The "official" Game Awards have about as much credibility as their Hollywood Oscar counterparts - here are this year's real winners.
With another year having gone by and come to a close, we find ourselves deep in the annual awards season and as such gamers have been inundated by the agonizingly dumb picks the "experts" have chosen as the greatest that our beloved pastime had to offer in the last twelve months.
The Rant's Game Awards however, are for the regular gamers - ones that enjoy gaming in their free time, love hanging out with their friends in the (virtual) square while shooting strangers full of holes, and prefer to simply play videogames rather than watch "professional gamers" or random Twitch "streamers" play them for you.
In an age of long development cycles along with the rise of games using a live-service model, 2022 didn't see nearly as many major releases as most years in the past (though 2023 is positioned to rectify that in a big way), but it still managed to provide plenty of great experiences along with a much needed chance for many gamers to clear up some of their backlog.
Which games truly stood out largely depends on what your own taste in games is geared toward, and as such every pick is extremely subjective - so prepared to be outraged (or perhaps vindicated) by your favourite site's choices for 2022's greatest hits - at least we can all agree it's better than the choice of winners in the annual Game Awards show.
Game of the Year
God of War Ragnarok
Santa Monica Studio & Sony Interactive Entertainment, PS4 | PS5
This was by far the easiest Game of the Year award to pick in quite some time, and yet the geniuses who run The Game Awards (along with many major publication's own awards) still managed to screw it up.
To make it clear, Elden Ring, which picked up most of 2022's GOTY awards, is not even close to objectively being the best game of the year. For those that enjoy it, I hope they have plenty of fun - but to name it, objectively, as the best gaming has to offer, is simply ridiculous, and yet it's completely expected.
Its developers FromSoftware has taken their concept from niche to mainstream and should be applauded for their success, but to claim that their latest title is (or any of their titles really), from an objective standpoint, a masterpiece would be to completely ignore its many failings and the failings that have been true for much of FromSoftware's catalog.
From the fact that the developers wouldn't know how to balance a game if their lives depended on it, to the rather dull story that is doled out primarily through finding "lore" rather than putting together a proper story given the gimmicky approach to presenting an open world (even though most areas are near impossible to complete early without leveling up or grinding for better gear anyway, which defeats the purpose of being able to access any area from the start), to the gameplay that hides its shortcomings by being absurdly difficult and thus its fans simply dismiss any criticisms as being made by people who don't have the skill to play it (or, in reality, just don't feel like pouring tens of hours into something they find dry and boring in order to progress, when far more enjoyable combat systems exist elsewhere).
Of course, Japanese-developed games have long enjoyed an odd level of praise in the west and these titles are regularly hailed as being far better than they actually are - for every genuine classic like Resident Evil 4, there are dozens of games like Death Stranding and Nier Automata which are dreadfully dull from a gameplay perspective and have ridiculous and silly stories, yet are touted as some of the best games out there in spite of their mediocrity.
In addition to FromSoftware's "prestige", Elden Ring also benefitted from another high profile name attached to the project in George R.R. Martin, the author of the similarly overrated hit Game of Thrones.
With such a pairing, it's no surprise the media and "mainstream" gamers fell over themselves to heap praise on the middling fare and crown it as a breathtaking step forward for gaming despite the fact that it did not innovate in any way nor does it push any aspect of gaming to levels it hasn't seen plenty before.
The true winner of 2022 is undoubtedly Santa Monica Studio, who crafted one of the most impressively detailed and impeccably directed single player experiences ever made.
The culmination of an incredible arc that breathed new life into the franchise with 2018's God of War, Ragnarok gave players a deeper and much lengthier story that improved upon the already fantastic foundations its predecessor established.
The acting and presentation not only sold the characters and the story in ways that puts other games to shame, but it legitimately blows most movies and TV series out of the water with its production values and direction, the world building and presentation creating an experience that is truly unforgettable.
