Cricket 22

Though its held back by rough production values and gameplay inconsistencies, Cricket 22 is a decent enough game that fans of the sport should enjoy.

74%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

stability, story

81% User Score Based on 3,238 reviews

Critic Score 62%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

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About

Cricket 22 is a single player and multiplayer sport game. It was developed by Big Ant Studios and was released on December 1, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Cricket 22" is a detailed cricket simulation game featuring licensed teams from various countries and competitions, including the Men's and Women's games. The game offers enhanced bowling and fielding controls, and a range of new innovations for a more immersive cricket experience. Players can compete in various cricket matches, including the Ashes, Big Bash T20, The Hundred, and CPL.

Genres & Tags

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,238 reviews

graphics142 positive mentions

stability190 negative mentions

The game features improved graphics and gameplay mechanics compared to previous titles, making it visually appealing and more enjoyable to play.
The career mode is engaging, offering a variety of challenges and opportunities for player progression, which adds depth to the gaming experience.
The inclusion of multiple game modes and licensed teams provides a comprehensive cricket experience for fans.

The game is plagued with bugs and glitches, including issues with fielding, AI behavior, and frequent crashes, which significantly detract from the overall experience.
Many players have reported problems with the online features, including difficulties in matchmaking and connectivity issues.
The commentary and cutscenes often feel repetitive and disconnected from the gameplay, leading to a less immersive experience.

