With the recent announcement that Horizon: Forbidden West has been pushed to 2022, next year suddenly looks to be a mammoth year for video games, perhaps rivaling 2017. While it’s obviously WAY too early to think about the possible 2022 Game of the Year, the Horizon news provides a fun opportunity to speculate.

Nintendo certainly has some big contenders for the coveted award. While unconfirmed by Nintendo, the sequel to Breath of the Wild will likely be released in 2022, five years after the 2017 Game of the Year. Certainly the pandemic affected the game’s release, but there’s something fitting about the next Zelda game releasing in the same year as the new Horizon game, just as it did before.

Another big game from Nintendo that could contend for the award is Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Fans have long dreamed of a truly open world Pokémon game; the latest trailer for the Pokémon Legends: Arceus suggests that this wish may finally be granted. The game seems to borrow a lot of its visual style from Breath of the Wild, even lining up certain iconic shots in the trailer to allude to the comparison.

Xbox also has some major titles coming in 2022 that could push for the crown. Starfield releases November 11, 2022 and is set to be Bethesda’s first original RPG in 25 years. Promising to be a next generation RPG set in space, the game has many feeling enormous excitement for its release.

Xbox has a second horse in the race for the 2022 crown with Elden Ring set to release in January. The game is a highly anticipated action RPG that is a collaboration with celebrated fantasy writer George R. R. Martin.

In the end, will it be Sony that takes home the prize for the 2022 Game of the Year? With Horizon: Forbidden West releasing in January and God of War: Ragnarok likely releasing in 2022 as well, PlayStation will be well represented in the award nominations. It’s worth noting that Horizon: Zero Dawn would likely have won the 2017 award had the prize not been taken by Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Will this time be different?

Tell us what you think! What’s your WAY too early prediction for the winner of the 2022 Game of the Year award? Share your reactions in the comments below or join in the conversation on Boss Rush Discord.

Source: Bethesda Softworks