December 2021 is nearly at an end, and at this point, all of the big game releases of 2021 have already launched. While some gamers are still working on completing the biggest new video game releases of 2021, others are looking ahead to the future, excited to see what 2022 has in store for the video game industry.
The first three months of 2022 are currently packed with big new releases, and while some titles may very well get delayed from their currently announced release dates, it looks like the first quarter of 2022 is going to be a big one regardless. Things are getting started with the new games coming in January 2022, with a number of noteworthy titles set to launch for a variety of platforms next month.
Here are all the new video game releases of January 2022.
New Video Game Releases for January 2022
- Demon Gaze Extra (PS4/Switch) - January 6
- Monster Hunter Rise (PC) - January 12
- Astroneer (Switch) - January 13
- God of War (PC) - January 14
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction (PC/PS4/PS5/Stadia/Xbox One/Xbox Series X) - January 20
- Windjammers 2 (PC/PS4/Stadia/Switch/Xbox One) - January 20
- Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 (PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Xbox One/Xbox Series X) - January 27
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus (Switch) - January 28
- Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (PS5) - January 28
PC gamers especially have a lot to be excited about when it comes to the new video game releases for January 2022, as some previously console-exclusive games will be making the jump to the platform. First up is the PC release of Monster Hunter Rise on January 12, giving PC gamers access to the once Switch-exclusive game. Monster Hunter Rise is one of the highest-rated video game releases of 2021, and so Monster Hunter fans that don't have a Switch will definitely be excited to see it make its way to another platform. Whether or not it eventually launches for even more platforms remains to be seen, but in any case, January 12 will mark the day that both PC and Switch gamers can access it.
And then another big former console exclusive is coming to PC just a couple of days later on January 14. This time, former PlayStation exclusive game God of War is coming to PC, marking the latest Sony-published game to be made available on PC. Similarly to how Monster Hunter Rise is one of the top-rated video games of 2021, God of War was one of the highest-rated games to release in 2018, earning widespread critical acclaim and numerous Game of the Year awards. Now PC gamers will get to see what all the fuss is about without having to buy a PlayStation console.
On January 20, gamers across all platforms will have something to look forward to, as that marks the launch date for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction. Rainbow Six Extraction takes the tactical Rainbow Six style of gameplay and blends it with horror game elements, having players face off against alien monsters. Whereas Rainbow Six Siege is primarily focused on the PvP experience, Rainbow Six Extraction is a co-op game, so it will be interesting to see how fans react to it once it's out.
January 20 will also see the long-awaited release of Windjammers 2. The original Windjammers was an arcade hit back in the mid-90s and has since enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. Windjammers 2 is an attempt to modernize the classic game while still retaining what made it popular in the first place, and fans will be able to check it out across multiple platforms. And not only that, but Windjammers 2 is a day one Xbox Game Pass game as well, meaning anyone curious can check it out without actually paying full price.
While the aforementioned games no doubt have their dedicated fans, arguably the biggest new game release of January 2022 is Pokemon Legends: Arceus for the Nintendo Switch. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is not a full-blown open world game like some fans were hoping for, but it's still a very different take on a main series Pokemon game and could take the franchise in some interesting new directions.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in the Sinnoh region long before the events of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, when the area was known as the Hisui region. The player character's goal in Pokemon Legends: Arceus is to construct the Hisui region's first-ever Pokedex, and that will be accomplished in the usual Pokemon method of catching them all.
What makes Pokemon Legends: Arceus such an interesting release next month is how it's shaking up the established Pokemon formula, ditching turn-based battles and giving players more freedom when it comes to exploring the game world. It will also be introducing some new Pokemon as well, including some exciting new evolutions for existing Pokemon. There's a great deal of hype behind Pokemon Legends: Arceus because of the risks it's taking, and it will be interesting to see if it all pays off when the game launches next month on January 28.
January 28 is going to be an exciting day for Nintendo Switch owners, but it's also going to be a big day for those that game on PlayStation as well. January 28 is the day that Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection releases as a timed-PS5 exclusive before it eventually makes its way to PC as well. For those who may not be familiar with the project, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is a remaster of the PS4 games Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, optimized to better take advantage of the PS5 hardware and the DualSense controller's unique capabilities.
