Best 3DS Game
Winner: Fragrant Story
Winning purely because it’s the only 3DS game released this year that we reviewed, Fragrant Story deserves a look all the same. It’s a strange micro-strategy RPG that made waves by being the last ever 3DS game released in North America, and although it’s not the best strategy RPG we’ve ever played, it’s worth a punt as a curiosity more than anything else.
Runner Up: Erm… hmm. Why not head to the 3DS eShop and download some non-2022 winners before they become unpurchasable in March?
Best Soundtrack
Winner: tie
This one’s a toss-up between Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Neon White, Splatoon 3, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, Signalis, Kirby, Sonic Frontiers, Cult of the Lamb, Bayonetta 3, and oh goodness, about 50 other games.
It’s been a good year for vidgame music. Let’s just share a few highlights:
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Neon White
Signalis
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Sonic Frontiers
The Frog Fractions Award For ‘Best Bait-And-Switch Game’
Winner: tie
Oooooh, don’t you just love it when a game pretends to be one thing, and then pulls the rug out from under you? We do, and that’s why we created this award.
This year, the award is split into three pieces, with each third going equally to Inscryption, Tunic, and Omori. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you why these games are winners, just that they are. WINK.
Best ‘No Thoughts Head Empty’ Game
Winner: Dorfromantik
The Switch has always been a great place for games that let you zone out, and 2022 was a great year for it, too.
Our ultimate winner is Dorfromantik, a gorgeously chill game about building pretty little countryside vignettes. Can’t you just feel the stress seeping out of your bones?
Runners Up: A Little to the Left, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Railbound, Dragon Quest Treasures
Aaand breathe. Turn the page to find our picks for the Best Doom Clone, Most Long-Winded Switch Game Title, and the hotly-fought ‘It’s About Bloody Time’ Award…