The gameplay itself is polished to a mirror-sheen and blends the series' history of more action-centric violence with the more calculated system of countering opponent's attacks that has become the modern norm, and its metroidvania-style world progression takes players through an impeccably crafted journey across Norse mythology's Nine Realms that inspires a true sense of exploration and discovery as you write Kratos' story.
The lone complaint I can muster is in its final act - with how epic many of the boss battles of God of War's original trilogy were and indeed many of Ragnarok's are, its final showdown was missing the extra oomph that it warranted and ironically didn't live up to the spectacle players were treated to very shortly before the final fight (this is purposely vague as to avoid spoilers).
As a side note, it's also an impressive feat to ship a fully featured AAA game in today's gaming climate that isn't riddled with bugs and performance issues (especially at launch), but not only did Sony's latest blockbuster deliver just that, it plays exceptionally well and looks gorgeous even on outdated PS4 hardware.
Not to mention its best-in-class accessibility options that allow virtually anyone to enjoy the game and adjust it to their liking, which actively removes barriers to allow gamers of all kinds to experience the masterpiece for themselves and tailor it to their own preference, something that games like Elden Ring could certainly learn about.
Runner Up: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Infinity Ward & Activision, Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | PS4 | PS5 | PC
Though Activision gets a lot of flack (rightfully so) for churning out Call of Duty titles with very little innovation every year, those who have been around for a while know the secret is to simply skip the yearly filler and only turn up for the entries developed by Infinity Ward, the studio that launched the series and has produced its greatest triumphs.
2019's Modern Warfare reboot was a massive success that not only paid homage to the franchise's most beloved era, but was easily amongst the best-feeling shooters out there and was oozing with high production values.
Considering the latest Call of Duty titles are hitting over a billion in sales within a week of their launch, the series should be at the cutting edge of gaming and that deep pocket book has resulted in one of the best-looking, playing, and sounding games to date with Modern Warfare II.
Though it won't win any awards for having the most original or thought-provoking storyline, its campaign is filled with the action-packed gunplay and thrilling set-pieces that you'd expect from a Call of Duty title, with Infinity Ward's weapon handling honed to near perfection. This sequel dials Infinity Ward's production values and directing chops all the way up to eleven - not only are the game's visuals and voice acting up to par, but thanks to its presentation it truly blurs the line between playing a videogame that's trying to emulate a war movie and experiencing an immersive AAA blockbuster war movie that just happens to be a videogame.
Its campaign plays like a greatest hits of past Modern Warfare titles in terms of level design, breaking up standard engagements with missions centered around providing air support, joining in an armoured convoy chase, stealthy infiltration levels, and even adds in survival elements later on which is a welcome addition and a surprise to see in a CoD title.
On top of that its extensive multiplayer suite is a blast to play and has something for everyone (I count Warzone as an entirely separate game so won't include that here, which it technically is as its free to play) - whether it be traditional 6v6 matches of Domination and Team Deathmatch, round-based fare like Search & Destroy and Prisoner Rescue, or more large-scale modes like Ground War and Invasion that are more akin to what Battlefield used to provide players.
The progression system does leave a lot to be desired (though some like being incentivized to try out new weapons, it's annoying and tedious to be forced to use guns you don't like in order to unlock ones that you do, or to be forced to level up guns that you don't want to use in order to unlock attachments for ones that you do) and adds unnecessary grinding to the game which has become the norm for multiplayer experiences. At least to make up for it there are a ton of customization options available and gamers of all playstyles will be able to tailor their loadouts to their own preferences.
The other gripe would be regarding the menus - although it regularly works without issue when alone, if you're in a party you'll often encounter bugs, problems loading certain elements, or have the game crash completely (which happened quite often after one of the early updates), which is odd considering how polished the in-game experience is.
The few issues it has however aren't enough to detract it from being one of the best games of the year and providing what all good AAA games should - an enjoyable experience that provides fans with polished gameplay, plenty of content, and a beautiful world to immerse yourself in.
