Today, its proven longevity finds players still enjoying the game regularly. The intensely anticipated tabletop adventure game honors that legacy with a deeply faithful adaptation that captures much of what players loved in the video game.

In this cooperative campaign game, each player is a Blade working to protect the Empire as you range across Skyrim’s familiar landscapes and cities. Side missions, leveling, treasure gathering, tomb-delving, spellcasting – the list goes on and on with ways that the game nods to its original screen version. But the board game incarnation has plenty of creativity and visual flair to call its own. The most enjoyable feature is the many choices players have that reshape the game for you and your fellow players. The quick-playing combat is also great fun, which is all about intelligent skill usage and recognizing enemy vulnerabilities. For Elder Scrolls fans, or fantasy adventure fans more generally, it’s an easy pick for many evenings of snowy adventure.

Frosthaven
Publisher: Cephalofair Games

2017’s Gloomhaven took the board gaming world by storm. Thanks to an innovative card-based combat system, a remarkable sense of place and worldbuilding, and a progression and engagement system that kept players involved over dozens of sessions, the celebrated fantasy adventure rocketed to prominence.

The highly anticipated sequel doesn’t disappoint. While many features remain mostly the same, new options create an even more fertile field for experimentation and emergent storytelling. Much of that is thanks to new developments in between adventures, with more significant choices to develop the settlement of Frosthaven, new crafting and alchemy options, and even seasonal events to explore. That’s on top of 100 unique scenarios, new classes, and a wealth of new items and enemies to discover. Like its predecessor, Frosthaven is so massive, it is almost a hobby in its own right. If you’re looking for that kind of investment for your gaming group, Frosthaven is a sure bet for a fantastic time.

Fun Facts
Publisher: Repos Productions

As light party games go, Repos once again hits the mark this year with a breezy and approachable game that can be taught in seconds and pulled out to play with players of any experience level. A question is asked, like “How much do you enjoy making lists?” Everyone writes down a number (often 0-100) quantifying their answer. The answers are noted on dry-erase friendly arrow chips, flipped over so your answer is hidden, and then placed in a line, ideally in ascending order. Everyone scores together for how many arrows ended up in the right order.

It’s a simple premise that offers great “get to know you better” potential, but often in silly and innocuous ways that shouldn’t offend or upset anyone. It’s also a perfect fit for casual play, thanks to its cooperative nature and easy-to-grasp rules.

Heat: Pedal to the Metal
Publisher: Days of Wonder

Hop into your 1960s Formula racing car and find out who can hit the finish line first. Racing games are notoriously challenging to translate into the tabletop medium, but Heat manages the task with aplomb through a creative card hand management mechanic that finds players juggling gear shifting, heat build-up, stress, and managing them all through play as you try to hit each corner at high speed, always with the risk of spinning out.

In addition to some stellar throwback art that recalls the bygone era of racing, Heat’s thoughtfully balanced systems reward imaginative play, including slipstreaming off opponents’ vehicles. The game also includes a basic racing system and optional modules that add complexity and depth, including the complications of weather, a solo mode, and even a championship tour that encompasses multiple races. Excellently designed and great fun to look at on the table, Heat came out of nowhere this year to reach the front of the pack.

Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar
Publisher: Funko Games

The legacy game formula is firmly established in the hobby, where players are presented with an evolving game experience in which new elements are introduced or changed throughout multiple sessions of play. But there are always new twists and approaches to the idea, and Legacy of Isla Nublar finds the fun by cleverly implementing ideas from the long-running Jurassic film franchise.

Players take on a dozen distinct scenarios, and each step of the way you’re changing the shape of the (potentially doomed) island, including introducing new dinosaur species. Players are constantly managing disasters, from weather events to creature escapes. Luck plays a factor to a greater degree than in many thematic games, but if you’re okay with that sense of randomness, dinosaur enthusiasts will likely find a lot to love here.

My Father’s Work
Publisher: Renegade Game Studios

You are a mad scientist. More specifically, you are part of a long line of mad scientists, all of whom have been building experiments and conducting dubious research from your mysterious home, all while the nearby villagers grow increasingly (and justifiably) suspicious of your actions.

Aided by an app that adds many hours of spoken storytelling, My Father’s Work challenges players to go through three full generations of the same family. You pick up where your ancestor left off as well as you can, all while avoiding angry mobs and a high likelihood of insanity. Mechanically, the game is a relatively straightforward worker placement game, but the enormous amount of storytelling and variation between scenarios adds replayability and excitement. Expect a long playthrough thanks to the many injections of app-driven fiction that accompanies it. Still, the unique theme and rewarding sense of growth over generations of a family make My Father’s Work a delightful excursion to the dark side for narrative-minded players.

My Lil’ Everdell
Publisher: Starling Games

The wonderfully whimsical Everdell has been an easy recommendation to experienced gaming groups since it released in 2018. Even so, it could be a bit intimidating and complex for younger gamers, or those with less experience at the table.

My Lil’ Everdell solves for that in all the ways that matter. It holds on to the tableau-building and worker placement dynamics that are so good in its larger cousin but keeps the surrounding rules, game length, and overall mechanical weight down, so it can be played and enjoyed by a wider audience. The charming woodland animals building their community remain a focus, and the colorful animal art is adorable and gorgeous in equal measure. It’s a worthy inclusion in this list, but it’s also this year’s best pick for families.

Namiji
Publisher: Funforge

Way back in 2012, Funforge released the incredibly entertaining Tokaido, a game about a quiet road trip through a historical version of Japan, which asked the question of who could have the most relaxing and enjoyable trip while strolling down a path. Ten years later, we get this sequel, in which players control fishermen in the Japanese archipelago, aiming to have a nice day of work on the boat as they pull up fish and shrimp while enjoying the idyllic seascape.

Like the original Tokaido, Namiji finds players moving along a static track and enjoying a beautiful Zen experience. In Namiji, minor changes to the formula exist, focused on collecting points and managing a personal grid representing how the fishing is going that day. The innovative movement style is still in place, which allows players to have tremendous choice in how quickly they move along the board. Namiji is an especially simple game that is very welcoming to newcomers, but the beauty of the board and cleverness of the core movement mechanic is still great fun for experienced players.

Star Wars The Clone Wars
Publisher: Z-MAN Games

Z-Man has done impressive work in recent years adapting the beloved core of the Pandemic system into new variations. After a successful visit to Warcraft last year, fans of that most familiar of galaxies far, far away are being treated to this new adventure set during The Clone Wars. It’s a great time.

Working cooperatively, players take on the role of Jedi Knights like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Mace Windu as they desperately range out across the planets of the Republic to hold back the Separatists and their droids. In each session, you take on a familiar villain like Count Dooku or General Grievous, and like in most variations of Pandemic, it’s a balancing act between holding back the rising threat and completing set missions. Attractive art perfectly captures a more realistic take on the Clone Wars than fans may recognize from the animated show, while the action and gameplay is balanced and fun, with plenty of replayability.

Here's hoping this year’s list helps you find something exciting to bring home to your gaming table. If you’re looking for other recent recommendations, feel free to explore past years of this list, including selections from 2021 and the 2020 installment. And for more on some of the best games to explore in the tabletop gaming hobby, head over to the Top of the Table hub. Happy gaming!

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