DualShockers' Game of the Year Awards 2022 -- Hades Takes the Throne

2020 has patently been a rough one, to say the least. With last yr in the rearview mirror and 2022 alee of the states, all of united states of america atDualShockers are looking forward to (hopefully) brighter and better days alee for everyone in a year that was especially challenging. But before we completely put 2022 to bed, there's 1 last thing from the past year that is worth jubilant, which are the incredible games that we played throughout 2022.

This past year was notable for the games manufacture in a multitude of means, both positive and negative. Of course, the COVID-nineteen pandemic radically altered the landscape of the industry in 2022 by forcing studios to piece of work remotely, delaying several major releases, and cancelling the vast majority of this year'south major events and conventions. This year too also sparked new conversations around many of the current problems facing the industry in terms of racial inequality, crunch and development practices, and accountability for studio management.

But on the positive end, this twelvemonth too saw the closure of one generation and the beginning of a new one with the launches of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|South. Even in the confront of substantial challenges like those we faced throughout 2022, gaming–perhaps now more ever–became an important outlet for finding entertainment and comfort, making connections with friends and strangers from effectually the globe, and discovering what makes this medium so special.

With that existence said, all of us atDualShockers are excited to officially reveal the winners of our Game of the Year Awards 2022, which saw around 100 unique games nominated across all of our categories. That number only speaks to the strength of this year'due south roster of games that brought u.s. condolement, new perspectives, and a deeper appreciation for what nosotros all love nigh games, especially in a yr like 2022.

Before we jump into revealing the winners: we want to give a quick shoutout to our readers and theDualShockers community for your support over the year, and especially for those that participated in our Game of the Yr Awards voting. This is the second year that we've had community voting for our GOTY Awards, and much similar last year, we had an amazing turnout for both our customs awards–Game of the Year – Readers' Choice and Most Predictable Game – Readers' Choice–and particularly for the community vote in our official GOTY Awards. In several contentious categories for this year's awards, the customs vote ended up beingness the deciding cistron in several "too close to call" races and tiebreakers.

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Now that all the concern is out of the way — below you'll notice the winners of our Game of the Year Awards 2022. Over again, give thanks you to all of the nominated developers, studios, and publishers for their incredible titles released this year, cheers to our readers and community for their incredible support, and see you all in 2022: a yr that I'k sure we are all looking frontwards to in more means than i.

DualShockers' Game of the Yr Awards 2022 – Full Winners List:

Game of the Year: Hades
Game of the Year – Readers' Choice: The Terminal of The states Part Ii
Most Anticipated Game: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel
About Anticipated Game – Readers' Choice: God of War sequel
Hardware of the Year: PS5
Best Developer: Supergiant Games
Best Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Best First-Political party Game: The Terminal of Usa Role Ii
Best Indie Game: Hades
Best PS5 Game: Demon'due south Souls
All-time Xbox Series X|Southward Game: Yakuza: Similar a Dragon
Best PS4 Game: The Concluding of United states of america Function II
Best Xbox One Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Best Nintendo Switch Game: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Best PC Game: Half-Life: Alyx
All-time Mobile Game: Genshin Touch
All-time Virtual Reality Game: Half-Life: Alyx
All-time Action-Adventure Game: The Terminal of U.s.a. Role II
Best Competitive Game: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Best Cooperative Game: Amidst Us
Best DLC or Expansion: Last Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
Best Family Game: Creature Crossing: New Horizons
Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
Best Horror Game: Phasmophobia
Best Interactive Story Game: xiii Sentinels: Aegis Rim
All-time Metroidvania: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Best Multiplayer Game: Amongst Usa
All-time Ongoing Game: Final Fantasy XIV
All-time Platformer: Astro's Playroom
Best Puzzle Game: Tetris Effect: Connected
All-time Racing Game: F1 2022
Best Remake: Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Best Remaster: Tony Militarist's Pro Skater 1+two
Best Roguelike: Hades
All-time Function-Playing Game: Final Fantasy VII Remake
Best Shooter: DOOM Eternal
Best Sports Game: Tony Hawk'south Pro Skater 1+2
Best Strategy Game: Gears Tactics
Best Art Management: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Best Audio Blueprint: The Last of U.s. Role Ii
Best Character: Abby (The Terminal of Us Part Two)
Best Graphics: The Last of Us Function 2
Best Narrative: The Concluding of Us Part Two
All-time Open World: Ghost of Tsushima
Best Operation: Laura Bailey (Abby, The Last of United states of america Part Two)
Best Soundtrack or Original Music: Final Fantasy VII Remake
Biggest Shocker of 2022: Microsoft acquires Bethesda Softworks/ZeniMax Media
Best Moment in the Gaming Industry of 2022: Accessibility reaches new milestones in 2022
Best In-Game Moment or Scene of 2022: The Museum (The Last of Usa Office II)
Best Self-Intendance Game of 2022: Animate being Crossing: New Horizons

