As part of GamesHub’s Game of the Year festivities, we invited several individuals from the games industry to share what their favourite games of 2022 were. Games industry veteran Kelsey Gamble joins us for this edition.
Kelsey is currently the publishing producer at Australian studio League of Geeks (Armello), which this year finally unveiled two big new projects: a reimagining of cult classic strategy game Solium Infernum, and a 1970s sci-fi anime inspired roguelike, Jumplight Odyssey. She previously worked in communications and community roles at publisher Bethesda, as well as and several other companies around the industry.
You can follow Kelsey on Twitter.
OlliOlli World
What’s not to like? Skateboards, beautiful art, cool tricks. I like to load up this game when I need a challenge completely different to what my brain is used to handling.
I’m typically the kind of person that gets frustrated in a game where you need to land specific tricks at a specific time but for me, OlliOlli World’s design strikes that beautiful balance between a challenge and a punish.
It helps that the entire time you’re bopping out to the great soundtrack.
Read: OlliOlli World Review – What a wonderful world
The Artful Escape
This counts because it was released on PlayStation this year, right, Ed? I’m putting it in anyway. What are you gonna do, edit me? Wait, I assume that’s exactly what you’re going to do. Hmm. (Actually I think I’m just going to leave all of this here – Ed.)
Ok. Well if this makes the cut and you haven’t yet played The Artful Escape, I don’t know what to tell you. This game made me remember that I love video games.
Read: The Artful Escape Review – A sight and sound to behold
Potionomics
Potionomics is dating sim meets shop inventory management meets deck builder, and it somehow works.
I was a little skeptical when I first picked it up, thinking that it could lean too hard into one style of game at cost to the other, but it’s got a surprising amount of depth.
Haggling with customers and brewing potions is more fun than I ever realised, and I got hooked on it quickly. Maybe I’m destined to go be a witch in the woods instead of a game developer.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
This game came out at a time when I was feeling a bit of disillusionment about games in general, and my place in the industry as a whole. When I say Kirby healed me, it’s not an exaggeration.
It’s not often you package up unbridled joy the way they’ve managed to do here – I played with my 8-year-old and we were both squealing with delight.
Turning into a waddling traffic cone by inhaling it wasn’t on my list of Things That Bring Me Joy for this year but at this point, I’ll take what I can get.
Read: Kirby and the Forgotten Land review – Sweet 3D dreams
For more on the best games of 2022, explore the rest of our game of the year coverage:
- Cult of the Lamb wins GamesHub’s Game of the Year 2022
- The Best Nintendo games of 2022
- The Best PlayStation games of 2022
- The Best Xbox games of 2022
- The Best PC games of 2022
- The Best mobile games of 2022
- The 5 best indie games of 2022 you definitely didn’t play
- Meredith Hall on 2022 with God of War, Card Shark, and RMIT Games
- Award-winning developers Fuzzy Ghost on their favourite games of 2022
- Umurangi Generation developer on the impactful moments of 2022
- Tempopo developer Sanatana Mishra’s favourite games of 2022
- David Wildgoose on his Game of the Year for 2022: Elden Ring
Stay tuned for more curated lists from GamesHub staff and special games industry guests.
