
Retro Game of the Year Awards 2022
The very best old-school experiences

Written by A.J. Maciejewski for GOTY Awards on 🏆
It's that time of year again; our Game of the Year Awards have begun and to kick things off, here are the best retro titles from 2022.
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Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Classic Console Compilation of the Year
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration not only includes a huge variety of titles from Atari 2600 classics to obscure Jaguar titles and arcade to computer games; it's also the most impressive museum-style experience that I've ever seen in a retro game compilation. So, whether you're enjoying some old-school games, watching modern interviews or old commercials, or reading fun facts that provide a lot of context for Atari's history; you'll be in for a treat. Happy anniversary, Atari! Here's to another 50 years! 🥳 v1d30chumz 35-172-230-154
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Review Award image →
KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series Modern Console Compilation of the Year
The KLONOA games are some of the greatest puzzle platformers ever created. They're cute, fun, challenging, and make you think so imagine my delight when KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series released as it contains both of the mainline console releases and they look beautiful and perform wonderfully on modern consoles. It's the perfect combination of awesome classic games that have held up fantastically on their own and modern aesthetics that help these titles reach new heights on a visual level. 💍
KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series Review Award image →
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Arcade Compilation of the Year
When it comes to straight-up arcade collections, Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium completely knocked it out of the park with its phenomenal line-up of genuine classics and hidden gems. Whether you're into shoot 'em ups, fighting games, or puzzlers; you're bound to spend hours upon hours with the wide variety of games featured here. Throw in a gorgeously presented menu system that'll make you feel like you're in an arcade and an excellent multiplayer experience and you're left with a must-have compilation. 🕹️
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Review Award image →
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Puzzle Game of the Year
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is one of those puzzle games that grows on you the more you play it. Its roguelike structure and strategic gameplay that'll keep you on the edge of your seat as you try not to take damage combine impressively well to create a formula that's always changing with new unlockables and mechanics. Needless to say, if you love puzzlers then it'll keep you hooked.
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Review Award image →
Cotton Fantasy Shoot 'em Up of the Year
With tons of shoot 'em ups released in 2022, Cotton Fantasy rises above the competition as not only is it a wonderful revival of an adorable cute 'em up, it also includes oodles of content thanks to its diverse cast of characters that are all fun to master. Of course, the silly humour is back but this time, it's even more over-the-top and will surely have you cracking up between stages. 🍬
Cotton Fantasy Review Award image →
Radiant Silvergun Port of the Year
Some games hold up just fine on their own but when they're ported as well as Radiant Silvergun was on Switch, that makes them truly stand out as special. If you're a shmup fan then you know how incredible Radiant Silvergun is and its tight and brutally challenging gameplay shines brightly on Nintendo Switch as you deploy a wide variety of weapons to thin out the enemy hordes.
Radiant Silvergun Review Award image →
Shatter Remastered Deluxe Remaster of the Year
One of the most surprising releases of 2022 was Shatter Remastered Deluxe. As a huge fan of the original since I played it on PS3 back in the day, I'm thrilled that it's back but on top of that, it's better than ever thanks to its smooth performance on modern consoles that make its stylishly slick futuristic presentation really pop. Oh, and it plays like a dream, too, of course!
Shatter Remastered Deluxe Review Award image →
The Last of Us Part I Remake of the Year
The Last of Us is one of the most celebrated video games ever made and The Last of Us Part I is the definitive way to experience the original story as it will have you battling infected, taking in the scenery, and experiencing its gripping cutscenes with top-notch and fine-tuned visuals that do a phenomenal job of making the most out of what the PlayStation 5 is capable of.
The Last of Us Part I Review Award image →
Yars: Recharged Retro Revival of the Year
Finally, our most prestigious retro game of the year award goes to the best re-envisioning of a classic and this year, it's awarded to Yars: Recharged. Yars' Revenge is already a great Atari 2600 game but what if it were to have twin-stick controls, brilliantly crafted stages with multiple cores, online leaderboards, a co-op mode, enjoyable power-ups, and brutally tough challenges to complete? Well, you get one of the greatest arcade-style games that I've ever played and that game is indeed Yars: Recharged. Congratulations! 🏆
Yars: Recharged Review Award image →
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