By: Bryce L. Jackson

There was a thought at the back of my mind during Gamescom 2021, that Spring 2022 may be a busy time for gamers. After PlayStation Experience, I know it for a fact. If you have a diverse taste in games or get caught up in the looks and hype for particular games, Spring 2022 is going to hurt the pockets. ESPECIALLY if, like me, you were waiting for a specific game to release before upgrading to the next console generation. For the record, here are all the games set with either a vague “Spring 2022” date or a confirmed date from January to April 2022.

• Elden Ring - January 21, 2022 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

• Pokemon Legends Arceus - January 28, 2022 (Switch)

• Rainbow Six Extraction - January 2022 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia, Amazon Luna)

• Dying Light 2 - February 4th, 2022 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows)

• Horizon: Forbidden West - February 18, 2022 (PS4, PS5)

• Destiny 2: The Witch Queen - February 22, 2022 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

• Sifu - February 22, 2022 (PC, PS4, PS5)

• Saints Row - February 25, 2022 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

• Gran Turismo 7 -March 4th, 2022 (PS5)

• Marvel's Midnight Suns (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - March 2022

• Stalker 2 - April 28, 2022 (PC, Xbox Series X/S)

• Stray - Early 2022 (PC, PS4, PS5)

• Ghostwire: Tokyo - Early 2022 (PC, PS5)

• Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - Early 2022

• Forspoken - Spring 2022 (PS5 and PC)

• God of War: Ragnarok - Spring 2022 (PS5)

• Monster Hunter Rise - Early 2022 (PC)

That is A LOT of games. This was almost expected. With the ongoing pandemic, game studios are still pushing through developing massive video games under work-from-home conditions. There have been windows of time in 2021 where nothing new or earth-shattering came out. In early 2022, EVERYTHING is coming out. If those games manage to stay in their Spring 2022 place, gamers will have to make a decision on what they truly want, what they may have to wait for and risk getting spoiled, or watch gameplay in order to stay in the conversation while it’s still fresh in the zeitgeist. This is a compressed list of major titles expected in Early 2022. Some games may be delayed again and fall out of this release window. Some games may be announced later that will add to this list. Nothing is set until a game has “gone gold) or it’s officially in physical or digital storefronts.

In a perfect, more fair world, we can get all the games and play them all. We don’t live in that world, sadly. Most games are now $70 at release (unless they get a Day One drop on XBOX Game Pass). Gaming is an expensive hobby. Spring 2022 will test the resolve of gamers. Choose wisely, and godspeed.