Elevate Games GOTY Awards 2022

By: Evan1Sonic. This is a list of our game of the year awards and what won each award. While my top ten list of the best games of the year is not this post, it is coming soon. From the game with the best visual design to my most anticipated 2023 title, here are the games that stood apart from the rest this year.

Best Visual Design

This award is given to the title with the best visual design of any game this year.

Pentiment

Ever since I first saw this game, the visual design has caught my eye. It looks beautiful and has a hand-drawn, storybook style to it. The graphics are inspired by great illuminated manuscripts and the earliest printed books, and they wonderfully capture both inspirations. The animations, while fairly simple, work with the graphics to create a beautiful-looking title. As a bonus, you play an artist in this adventure. While other games had more realistic visuals, this one proves that you don’t need to look lifelike to look the best. Pentiment is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Best Music

This award is given to the game in my opinion with the best music of any game this year.

Horizon Forbidden West

The first Horizon game had great music, but this sequel ups the quality and has an incredible soundtrack. Some of my favorite songs from the title include Built to Kill, The World on Her Shoulders, and the sequel’s version of the classic Aloy’s Theme. All of these tracks are courtesy of composers Joris de Man, Niels van der Leest, and many more. Also, vocalist Julie Elven makes an appearance on many songs, and her performance is fantastic. Aloy’s journey across the Forbidden West is brought to life by this wonderful soundtrack. Horizon Forbidden West is available on PS4 and PS5.

Best Multiplayer

This award is given to the game with the best multiplayer experience of any game this year.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

This throwback to the classic TMNT Beat ‘em Ups of yesteryear is great and co-op makes it even better. Normally I dislike these types of games, but this one surprised me in a way I wasn’t expecting. It’s a blast to play, and my fun with the title only grew when playing with a friend. I didn’t experience it, but this adventure supports up to six-player multiplayer mayhem, whether local or online. Defeating the Foot Clan in this game is the year’s best co-op experience. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

Best Remaster/Remake

This award is given to my favorite remastered or remade game of the year.

The Last of Us Part I

The Last of Us is a masterpiece, and this remake of that base game brings the title’s most lacking feature into the modern day: visuals. This new "Part I" version of the game has added more improvements than that, but not much else is incredibly noticeable. This remake is somewhat unnecessary as the PS4 remaster still holds up, but I’m glad it exists. This remake gives those who haven’t played The Last of Us, including me, a great place to change that. The Last of Us Part I is available on PS5 and releases for PC on March 3rd, 2023.

Best Podcast Game

This award is given to the game that can be most enjoyed when listening to podcasts without taking away from the experience.

Vampire Survivors

This remarkable action roguelike title was the first that came to mind for this category, and for good reason. Very little of the experience is missed when playing the game with only part of your attention. It does what I want a great podcast game to do: give me something simple and fun to do while sitting back to listen to another form of media. I really can’t think of a better game to enjoy while diving into a nice podcast or video than this one. Vampire Survivors is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, Android, and PC.

Best DLC

This award is given to the best Downloadable content of the year.

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

I adore Cuphead, and this DLC brings a whole array of new additions to the original game. The biggest of which is the new playable character, Ms. Chalice. Even with her new abilities, some of the bosses I encountered on DLC Island delightfully turned out to be more difficult for me than some of the base game's biggest foes. While the length could leave something to be desired for some, this DLC is just more great Cuphead gameplay, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

Most Emotional Story

This award is given to the game with the most emotional story.

God of War Ragnarök

This game is one of the year's best, and going into it, I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by it as much as I was. There are many fantastic moments, and while I won’t spoil any, a few got me choked up. The ending was one of them and is one of my favorite moments of any game released this year. It just hit me emotionally in a similar way to how “Before Your Eyes” did last year. The narrative of this game is incredible and shouldn’t be missed. God of War Ragnarök is available on PS4 and PS5.

Best Mobile Game

This award is given to the best game on iOS and/or Android.

Poinpy

From the creator of Downwell, Ojiro Fumoto, came Poinpy, a fantastic mobile game. When it first came out earlier this year, it only took a couple of runs before I was hooked. The fluid gameplay feels like it’s perfect for phones, and the more I played, the harder I found it to stop playing. Even after rolling credits, I kept coming back for more. With a beautiful art style, an upbeat set of music from Calum Bowen, and an engaging gameplay loop, there's a lot to love about this game. Poinpy is available on iOS and Android via Netflix Games.

Best Long RPG

This award is given to my favorite role-playing game that takes at least twenty-five hours to finish.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

The third game in the series, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, is by far the best, but it's a long journey from start to finish. With How Long to Beat listing the game as taking sixty-one hours to finish the main path and over one hundred fifty optional side quests to partake in, there's no arguing that this game is short. Fortunately, the game is a lot of fun to play, and each combat encounter feels great. I won’t roll credits on this game anytime soon, but I’m having a nice time playing. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is available on the Nintendo Switch.

Most Anticipated 2023 Game

This award is given to the game that’s releasing in 2023 that I’m the most excited about.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

The original Marvel’s Spider-Man is one of my favorite games of all time, and I don’t know if I’d be where I am today, writing about video games, without it. Needless to say, when this sequel was announced at the last PlayStation Showcase, I was overjoyed. While a lot is still unknown about this game, I’m on board for a new adventure with everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Miles Morales, and crew. Also, Venom seems to be the main villain this time around, so I doubt there’ll be a shortage of epic battles. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launches on PS5 next fall.

That's a wrap on my 2022 Game of the Year Awards. The Best Games of 2022 article is on the way and will be out soon. Did you agree with my picks? What games are getting your awards? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading and Game On!!