January has only just begun and we already have a lot of news. On 5 January, the CES 2022 technology trade fair started. A lot of exciting announcements were made there like the gameplay of Yakut MMO The Day Before, the promised director's version of Death Stranding - we have already seen it all. The developers are actively sharing their plans for the coming year. But with the releases, the situation is different. There are still at least a couple of days before the release of new games. You can use this time to free up space on your computer because there will be plenty to play. These are the top ten games of January 2022.
MADiSON
We start the year with horror. The nearest January release is the psychological horror game MADiSON. In the first-person game, the user will fall under the power of a demon. The protagonist, a young man named Luca, is possessed by Madison's spirit. The spirit forces him to take part in a murderous ritual. He becomes the devil's plaything and covers his hands in blood.
The game mechanics revolve around taking pictures. He carries around a film camera. From time to time, he has to develop his shots. And sometimes, the images on the tape are not pleasant.
Bloodious Game promises beautiful visuals and high-quality surround sound. Together, the visuals will create a fully immersive nightmare experience. And the main intrigue of the game remains the interaction between Luca and the demon. Will the hero be able to survive the infernal torture? What awaits him at the end of the ritual? And will Luca be able to resist the evil spirits? Devilry, empty kitchens and mysterious halls - all this awaits us in MADiSON. Experts of horror games are unlikely to be surprised. But those who wish to switch to the horror genre should take a closer look at the title. After all, it is already available.
When: January 7
Platform: PC
Monster Hunter Rise
The post-disaster world is an inexhaustible topic. One could ponder the post-apocalyptic civilization for hours. The various paths of humanity's development are exhaustively represented in video games. Monster Hunter Rise is one of these stories. The fantasy universe has been recovering from a mysterious catastrophe for over half a century. Now a new threat looms over the world. Monsters are ready to turn the planet to dust.
A squad of hunters takes on the job, protecting the world. They go out to fight the monsters. And from the monsters they kill, they can make trophies. They are available for barter and customization. Armour from a monster's shell, a spear from a fang - whatever you like. Do not wait for the storyline. It is in the game as much as possible conditional. The main thing is the battle.
Users have already been able to get acquainted with the game last fall. But then the project was released only for Nintendo Switch. Now the story has migrated to the PC. Nothing supernatural: flat average graphics, gradual rolling and meat grinder. But the combat system and the variety of enemies the game can boast. And the ability to create a unique hero will also appeal to many. Character skills depend on the selection of the arsenal. The player can act alone or team up with other hunters.
When: January 12
Platform: PC
God of War
Does this game need an introduction? We've been familiar with God of War since 2018. Console owners have already been able to enjoy it. And now the story has been adapted for the PC. It is almost the brightest event of 2022.
We are waiting for the pumped-up graphics and new technologies. Nvidia has already used the PC version of God of War to demonstrate the Reflex gimmick. This algorithm reduces input lag. The gameplay doesn't slow down, and the user can react quickly to what's going on with it. Evasion and attacks are many times more effective as a result. The DLSS supersampling also helps players get into the action. So, cool and fast graphics with rendering and other delights await us. AMD cards will also be able to shine with novelties. FSR rendering is provided for them.
There's no need to retell the story. A massive battle with gods is already acknowledged as a gamer classic. The poignant theme of relationship development grows out of the battle with the deities. Everything is done sensitively, soulfully and responsibly. There are no complaints about either the combat mechanics or the design. In exactly two days, PC users will evaluate the story in person.
When: January 14
Platform: PC
Rainbow Six Extraction
There was a recent mishap with The Day Before. YouTube algorithms marked the TDB gameplay trailer as Tom Clancy's The Division series. The similarities were too great. It made users remember the legendary lineup once again. And it's about time.
Another Tom Clancy's media franchise has got an addition. Rainbow Six Extraction is a new part of the famous cooperative shooter. Gathering in a group of three operatives, players will fight against an unknown contagion. Plague, aliens or toxic weapons? The causes of the disaster will have to be figured out. Carnage will not do away with it. Defeating the enemy requires the collection of bio-materials, analysis of the enemy, evacuation of customers and more. The key to success is to think strategically and allocate responsibilities.
Eighteen types of operatives and twelve locations are just the beginning. Ubisoft promises to update the game in the future.
When: January 20
Platform: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Stadia
Expeditions: Rome
Most of the January releases are sequels of popular series. This one is no exception. It is another part of the Expeditions tactical series. The concept of all the games is the same: a role-playing strategy game in a historical setting. Users have already conquered England and America. Now the Conquistadors and Vikings have been replaced by the Romans.
The plot does not play a dominant role in the game. But the protagonist has a backstory that is tragic by all canons of heroics. After his father's death, the young legate escapes from Rome. His task is to find new land and seize it. Along with this, the legate has to build up his fighting power. Because he will eventually return to Rome, but now as a conqueror.
