The Worst Games of 2022: A Disastrous Year for Gaming

The Worst Games of 2022: A Disastrous Year for Gaming

Welcome, gaming enthusiasts, to the highly anticipated 2022 Worst Game of the Year Awards! This year has been a rollercoaster ride of disappointment and frustration, with a plethora of games that simply missed the mark. As we gather here today, I must warn you that the contenders for the title of “Worst Game” are plentiful, making it a challenging task to determine the ultimate winner. However, after careful consideration, I have narrowed down the selection to the ten most egregious offenders. Brace yourselves, for we are about to embark on a journey through the abyss of terrible games that plagued the gaming industry in 2022.

Before we dive into the nominees, I must acknowledge that while it may have been a dismal year for triple-A and double-A games, the indie gaming scene has truly shone bright, delivering exceptional titles that salvaged this otherwise bleak period. These indie gems provided solace to gamers worldwide and reminded us that not all hope was lost. But let’s save the praise for another time. Today, our focus is on the unfortunate contenders vying for the dishonorable title of the worst game of the year.

Without further ado, let us unveil the nominees for the Worst Game of 2022:

1. Need for Speed: Unbound
2. The Callisto Protocol
3. Evil West
4. Scorn
5. Garden Simulator
6. Age of Undead
7. Autobahn Police Simulator 3
8. Dragon Forge
9. Sniper Elite 5
10. Postal 4
11. Ghostwire: Tokyo
12. Shadow Warrior 3
13. Rainbow Six Extraction
14. City Eye
15. Saints Row

To qualify as the worst game of the year, a game must be utterly devoid of value, making it a regrettable purchase for any gamer. To establish a fair judgment, we shall eliminate the games that fall within the lower price range, as it is generally expected that a lower-priced game may have certain limitations or flaws. We are particularly interested in the triple-A titles that demand a hefty sum from unsuspecting buyers, only to deliver a subpar experience.

Now, let us examine a few notable nominees and refresh our memories on the atrocities they committed upon the gaming community.

Need for Speed: Unbound

Need for Speed: Unbound, or as it should have been aptly named, “Need for [Expletive] Pricks,” presented players with a mind-numbing experience. The game revolved around reckless driving, obnoxious behavior, and hollow victories. The destructible environments lacked consequences, as lampposts and bus stops crumbled like wet paper under the weight of a vehicle. With a complete disregard for realism, players could crash head-on into obstacles, only to miraculously recover seconds later. Need for Speed: Unbound encouraged players to embrace their inner jerk, rewarding them for driving recklessly and looking like a complete fool.

The Callisto Protocol

The Callisto Protocol, touted as a triple-A horror experience, failed to live up to expectations. The combat system was a tragic mess, leaving players frustrated and unfulfilled. Even with the addition of a gravity gun-like glove, the combat remained appallingly shoddy. Mastering the mechanics did nothing to alleviate the disappointment, as the system simply did not deliver. The game fell short in every aspect, from gameplay to visuals, leaving players with an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction.

Evil West

Despite its positive reception on Steam, Evil West proved to be an absolute disaster. The game’s combat may have had moments of fun, but it failed to compensate for the overall garbage experience it offered. The lackluster immersion and numerous shortcomings made Evil West an unremarkable endeavor. Balancing on beams or logs lacked any thrill, as falling off was not a possibility. Jumping, a basic skill in most games, required an on-screen prompt, reducing player agency and reinforcing the feeling that Evil West was a console game poorly adapted for other platforms.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

Ghostwire: Tokyo, a game that commanded a hefty price tag, left players questioning their judgment and the current state of the gaming industry. Navigating the lifeless city proved challenging, as everything looked eerily similar, necessitating the overuse of helpful icons. The game offered a mundane and unremarkable experience, devoid of any memorable landmarks or immersive elements. It relied heavily on repetitive combat encounters with ghosts that were easily dispatched with a limited set of powers. Ghostwire: Tokyo lacked depth, creativity, and the thrill one expects from a game of this caliber.

Saints Row

Finally, we arrive at the game that takes the crown for the worst game of 2022: Saints Row. This game was an absolute insult to the gaming community. From the abysmal story to the unrelatable characters, Saints Row offered nothing but disappointment. The AI was so atrocious that even the police couldn’t drive properly, often driving themselves off the road to their own demise. The characters themselves were unremarkable, with dialogue that failed to elicit a single chuckle. The driving mechanics were abysmal, the open world lacked substance, and the game as a whole felt like a slap in the face to dedicated gamers. To top it off, Saints Row demanded a staggering £50, making it an insultingly expensive abomination.

In conclusion, the worst game of 2022, without a doubt, is Saints Row. It embodied everything a game should not be: a disgraceful story, forgettable characters, and a plethora of gameplay issues. It failed to meet even the most basic expectations, leaving players disillusioned and regretful of their purchase.

While the gaming industry has seen its fair share of disappointments throughout the years, 2022 will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the worst years for gaming, particularly in the triple-A and double-A categories. However, let us not forget that amidst this sea of failures, indie games emerged as beacons of hope, reminding us of the untapped potential within the industry.

As we bid farewell to the year that brought us these abysmal titles, let us remain hopeful for a brighter future. May the upcoming years be filled with innovative, well-crafted games that captivate and inspire us. Until then, stay tuned for more gaming news, reviews, and recommendations as we navigate the ever-evolving world of video games.