The holiday season saw an unusual rush of late-season game releases. Traditionally, most titles would have hit shelves before Black Friday, but these aren’t normal times. Releases tried to fit in the lucrative holiday window and beat a crowded field next year. Meanwhile, other game launches snuck up on players. It’s harder nowadays to break into the public consciousness amid a more fragmented and chaotic world.
Although these projects came out toward the tail end of 2022, they shouldn’t be overlooked. They each have a distinct quality that is anything but vanilla. Here are three games that should be on your radar and at least one reason to check them