In recent history, we have seen some truly incredible games released. Many were applauded for their creative and technical abilities and great direction and narrative. In 2022, both Elden Ring and God of War: Ragnarok has swept up awards in multiple categories, deservedly so. However, not every game garners the recognition that it deserves. This can be due to constraints to one console, being from indie developers, or simply needing to be more appreciated. In this article, we’ll go over some incredible games that were nominated over the past game awards that deserve recognition.

2022 Game Award Nominees

Cult of the Lamb

 In Cult of the Lamb, you play as a lamb possessed by an enigmatic deity that must form a cult to appease them. This is an addictive rogue-like game with a dark and cute aesthetic. This game is a combination between a dungeon crawler and a religious management sim, where you divide your tasks between tending to your most loyal flock of followers. Cult of the Lamb consists of several stages that can be cleared to obtain resources like stone, wood, or food. Some NPCs offer tarot cards that can empower you with temporary skills. Others can provide weaponry or even seeds to cultivate your growing commune. If you die,  then you are simply reborn by The One Who Waits, but at the expense of the resources you obtained through your run. Despite its praise and positive reviews, it lost to stray at The Game Awards for Best Independent Game.

Immortality

Immortality is a mobile game that is made exclusively for Netflix. This game was created by Sam Barlow, who also created Her Story and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. It came out at a time when the mobile gaming industry was at its prime, and this game got massive recognition from people all over the world. This game is about a fictional actress named Marissa Marcel, who mysteriously goes missing, and you need to find out what happened to her by watching clips from three films, behind-the-scenes footage. It is a choose-your-own-adventure style game that’s a part murder mystery, part film noir, and all heart. This game was nominated twice for The Game Awards but did not win either award.

Tunic

Tunic has received multiple perfect review scores since its initial release. Aesthetically and structurally, this game resembles The Legend of Zelda, with cute-yet-menacing creatures that you attack with a sword and defend against with a shield as you gradually uncover more and more of the world. Six months after its debut on PC and Xbox Game Pass, Finji’s delightful adventure game Tunic is coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. It also earned a nomination for Best Independent Game at the 2022 Game Awards. 

Over the years, there were great games. We found some of the best during this year’s Game Awards and nominated our favourites below.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

A platform-adventure game for multiple consoles, Ori and the Will of the Wisps was the fifth highest-rated game of 2020, yet only won minor awards for its year of release. The game has been universally loved and called a masterpiece due to its gorgeous animation, combat, and dramatic chase sequences. Breathtaking music has also been cited as a favorite among players of this game, and it’s up there as one of the better platformers ever made. All that said, it lost in all three of its nominated categories at The Game Awards.

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is a 2D action-adventure game where you explore twisting caverns, ancient cities, and deadly wastes. With more than 230,000 reviews on Steam, the game has earned a 10/10 rating and is very popular with those who have had the chance to play it. Users celebrated the atmosphere, visuals, and music, along with the vastness of the game’s world. However, while Hollow Knight was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game at The Game Awards, it lost to Cuphead.

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While all five of these games did earn merit elsewhere and did see a spotlight in smaller arenas, it’s a shame that they weren’t recognized to the full level that they could have been. Were you a fan of any of these games, and what games do you think deserved more acclaim than they received?