Game of the Year Awards 2022 – Games by # of Wins

10 wins – The Last of U.s. Part 2

3 wins – Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Hades, Ori and the Will of the Wisps

2 wins – Among Usa, One-half-Life: Alyx, Last Fantasy XIV, Tony Militarist'due south Pro Skater 1+ii

1 win –xiii Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Astro's Playroom, Demon's Souls, DOOM Eternal, F1 2022,  Autumn Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Gears Tactics, Genshin Impact, Ghost of Tsushima, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, Phasmophobia, Tetris Effect: Connected, Yakuza: Like a Dragon

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All-time of the Year Awards

DualShockers' Game of the Year 2022: Hades

Additional Wins: Best Indie Game, All-time Roguelike

Just like Zagreus' quest to reach the surface and go past the underworld, we here atDualShockers couldn't escape fromHades and named information technology as our Game of the Yr for 2022. Though it faced steep adversaries in The Last of Us Part II andFinal Fantasy Seven Remake–the other two games that made it to the top of our staff'south GOTY deliberations this year–ultimately we could find few flaws with Supergiant Games' latest (and perhaps all-time) championship. From top to bottom, Hades was the game this year that our staff had the nearly overall enthusiasm for, making it more than worthy of the Game of the Twelvemonth title.

While it started out every bit an Early Admission title, with its final release this year, our staff nearly unanimously praised the high degree of polish that Supergiant has delivered with Hades. Not only does the game manage to weave an intricate, well-told story filled with memorable (and unbearably hot) characters and fast-paced gameplay, merely it accomplishes this all through an impeccably designed roguelike. Whether our staff loved or hated roguelikes, well-nigh all of them agreed that Hades strikes a nigh-perfect balance of being attainable and fun, while too challenging and with plenty depth for players to keep coming back to, run after run.

ThoughThe Last of Us Function 2 andFinal Fantasy 7 Remake were more or less our runners-upward for Game of the Twelvemonth 2022 for how they pushed boundaries in storytelling and graphical fidelity in this generation, to usHades was as much (if non more) impressive for achieving and so much with a much smaller team. Every bit we noted in our review of the game before this year,Hades managed to pull off an impressive lid fox; it'south likely Supergiant's best game yet, it's one of the all-time roguelikes ever made, and to united states of america, it is unequivocally 2022's Game of the Year.

Game of the Year 2022 – Readers' Selection: The Last of United states Office II

Additional Wins: Best First-Political party Game, Best PS4 Game, All-time Action-Adventure Game, Best Sound Design, Best Character, All-time Graphics, Best Narrative, Best Performance, Best In-Game Moment or Scene of 2022

WhileHades wound up takingDualShockers' honor for Game of the Year in 2022, our runner-upward for Game of the Twelvemonth was the clear victor of the community's vote for this year's best title, and one of the few times where the DS team and the community were split on GOTY. With a commanding lead of around 37% of the votes, The Last of Us Part II easily took the prize of Game of the Year – Readers' Selection along with 10 wins in our Game of the Yr Awards overall, making it our most honored title in all of 2022. The two runners-up for GOTY – Readers' Choice this year were Ghost of Tsushima(2nd) andTerminal Fantasy VII Remake (tertiary).

Y'all tin can check out a rundown of how the community votes broke downwardly for Game of the Year – Readers' Choice below:

The Last of Us Office II by far earned its acclamation this year, as it not but won several of our headlining awards in 2022 like Best Outset-Party Game and Best PS4 Game, but it also nearly pulled off a sweep of our technical and artistic awards with wins in Best Audio Design, Grapheme, Graphics, Narrative, and Functioning.

