Best Game Presents of 2022: Top Holiday Gifting Choices

Buying presents is hard, indeed. What if we said we could make things way easier for you if you've got a gamer or two in your life, though? Indeed, if you're interested in checking out the very best game presents of 2022, you've come to just the right place!

Here at 2Game, we've got an immense selection of top-notch PC games that'll easily keep just about any kind of gamer entertained for long stretches of time. Shooters, RPGs, strategy games, arcades... you name it, we've got droves of it. And, hey, if none of the ideas from our hardware gifting guide for 2022 really jive with you, you may as well splurge on an actual video game or two, instead.

What you'll find down below is a list of eight must-have video games of the past couple of years. Now, it goes without saying that there's no point in buying a game that the gamer you're gifting actually owns already. So, our initial recommendation would be to confirm that they don't already own the title that ends up catching your eye!

READ MORE: Choosing the Right PC Games as Gifts - The Guide

Best Game Presents of 2022: The PC Game Gifting Shortlist

As we said, choosing the right game to give away is tricky business. Our best recommendation to start with would be to somehow check out your gamer's library of games and do a short cross-reference. This shouldn't be too hard, either. If they spend a lot of time on Steam, for example, you can simply look up their profile via the official Steam website! Unless they've got hundreds upon hundreds of games, it's a simple job of scrolling through the list and you're good to go.

If sheer content is a major consideration, you'll find a number of good options down below. Another option would, for example, be to check out one of our previous years' guides that specialize in this niche, in particular.

On the other hand, if you're strapped for cash and want to get the best possible bang-for-buck PC gaming gift, we've got a guide for that, too!

Plus, it goes without saying that we had a handy gifting guide prepared for 2021 as well, and that guide remains every bit as relevant as anything we could possibly put out today! So, you see, there's a lot of choice at your disposal. If you're eager to keep things simple and if you're not worried whether your gamer already owns the game you're about to buy, we're off to a good start. Scroll on!

For Those Who Like to Play Everything: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3 Months)

If you're mostly unfamiliar with the current gaming landscape, we can't blame you! It's a complex, layered industry with so many twists and turns that it's hard to keep up with it as an insider! So, if you'd like to keep things simple and fairly foolproof, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the way to go.

This is a three-month subscription to what is easily the best bang-per-buck proposition in all of gaming. Give this to someone, and they're getting unlimited access to hundreds of phenomenal games for the duration of those three months. Easy, simple, and always welcome - that's Game Pass for ya!

For Role-Playing Game Fans: Elden Ring

Elden Ring now sits at the very pinnacle of 2Game's top 100 PC games list (find the link at the bottom of this article!), and that didn't happen by accident. Already, the game has won a huge number of GOTY awards, and it's a truly unforgettable experience in almost every respect.

Two caveats, though! First is that Elden Ring is a somewhat hardcore action RPG: it can get punishing at times. Second - and more important - is that the game sold like hotcakes, and the odds are good that any dedicated RPG gamer already owns a copy. If they don't, this is a terrific gift choice!

For Sonic Fans: Sonic Frontiers

At long last, the legendary blue hedgehog has made his triumphant return to gaming relevance. Indeed, Sonic Frontiers is the Sonic game we've all been waiting for. This awesome open-world adventure game will leave no fan of the mascot indifferent, and though it's not quite perfect just yet, SEGA has struck gold with its open-world formula.

Having only come out recently, the gaming audiences haven't fully warmed up to the idea of an open-world Sonic adventure just yet. This means that not all Sonic fans will have played it just yet, giving you a perfect gift opening if all the stars have aligned!

For Sci-Fi Shooter Fans: Evil West

Make no mistake, this game is no Red Dead Redemption, but that's for the better in our book! As stellar as Rockstar's last flagship release might've been, it was also often cumbersome and plodding. Deliberately, of course, but still. Evil West puts all that stuff aside and implements vampires and cthonic monstrosities instead!

Step into the shoes of a Wild West vampire hunter and gun down threats both mundane and supernatural. This is a lovingly crafted AA third-person shooter with cooperative multiplayer that we don't often see nowadays. A must-have for fans of super-quick arcade shooters.

For Football Fans: Football Manager 2023

If your gamer is a football (or soccer, if that's how you prefer it) fan, then you've probably heard them say they'd do a better job than whatever the head of their favorite team might be. Football Manager 2023 is, basically, their opportunity to prove as much!

This comprehensive strategy/management game is a masterclass in its niche. In fact, it's so good that it arguably goes far beyond its specific genre category to the point where it's one of the best strategy games you could play, bar none. Does it look like an Excel sheet at times? Well, yes. Is it phenomenal regardless? Absolutely!

For Tactical FPS Fans: Ready or Not

Even though it's currently in beta Early Access, Ready or Not is easily one of the finest tactical shooters of all time. The best way to describe this game is to say that it is 'harrowing,' as it aptly translates just how tense SWAT situations could possibly get. In a good way, of course: SWAT 4 fans will know!

If your gamer loves advanced AI and engaging FPS scenarios, this is the ticket. Ample weapon customization and combat options help as well. Ready or Not might not exactly be a one-of-a-kind game, but it's well on its way to becoming one once it's fully launched.

For Action Game Fans: Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak

Monster Hunter is back! Not that it ever left the fans' PCs after the amazing release of World, that is. Whatever the case may be, Rise and its seminal Sunbreak expansion pack is a must-have for all franchise fans. The same goes for action-adventure and hack 'n' slash fans, to boot, as it's just that good of a game.

MH titles have historically always been rather massive. With a DLC the size of Sunbreak in tow, though, we're looking at a precedent-setting franchise entry, and easily one of the best games Capcom has delivered yet. If your gamer doesn't yet own a copy, this is a pretty safe bet for a gift.

For Beat 'Em Up Fans: The Judgment Collection

Those who love Japanese culture and media will find The Judgment Collection to be one of the best experiences in all of gaming. This tense, yet quirky beat 'em up is a detective story and a karaoke show in equal measure. Yakuza fans will know precisely what we mean, as the two games featured in this bundle are, essentially, parts of that very same franchise.

And - yes! This collection does in fact include two separate titles, each standing on its own two feet. So, what we've got here is a gaming experience that'll easily take dozens upon dozens of hours for true completion. A perfect choice for the Holiday season, wouldn't you agree?

CHECK OUT: Top 100 PC Games - Updated for 2022!