According to this article on npd.com, dated May 13th, the top ten best selling video games of 2022 Year to Date (Digital & Retail) are:
©Nintendo
10) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe:
Release Date: Apr 28, 2017
Available On: Nintendo Switch
Official Website: Mario Kart 8
The first (or rather the last) of Nintendo’s three entries on this list, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe brought the original Wii U title to the Nintendo Switch.
This version includes all the DLC of the original as well as new characters (yes, even “Gold Mario”) and classic items from previous titles such as the “Feather” from the original Mario Kart. The Battle Mode has been completely revamped and a new “Renegade Roundup” mode was added.
MK 8 and MK 8 Deluxe have sold a combined total of more than 53 million copies, making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.
©Electronic Arts
9) Madden NFL ’22:
Release Date: Aug 20, 2021
Available On: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (MS Windows)
Official Website: Madden NFL ’22
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes feature as cover athletes for EA Sports’ latest (exclusively licensed) National Football League game.
Tom Brady has the following to say about his second appearance as a cover athlete:
It’s a great experience being on the cover of Madden NFL 22 with Patrick. We both share a love for the game of football and to be a part of this iconic franchise is very special.
To which Patrick Mahomes adds:
I, like most players in the League, have been a big fan of Madden NFL for as long as I can remember, and to be on the cover – not only for a second time, but also with Tom Brady, an all-time great – is surreal
Xbox Series X | S & PS5 owners will be able to enjoy even more immersive features with the addition of “Dynamic Gameday”, which includes Next Gen Stats: Star-Driven AI, Gameday Momentum, and Gameday Atmosphere.
©Nintendo
8) Kirby And The Forgotten Land:
Release Date: Mar 25, 2022
Available On: Nintendo Switch
Official Website: Kirby And The Forgotten Lands
Kirby (or カービィin Japanese) first appeared in Kirby’s Dreamland on the Nintendo Gameboy in 1992. The popular character was named after American lawyer John Kirby, who defended Nintendo in the “Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd.” case in 1984.
Initially, Kirby’s ball-shaped body was supposed to be a placeholder during development until creator Masahiro Sakurai decided that it actually suited his game’s protagonist.
Kirby has since appeared in Nintendo’s Smash Bros series, his very own anime series, as well as manga and comics. Kirby And The Forgotten Land is the twenty-first title in the main series and takes full advantage of the Nintendo Switch’s power to give players another unforgettable adventure.
©Activision
7) Call of Duty: Vanguard
Release Date: Nov 05, 2021
Available On: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows)
Official Website: Call of Duty: Vanguard
Vanguard is the fifth installment of Activision’s first-person shooter in the World War II timeline and the eighteenth title of the series overall. The campaign centers around the birth of the WWII special forces and the game includes the usual multiplayer features as well as a ZOMBIE mode!
Even though we here at 9to5Gamers enjoyed this latest iteration (see Call of Duty: Vanguard Campaign Review – A Blast to be Sure), opinions on the game have been divided.
In the Activision/Blizzard 2021 Annual Report, the team had the following to say:
While Call of Duty remains one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time, our 2021 premium release didn’t meet our expectations, we believe primarily due to our own execution. The game’s World War II setting didn’t resonate with some of our community and we didn’t deliver as much innovation in the premium game as we would have liked.
Perhaps a solution might also be found by adapting the game’s release schedule as discussed in: Is Going Away From Yearly Releases Good For Call Of Duty?
©Sony Interactive Entertainment
6) Gran Turismo 7:
Release Date: Mar 04, 2022
Available On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Official Website: Gran Turismo 7
The latest entry in the PlayStation exclusive driving simulator has been overall well received by critics. A recent review on GamesRadar+ gave the title a mighty 4.5 score and described it as:
A SIMPLY STUNNING DRIVING GAME
One of the most significant differences with its Xbox & PC rival; Forza Horizon 5 is that like all of its predecessors, GT 7 is not set in an open world. Drivers are limited to the race track, whereas FH5 players are able to go off-road and explore the various areas within the Mexican setting.