As one of the virtually talked-about games of the yr, information technology isn't exactly a huge surprise to see thatThe Last of Us Role Ii non simply resonated so strongly with our ain staff, just also with our community. Naughty Domestic dog had no easy task trying to follow-up what is (arguably) its most acclaimed game ever, just The Last of Usa Part II managed to thrill and excite players with the next chapter of Ellie'due south story, while likewise challenging it with a new perspective from its second playable character, Abby.

DualShockers' Most Predictable Game: The Fable of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel

AsThe Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild was 1 of the most acclaimed titles of the generation, information technology's condom to say that its upcoming sequel is 1 title worth waiting for. Originally announced last year past Nintendo during E3 2022, the (as-nonetheless-untitled) sequel toBreath of the Wildwas ultimately the title that the team at DualShockers is near looking forrard to, whether information technology winds up releasing in 2022 or otherwise.

Interestingly, our staff'due south vote for Most Anticipated Game was pretty competitive, with but one vote separating theBreath of the Wildsequel from the two runners-up for this category, Final Fantasy XVI(2nd) andHalo Space (tertiary). While nosotros don't know a ton simply nonetheless about the sequel to one of the best games of the last generation, nosotros'll exist looking forward to (hopefully) hearing more about it subsequently this year.

Almost Anticipated Game – Readers' Selection: God of War sequel

Much like withBreath of the Wild's sequel, theDualShockers customs is also looking forward to an entirely different (but as much predictable) sequel to ane of the all-time titles of the by generation, the upcoming sequel to 2022'sGod of War. Far and away, the God of State of war sequel was the clear victor in the votes for Most Anticipated Game – Readers' Selection with just over 39% of the overall votes from our readers. The two runners-up in this category among the community were Horizon Forbidden West (2nd) andResident Evil: Village(3rd).

You lot can check out a rundown of how the community votes broke down for Most Anticipated Game – Readers' Choice below:

While there isn't much that nosotros know but yet nigh where Kratos and Atreus' journey volition head side by side, either way, theDualShockers community is clearly looking forrad to the game, which is (so far) confirmed for release on PS5 sometime in 2022. As the revival of God of State of war was DualShockers' Game of the Year winner in 2022, hopefully we won't take to wait too much longer to hear more well-nigh it, and remember: Ragnarok is coming.

Hardware of the Year: PS5

With the launch of three side by side-gen consoles this year, it's safe to say that 2022 was especially competitive for Hardware of the Yr. However, ultimately the PS5 came out on top with a commanding atomic number 82 amid its competition in the Xbox Serial 10|Southward, Oculus Quest 2, and the NVIDIA GeForce RX 3000 GPU line.

Both theDualShockers staff and community agreed that the PS5 truly feels like the image of what the next-generation of panel gaming has to offer, from its blazing fast loading times, to its roster of stiff launch games, and especially to the potential of the DualSense controller. Of course, some of u.s.a. had a hard time just getting the damn thing to fit in our entertainment centers, but more importantly, Sony has proved with the PS5 that the next-generation of gaming is already off to an incredible get-go.

Best Developer: Supergiant Games

The lineup of nominees for All-time Developer this twelvemonth was perhaps one of the best examples of the diverseness of talent out there right now in the games industry. Studios like Naughty Domestic dog and Foursquare Enix showcased the power of AAA development with stunning terminate-of-the-generation titles similar The Concluding of Us Part Two andTerminal Fantasy VII Remake, while InnerSloth and Mediatonic highlighted the innovation from indie developers with ii of this year's breakout hits,Amid Us andFall Guys: Ultimate Knockout.

Of all the nominated studios for this yr, Supergiant Games claimed our accolade for Best Developer with ambition, innovation, and healthy development practices. Not merely did the studio attain outstanding success with Hades equally our winner for Game of the Year, simply Supergiant has shown what tin come up from Early on Access evolution and taking in community feedback, all while working against the crunch culture that has divers the by several years of the games industry.

Best Publisher: Sony Interactive Amusement

Fifty-fifty in a yr that's been as challenging as 2022, Sony Interactive Entertainment had a imprint year as it airtight out the PS4 generation and brought usa into a new i with the PS5. The PS4 closed the volume on an impressive seven-year-run with some of the console'south best exclusives this yr like The Last of Usa Part 2,Ghost of Tsushima, andDreams, while Sony as well brought us into the side by side-generation with launch showstoppers like Demon's Souls andMarvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

With a number of loftier-profile titles lined upward for adjacent year likeHorizon Forbidden West,Gran Turismo seven,Ratchet & Clank: Rift Autonomously, and the upcomingGod of State of war sequel, it also wouldn't exist too surprising if we wind up seeing Sony Interactive Amusement compete for this prize once again in 2022.

