The best video games of 2022 so far

It's easy to get lost in the gorgeous open world of "Horizon Forbidden West," the highly anticipated sequel to Guerrilla Games' 2017 post-apocalyptic RPG "Horizon Zero Dawn." Exploration is revamped with protagonist Aloy's new arsenal of gadgets, letting her glide across valleys and swim through sunken cities. The weapons, the map, the enemies -- everything feels scaled up. The writing and characters are captivating, particularly Aloy's new crew, a mix of new faces and allies from the first game. Though the plot goes a bit off the rails, leaning more into science fiction this time around, Guerrilla Games' masterful world-building comes together in an endearing tale of hope and human tenacity -- no easy feat in a series with such a bleak premise.