The gaming industry moved forward in 2022 thanks to these innovative titles that dared to rethink the rules of the medium.
What makes the video game industry so exciting is that itâ€s still relatively young. Developers are still routinely discovering new ways to turn the medium on its head, redefining the idea of what a game is by bucking against trends. Though major productions like God of War Ragnarok are no doubt impressive, the most groundbreaking titles are often the less obvious ones.
That was the case in 2022, which saw developers entirely deconstructing some fundamentals about games. In some cases, that was expressed through new approaches to gameplay, creating experiences that are unlike anything Iâ€ve ever seen from the medium. Others were even more high-level, challenging us to think about who certain projects are for. From a massive remake project to the tiniest action game, these were some of 2022â€s most innovative games.
At first glance, The Last of Us Part Iâ€s inclusion here may seem odd. Sonyâ€s pricey remake was the center of controversy when it launched earlier this year, as fans argued its existence was unnecessary. However, this PlayStation 5-exclusive is incredibly important for a reason that might not be immediately obvious: accessibility. The remake brought with it a deep host of accessibility features and settings to allow more players to try the game – some potentially for the first time ever. In that sense, The Last of Us Part I is a critical work of game preservation that rethinks what a remake should do and who it should be for. It puts the focus on fixing the mistakes of gaming history by making its most important titles more inclusive experiences.
To build something utterly unique, Vampire Survivors first had to deconstruct.
