Looking Back at the Games I Played in 2022

I played a lot of games in the last year. Typically, I don’t do a wrap-up type post in regard to the games I played. But I figured why not this year. I’m not really going to go into my thoughts on every game as most of them have a review on my blog. I’ll link those where appropriate. I also included a highlight reel from my twitch streams, since a majority of the games were featured in this video (as well as some bodypainting but the majority are on the games).

So, what did I play?

1. Hollow Knight
2. Phasmophobia
3. Little Misfortune
4. Sea of Thieves
5. Pokemon Legends: Arceus
   • See my rankings for thoughts on this game
6. Freddi Fish 1-5
7. Spy Fox 1-3
8. Putt-Putt 1-6
9. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
10. Pajama Sam 1-3
11. Super Animal Royale
12. Oxygen Not Included
13. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
14. Minecraft
15. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
16. The Quarry
    • See my rankings for thoughts on this game
17. Bugsnax
    • See my review for thoughts on this game
18. Detroit: Become Human
19. Portal
20. Portal 2
21. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
22. Stardew Valley
23. Stray
    • See my review for thoughts on this game
24. In Sound Mind
25. Wobbly Life
26. The Sims 4
27. Propnight
28. Two Point Campus
29. Cult of the Lamb
    • See my review for thoughts on this game
30. Disney Dreamlight Valley
    • See my comparison to Animal Crossing for some thoughts on this game
31. Slime Rancher
32. Left 4 Dead 2
33. A Plague Tale: Requiem
    • See my review for thoughts on this game
34. Poppy Playtime Chapter 1 and 2
35. The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me
    • See my rankings for thoughts on this game
36. Pokemon Violet
    • See my rankings for thoughts on this game
37. BioShock

What games really stood out to me this year?

Hollow Knight was probably the most difficult game that I played, and it stands out in my mind mainly as I spent so long on trying to achieve almost everything in it. Plus, my computer graphic card died immediately after I tried to beat the final boss. I don’t think Hollow Knight caused that, but it’s something that will be forever associated in my head.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This game stands out as like Hollow Knight I tried doing everything. Or at least I did every side quest storyline and got houses everywhere possible. I played this a lot off-stream, which is how I know I really got into a game. Not to mention, I finally finished it. I’ve never been able to say that before and I’ve played this game on and off for years.

Stray was a beautifully stunning game. It was relaxing and unique. I liked being able to pretend to be a cat in a world run by robots. It may have been short, but I enjoyed that game a lot especially getting all the achievements. Yes, I got almost all of them (there were only two I didn’t get but I’m not in the mood to go get those either).

Stardew Valley only because I finally got 100% in the game. One of my mods challenged me to do it and I worked really hard on my personal farm to achieve that. Yes, I used a few cheats (item name on an animal) to get the final crafting things done so I didn’t have to wait for the season to roll around considering it was several off. But other than that, the rest of it, I played normally without mods.

Cult of the Lamb as it was a lot of fun to play especially on stream since chat could interact with the gameplay. The number of times I had bombs spawning made things ridiculous. And considering I played and completed this twice, I would say it was a stand-out. Not to mention it was adorable and hilarious with the various cult policies. My favorite was Elder Fight Club with the loser dying.

There are other games I could say stood out for one reason for another:

• Pokemon Violet with its graphic issues but the good storyline, and completing the Pokedex… ok almost completing it (3 off from perfect).
• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order but only because I beat a boss my mod got stuck on for hours on the first try, so that makes it hilarious to me. But we also played at different difficulty settings.
• Slime Rancher also for completion’s sake.
• Bugsnax also for completion’s sake.

But I wouldn’t put those at the top of the list as I would with the others.

I never really considered myself a completionist player. I play a game from start to finish, and if I happen to collect everything or get all the achievements then I consider that a win. But this year on a few games, I really went the extra mile with them. Which is why they stood out to me. Though I don’t know if I would call them my favorite games ever.

Hollow Knight, I know I will never return to. It was fun as hell but it was so stressful. I might play the sequel someday, but I probably will not go into the first game ever again.

Many of these games are that way. They were good and I enjoyed playing them on stream, but they weren’t anything I would consider all-time favorite games. Stardew Valley is probably one I won’t return to now that I’ve 100% completed the game. I don’t see the point in restarting it all over again. There’s nothing new for me to see. Skyrim I probably will replay at some point, or go back into my game save because there’s always something more than could be done. But storywise it’s over.

What games did you play this year? What stood out to you about them and why?

Love ya,

Mae Polzine

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