Well that was 2021, and what a year it was for Xbox gamers. We saw the return of Master Chief in the utterly excellent Halo Infinite, revved our engines and took off across Mexico in Playground Games’ fantastic Forza Horizon 5 and traversed an astoundingly detailed globe in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
It was, in short, quite the year and, while the world at large might not have managed to get back to normal just yet, games bravely continued to provide us plenty of means of escaping the chaos outside our doors. But what’s next? Well, a new year has arrived and we’ve put together a list of 30 major games coming to Xbox Series X and Series S in 2022, a heady mix of superb looking titles that we’ll be digging into alongside you all over the next year.
So, without further ado, it’s time to take a quick look at just some of what the near future has in store. Let’s jump in!
Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
A Rainbow Six Siege spin-off featuring alien-infested levels, risk vs reward gameplay aspects, tons of gadgets and intense co-operative teamwork at its core? Count us in. Featuring returning operatives from Siege, now part of REACT, an anti-alien combat unit who are thrown into multi-objective missions against clever Archaen foes, this one looks like it’s nailed a mix of atmosphere, strategy and slick co-operative action.
- Release Date: 20th January 2022
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: Techland / Developer: Techland
Techland’s Dying Light was a thoroughly pleasant surprise when it landed back in 2015, delivering a game that was leaps and bounds beyond what the developer had previously delivered with their Dead Island series. Here we were treated to fast, flashy parkour action that incorporated fantastic storytelling, a gritty setting and some satisfyingly slick zombie slaying. All of which is to say we’re very excited to get our hands on Dying Light 2, which is mere weeks away now and should prove to be a thrilling sequel that further refines what was served up in the original game and its excellent “The Following” expansion.
- Release Date: 4th February 2022
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios / Developer: Remedy
The third entry in the Crossfire series, and the first to come to consoles, CrossfireX promises plenty of Counter Strike-esque multiplayer goodness in its free-to-play component whilst also serving up an all-new single player cinematic experience developed by none other than Remedy Entertainment.
It’s all looking pretty tasty so far and, even though some of the initial preview reactions haven’t exactly been red hot, we’re still looking forward to getting stuck in here to see what Smilegate and Remedy can conjure up together!
- Release Date: 10th February 2022
- Xbox Game Pass? No, but MP component is free-to-play
Developer: FromSoftware
Is there anyone who isn’t absolutely trembling with excitement about this one? FromSoftware can do no wrong in our book and Elden Ring looks to be shaping up to be something truly special. Plenty of players have now had a taster of this one thanks to the beta test just a few weeks ago, and all reports are this is another incredible slice of deliciously atmospheric gaming action the likes of which only FromSoftware can deliver. Is it gonna play a bit too much like another Souls game? Probably, and you know what, that’s EXACTLY why we’re so excited about it. Roll on February!
- Release Date: 25th February 2022
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Publisher: EA / Developer: Codemasters
The latest entry in Codemasters’ popular GRID racing series will be taking to the start line this February, bringing with it a deep Career mode with over 250 events, a fully-featured story mode entitled ‘Driven to Glory’, cross-platform multiplayer and a whole lot more. There’s also a Race Creator feature which will allow you to design “adrenaline-fueled races to tear up with your friends.” With no sign of the upcoming Forza Motorsport getting a release anytime soon, it looks like GRID Legends will be a great substitute in the interim.
- Release Date: 25th February 2022
- Xbox Game Pass: No
Publisher: Finji / Developer: Andrew Shouldice
First announced all the way back in January 2018, Tunic is an exquisite looking indie effort starring an adorable little fox. While this isometric action adventure may look plenty cute, it also features some Soulslike elements, most notably in its challenging combat.
We’re getting heavy early Zelda vibes off what we’ve seen of Tunic so far, with a little sprinkling of Fez thrown in for good measure. With the game now due for a March 16th release date, it’s not too long now until we finally get our hands on this one.
- Release Date: 16th March 2022
- Game Pass? No
Publisher: 2K Games / Developer: Gearbox Software
Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep was a very well-received spin-off from the main Borderlands series when it released back in 2013 and this follow-up looks to up the ante in every conceivable way. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is a direct sequel that once again takes place in a fantasy themed tabletop RPG world where Tina rules as Dungeon Master, meaning you can change elements of the world on the fly.
It all looks suitably raucous, featuring endless OTT weapons, up to four player co-op, procedurally generated loot, character creation, a flexible six class system that lets you mix and match skills for the first time in the series and, in another first, melee weapons! We’ve no doubt fans of the Borderlands franchise will be looking forward to getting their hands on this one when it hits in March next year.
- Release Date: 25th March 2022
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: Rockstar / Developer: Rockstar
GTA V has become a bit of an institution in gaming some eight years down the line from its original release. With an online aspect that’s taken on a life of its own it’s remained in the spotlight, hoovering up money for Rockstar for far longer than it really had any right to.
Now the whole thing, both single player and multiplayer components, are being given the full next-gen treatment with reworked graphics, enhanced gameplay, faster loading times, slicker framerates and so on. This updated Grand Theft Auto V will take full advantage of new consoles to deliver the ultimate experience for the game’s fans – that’s right, no more stuttering or stalling as you switch characters! We can’t wait to dive back in and experience the warped world of Los Santos all over again.
- Release Date: March 2022
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: 2K Games / Developer: Visual Concepts
Well, after 2021’s WWE game got scrapped entirely, and 2K20 left us less than impressed, can WWE 2K22 finally bring the ruckus back and give fans of the long-running series something to shout about on next-gen consoles? We don’t have too long to wait for answers, as this much-anticipated return lands in just a few months’ time. Fingers crossed it’ll see a huge return to form for the franchise.
- Release Date: March 2022
- Xbox Game Pass? No
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
The LEGO series has been missing in action in for a little while lately so we’re expecting LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga to have taken the time to shake up the series’ formula a little. It’s already been noted that this will be a ground-up recreation of the LEGO Star Wars games, with more in the way of open-ended exploration, a bigger roster of characters than ever before and brand new gameplay mechanics all incorporated into the blocky mix. We honestly can’t wait to relive some of our favourite Star Wars moments in brick form all over again when this one drops next year.
- Release Date: Q1 2022
- Xbox Game Pass? No