As in most such games, the gamer can create his hero. Class, gender, skills and appearance are adjustable at will. As the influence expands, new controllable characters open up. They will also have to be pumped up and protected.
The toy is unlikely to entertain fans of spectacular hack-and-slash. But for fans of strategies, it is a great option.
When: January 20
Platform: PC
Hidden Deep
Hidden Deep is a radically different underground adventure in terms of style and content. The name should be taken literally: the action takes place one kilometre below the ocean floor. A rescue expedition searches for the trail of a missing group of scientists. They are no longer in touch and are lost at the bottom of the sea.
The game genre combines a platformer base with elements of horror and action. Side views and simple graphics give the game the atmosphere of old console games. But the title was released on PC. And even an unimpressive design does not affect the impression it makes.
There is a grain of strategy in Hidden Deep. The user takes on the role of the commander of the rescue team. He must promptly give orders and manage the underground drill. A twenty-hour long story campaign and a survival mode keep you entertained. A variety of equipment provides varied obstacle courses. Which is more appropriate: a drone, a cat hook or a battering ram? It depends on the strategy the player chooses.
At this point in the game, the development is unfinished. On January 24, it will be possible to try it out. That's the day the early access opens. As developer Cogwheel Software says, this is the time to collect feedback. Later on, Hidden Deep will still be fine-tuned.
When: January 24
Platform: PC
Blackwind
When developers promise lots of action, robots, and teen drama, what comes to mind? Yes, Transformers. And if we're talking about children in armoured suits fighting evil? There's Evangelion. Blackwind is a sci-fi action game that fuses features from both stories. A teenager controlling either a robot or an exoskeleton is at the centre of the narrative. He has to save the planet and stop an alien invasion.
James Hawkins is the young pilot of the starship Pandora. His ship crashes. Waking up, the boy finds himself trapped inside a biometric armour. Now all he has to do is adjust to the controls and figure out where his destiny has taken him. Curiously, the character's name is similar to Jim Hawkins, the protagonist of the novel Treasure Island. Both characters find themselves embroiled in the truest of adventures. Drakkar Dev promises a single-player campaign and co-op, a drone helper and more attack variations.
When: January 20
Platform: PC SWITCH Xbox One Xbox Series Playstation 4 Playstation 5
KINGDOM of the DEAD
The black and white graphics are awful. Volumetric objects cut into planes, and point paint flickers with pixels. That's because the game is hand-drawn. The developers armed themselves with a pen and ink and started to create. The result turned out to be somewhat ambiguous. The users' joke that you will be left without eyes after the game passes in the trailer comments.
The first-person shooter is about a secret agent fighting against death itself. The borders between worlds have melted away. And the agent scours corners and wells in search of budding evil. Players will find eight locations, two dozen types of enemies, and many weapons. The action will unfold on the U.S. coast. The official synopsis leaves mixed feelings about the plot. But to appreciate such an unusual drawing is at least interesting.
When: January 26
Platform: PC
Uncharted Legacy of the Thieves Collection
This game is hardly a novelty. It's another remaster, this time of Uncharted 4. The edition also includes The Lost Legacy DLC. The game needs no introduction. Another Uncharted release is almost the brightest event of the month.
This time the action will focus on India. Nathan and his suddenly returned brother are going on a treasure hunt. The remastered storyline does not differ from the original. But the updated toy will find something to please users. It is equipped with process acceleration, surround sound and three graphic modes.
Uncharted 4 is a fantastic action-adventure game that combines an exciting story and thought-out gameplay. For many people, this game is a real masterpiece. We will see if the remaster is worthy of that praise. It will be available on PS5 this month and will be released on PC in the future.
When: January 28
Platform: Playstation 5
Pokemon Legends Arceus
Another famous franchise closes our top. The Pokemon universe has been updated with a new tactical action game. The events of the game take the user back in time. The action unfolds against a pristine fantasy backdrop. It is a wild, unexplored world. And the player should take the first steps in getting to know the mysterious Pokemon tribe.
The user must study the behaviour of the strange creatures. In the future, it will help to start taming the unusual animals. Peace between pokemon and humans is out of the question. As such, the player will meet many four-legged acquaintances but in a wild habitat. Along with this, he will meet a lot of entirely new creatures. Even avid fans of the franchise will be surprised.
When: January 28
Platform: Nintendo Switch
January promises to be a curious one. There are hardly any new titles this month. The most noteworthy games are relaunches and sequels. Complaints about the "remaster era" have been heard for some time now. Let's wait for more fresh, original ideas in the future. In the meantime, let's refresh our memories with long-loved games.