It’s January 2022–a brand new year–but in a very real way, it feels like January 2021. The COVID rates are spiking, again. We’re going into lockdown mode, again. And we’re canceling our plans, again. It’s time again for activities that let us socialize, at a safe distance. 2021 was a banner year for video games’ mainstream popularity, thanks in large part to the ongoing pandemic. It would appear that 2022 is on track for more of the same.
The biggest releases this month are ports to new-gen consoles. If you’re behind on last year’s games, it’s a great time to catch up. And if you’re all caught up, take a chance on a smaller title this month. After all, we made It Takes Two our 2021 Game of the Year; budget isn’t everything.
Here’s your monthly video game news roundup for January 2022.
Xbox Games With Gold Free Games for January 2022
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Xbox One
NeuroVoider (January 1-January 31)
With its charming, 16-bit visual style, NeoVoider is a shooter where you fight evil robots from a bird’s eye perspective, similar to that of the classic Zelda games.
Aground (January 16-February 15)
The developers centered this game around resource management and crafting. You play as a shipwrecked passenger, who must survive and possibly thrive in his new surroundings,
Xbox 360 (backwards compatible)
Radiant Silvergun (January 1-January 15)
A predecessor of classic video game Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun debuted in Japan as an arcade game and was later ported to the Sega Saturn. It’s a scrolling shooter in an apocalyptic setting.
Space Invaders Infinity Gene (January 16-January 30)
It begins like traditional Space Invaders; your ship slides along the bottom of the screen, shooting upward at the hostile alien invaders. But the more you play and gather upgrades, the more your ship and your weapons will evolve beyond their initial function.
PlayStation Plus Free Games for January 2022
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PlayStation 5
Deep Rock Galactic (January 4)
A first-person co-op experience, this game casts you and your friends as a team of space dwarves, who must mine for minerals while fighting the advance of hostile aliens.
Dirt 5 (January 4)
It’s off-road racing with multiple modes—including rally cross—dynamic seasons and weather, and dirt tracks on five continents.
PlayStation 4
Persona 5 Strikers: (January 4)
Set after the events of Persona 5, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts now battle in real-time in addition to their more traditional, turn-based mechanics.
Google Stadia Free Games for January 2022
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Darksiders III (January 1)
More linear and deliberate than prior franchise entries, this game casts you in the role of Fury, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who must hunt down and recapture the Seven Deadly Sins.
The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark (January 1)
In this point-and-click puzzle adventure, you play as a detective who investigates odd cases connected to the supernatural.
Other Games (January 1)
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut, DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of the New Riders.
Amazon Prime Gaming for January 2022
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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (January 1)
You play as a young Padawan who survived Order 66, and must fight off multiple Empire assassins while completing his Jedi training.
Total War Warhammer (January 1)
The Total War franchise has largely concerned itself with depicting massive, historical infantry battles. But Warhammer, released in 2016, went full-on into science fiction and fantasy. Play as orcs, vampires, and more.
World War Z Aftermath (January 1)
This is a co-op multiplayer zombie shooter, with incredible-looking animations, massive hordes of the undead, and international settings that reveal the sheer scale of the apocalypse. The game comes with the option of playing third-person or first-person, depending on your preference.
Other Games (January 1)
Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered, WRC7 FIA World Rally Championship, Abandon Ship, Paper Beast – Folded Edition, In Other Waters, Two Point Hospital
'LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog' (January 1)
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The LEGO Group’s partnership with Nintendo has borne more fruit. This time, instead of a Mario-themed set, it’s a Sonic the Hedgehog-themed set. Composed of 1,125 pieces, the set is a recreation of Green Hill Zone 1 from the 1991 classic game, and it features a terrain loop, chaos emeralds, and a recreation of Dr. Eggman himself.
'Monster Hunter Rise' for PC (January 12)
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Up until now, Monster Hunter Rise has been exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. This month, it debuts on PC. Featuring monster buddies that you can ride into combat, this is the perfect time to get into an involved action RPG. The expansion DLC Sunbreak, featuring new story content, monsters, and classes, goes live later this Spring.
'God of War' for PC (January 14)
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While we’re waiting for God of War Ragnarok, set to be released later this year, we can revisit the first game in the God of War reboot, where Kratos steeped himself in Norse mythology, took his rage down a notch, and traded in his chain-blades for a battle axe. The game will be released on PC later this month, with ultra settings that let you play in 4K at 60 frames per second.
'Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction' (January 20)
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Based on 2015’s Rainbow Six Siege, this new extension centers around co-op multiplayer and sci-fi drama; instead of taking down a terrorist organization, you’re taking down a race of invading aliens known as the Archaeans. Less run-and-gun and more stealth and strategy, this will give us our Tom Clancy fix while we wait for the recently announced Splinter Cell remake.
'Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection' (January 28)
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Naughty Dog collected the first three Uncharted games into a trilogy package in 2015. This new Uncharted collection compiles Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and its companion piece, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, into a single volume. Naughty Dog remastered both games for the PlayStation 5, and will release the collection on PC as well.
'Pokémon Legends: Arceus' (January 28)
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The latest entry in the core series, Pokémon Legends: Arceus goes back to 19th century Japan and traces the series’ origins. Preview videos show off new stealth mechanics, which break from the traditional turn-based strategies that players have used to fight and acquire new battle monsters.
