The Best of 2022: Games, Albums, Movies, and Shows to Remember

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Best Games of 2022
   1. Marvel Snap
   2. Penitent
   3. Signalus
   4. The Case of the Golden Idol
   5. Victoria 3
   6. Vampire Survivors
   7. Elden Ring
3. Best Albums of 2022
   1. Black Country, New Road - Ants from Up There
   2. Hatchie - Giving the World Away
   3. Pusha T
   4. Charli XCX - Crash
   5. Everything I Know About Love - Laser
   6. Beyonce - The Renaissance
   7. Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B
4. Best Movies of 2022
   1. Blonde
   2. Decision to Leave
   3. The Banshees of Inisherin
   4. The Batman
   5. Huh
   6. Don't Look Up
   7. Pacifixion
5. Best Shows of 2022
   1. The Bear
   2. The Rehearsal
   3. White Lotus
   4. Finding Users
   5. Caleb Gammon's Cyber Gucks
6. Conclusion

Best of 2022: A Look Back at the Year's Top Games, Albums, Movies, and Shows

2022 was a year of ups and downs in the world of entertainment. While there were certainly some disappointments, there were also some standout releases that made the year worth remembering. In this article, we'll take a look at the best games, albums, movies, and shows of 2022.

Best Games of 2022

Marvel Snap

Let's start with a game that I can't recommend: Marvel Snap. While I enjoyed it during the testing phase, the monetization strategy that was implemented after release ruined the game for me. It's not worth your time or money.

Penitent

On the other HAND, Penitent was a fantastic narrative-driven role-playing game that takes you on a Journey. The game is very artful, with high-quality writing and a deliberate style. While I found it a bit annoying to play at times, it achieved everything it was going for and is definitely worth checking out.

Signalus

Signalus is a top-down retro shooter adventure game that is both retro and enjoyable. The puzzles are more enjoyable than the combat, and the exploration is more enjoyable than the narrative. Aesthetically, the gameplay itself is stellar.

The Case of the Golden Idol

The Case of the Golden Idol is a narrative Puzzle game that is Based around one simple gameplay puzzle, but it's a really great one. It's the first time I've seen a mystery game where you actually have to solve the mysteries, and you can't bumble your way through to the end. It doesn't guide you, and it's basically impossible to do it brute force. You're solving murder mysteries using your own deduction, so it really sets itself apart by being like actually a game that takes place in your brain.

Victoria 3

Victoria 3 is the first of the Paradox strategy games that I really got into. I don't know if that's because it was any better or any more accessible than the rest, or if I finally became boring enough to enjoy them.

Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors is a bit of fun, sort of retro-idol game that is perfectly designed to trick your brain into thinking that you're enjoying it. It's a fantastic time-waster that doesn't really require much input from you. It's a good game to have on while you're watching something, a total waste of time, and I loved it.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring is the first time that a FromSoft game has actually held my Attention. It's slightly easier, and you don't actually have to fully master the combat to get through the game. It's very intricately crafted with its game design to constantly reward you and challenge you in a way that is optimally engaging. I really enjoyed the more subtle, unguided storytelling and the subtle, unguided way that it sort of tells you where you need to go and stuff. It does genuinely feel very accessible, and it's not hugely different from another open-world game, but it is different enough and obtuse enough to be lastingly enjoyable. That said, I didn't finish it, but I think that'll be my game of the year.

Best Albums of 2022

Black Country, New Road - Ants from Up There

Black Country, New Road's Ants from Up There was my album of the year. It's less cool to say it this year, as it's quite an acclaimed album, but it's a fantastic album nonetheless.

Hatchie - Giving the World Away

Hatchie's Giving the World Away is a Fusion of '90s rock and dream pop, with a very nostalgic sound but also a bit of a fresh sound.

Pusha T

Pusha T's album is really good, with great production from Pharrell.

Charli XCX - Crash

Charli XCX's Crash is good if you like that sound. It's maybe a little bit more accessible than normal, a little bit less experimental than normal, but solid.

Everything I Know About Love - Laser

Everything I Know About Love by Laser is a bit of pop, a bit of jazz, and a bit of lo-fi hip hop. It's a TikTok thing, but it sounds lovely.

Beyonce - The Renaissance

Beyonce's The Renaissance is just sort of dance pop done to perfection.

Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B

Jockstrap's I Love You Jennifer B is doing art pop experimental pomp in a new and fresh way. It's just a very Novel album.

Best Movies of 2022

Blonde

Blonde is a movie about Marilyn Monroe, and it's fantastic.

Decision to Leave

Decision to Leave is a beautiful little movie about what if there were some freaks.

The Banshees of Inisherin

The Banshees of Inisherin is a movie about what if there were some freaks.

The Batman

The Batman is a 70s crime movie knockoff, and it's fantastic.

Huh

Huh is a pretty good movie about what if there were some freaks.

Don't Look Up

Don't Look Up got a lot of hate, and I think the content probably deserves that level of hate, but I did really like the style of it.

Pacifixion

Pacifixion is a movie about aimlessly following the High Commissioner of Tahiti around as he is charming and detestable, with the threat of nuclear testing in the background. It's a very ambient movie, but a bit Lynchian and a little bit like Nicolas Winding Refn.

Best Shows of 2022

The Bear

The Bear is a Show about a top chef sprucing up a restaurant, but it's actually about grief and family.

The Rehearsal

The Rehearsal is a show about helping people to prepare for situations that they don't feel like they're ready for, but with the classic Nathan Fielder twist that has just taken way too far.

White Lotus

White Lotus is a good fun show that felt more pointed in season one. Season two just sort of enjoys the aesthetic, absolutely toothless but a lot of fun.

Finding Users

Finding Users is a documentary about cracking down the creator of Kanye Quest, doing the comedic documentary thing sincerely and well.

Caleb Gammon's Cyber Gucks

Caleb Gammon's Cyber Gucks is my show of the year.

Conclusion

That's it for our look back at the best of 2022. While there were certainly some disappointments, there were also some standout releases that made the year worth remembering. Whether you're into games, albums, movies, or shows, there was something for everyone in 2022.