As 2025 slowly comes to an end, one thing feels genuinely true — this year gave gamers something special. After many uneven years filled with delays, disappointments, and half-baked launches, 2025 finally felt like a celebration of gaming again. Stories were bold, worlds were imaginative, and gameplay actually respected players’ time and emotions.
The recent Game Awards 2025 made this feeling even stronger. One title in particular, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, completely stole the spotlight by winning 9 out of 10 awards, creating history in the process. But focusing only on one game would be unfair, because 2025 delivered far more than a single masterpiece.
So today, instead of ranking games or arguing about “the best,” let’s calmly walk through 25 standout games released in 2025 — titles that won hearts through story, gameplay, visuals, and pure creativity. There’s no specific order here, because every game earned its place in its own way.
A Quick Reality Check: The GTA 6 Situation
Before moving forward, there’s one elephant in the room that deserves an honest mention.
Yes, Grand Theft Auto VI technically should have been playable by now. The game was delayed not once, but twice in 2025 — and ironically, it still kept winning awards. At The Game Awards, GTA 6 once again took home Most Anticipated Game, repeating what it already achieved last year. The same happened at the Golden Joystick Awards, where it won Most Wanted Game and Best Trailer.
That makes it five awards without even being released, something only Elden Ring has managed before.
Still, since GTA 6 doesn’t actually exist in our hands yet, let’s move on to games that truly defined 2025 by being played, experienced, and loved.
The Joy of December: Awards, Announcements, and Celebrations
December is always a magical month for gamers. The Game Awards bring excitement, surprises, and discussions, while developers finally show their cards. Add to that year-end sales and the general feeling of celebration, and gaming starts to feel like a festival again.
What made 2025 special was not just announcements — but how many recent, award-nominated games actually delivered quality experiences instead of broken launches. That trust returning to gaming is perhaps the biggest win of the year.
Indie Passion Meets Big-Budget Ambition
Let’s start with a game indie fans waited for almost obsessively.
Hollow Knight: Silksong — The Hype Was Real
After years of memes, chat spam, and endless speculation, Hollow Knight: Silksong finally launched in 2025 — and somehow lived up to the hype.
You play as Hornet, captured by mysterious bugs and trapped in the kingdom of Pharloom. What follows is a beautifully crafted journey filled with precise combat, haunting exploration, and deeply atmospheric music. The art style remains hand-drawn perfection, and the combat feels sharper and more fluid than before.
Silksong didn’t just meet expectations — it reminded everyone why indie games matter so much.
Storytelling Taken to Another Level
Some games don’t rush you. They stay with you.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach — Slow, Strange, and Unforgettable
With Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hideo Kojima once again proved he doesn’t make games to please everyone — and that’s exactly why his work matters.
Returning as Sam Porter Bridges, players explore a breathtaking open world filled with silence, emotion, and meaning. The visuals feel like moving wallpapers, the music elevates every scene, and the cinematic storytelling hits hard. Yes, it’s slow. But it’s also one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Multiplayer That Actually Feels Fresh
PEAK — Climbing, Survival, and Chaos with Friends
PEAK surprised many players this year. It’s a co-op climbing and survival game where stamina actually matters. You can’t just spam actions — every move requires planning.
Playing with friends turns simple climbs into chaotic, hilarious, and tense moments. With a MetaCritic score of 82, PEAK proves that innovative mechanics can still thrive in multiplayer spaces.
The Game That Defined 2025
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — A Modern Classic
There’s no avoiding it — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the soul of 2025 gaming.
Set in a world ruled by a god-like entity called The Painter, where each year a number appears and everyone above it is erased, the game sends players on an emotional expedition to break this curse. The combat system is innovative, the story is filled with emotional twists, and the visuals are stunning throughout its roughly 30-hour journey.
What makes this game special is not just its awards — but how a small team inspired the entire industry.
Stylish Action and Revenge Stories
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
In Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, you play as legendary ninja Musashi, returning home only to find his village destroyed. What follows is a revenge-driven journey filled with satisfying combat, challenging platforming, and beautiful hand-drawn visuals.
The increasing difficulty, creative bosses, and refined mechanics earned it a MetaCritic score of 87, making it one of the best 2D action games of the year.
A New Take on Samurai Revenge
Ghost of Yōtei
Ghost of Yōtei blends traditional Japanese themes with modern storytelling. Playing as Atsu, you explore grief, revenge, and honor through refined sword combat and atmospheric storytelling.
Timing-based sword clashes and instant kills create intense moments, while the soundtrack blends traditional Japanese instruments with western rhythm, making every fight feel cinematic.
When Nintendo Went Underground
Donkey Kong Bananza
Released exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza focuses heavily on destruction-based exploration. Underground layers hide secrets, tunnels, and caves — all designed to be punched through.
Destruction isn’t just visual flair here; it’s part of how you explore the world. Despite fewer players, the game received strong critical praise.
Action, Roguelikes, and Greek Mythology
Hades II
Hades II builds on everything that made the original great — faster combat, deeper story, and unforgettable music. This time, you play as the daughter of Hades, bringing a fresh perspective and emotional depth.
It’s fast, challenging, stylish, and fully deserved its Best Action Game recognition this year.
Cooperative Adventures That Actually Require Cooperation
Split Fiction
From the creators of It Takes Two, Split Fiction is a strictly co-op experience. You cannot play it alone — and that’s the point.
Players solve puzzles across sci-fi and fantasy worlds, relying on teamwork, communication, and shared problem-solving. Emotional storytelling and creative level design made it a fan favorite.
Shooters That Finally Felt Right Again
ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders delivered something shooters desperately needed — tension and strategy. Set in a futuristic world where humanity hides underground, players venture topside to extract resources while fighting AI enemies and other players.
Strong gunplay, smart progression, and challenging enemy AI earned it Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards.
Battlefield 6
After years of decline, Battlefield 6 made a proper comeback. While the campaign was forgettable, the multiplayer mode shined with fluid movement, tactical destruction, and classic Battlefield chaos.
Racing, Narrative, and Experimental Games
Games like Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Dispatch, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II proved that experimentation still has a place in big releases.
From narrative-driven superhero choices to historically grounded RPGs, these titles expanded what modern games can be.
Calm, Healing, and Reflective Experiences
Sword of the Sea
Created by the developers behind Journey and Abzû, Sword of the Sea offers something rare — calm.
You explore deserts, restore water, and simply exist in a visually soothing world. With a MetaCritic score of 88, it’s perfect for players seeking peace over chaos.
Final Thoughts: Why 2025 Truly Mattered
2025 wasn’t just about better graphics or bigger budgets. It was about emotion, creativity, and respect for players. From indie developers pouring years into passion projects to AAA studios finally listening to feedback, this year reminded us why gaming matters.
Every title mentioned here contributed to that feeling in its own way.
Disclaimer
Game availability, platform support, and updates may vary by region. Ratings mentioned are based on public critic and user impressions available at the time of writing.
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