A new year means new games. While January is starting things out slow, there are a number of ports and hotly anticipated releases that should be on everybody’s radar. On that note, here are the 5 best games of January 2022. Oh, and we won’t make you click through five pages to look at the entire list.
5 Best Games of January 2022
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction
A tactical shooter with horror elements, Ubisoft Montreal’s Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction changes the formula by throwing players into an alien-infested locale. “Incursion” play sessions as they take on procedurally generated enemies and collect samples, extract materials from computers, and gather intel.
The Archaeans alien threat comes in a number of different varieties, including the projectile-shooting spikers and the rooters that can slow the player down.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction will come out for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Amazon Luna, and Google Stadia on January 20, 2022.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
Adventurers will be able to seek out fortune once more with the release of Naughty Dog and PlayStation Studios’ Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
This collection features two titles: Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Players will be able to take control of Nathan Drake and Chloe Frazer as they forge their own legacies and confront their pasts. New to this release is fast loading, 3D audio, a fidelity mode, and DualSense control features.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection will come out for the PlayStation 5 on January 28, 2022.
Monster Hunter Rise (PC)
Featuring an all-new story line, Hunters will be able to go on a new adventure with the release of Capcom’s Monster Hunter Rise on the PC.
Previously released on the Nintendo Switch (you can read our review of that version here), this title features all-new creatures inspired by Japanese folklore, 14 different weapon types, and the versatile Wirebug and Palamute Canyne companion, which allows for easy traversal.
This release of the game will feature graphics at up to 4K resolution, HDR with support for features including ultrawide monitors, and an unlocked frame rate.
Monster Hunter Rise will come out for the PC on January 12, 2022.
God of War (PC)
When it came out for the PlayStation 4 in 2018, we gave Sony Santa Monica and PlayStation Studios’ God of War high praise. In our review (which you can read here), we said it “is nothing short of a modern day masterpiece.”
This experience is making its way from consoles to the PC this month. New to this version is support for true 4K resolution, higher resolution shadows, improved screen space reflections, the addition of GTAO and SSDO, and support for NVIDIA Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS).
No matter what presets once chooses, its dark, elemental world of fearsome creatures set in pre-Viking Norse lore will appeal to gamers of all types.
God of War will come out for the PC on January 14, 2022.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
A prequel to Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, Game Freak, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus will task players with creating Hisui’s first Pokédex.
However, the formula is changed up a bit in this entry – players can now capture Pokémon directly in the overworld immediately without going through a battle. In addition, players can now battle by releasing Pokémon previously captured near a wild Pokémon. Be warned though – wild Pokémon and falls can cause players to take damage.
For those looking to get around its vast world, the Celestica flute can help summon three special Pokémon that allow players to ride over land, sea, and sky.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus will come out for the Nintendo Switch on January 28, 2022.