Best Shooter
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Infinity Ward & Activision, Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | PS4 | PS5 | PC
Well this one was pretty obvious, but was made extra easy very few major shooters even entered the market this year thanks to the live service model so many publishers have moved toward.
Instead, most of the popular shooters this year are actually older games that have simply received new content, like free-to-play hits Apex Legends or the dreaded Fortnite, or expansions for games like Destiny 2 and of course the addition of Forge for Halo Infinite which has finally gotten fans back to the content-starved game.
That being said, Modern Warfare II is definitely deserving of the award and Infinity Ward has once again proven itself as one of the best FPS-makers around, crafting a gorgeous title with exceptional attention to detail, immensely satisfying gunplay, a thrilling and cinematic campaign, and an extensive and diverse multiplayer suite.
Now hopefully the billions that Call of Duty rakes in every year can help them overhaul their menus into something less horrendous.
Runner Up: High on Life
Squanch Games, Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | PC
There may not have been a whole lot of new entries in the shooter realm in 2022, but one of the most recent ended up being a surprisingly fun adventure that definitely isn't your standard FPS fare.
A whacky shooter with strong metroidvania elements and a darkly comedic vibe, High on Life is a game that never takes itself seriously and is all the better for it.
With Earth invaded by an alien cartel intent on harvesting humans as a way to get high, players assume the role of a human bounty hunter who is helped on his journey by "Gatlians", living, breathing, talking guns that feature various special abilities as well as provide you companionship while you navigate your way through the bizarre world you find yourself in.
Though it could certainly use some better AI and more challenging difficulty levels alongside a bit more polish, its unique universe and enjoyable gunplay make it stand out from the crowd.
The various guns you wield and their abilities offer plenty of opportunity for unique and satisfying ways to kill your alien oppressors, and also help you navigate your way through the colourful and puzzle-filled world in between skirmishes and joke-filled side quests.
If you're looking for a light-hearted and enjoyable gaming experience, High on Life has got you covered, and to make things even better it's available through Game Pass on all Xbox consoles and on PC.
Best Action/Adventure/RPG Game
God of War Ragnarok
Santa Monica Studio & Sony Interactive Entertainment, PS4 | PS5
It's a no-brainer that the best game of the year would also be the best game of its genre, and Ragnarok is certainly no different.
There isn't a whole lot more that needs to be said - if you haven't already, do yourself a favour and immerse yourself in 2018's God of War, which is a masterpiece itself, and once you've completed it, pick up Ragnarok and dive in.
It's one of the most memorable and well-crafted games ever made and a thrilling experience that every gamer should try for themselves.
Runner Up: Horizon Forbidden West
Guerilla Games & Sony Interactive Entertainment, PS4 | PS5
The sequel to 2017's surprise hit Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West once again places players in the shoes of young machine hunter Aloy as she takes on a vibrant world filled with killer robots and warring tribes in a post-apocalyptic world.
Though it starts off kind of awkwardly and doesn't reach the same narrative heights as its predecessor, Forbidden West is still an excellent open world adventure set in a gorgeous version of future Earth with plenty to see and do.
Performance issues unfortunately rear their ugly head mostly for PS4 players, but the game is nonetheless visually stunning thanks not only to its graphical fidelity but its unique and colourful art direction.
Outside of the sometimes-wonky platforming and somewhat by-the-numbers combat, Forbidden West offers plenty of customization to accomodate different playstyles and exploring its beautiful world is made worth the effort thanks to an abundance of substantial side quests and interesting characters.
It may not quite be as good as Aloy's first adventure, but it's still an excellent game and one that's worthy of your time if you enjoy open world action/RPG epics.
Best Racing Game
Gran Turismo 7
Polyphony Digital & Sony Interactive Entertainment, PS4 | PS5
Sony's exclusives absolutely dominated this year thanks to a sparse roster from its main rival Microsoft, who had to sit back and be content with third party titles and Game Pass offerings to tide them over while their studios prep for a big 2023 and beyond.