All-time First-Political party Game: The Concluding of Usa Part Two

Best Indie Game: Hades

All-time PS5 Game: Demon's Souls

Equally 1 of the true side by side-gen showcases of the fall, few games proved the power of the new consoles greater thanDemon's Souls. Bluepoint'south remake of the iconic PS3 title–the game which arguably established the "Soulslike" genre–came to life with a brilliant reimagining and likewise demonstrated what we'll have to look forrad to with the PS5 in the coming years.

Whether you managed to get through it with a breeze or might have broken a DualSense controller (or two) along the manner,Demon's Souls was easily the standout title of the PS5's launch and a bright mode to boot off a new generation of PlayStation gaming.

All-time Xbox Serial X|Due south Game: Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Ichiban is number 1! In an specially competitive category, Yakuza: Like a Dragon ultimately managed to take hold of the prize as the best launch title for the Xbox Series X|S, as the Yakuza series simply continues to reach new heights year-afterward-year.

It's no secret that many of us here atDualShockers are big fans of theYakuza series, but to see its growth over the past several years is entirely worth honoring for both the serial' developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and publisher SEGA. What initially started as a niche series on the PS2 has grown into a long-running and acclaimed multi-platform franchise, withYakuza: Like a Dragon easily ranking as 1 of its all-time installments nonetheless.

Best PS4 Game: The Last of U.s. Part II

Best Xbox One Game: Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Additional Wins: Best Metroidvania, Best Fine art Direction

Among all of the Xbox exclusives released this yr,Ori and the Will of the Wisps was by far the championship that our staff had the most enthusiasm and praise for. Moon Studios' follow-up toOri and the Blind Wood not only improved on nearly every attribute of its predecessor, merely also told a deep, heartfelt story with little to no dialogue; a storytelling feat that certainly is not easy.

It'southward safe to say that the Xbox One easily had one of its best exclusives this twelvemonth inOri and the Will of the Wisps, and whether you play it on Xbox I, PC, or with its recent optimizations on Xbox Series X|Southward, you are in for a visually and emotionally-stunning experience.

Best Nintendo Switch Game: Beast Crossing: New Horizons

Boosted Wins: Best Family unit Game, All-time Self-Care Game of 2022

Though it didn't air current up taking either of our Game of the Year prizes, information technology's easy to say that Brute Crossing: New Horizons may have beenthe game of 2022 by allowing us all to escape from the realities of this yr a bit. Of grade, it also helps that even without a pandemic that kept us in our homes for most of the year,Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a stellar experience in itself that brings the series to (literally and figuratively) new horizons.

From its brand new features like crafting and terraforming, to a sheer countless number of ways that y'all can customize nearly every facet of your island, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a friction match fabricated in sky on the Nintendo Switch. More chiefly, information technology was one of the fundamental games this year that helped many of us navigate the difficulties of 2022.

Best PC Game: Half-Life: Alyx

Boosted Wins: All-time Virtual Reality Game

If 2022 wasn't already packed with stellar experiences likeThe Last of Us Part Ii,Final Fantasy VII Remake, andHades, it would exist hard to forget that this year likewise gave u.s.a. a render to the earth ofHalf-Life. After one heck of a cliffhanger in Half-Life two: Episode 2, Valve finally brought usa the series' adjacent installment withHalf-Life: Alyx through the power of VR.

As the winner of both our All-time PC Game and Best Virtual Reality Game Awards, it speaks to the strength of what Valve has achieved withHalf-Life: Alyx by bringing players back into their beloved universe in a new mode. Few other titles take reached the heights of immersion and storytelling thatAlyx has on display, and it'due south hopefully a sign of more to come forHalf-Life fans in the futurity. Well…at least sometime in the future.

All-time Mobile Game: Genshin Bear upon

With some of the biggest vote majorities from both our DSstaff and the customs,Genshin Bear upon conspicuously made an impact equally this year'due south breakout mobile hitting for anyone that played it. The Breath of the Wild-inspired activeness RPG has but grown bigger every calendar month, and though information technology'south also available on PS5, PS4, and PC (and soon on Nintendo Switch), mobile seems to really exist where developer miHoYo's hit has institute its stride.