Even though this latest Gran Turismo title has only recently been released, an update on April 25th introduced 3 new cars, an alternate track layout, and two additional “Scapes”.
©Sony I. E.
©Sony I. E.
©Sony I. E.
©Sony Interactive Entertainment
Related: MLB The Show Tips: Everything You Need To Know About the New Featured Program
©Sony Interactive Entertainment
5) MLB: The Show ’22
Release Date: Apr 05, 2022
Available On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Official Website: MLB: The Show ’22
MLB: The Show has been the only Major League Baseball game on the market since 2014 and for many years was exclusive to PlayStation consoles.
Even though Xbox players were already included in the game’s 2021 release, MLB: The Show ’22 is the first title to also be available on the Nintendo Switch. It seems that only PC gamers are left out at the moment😞.
The seventeenth edition of this popular title is discussed weekly on 9to5gamers’ dedicated podcasts. Head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify to catch the latest.
©Sony Interactive Entertainment
4) Horizons II: Forbidden West
Release Date: Feb 18, 2022
Available On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Official Website: Horizons II: Forbidden West
In this sequel to 2017’s Horizons: Zero Dawn, players will be able to continue protagonist; Aloy’s quest for survival. The game is again set in an original post-apocalyptic world with oh, so cool mechanical Mammoths, Pterodactyls, and of course the T-Rex’esque Apex Thunderjaw.
This title is only available on PlayStation for now but hopefully, it will be ported to PC like its predecessor. Horizons II: Forbidden West was given high praise with a 4.5 score on GamesRadar+ and described as…
“NOTHING SHORT OF PHENOMENAL”
©Nintendo
3) Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Release Date: Jan 28, 2022
Available On: Nintendo Switch
Official Website: Pokémon Legends: Arceus
For a franchise that has been around as long as Pokémon, Nintendo sure knows how to keep the concept fresh. In this prequel to 2006’s Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, players will be able to adventure in the Hisui region (later known as none other than… the Sinnoh region).
As a member of the Galaxy Expedition team, players will start out in the Jubilife Village; the HQ of the Medical Corps, the Security Corps, and the Survey Corps. From here players will be sent out on survey missions to fulfill the ultimate quest of completing the region’s first-ever Pokédex.
Owners of other Pokémon titles are eligible for in-game extras, check out Special Bonuses.
©Warner Bros. Games
2) LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Release Date: Apr 05, 2022
Available On: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (MS Windows), Nintendo Switch
Official Website: LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
This brand new iteration in the LEGO Star Wars series has already managed to grab one of the coveted top three spots.
The sixth game in the franchise series follows 2016’s LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens and as the name suggests, the stories of all nine movies, as well as the animated series have been weaved together to create a brand new adventure.
With the combination of LEGO’s own brand of humorous banter and TT Games’ intuitive gameplay, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will surely entertain fans of all ages.
And The Top Spot Goes To…
©FromSoftware
1) Elden Ring
Release Date: Feb 25, 2022
Available On: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (MS Windows)
Official Website: Elden Ring
The quest to become Elden Lord has FromSoftware’s Elden Ring on the top spot… for now. The official 9to5Gamers’ Elden Ring Review: A Fistful of Frenzy gave the latest Souls-like title its seal of approval with a whopping 9.5 score.
Players find themselves dropped into the action in the “Lands Between”. Where to go and what to do is at first a mystery but “Tarnished” will soon learn that throughout it all, Death will be their closest companion.
Elden Ring is a vast open-world epos that will have you feel extremely accomplished one moment and ready to pull your hair out the next.
Conclusion:
It goes without saying that any ranking system is a question of POV. The above-mentioned titles have sales figures to thank for their positions. NPD’s Executive Director & Video Game Industry Advisor; Mat Piscatella tweeted on May 25th that figures of what gamers are actually playing paint a very different picture. According to this article on GamesRadar+, Elden Ring comes in at position #20!