That being said, not all winners are made equal and in terms of racing games, fans of non-simulation racers were left without anything to write home about. With no new Forza in 2022, which is the undisputed king of racers with both its Motorsport and incredible Horizon series, another middling Need for Speed from EA, and not much else hitting store shelves in the genre this year, Gran Turismo 7 takes the top racing game award by default.
Though the graphics are definitely stunning and there's plenty of content to delve into and of course tons of customization and upgrade options to tune your rides to your liking, GT7 is a rather pure simulation that unlike its competitor Forza Motorsport doesn't make much (or any, really) effort into giving fans of more casual racing experiences a chance to get in on the fun.
If you're a car nut and want to play an extensive and exhaustive simulator, GT7 is likely right up your alley, but fans of arcade racers or more general racing fare should probably give it a pass.
In addition, its extremely grinding progression systems, performance issues and occasional crashes, and an insultingly expensive push for microtransactions make it hard to call it a great game, even if it is great at what it does best, which is provide a realistic racing experience.
Runner Up: GRID Legends
Codemasters & Electronic Arts, Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | PS4 | PS5 | PC | Mac
Exploring the space in between an arcade racer and a proper sim, GRID Legends is a solid, if by-the-numbers entry in the popular racing series from the talented team at Codemasters.
Although it can't hold a candle to competitors like Gran Turismo in terms of visuals, it does provide an enjoyable racing experience with stable performance and a more casual-friendly setup. It also features a career mode with real-life cutscenes that's surprisingly well-produced, even if the cliched story of taking a racing team from obscurity to a world championship is about as exciting as watching paint dry.
Legends offers plenty of ways for players to enjoy the game, whether they want to spend hours trying to beat their best lap times on Nurburgring or they want to blast through a variety of events in a few relaxing races in between rounds of Warzone.
With another rather mediocre and awkward Need for Speed release failing once more to hit the mark, it's the best 2022 has to offer for more casual or arcade racing fans - though with Forza Horizon 5's regular content updates, you can always stick to last year's best until the next Forza hits Game Pass.
Best Art Direction
God of War Ragnarok
Santa Monica Studio & Sony Interactive Entertainment, PS4 | PS5
They might look pretty, but screenshots simply don't do Ragnarok justice - the latest God of War game is absolutely gorgeous and truly a sight to behold in motion.
Each of Norse mythology's nine realms is presented in stunning detail and brought to life thanks to the team at Santa Monica Studio, its unique and extremely detailed environments immersing players in the developer's vision for the ancient realms.
The character designs are likewise exquisitely detailed and offer a different take on classic Norse characters, such as the burly and overweight but still intimidating Thor or the scrawny yet menacing Heimdall, with best-in-class animation work making every encounter and every scene memorable.
The metroidvania aspect of Ragnarok's exploration and progression is tied into the environments incredibly well and often inspires a sense of wonder as new paths are unlocked and obstacles are cleared, leading to your next fights and discoveries alike.
Svartalfheim in particular, which is the realm of the dwarves that was never seen in 2018's God of War, is visually magnificent and manages to blend the beauty of nature with unique and rugged machinery perfectly; Jotunheim is another new standout, as the realm of the giants is home to all sorts of wondrous sights in its untamed wilderness.
The addition of separate night and day cycles in Elfheim that feature different paths and scenery as the world changes to adapt is another brilliant addition that showcases the teams' environment design and ingenuity.
Though it's no longer argued by many, the next time anyone dares to say that videogames aren't or can't be works of art, make them play a few minutes of God of War Ragnarok and see if they can still come up with such nonsense.
Runner Up: Horizon Forbidden West
Guerilla Games & Sony Interactive Entertainment, PS4 | PS5
Aloy's latest adventure doesn't quite live up to its predecessor, but the beautiful world that Horizon Zero Dawn introduced is back and more stunning than ever in Forbidden West.
