Awards season is in full swing as the upcoming Game Awards 2022 (gameawards2022) nominees have been announced, and what an amazing lineup it looks to be! The ceremony takes place on Sunday December 8, but if you can’t wait that long to see which games are the best, here’s a complete list of every nominee on the Game Awards 2022 shortlist.

Let’s take a look at all the nominees in order of the categories they appear in, and we’ll start off with the most prestigious category, Game of the Year!

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

It's tough to find a video game that lives up to its name. However, Zelda really delivers in the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. There are three main themes in this game, according to Nintendo; exploration, survival and puzzle-solving. Breathtakingly beautiful visuals and sounds help players experience all three themes well. Definitely deserves the Game Awards 2022 Game of the Year award.

Super Mario Odyssey

In Super Mario Odyssey, you will play as Mario. You will travel to various worlds and collect Power Moons. There are 900 moons in the game that have different effects on the environment. For example, if you collect a big moon, you will be able to shoot fireballs from your hands. If you get a water moon, the flowers will change color and there will be more frogs around.

Nioh 2

For those unfamiliar with this franchise, Nioh is a video game series developed by Team Ninja. It takes place during Japan's Warring States Period in which players take on the role of William Adams and fight against supernatural enemies called Yokai. In 2020, the first Nioh was re-released as Nioh: Complete Edition and introduced new features like added scenes, characters and weapons.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: You will play as either Kassandra or Alexios (your choice) who are children of King Leonidas I of Sparta as they venture through ancient Greece to confront Athenian general Nikolaos and others who threaten their homeland while embarking on an epic quest to find answers that have been lost for centuries. 

You can explore their world from mountainous snow-capped peaks to sun-drenched seaside villages.

Horizon Zero Dawn

As an action RPG, Horizon Zero Dawn is visually stunning and gameplay-wise it does not disappoint. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans live with robotic animals. Players control Aloy, a hunter who embarks on a journey to explore the world and defeat the machine that brought humanity to the brink of extinction.

Horizon Zero Dawn was nominated for Best Game Direction, Best Narrative and Best Art Direction. It won three awards for Best Design, Best Score/Music and Best Audio Design.

Assassin's Creed Origins

For the first time in the Assassin's Creed series, players will journey to Ancient Egypt. This new setting will allow for a variety of new gameplay dynamics. Players will be able to explore freely and discover what life was like for the people living in this era.

They'll also be able to choose between two different playable characters, Bayek and his wife Aya, who have their own personal quests that players can follow. This game is not just about assassinating your enemies from afar with a hidden blade; it's about getting up close and personal with your enemy and showing them no mercy.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a wonderfully produced game, and has been nominated for over twenty awards. For example, it was nominated for five BAFTAs in the categories Artistic Achievement, Original Music, Original Story, Performer, and Story. In the same year it also won six Critics' Choice Awards in the categories Best Action/Adventure Game (twice), Best Art Direction, Best Graphics (twice), Best Original Score, and Most Innovative. These nominations all demonstrate how well made this game really is.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Wolfenstein II is the sequel to the well-received 2009 video game Wolfenstein, which takes place in an alternate history where Nazi Germany won World War II. In this game, you play as the protagonist BJ Blazkowicz who sets out on a mission to take down the Nazis and end their reign.

Wolfenstein II features fast-paced action that will keep players on their toes from start to finish. You can dual wield weapons or take it slow with a shotgun and sneak through enemy lines undetected. The game also has tons of collectibles for those completionists out there who want to do everything they can before finishing the game. 
This game is available now for PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One.

Call of Duty: WWII

This game is set during WWII. It is a first-person shooter and the player is a member of the US Army. You can choose to play as one of four classes, including assault, recon, medic or sniper. You play through missions with your squad in order to take down Hitler and his army. The graphics are incredible, and you can experience this realistic setting from an entirely new perspective. This game was nominated for best game in 2018.

Star Wars Battlefront II

With the release of a new Star Wars movie every year, it's no surprise that there are new games to coincide with the release. Star Wars Battlefront II is one game that has already been released and is up for Best Action/Adventure Game.

This game offers a multiplayer experience, as well as single-player missions and modes. Battles offer the opportunity to play in iconic locations across all eras, such as Starkiller Base and Jakku, while unlocking different hero characters like Rey or Darth Maul.