All-time Virtual Reality Game: Half-Life: Alyx

Best in Genre Awards

All-time Action-Adventure Game: The Final of Us Part II

All-time Competitive Game: Autumn Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Every bit one of this twelvemonth'southward biggest hits, it's safe to say thatAutumn Guys has taken the crown this year in our All-time Competitive Game category. One of the breakout games of 2022, Mediatonic'south colorful and zany title not only put a fresh spin on the battle royale genre, but became the gaming awareness of the summer with its release in Baronial.

With Season 3 of the game in total swing, both Mediatonic and Devolver Digital conspicuously accept much more in store forAutumn Guys heading into 2022, making it our articulate-cutting winner amid the residue of the competition for, well…Best Competitive Game.

Best Cooperative Game: Amongst Us

Additional Wins: Best Multiplayer Game

There'due south no need for an Emergency Meeting here: aslopeFall Guys, it's clear thatAmong Us as well was one of the standout multiplayer experiences of the year. While the game originally debuted in 2022, in that location'south no denying that few games take had the impact thatAmong Us has had in 2022 equally both a multiplayer title and a social experience. Heck, fifty-fifty AOC got in on the multiplayer phenomenon and climbed to the top of the Twitch charts with her stream of the game in October.

Whether you lot're a Crewmate, Imposter, or otherwise,Amid Us was easily the game that had us shouting and yelling in an effort to effort and effigy out who'south sus, making it our clear winner for Best Cooperative Game.

Best DLC or Expansion: Concluding Fantasy Fourteen: Shadowbringers

Boosted Wins: Best Ongoing Game

For the second year in a row,Concluding Fantasy XIV has taken the prize for the Best DLC or Expansion of the year and Best Ongoing Game, and with adept reason. While Shadowbringers launched terminal year, the game'due south devoted team at Square Enix have pushed the long-running MMO'southward boundaries with new content and stellar updates that continue to keep its defended community engaged. FFXIV's ongoing support is as well in light of the fact that several of the community-focused events around the game were cancelled this year due to the pandemic, making information technology that much more than impressive what its team has been able to accomplish in an particularly difficult year.

All-time Family Game: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

All-time Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate

The winner of our Best Fighting Game prize for the 2d year in a row, it's not a huge surprise thatMortal Kombat xi Ultimate would klaim the honour over again. By taking an already fantastic fighting game and solidifying that experience with new content and a surprising roster of new characters,Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate easily cut through the fighting game competition this yr and held on to its championship for ii years running.

Best Horror Game: Phasmophobia

In a surprising turn, Best Horror Game turned out to be our well-nigh competitive race this year during our GOTY Awards. With an initial circular of voting and two run-offs,Phasmophobia andResident Evil three were in a tight race equally this year's top horror title, with Kinetic Games' hitting finally coming out on top.

While information technology'south still in Early Access,Phasmophobia immediately left an impression as both a terrifying horror experience and a unique take on cooperative multiplayer. Given the game's huge success so far on Twitch, it'south no surprise that nosotros'll likely see a lot more fromPhasmophobia in the hereafter, ghosts or otherwise.

Best Interactive Story Game: xiii Sentinels: Aegis Rim

In a year of stellar games that found new ways to engage with storytelling,13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim was arguably the standout. The latest title from Vanillaware has it all: a bandage of memorable characters, mechs, and a time-bending plot. But more importantly,13 Sentinels is also a title that uniquely demonstrates the fine art of storytelling in games. There's merely no other mode that 13 Sentinels' story could have been told, making Vanillaware'south title our Best Interactive Story Game for this year.

All-time Metroidvania: Ori and the Will of the Wisps

All-time Multiplayer Game: Amid U.s.a.

Best Ongoing Game: Final Fantasy XIV

Best Platformer: Astro'southward Playroom

Though information technology faced heavy competition fromOri and the Will of the Wisps, ultimatelyAstro'south Playroom was the platformer that jumped into our hearts for this year. Non merely was the PS5 launch title one of the best displays of the potential for next-gen (and especially the DualSense controller), simplyAstro's Playroom is besides a charming and heartwarming platforming game in its own right. If anything, this curt but sweetness PS5 championship just left united states of america wanting more, and hopefully we haven't seen the last of this up-and-coming PlayStation mascot.