From lush jungle areas to a holographic-lit section of Las Vegas trapped under water to the ruins of a post-apocalyptic San Franciso, Forbidden West is a jaw-dropping visual spectacle that combines the beauty of nature with futuristic sci-fi technology and primitive tribal designs.
The character designs are likewise full of creativity from the varied members of different human tribes that each have their own visual flair to massive mechanized versions of dinosaurs and all sorts of other animals, which are even more impressive in motion as individual parts are destroyed and fall off when targeted in combat.
The only thing holding back Guerilla Games' work of art is some performance issues that pop up (mostly on the PS4 version) that can sometimes break the immersion - from pesky texture pop-in to clipping character models and the occasional framerate drop. That being said, those issues can't stop Forbidden West's incredible visuals and unique design from leaving their mark on anyone who picks up a controller and explores its vibrant world.
Best Audio Design & Soundtrack
God of War Ragnarok
Santa Monica Studio & Sony Interactive Entertainment, PS4 | PS5
This category was one of the hardest to choose and had several legitimate contenders, but ultimately Ragnarok's memorable soundtrack propelled it to victory.
Of course the sound effects for a AAA blockbuster like Ragnarok are exceptional, from the clang of a blocked sword strike to the satisfying ignition of Kratos' Chaos Blades and the addicting whoosh of hearing the Leviathan Axe return after a successful throw.
Its atmosphere is really set by the epic soundtrack however, with Bear McCreary crafting a range of works that subtly enhance the emotions intended throughout different sections of the lengthy story and often add to the experience without many players even noticing it during the action.
From somber reflective instrumentals to epic orchestral swells and ominous Norse chanting, Ragnarok's score has it all and is just one aspect of the greater whole that sets it apart from virtually everything else in gaming.
Its epic credits song Blood Upon Snow is also up there with the best tracks from the legendary Halo soundtracks.
Runner Up: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Infinity Ward & Activision, Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | PS4 | PS5 | PC
In terms of pure sound effects and attention to detail, the latest Call of Duty stands on its own as an example of what should go into crafting a AAA game that earns billions in revenue.
Every gun sounds unique, every detail from the satisfying clack of a successful reload to the ping of a spent shell casing hitting the floor (which varies depending on what kind of surface it lands on) is produced in impeccable quality - it's the kind of game you absolutely need to experience in full surround sound, either with a capable speaker setup or a decent pair of headphones.
The 3D audio really immerses players in the action, and its paired with top-tier voice overs and a hard hitting (and highly underrated) soundtrack that gets the blood pumping. It may not bother much with the range other games may shoot for, but when you set out to deliver a heart-pounding shooter and high-octane experience, you really don't need to.
Best Voice Acting Performance
Alastair Duncan as Mimir
from God of War Ragnarok
This one may be a surprise to some, and frankly there are several actors that easily deserve their own award for their work on Ragnarok - Christopher Judge's iconic Kratos, Danielle Bisutti's emotional Freya, Robert Craighead's gruff and hilarious Brok, Adam Harrington's loveable Sindri, and even Sunny Suljic's sometimes infuriating Atreus/Loki - but Alastair Duncan's Mimir may just be the most loveable sidekick in any form of media.
Though Mimir is of course memorable for other reasons as well (he's a talking head with no body that is typically found dangling from Kratos' hip, after all), it is his gift for gab that really sets him apart and makes him a beloved character that grows to feel like a part of the family.
Rather than filling the silence in quiet moments of exploration or travel with half-hearted conversation or random thoughts said aloud like in other games (or just silence), Santa Monica Studio instead regularly adds genuine character moments and simple banter to those times that really brings its main characters and their relationships to life.
Mimir's ability to tell a good story is second to none, and I often found myself stopping entirely just to listen to Mimir tell a tale as he often does to spice things up on our journey - the character's wit and sense of humour never fails to add in subtle comedy into the mix, yet thanks to the brilliant writing and Duncan's delivery, it never feels like the developers are trying to be funny - instead, it just happens naturally and organically, something that is exceptionally rare in the world of videogames.
