Consoles are a really popular way for people to access different games, and although the first consoles became available way back in the 1970s, modern consoles allow for high resolution pictures, surround sound audio, and responsive controls.
There are three big names in gaming consoles – Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo – and while these three behemoths battle it out to be the number one console, one of the most important things for the gamers is that the gaming content and capabilities are top notch.
Consoles are not all about just playing games from discs, however – gamers are able to download game content from built-in store or streamed from the internet to their TV screens like with casino games online. The best consoles also offer gamers the ability to watch Blu-ray movies, listen to music, and even control their satellite TV as well.
The Best Consoles
In today’s console market, gamers can choose between the Sony PlayStation 5 and the Microsoft Xbox Series X, but there is also a high demand for the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid console that comes with the ability to play both on the go and connect to a TV for the big screen experience. There are pros and cons for each type of console, and in many cases, it comes down to personal preference.
What you can expect from these consoles is faster processing speed, the ability to get clearer pictures with 4k resolution, and better audio outputs. This makes playing high-fidelity games with stunning vistas, or action-packed shooting games more responsive – so the top games are much more fun to play.
The Top 5 Console Games of 2022
In no particular order, these are some of the top performing console games of 2022. While it is not a complete list, it does demonstrate a few of the more popular genres across all three of the biggest platforms. Most games can be played on any console, while others like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is only available for the Nintendo Switch.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
The latest in the ever-popular Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty: Vanguard revisits the backdrop of WWII and tells the story of a reluctant special ops team that is sent to infiltrate Germany.
Developed by Sledgehammer Games, CoD diehard fans see it as a bit of a filler game, but the popularity of the franchise has meant that even though this game was released back in 2021, it still inhabits the top of best-selling game lists in 2022.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo released the original Mario Kart 8 back in 2014 for the now obsolete Wii U, and it came out to the great excitement of old-school gamers who cut their teeth on this multiplayer racing game, sending banana skins to destroy the chances of the competition winning the race.
The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game is a re-release that has been top of the gaming lists since 2017 – making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.
This is a family-friendly game that is easy to learn – although not that easy to master – and the addition of battle mode and anti-gravity driving has brought the game into the 21st Century.
The Quarry
The first game in this list that was released in 2022, The Quarry is an interactive horror game developed by Supermassive. Designed to give the player the opportunity to control the fate of the nine characters through making specific decisions, The Quarry is full of horror tropes that demonstrate it is a game made by horror fans by horror fans.
With beautifully rendered surroundings and the atmospheric building of tension, the game revolves around a group of teenagers forced to spend an extra night at summer camp and avoid whatever is stalking them from the trees.
This game even has a Movie Mode, which doesn’t need any interaction from the player and takes you through the story to one of several pre-set conclusions.
Elden Ring
The first role-playing game on the list, and this one has the story-telling genius of George RR Martin (from Game of Thrones fame) to thank for the scenarios that players will come up against. This game is set to be the best selling game of 2022.
This is a beautifully designed open-world game, in which players really can just wander through the stunning vistas, having conversations with characters and taking part in different scenes and scenarios.
For the gamers, keeping track of what is happening and what you need to do in the game is made more difficult because there are no quest logs, no obvious waypoints, and no real reminders of what you have done and the lore in the world you are exploring.
Gran Turismo 7
As one of the best-known driving simulator franchises, the first Gran Turismo game was released back in 1997, and for the fans of this game there are a lot of nostalgic nods.
As a new game, the driving and racing realism really hits the spot, with impeccable car handling and glorious places to drive, with a simple and effective way to get through the curated races and tracks that need to be completed.
The more races you do, the more cars you get access to, and when you complete a certain set of races you get presented with a cutaway vignette discussing the history of the cars you have been racing, which is a lovely touch for the newbie racer.
Gran Turismo 7 is a PlayStation exclusive.
Choose Your Favourite
Whether you prefer a role-playing game, a first-person shooter, or just want to play some slots, consoles allow access to an entire range of options – console owners are truly spoiled for choice.