2022 saw an overwhelming amount of game releases and a huge boost to the indie market. With new and in-depth games releasing faster than some people can finish them, it might be nice to take a break and chill out with a short, linear game.
The satisfaction of being able to finish a game in one or two sittings is unrivaled, and it’s nice to have a story delivered in an easy and manageable size. Let’s see the rankings for the best linear games 2022 had to offer.
7 Neon White
Annapurna Interactive’s Neon White is a fast-paced puzzle-platformer with a lot of shooting. This game combines elements from dating sims, puzzle games, and card-collecting roguelites in a way that works better than it has any right to. It also has a main character that encapsulates the “Cool Assassin” type.
Neon White’s take on the classic feud of angels and demons is a refreshing update to a plot that’s been done many times before. This game stays engaging and interactive throughout all its 11 hours of gameplay.
6 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Dotemu and Gamera Games have brought the '80s arcade cabinet era of games back to its roots with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. This game plays just as straightforwardly as its antique predecessor, taking up just over two hours of your time, and it’s just as fun.
If you’re looking for a good, sidescrolling beat-em-up, then Shredder’s Revenge is just what you need. It’s time to turtle up, kick some shell, and show Shredder who really runs the streets. Or at least, the sewers under those streets.
5 Sifu
Sloclap’s martial arts action game, Sifu brings tight combat controls and high stakes combat to the linear market. The art direction and animation are both clean and stunning, something that isn’t always easy to do with stylistic and contemporary 3D animation.
A tale of vengeance, Sifu technically only 10 hours long, but the difficulty makes it longer. The high-kicking kung fu combat and unique gameplay mechanics make it one of the best games to grab if you love a challenging fight.
4 Trek To Yomi
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While the somber action game from Devolver Digital is strictly linear, there are a couple scarce opportunities to snatch up a few upgrades and extras in Trek to Yomi. Hiroki, a warrior recently displaced from a destroyed village, seeks answers and justice from those responsible.
Trek to Yomi is a black-and-white side-scroller that can be finished in about five hours. The compelling story of loss and hardship, and the monochromatic visuals will have you thinking about this game long after it’s over.
3 Metal: Hellsinger
The Outsiders and Funcom have made a rhythm-based first-person shooter that rivals the likes of the Touhou Project series with Metal: Hellsinger. It doesn’t take long for this game to reach a very fitting bullet-hell status, with the speed and velocity of the gameplay ramping up steadily.
With its brutal demonic art style and hellish mechanics, Metal: Hellsinger is a short game, clocking in at only around four hours. Enjoy shooting to the beat for even bigger bonuses and blow off some steam while you mow down waves of enemies.
2 Midnight Fight Express
Motion-captured animations pack quite the punch in Jacob Dzwinel and Humble Games’ beat-em-up, Midnight Fight Express. This rough and tumble combat game plays fluidly, with a fantastic soundtrack and visually appealing art style.
Midnight Fight Express is a linear one-two punch that can be consumed in four to five hours, just as long as you can make it through all 40 levels in one piece. With its solid controls and realistic impact, there’s no shortage of adrenaline in the game's bite-sized story.
1 We Are OFK
But are we really, though? Explore what the concept of “okay” really means in this short music biopic that doubles as an interactive EP. Team OFK hit it out of the park with this five-hour story of emotion and sound.
Four bandmates embark on a journey of challenge, art, and inner survival around the Los Angeles area. The art is stylish and perky, at times colliding with the turbulent moods and thoughts of its star players. We Are OFK teaches a few lessons about balance and kindness that we could all stand to learn from.