Video gaming has never been so popular, in which, last year it was estimated that there were over 2.96 billion people in the world who played video games. Video gaming has come a long way in the last few decades. While in the 80’s, youngsters would need to visit a local arcade to access the latest video games, today there are people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying video games from the comfort of their own home and even on the go.
Thanks to ever evolving technology, prices of video gaming equipment have become much more affordable, meaning more people around the world can access such technologies. Meanwhile, as these technologies progress, the likes of global investors, brands and media outlets are also looking to cash in on the industry’s success, further promoting video gaming culture.
Below, we’ll take a look at the most popular games of 2022 and see why they’re such a success.
Minecraft
Released in November 2011, Minecraft was incredibly popular and it’s time of release. Now, over 10 years later, it’s still going just as strong as before with over 238 million copies sold. Part of Minecraft’s success is that it’s continually updated, with new mods, texture packs and seeds available every few months.
Minecraft is a highly customisable game, allowing each individual player to create their own unique world within the game and escape reality for a little while. Differentially to today’s complex video games, Minecraft draws on the simplicity of retro games, allowing players to reminisce of simpler days when video games were more like puzzles or simple survival games.
Nintendogs
While there are more games than ever being released as technology evolves, some games never get old in which many retro games are now coming back in popularity. Nintendogs saw its peak in the early 2000’s in which many children across the world owned a Nintendo DS with Nintendogs. The game involves taking care of and training your own puppy, in which there’s a huge choice of breads available. Players can use touch and voice to train their puppy, which they can then enter into competitions and win Nintendog money that can be spent on toys, treats, new environments or more dogs.
To this date, it is estimated that 23.9 million copies of Nintendogs have been sold across the world. While it could now be considered a retro game, Nintendogs shows no sign of slowing down and is still a popular game today.
Elden Ring
Recently released and available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One and PC, Elden Ring has been rated the most popular video game of February 2022. The game is set in a dark, mysterious and magical world that’s filled with poisonous swamps, intimidating mountain fortresses and haunting forests.
If that wasn’t enough to send chills down your spine, the world of Elden Ring is also filled with monsters and evil bosses that players must try to avoid as they navigate their way around the chilling yet magical world. While the game has been rated difficult to play, it’s worth a shot as players can engage in exciting combat in a rich open world where there’s a huge amount to explore.
Rainbow Riches
For those that want to play online casino games, there has never been a better time to explore online casinos than now. As new and emerging technologies continue to evolve the online casino world, the latest games are proving to attract the masses as they become more interactive and aesthetically pleasing than ever before.
One of the most popular online casino game of 2022 so far has been Rainbow Riches. With a maximum win of 500x your original bet, Rainbow Riches offers a huge jackpot to be won. The game has a traditional Irish theme, with icons including leprechauns, Lucky horseshoes and traditional green hats. For those that enjoy slot games, it’s definitely worth giving this one a go.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Jumping on the back of the zombie trend, Dying Light 2 has been described as one of the most ambitious zombie games ever made. Top features of the game include, exciting combat scenes, complex RPG mechanics, and a great unfolding storyline that keeps the game exciting for a while.
While the first version of the game was released in 2015, in Dying Light 2, players become Aiden Caldwell, an infected survivor of the zombie virus who is now searching for his sister in a terrifying, dangerous and decaying world. Aiden’s search leads him to a place called ‘the city’ which is the last known settlement on earth. From there, players must decide whether Aiden will continue searching for his sister or help to keep the last colony of people alive.
The game focuses around player choices and consequences, making it continually exciting for the player. Some of the great things about the new edition of the game are that the map of the world is four times the size of the map in the first edition of the game and includes an array of side quests and mini challenges which make the game more interactive.
Overall, the video game industry is booming this year in which there’s a plethora of new and exciting games that players can try. Whether you prefer to play on a handheld device, a PC or a mobile or tablet, these games have never been so easy to access thanks to the latest streaming technologies.