graphics
318 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the improvements over previous titles like Cricket 19, highlighting realistic player models and animations, while others criticize persistent bugs, glitches, and a lack of significant upgrades. Many players appreciate the visual appeal and detail, but express disappointment with performance issues and the overall polish, suggesting that while the graphics are generally good, they still require further optimization and refinement.
- “Great game looks like real, top notch graphics and realistic gameplay.”
- “The game's graphics and presentation have taken a commendable leap forward, showcasing detailed player models and realistic stadiums.”
- “This game has improved a lot from cricket 19, the graphics are insane, the shots are better and look more realistic and you can play in more than 60fps, the game looks really smooth!”
- “Poor graphics, lots of bugs, unpolished, but the best cricket game you're going to get right now.”
- “Graphics wise - for a game that came out in late 2021, I'd expect something more than a game that looks like the last PS2 games.”
- “Very poor graphics as compared to Cricket 19... this game's graphics resemble PS2 graphics.”
gameplay
272 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The gameplay in Cricket 22 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its refined mechanics, intuitive batting, and strategic bowling, making it accessible for both new and experienced players. However, numerous users have criticized the game for persistent bugs, unrealistic match dynamics, and a lack of improvement over its predecessor, Cricket 19, particularly in fielding mechanics and overall realism. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable and immersive, others feel it falls short of expectations, especially given the game's price point.
- “First and foremost, the gameplay mechanics in Cricket 22 are refined to near perfection.”
- “With its refined gameplay mechanics, attention to detail, and wealth of content, it's a game that will keep you coming back for more long after the final ball has been bowled.”
- “Batting feels intuitive with realistic shot mechanics, while bowling demands strategy and precision.”
- “Commentary sounds bored, the matches play out unrealistically and bowling mechanics get tedious.”
- “The gameplay is now terrible, didn't need changing and now it's all cartoony and just looks bad. Training the mini-games they added are pointless because even if you complete them it doesn't give you anything, so can't level up your player like you're meant to. Been broken for 8 months now, apparently devs don't care they don't fix anything.”
- “The bugs and glitches aren't just graphical, but extend to impossibly broken gameplay, fielders standing still and watching the ball, the inability to play basic cricket shots, not being able to run after playing a shot, not being able to field after bowling... I could go on, but essentially don't buy this game.”
stability
194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced frequent crashes, particularly in online modes, and have noted issues such as unrealistic fielding and unacknowledged outs. While some updates have improved the situation, the game remains plagued by stability issues, making it frustrating for many users.
- “Much more balanced and bug-free than Cricket 19.”
- “Hopefully the game will be completely bug-free early in the new year, but for now, I'd still recommend just getting Cricket 19, unless you really want some leg-side shots and gym mini-games.”
- “The bugs and glitches are unbearable and I can't enjoy the game at all.”
- “But it's so buggy it's unplayable really - getting run out when I did not even leave the crease, crashing when a new batsman comes in and now can't even start the game.”
- “The game is buggy and crashes a lot more than the MS Store version.”
story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
84%
8%
The story aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users describing it as minimal and lacking depth. The career mode's storyline is criticized for being barebones and not significantly enhancing the gameplay experience, leading some players to suggest reverting to the previous star player mode instead. While there is some appreciation for the inclusion of a story mode, it is generally viewed as underdeveloped and in need of improvement.
- “This storytelling feature in commentary will add more realism and fun to the game.”
- “Thank you so much for listening to cricket fans for the story mode in this game.”
- “In Cricket 19, I posted a suggestion for a story mode, and in Cricket 22, we have a story mode. Very happy!”
- “Just shifts from one match to another without much of a story or cutscenes.”
- “You could have done so much to make this game legendary and let the public set this as the benchmark, but instead you decided to add a story mode to career mode and license three more teams without actually showing it.”
- “- the so-called storyline in career mode is beyond barebones.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The humor in the game primarily stems from commentary glitches and amusing visual bugs, such as commentators incorrectly announcing scores and the quirky appearance of characters from a distance. While these comedic elements can detract from the realism of the cricket experience, players find them entertaining enough to overlook, adding a lighthearted touch to casual gameplay.
- “What makes it funny is when commentators comment on the last ball being hit for a four when it was hit for a six.”
- “There are a ton of hilarious bugs just playing a casual one-off game; I can kind of overlook some of them as they are cosmetic.”
- “Now I want @developers to comment if I am lying because I have all the recordings of these funny fielders.”
- “It's just so far away from an actual game of cricket it's not funny.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
37%
50%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often pointless, with repetitive mini-games and unrealistic match mechanics contributing to a lack of engagement. Many reviewers suggest that the amount of grinding required feels excessive, making it a significant drawback in the overall experience.
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Training consists of a series of tedious mini-games which seem to mostly be pointless for player development.”
- “Commentary sounds bored, the matches play out unrealistically, and bowling mechanics get tedious.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some users report smoother performance after updates and improved graphics, many still express dissatisfaction with persistent bugs, AI issues, and crowd optimization. There is a consensus that further improvements are necessary, particularly in areas like fielding, speed glitches, and the stadium creator. Users hope for future patches to enhance the overall experience.
- “I love this game; it runs smoothly, and the graphics have improved. I'm waiting for full access keyboard support, which works well, but the glitch in speed is still an area that needs improvement by providing a patch.”
- “The game is smooth after updates. However, there is still work to be done in the stadium creator, and FPS and crowd optimization are needed.”
- “Have you considered offering some sort of virtual currency that you earn depending on your performance in the game, and then allowing the user to spend it on increasing attributes?”
- “The game really needs improvement; currently, there are a lot of fielding bugs, AI issues, and crowd problems. I hope this game gets better in the future, as I'm not happy with its current performance.”
- “The game is smooth after updates, but there is still work to be done in the stadium creator, and FPS and crowd optimization are needed.”
- “The game really needs improvement; currently, there are a lot of fielding bugs, AI issues, and crowd problems. I hope this game gets better in the future, as I'm not happy with its current performance.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its meticulous attention to detail, featuring realistic player animations and accurately designed stadiums that effectively recreate the experience of a live cricket match. However, some users note that despite its fantastic atmosphere and realism, the game is not without its flaws.
- “From the realistic player animations to the accurate stadium designs, every aspect of the game is meticulously crafted to recreate the atmosphere of a live cricket match.”
- “This game has fantastic atmosphere and realism, but like many games, it has its faults.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the experience during key moments in matches. However, players have noted an issue where the music briefly cuts out when selecting a team in the main menu, which has raised some questions.
- “The music in this game is nice and it plays quite well during mid matches, especially when you score the big shots in the game.”
- “Oh and before I sign off, Big Ant Studios, kindly tell me why does the music turn off for a few seconds when I select a team in the main menu?”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express frustration with the monetization aspect, citing pervasive bugs and misleading advertising as significant issues.
- “Bugs everywhere and misleading advertising.”
- “Bugs everywhere and misleading advertising.”
- “Bugs everywhere and misleading advertising.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the realistic scenarios in Cricket 19, which enhances its replayability, but they express a desire for improvements in Cricket 22 to make it even more engaging and playable. Overall, while Cricket 19 is well-received for its replay value, there are calls for enhancements in the sequel.
- “After only 5 overs, the fielding must improve. Cricket 19 is great at that realistic scenario, so Mr. Symonds, please sort that out. I love Cricket 19, but please make 22 much more playable. Thank you.”
- “After only 5 overs, the fielding must improve. Cricket 19 is great at that realistic scenario, so Mr. Symonds, please sort that out. I love Cricket 19, but please make 22 much more playable. Thank you.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the emotional depth of "Cricket 22," highlighting its authentic representation of the sport and its ability to evoke a strong sense of connection to the game. The focus on quality and spirit sets it apart from other video game experiences, making it a unique emotional journey for cricket fans.