He also of course makes for a wise and trusted companion throughout both Ragnarok and its predecessor; someone that can provide background information on the world and the characters you encounter, tell grand tales to break up the action while you're out exploring, and also ask the tough questions that force Kratos and Atreus (and indeed, the player) to think long and hard about the consequences of their actions and the weight of their decisions.
Thanks to the writing and Alastair's delivery, even these moments never come across as preachy nor do they insult players' intelligence, instead letting the "World's Wisest Man" simply pose a deep question or two for you to ponder and think about rather than having him preach what he believes the answers are.
His witty banter and unending love for a good story make Mimir one of the best characters in gaming, and if you're looking for proof, Mimir went from being simply a tool required to move to the next step in Kratos' journey, a talking head that the famously gruff and untrusting Kratos literally referred to as the head, to being a man (or at least, what's left of a man) that the mighty God of War calls brother.
Runner Up: Richard Schiff as Odin
from God of War Ragnarok
It's rare for any single movie or videogame to have so many standout performances, but Ragnarok is one of those epic titles that is chock full of memorable characters and excellent casting choices.
Several of Ragnarok's cast members are deserving of their own awards and Richard Schiff ranks high amongst them as his portrayal of the mighty Odin will not soon be forgotten.
Rather than simply being an all-powerful destroyer like the title of "All-Father" and his reputation may suggest, instead Schiff delivers a much more nuanced performance as a wise, manipulative, ruthless leader that opts to avoid direct confrontation and uses his intelligence to great effect.
Despite his nefarious intentions, Schiff manages to make Odin feel very human and even eloquently mixes in bits of humour in between glimpses of his true, darker self, at times even making the game's main villain likeable.
This not only provides Ragnarok with an antagonist that is much more nuanced than many found across all forms of media, but also makes Odin's ability to manipulate and trick his family and followers very believable thanks to his charisma and sense of purpose; and of course, when it comes time to show his true colours, Schiff more than delivers the selfish, self-aggrandizing madness that hides beneath Odin's layers of deception.
Biggest AAA Failure of the Year
CrossfireX
Smilegate and Remedy Entertainment, Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S
When it was revealed that CrossfireX would be coming exclusively to Xbox consoles and be on Game Pass to boot, it seemed like a big win for Microsoft.
Crossfire is a massively popular South Korean FPS from 2007 that's similar in many ways to Counter-Strike and has been a hit in the country ever since it launched, enjoying mainstream success and a dedicated fanbase in Asia.
CrossfireX promised to be an updated, improved version of the tactical shooter that also introduced a full-fledged single player campaign developed by Remedy Entertainment, the folks behind brilliant story-focused games like Control, Quantum Break, and the original Max Payne games.
Considering the travesty that was Battlefield 2042 and the recent Call of Duty Vanguard returning to its WWII roots, it seemed like with an early 2022 launch window that CrossfireX was in the perfect position to cater to the large demographic that enjoys modern or near-future first person shooters and multiplayer fragfests.
With some good-looking trailers and heavy backing by Microsoft, CrossfireX had the tools to become a hit and at the least many figured it would have provided something new for FPS fans to sink their teeth into until Modern Warfare II launched in the fall.
Unfortunately, it was all smoke and mirrors - the game itself ended up being an absolute joke, an astoundingly broken and joyless mess that makes one wonder what Smilegate spent their development costs on as it certainly wasn't put into developing a shippable game.
With shooting and gameplay mechanics that feel like they're for an extremely early build of a game designed simply to get the basics down before proper animation and detail is added, horrendous netcode, a litany of game breaking bugs, terrible graphics, and a laughable amount of maps and modes, it's shocking that such a mess was ever allowed to release.
The campaign, which consists of two separate stories featuring both sides of a war between rival private military companies, seemed promising on paper, but ended up being an uninspired and completely forgettable mess.
