My fave games from 2022 listed, the ESAC has new info on gamers in Canada, and High on Life is truly a trip of a video game.

Blaine’s personal best games of 2022

In chronological order of release, this list of 15 titles only includes new games – not ports to new systems – that I actually played, which are in most cases games that were provided to me by the developer or publisher.

• Sifu
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
• Elden Ring
• Tunic
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land
• Hardspace: Shipbreaker
• Stray
• Immortality
• Splatoon 3
• Return to Monkey Island
• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
• God of War Ragnarok
• Pokemon Scarlet/Violet

Entertainment Software Association of Canada’s latest data on Canadian gamers

Every year, the Entertainment Software Association of Canada conducts a survey of gamers to get a snapshot about the industry.

Last year’s report shows that 53% of Canadians played video games regularly (during the last four weeks), for an average of 7.9 hours per week.

And the gender split is even: 51% women and 49% men.

Gaming is a social activity

The way games have connected people was obvious, with 67% of video game players saying that games introduced them to new friends and relationships.

The survey results demonstrated that 49% of adult video game players and 70% of kids play video games most often with other people.

Gaming as a Family

74% of parents who play video games reported playing with their children, and 69% said that video games helped them spend more time with their children.

Why we play

In the survey, the ESAC found that people played video games to relieve stress (85%), to improve cognitive skills (81%), and because playing brought them joy (84%).

High On Life proves to be as hilarious and weird as expected

High on Life is a new, first-person shooter from Squanch Games available for Windows and Xbox Series X/S and through Xbox Game Pass.

Mechanically, it’s a fairly standard shooter. You’re a recent high school graduate with parents who think you’ll amount to nothing who becomes the saviour of humanity when an alien crime syndicate invades Earth because people happen to be a really great drug.

You’ll move around the maps, jumping and shooting and exploring nooks and crannies.

But there are a few things that set High on Life apart from other standard shooters, and it starts with the weapons you’ll be wielding, because in this game, the guns are sentient beings. You’ll collect an entire arsenal of these creatures as you play through the game, and each has its own unique characteristics and personality.

The creative force behind this is Justin Roiland, CEO of Squanch and the co-creator of Rick and Morty, and High on Life overflows with the kind of raunchy adult humour that series is known for.

The creature design is equally audacious and the actors here, including Roiland, imbue their characters with incredible hilarity.

High on Life’s unique humour will not appeal to everyone, but the game is so committed to its schtick that it will be more than enough for people who appreciate what it has to offer.