Best Puzzle Game: Tetris Outcome: Continued

As the winner of this category back in 2022, it'south not a huge surprise thatTetris Effect would once once more return to claim the prize two years later. With several new features and its integration of a brand new multiplayer experience,Tetris Issue: Connected is not merely an even better edition of a fantastic puzzle game, but a powerful reminder of the connectedness that we all take in a twelvemonth where we truly needed it most.

All-time Racing Game: F1 2022

With a three-way race for our Best Racing Game Award this twelvemonth, ultimately it wasF1 2022 that came out ahead of the pack. While each of our iii racing game competitors all accept on the genre in unique means, this year Codemasters outdid themselves with an immersive racing sim that is a cut above the remainder, even above the studio'due south ownClay 5 as a boyfriend nominee.

Best Remake: Final Fantasy Vii Remake

Additional Wins: Best Function-Playing Game, Best Soundtrack or Original Music

Equally our second most-nominated title of the year, Final Fantasy VII Remake was expected to walk away with a few awards, and the iii it did pick up are arguably well-deserved. However, the Best Remake Award is easily where FFVII Remake is perhaps almost deserving, as it non simply remade and redefined an best archetype, just as well gave usa new perspective on what a "Remake" can exist.

From revisiting iconic locations throughout Midgar to reintroducing players to beloved characters like Deject, Aerith, Barret, and Tifa,Final Fantasy VII Remake was a nostalgic joy that brought players the first affiliate of an extensive remake of the beloved JRPG. However, what is even more impressive is the fact thatFFVII Remake recontextualized and outright altered several moments throughout the original story, making for a bold move by Square Enix. While we don't know where the hereafter of FFVII Remake is heading in its next affiliate, in that location'southward little dubiety that what Square has in store for fans to revisit this classic is probable to feel brand new again.

Best Remaster: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2

Additional Wins: Best Sports Game

The dream of the '90s (and early 2000s) is alive inTony Hawk'due south Pro Skater 1+two. While the franchise has had some stumbles in the past several years (the less we say near Tony Hawk'southward Pro Skater 5, the amend), the Pro Skater series was able to render to its roots with a stellar remaster of its start two entries this yr. Sometime-school nostalgia met some mod day tweaks and improvements, and as far as remasters go,Tony Hawk'due south Pro Skater 1+ii was certainly a welcome ane.

Best Roguelike: Hades

Best Role-Playing Game: Final Fantasy VII Remake

Best Shooter: DOOM Eternal

Rip and tear. Though it released at the start of the twelvemonth, it was hard to forget DOOM Eternal and how it brought us dorsum to Hell all once more. id Software and Bethesda'southward follow-up to 2022's DOOM was everything we hoped for and then some: a thrilling FPS that brings an old-school mindset to a modern day shooter. From its gameplay mechanics that are honed to a razor'due south border, to thrilling action complemented by its outrageous soundtrack, DOOM Eternal easily shot its way to the pinnacle of our Best Shooter Laurels for this year.

All-time Sports Game: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2

All-time Strategy Game: Gears Tactics

Though it faced steep competition from some of this year's best strategy games likeCrusader Kings 3 andStar Renegades,Gears Tactics was able to chainsaw its way through the residual. The strategy spin-off was able to have the best elements of bothGears of State of war andXCOM, merging them into an accessible, fun experience that too had enough of challenge behind it.

Best in Technical/Artistic Awards

Best Art Direction: Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Best Audio Design: The Last of U.s. Part II

Best Grapheme: Abby (The Last of Us Part Two)

Best Graphics: The Last of Usa Part II

Best Narrative: The Last of Us Function Ii

All-time Open World: Ghost of Tsushima

In a year that saw us roaming through Viking-era England, exploring the streets of Japan, searching for clues on a tropical island, and journeying through an anime wonderland, ultimately it was the scenic sights ofGhost of Tsushima that kept us coming dorsum for more. The long-awaited title from Sucker Punch Productions non only took us to a world inspired by classic samurai films, only brought united states of america into the island of Tsushima where nigh-countless exploration and quests awaited.