Though it looks and plays slightly better than the multiplayer portion, Remedy's normal quality and attention to detail is nowhere to be found within the generic story and crippled gameplay, which is largely the same as the online component despite the two parts of the game being built in different engines. It was clearly a phoned-in rush job from Remedy that was thrown together for an easy payout, which is unfortunate given the studio's reputation and past portfolio.
Though the developers have frequently made updates to help make the disaster somewhat less unplayable, their game is nothing short of a disappointment and a major black eye for all involved - from this day forward, it shall only be known by gamers as MisfireX.
Runner-Up: Overwatch 2
Blizzard Entertainment, Nintendo Switch | Xbox One | Xbox Series X/S | PS4 | PS5 | PC
To call Overwatch 2 a sequel is pretty disingenuous, but when it comes to their popular hero shooter, that's about the best descriptor that can be used for the folks at Blizzard.
Overwatch was a smash hit for Activision-Blizzard back in 2016 and enjoyed major commercial success thanks to its team-focused gameplay, its unique roster's special abilities, and its popularity amongst streamers.
Though it's also made a ton of money through microtransactions, it has drawn ire from players and the gaming community from its stingy monetization and incorporation of loot boxes, something that's become all-too-common in modern gaming.
For the highly anticipated follow-up, fans expected, well, a sequel. Instead, Blizzard merely took the original, made some updates and minor changes, added a few new characters and maps, added an even more grinding free-to-play model to their already slow progression system, and called it a day.
With many calling the game Overwatch 1.5 or more accurately Overwatch 1.1, it really does a disservice to games to call Overwatch 2 a new release - it really is just an update for a game that's now six years old, but since its producers insist it's a new game, it's going to be treated as such.
The "massive" changes Blizzard added in version 2.0?
Instead of two teams of six players squaring off in matches, it's now reduced to teams of five; a few of the games' heroes have been reworked with a couple of new combatants also added to the roster (most of which you have to grind in order to unlock, even if you have those heroes unlocked in the original game); and then there's a co-op mode coming to the game in 2023 that isn't even out yet, despite that being really the only significant new feature being added to a title that's been out for years.
Not only is the incredibly small amount of changes and virtual lack of improvements insulting, but the incredibly small number of new heroes, maps, and modes means the vast majority of the time you're going to be playing the exact same shit as you would have been playing six years ago when it launched.
Having not played Overwatch myself since shortly after it originally launched, I myself thought the game was decent thanks to its (at the time) unique hero mechanics and team-focused gameplay, though its shooting mechanics and overall feel leave a lot to be desired when compared to more competent shooters like Halo or Call of Duty; nevertheless, it was still a solid, fun game.
With Overwatch 2 being free to play, I jumped back in to give it a try and see if there was anything worth sticking around for (after there was no longer any waiting times just to get into the game - the fact that such a barebones "sequel" had such demand that players would wait for hours just to get in and play is really indicative of how companies can churn out crap and still get legions of people to support them) - unfortunately, there really wasn't.
After deleting the game following a few hours of playing, I couldn't tell you anything significantly different about the time I spent in Overwatch 2 compared to when I last played the original roughly five years ago - literally the same modes which have become extremely tired (even classic CTF or King of the Hill would be more entertaining than Overwatch's dull tug-of-war over a vehicle thing), the same maps I grew bored of years ago, the same gunplay which is still far from a premier FPS experience, even the graphics haven't received a noticeable upgrade.
Blizzard was too lazy to even come up with a new achievement/trophy list for the game - instead, they just renamed it (quite literally - if you played Overwatch before, you'll find that your list/progress for that game is now renamed as being for Overwatch 2) and added a couple of achievements/trophies for the couple of new heroes that the "sequel" introduced.
The fact that such a lazy cash grab can not only be released but still manages to rake in money from people is a testament to the state of modern society - but, if people are going to bitch about it and still fork over cash for silly virtual items like skins and victory animations, it's hard to blame the developers for separating fools from their money.