Every year, hundreds of new video games are released, and this year critics and fans alike will be voting on a select few for the 2022 Game of the Year award.

   The Game Awards have selected six games to be voted on for Game of the Year: A Plague Tale: Requiem, Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

   First on the list is a game by Asobo Studio, A Plague Tale: Requiem. A Plague Tale: Requiem is a sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence, which is a medieval-themed game. Players will follow Amica on her journey to save her brother Hugo from an otherworldly curse. Players will have to be stealthy and creative as they make their way to an ancient island that holds the answer for curing Hugo.

   Next is Elden Ring, a game by From Software, and a medieval-themed game where players inhabit The Lands Between. In Elden Ring, players will collect shards of a powerful artifact guarded by demi-gods to become Elden Lord of The Lands Between. Players can expect a challenge with this game, as they are meant to be defeated and learn from their mistakes for the next battle to come.

   Then, a game by Santa Monica Studio, God of War Ragnarök, a sequel to the 2018 God of War and continuation of the God of War series. After hearing events of Ragnarök, players will follow Kratos and Atreus on their mission to defy the prophecy and save the Nine Realms. This story-based action game will take players on a journey through the Nine Realms as they find Atreus’ destiny as Loki, fight gods and alter the fate of Ragnarök.

   After that is Horizon Forbidden West, a game made by Guerilla Games. Horizon Forbidden West is a post-apocalyptic themed game in which robots roam the lands and humanity is on the brink of extinction. In this open-world action game, players will follow Aloy on her journey while she fights giant robots, uncovers answers, and saves humanity from extinction.

   Next is a game by BlueTwelve Studio, Stray. Stray was made by only 28 people, and is a cyberpunk-themed game where players follow a stray cat on its journey to escape a long-forgotten city. Players will have to be stealthy while solving puzzles, uncovering secrets, and avoiding the dangerous droids that roam the streets of the abandoned city. Players can also find friendly robots that possibly hold answers for the stray’s escape.

   Last on the list is Xenoblade Chronicles 3, a fast paced action role-playing game by Monolith Soft in which players follow Noah and Mio on an adventure to discover a dark secret. Players will collect unusual allies as they travel the world, fighting monsters and robots along the way. Using strategic fighting styles and combo moves, players can customize their heroes to suit their playstyle and out maneuver their opponents.

   Fans can cast their votes until December 7th, and The Game Awards will be streaming the event on December 8th. People can watch the event live on Twitch, Youtube, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Many award-winning games have come out this year, but only one of them can be the Game of the Year.