Early Access is a wonderful Steam tool utilized by many developers to give players a glimpse into what their games could potentially look like upon release, and make them hungry for more by showcasing stories, characters, graphics, and gameplay mechanics.
Currently, there are thousands of titles currently in Early Access scattered across a vast array of genres ranging from fighting games to sports titles, strategy, and a plethora of multiplayer games. But there are some titles that definitely deserve more recognition, and are to be watched for what the new year might bring.
10 Disney Dreamlight Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valley exploded onto Steam in early access with its eye-watering colorful world, and its equally colorful cast of characters from both classic Disney and Pixar. The player is given the tools to create themselves with a surprisingly generous character creation mode before they are set out into the wild world.
Dreamlight Valley is a curious combination of a life sim in the vein of The Sims and an adventure title that saddles the player with saving various realms from the Forgetting. With frequent updates added to the game, Dreamlight Valley is certainly one to keep an eye out for, as the game only improves with each new update.
9 Marvel Snap
Marvel Snap is a generously free game out on Steam, which allows players to pool together a deck featuring Marvel legends such as Wolverine, Deadpool, Venom, and Spider-Man, all featured with an impressive art style and some uniquely inspiring variants.
Still in Early Access, it's safe to assume the roster might be further expanded on in the coming year, bringing more characters and more possible deck combinations to beat opponents with. With developers Second Dinner Studios closely monitoring player feedback, the future of Marvel Snap is in good hands.
8 Valheim
This open-world survival game was released back in February 2021 to much acclaim and excitement. With breathtaking landscapes, unique monsters, and a dash of nods to Norse mythology, Valheim challenges the player to survive the beautiful albeit deadly lands with what they can scavenge.
With Valheim being treated as a labor of love with frequent and recent updates, the game can only be bigger, better, and more beautiful.
7 Satisfactory
A fun game of co-op factory-building ala Factorio, exploration and combat, Satisfactory has it all--and it hasn't even fully released yet! Set in a large, open-world alien planet catchily named Massage-2(AB)b, players can roam every mile, encountering the unique flora and fauna habitating it.
Players can then choose where to set up their factory, be it on a cliff, an open plain, or in the midst of plant life--complete control is in the players' hands. With the developers constantly updating and tweaking, there are only more fun options to be added in the coming year.
6 V Rising
A gothic and gruesome survival experience, V Rising graced the Steam store in May 2022 and has remained in Early Access since. The player controls a fledgling vampire that must survive in this Bloodborne-esque world and also curb their bloody thirst.
With an expansive open world featuring dynamic weather, and legendary names such as Dracula added as DLC, V Rising has a lot of potential, and players should keenly watch to see how the game rises even further.
5 Phasmophobia
Phasmophobia is one of those games better played with friends. It tasks up to four ghost hunters to enter various haunted residencies and buildings to use their arsenal of hunting tools to discover the type of entity lingering in the dark hallways and make it out alive. A sanity mechanic and additional objectives add further challenges to players, making teamwork and communication a must.
Since its initial release in 2020, the developers have continually added more features to create a more immersive and enjoyable experience. In the more recent months of 2022, Phasmophobia has been treated to large updates including new maps, new entities, and even custom difficulties. This game should certainly be watched for more ghosts and quality-of-life changes.
4 Ready Or Not
After initially pulled from Steam for alleged copyright infringement on June 16th, 2022, Ready Or Not returned only days later in all its action-packed adrenaline-fuelled glory.
This FPS puts players in control of SWAT police units charged with using all tactics at their disposal to deal with hostile situations. Ready Or Not is perhaps one of the most immersive FPS shooters featuring police units, as developers consulted police forces across the globe to breathe life into their avatars, the movements, and equipment. With this in mind, players should watch to see what developers VOID interactive brings to the table in the coming year.
3 Slime Rancher 2
Twice as adorable, twice as many slimes, that's Slime Rancher 2. A direct sequel to the first Slime Rancher following Beatrix LeBeau, the sequel contains more of the same, which is just what fans of the original want, with some additions to entice new fans and veterans alike.
With a new vibrant world to explore, new unique slime creations to ranch, and a conservatory players can build to overlook all of Rainbow Island, Slime Rancher 2 is an adorable, much-needed breath of fresh air. Players should look out for this game to see how developers build on their game, and what new species of slime they can add to their ranch.
2 Depersonalization
Depersonalization is a charming pixel-graphics game with Lovecraftian themes that harken to the famed table-top RPG Call of Cthulhu, even incorporating dice-rolling into its mechanics.
Players take on the role of a selected pre-made investigator to unravel mysteries and discover new plots and threads of this sprawling narrative with multiple endings and eldritch monstrosities.
Depersonalization looks to be a truly unique experience, and one to be watched to see how its branched story and original mechanics develop with time.
1 Baldur's Gate 3
Perhaps the most anticipated game of 2022, Baldur's Gate 3 will certainly be one to watch, with its release date finally announced for August 2023.
Developed by Larian Studios, the studio behind the Divinity: Original Sin series, Baldur's Gate 3 features some familiar Larian touches, such as an ensemble of diverse and well-developed companions that can also be controlled by players, turn-based combat, and an expansive world to be explored, all with a touch of Dungeons and Dragons goodness! Larian has treated Baldur's Gate 3 with many updates since its initial release, adding new places to explore, classes and enemies, and soon players will have the chance to see the game in its entirety.