Though this year was particularly competitive for open up globe games,Ghost of Tsushima was the standout amidst theDualShockers staff and customs for its gorgeous vistas and sense of discovery. May the Guiding Wind bring united states dorsum to Sucker Dial's brilliantly-crafted world once once again someday.

Best Performance: Laura Bailey (Abby, The Last of Us Office Two)

With a category packed with memorable characters from many of our nigh-nominated titles like The Last of Us Role II, Hades, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Final Fantasy VII Remake, this year's Best Performance category was especially competitive. From two survivors of the apocalypse, to a Yakuza member, to a mercenary, to the lord of the underworld, each of the nominated performances this year delivered standout characters that volition be in our memories for years to come up.

This twelvemonth our Best Operation Award goes to Laura Bailey, who arguably delivered i of her finest performances yet in her incredible career in games. In her role every bit Abby in The Last of Us Part II, Bailey gave an exceptional turn not only every bit a brand new graphic symbol to the series, but likewise showcased a challenging, complex performance that felt effortless. While nosotros're meant to hate Abby at her beginning introduction, Bailey was able to humanize the old Firefly and, by the end of journey, information technology was hard to not root for her cause.

All-time Soundtrack or Original Music: Concluding Fantasy Vii Remake

Best in Culture Awards

Biggest Shocker of 2022: Microsoft acquires Bethesda Softworks/ZeniMax Media

While 2022 was plainly a year with plenty of unexpected twists and turns, in terms of surprises by the games industry standard, few could have seen something on the calibration as this. In September, Microsoft formally announced its plans to purchase ZeniMax Media, which would too include Bethesda Softworks and its roster of headlining franchises behind it.The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Dishonored, Prey, DOOM, Wolfenstein, andStarfield are at present all under Microsoft'southward captain, and ultimately we'll have to see what's in store for these dear franchises down the line.

Best Moment in the Gaming Manufacture of 2022: Accessibility reaches new milestones in 2022

While traditionally nosotros have had the "Worst Moment in the Gaming Industry" category in our Game of the Yr Awards, in light of the challenges faced by everyone in 2022, this year we decided to shift things to a more positive outlook of where the games industry is heading. By all accounts, information technology's safety to say that one of the biggest achievements for the games industry this year is that 2022 was a huge stride forwards towards accessibility in playing, making, and developing games.

Several of this yr'south releases not just pushed forwards in making gaming more accessible to disabled players, just also highlighted ways that the games industry as a whole can be more frontward-thinking in how to brand their games playable to wider audiences. The Terminal of Us Part II for instance launched with an outstanding suite of features geared towards accessibility, while other titles likeGears Tactics andGrounded catered to specific accessibility needs, such as implementing various colorblind modes and a gameplay fashion for those with arachnophobia.

Best In-Game Moment or Scene of 2022: The Museum (The Concluding of Us Office II)

In a game full of emotionally devastating moments, the truthful standout moment for us in 2022 was the museum scene inThe Last of Us Part II. As 1 of the most heartfelt moments in the sequel, showing Joel as he takes Ellie to a long-abandoned natural history museum for her altogether, Naughty Canis familiaris expertly weaved environmental storytelling and deep, man emotion into the sequence. More importantly, the scene provides some heavy context for where Joel and Ellie's relationship stands in TLOU Role Ii; a reminder of how love truly is the emotional connectedness of Naughty Dog's championship.

Best Cocky-Care Game of 2022: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Gaming itself was a major source of comfort for many throughout the entirety of 2022, merely few games had the kind of impact thatAnimal Crossing: New Horizons did this yr. Released just as the COVID-19 pandemic was commencement to grasp the world,Animal Crossing was a source of warmth, promise, and connection when nosotros all needed information technology most.

Aside from delivering a stellar take on i of Nintendo'due south most beloved serial,New Horizons took things further with its deeper level of connectivity and social features. By beingness able to share items and visit the islands of friends and loved ones, it'south easy to see how Creature Crossing allowed us all to connect and provide positivity in a year that was every bit challenging and difficult to face in low-cal of the pandemic.

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That's all for 2022; congratulations to all of our Game of the Year Awards winners for this year, and a big give thanks you lot to everyone that participated in the community voting and for our two Readers' Choice Awards! Let usa know what you think of our winners for this year and shout out your personal Game of the Year picks in the comments below.

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Source: https://www.dualshockers.com/dualshockers-game-of-the-year-awards-2020-winners/

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