Best Video Games of 2025

2025 was a fantastic year for gaming, with a huge variety of titles that really stretched what’s possible in terms of technology and creativity. We saw both beloved series return and exciting new games launch on all platforms. Many of the biggest hits focused on large, immersive open worlds, polished gameplay, and compelling stories. Here’s a list of the fifty most important games released over the last year – titles that critics and players agree represent the best in interactive entertainment.

‘Dune Awakening’ (2025)

In this open-world survival game, you’ll need to stay alive on a harsh, dangerous planet by finding water and building shelter from the intense heat. Thousands of players share a single, evolving version of the planet Arrakis, and teamwork is key. You’ll have to form alliances to control valuable resources, defend your territory from enemies, and survive attacks from gigantic sandworms. As you play, you can learn new skills from powerful organizations. The game accurately recreates the challenging political landscape and environment of the original story.

‘Light No Fire’ (2025)

This exciting game lets you explore a planet almost as big as Earth, created uniquely for each player. The world is full of different landscapes and realistic weather, which affects how you survive and build. You can team up with others to create lasting settlements or venture into the wilderness riding fantastical flying beasts. The game world is completely seamless – you can travel anywhere without any loading screens, whether it’s across continents or deep underwater. It’s a major leap forward in creating large, shared worlds with incredibly detailed environments.

‘The Midnight Walk’ (2025)

Okay, so I just finished playing this incredible dark fantasy game, and the first thing I have to say is, the visuals are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Everything – the environments, the characters – is made from actual clay! They literally sculpted the whole world by hand and then scanned it into the game. You play as this little flame, and it’s all about using light to keep away these seriously creepy monsters lurking in the shadows. The story is pretty powerful too, it’s about finding hope and pushing forward even when everything feels lost. Honestly, the way it looks and sounds is what really grabbed me – it feels so tactile and immersive. It’s a really special experience.

‘Eternal Strands’ (2025)

Brynn, a skilled young magic user, journeys to a forgotten land to restore her people’s lost traditions. The game lets you use powerful elemental magic and a realistic physics system to interact with the world – move objects, solve puzzles, and battle enormous foes. You can even climb these giant enemies to find their vulnerabilities or change how things behave using fire and ice. The game focuses on letting you be creative and find your own solutions, combining fast-paced action with strategic combat all within a beautiful fantasy world.

‘Big Walk’ (2025)

Players team up with friends in a beautiful, expansive park to tackle puzzles and explore the outdoors. The game emphasizes chatting and connecting with others while you walk, using voice chat that works best when you’re close together. You’ll need to use a map and compass to find your way, discover hidden spots, and observe local animals. The game’s art style is inspired by the Australian landscape, creating a bright and welcoming world. It’s a relaxed and fun way to socialize and work together to solve challenges.

‘ReWoven’ (2025)

This puzzle game takes place in a beautifully crafted world made of cloth and thread. You play as a tiny character who uses a needle and thread to solve puzzles, overcome challenges, and fix a world that’s falling apart. The game cleverly uses the properties of fabric – like how it stretches and pulls – to create unique gameplay. The story unfolds through the game’s environments, offering a peaceful and thoughtful experience focused on rebuilding. With its gentle visuals and soothing music, the game creates a uniquely relaxing and calming atmosphere.

‘Floatopia’ (2025)

Okay, so I’m playing this game where you live on these awesome floating islands, and you can totally build them up however you want – farming, hanging out with friends, the works! Each island is different, with its own weather and stuff you can gather. The best part is you can visit your friends’ islands and join them for seasonal events and little mini-games. Plus, the character customization is amazing – tons of clothes and accessories to make your character look just how you want. It’s a really chill, easy-to-pick-up game that’s just about relaxing and socializing.

‘ArcheAge Chronicles’ (2025)

This new game builds on the popular massive multiplayer style, but with faster-paced combat and a more dramatic story. Players will journey across the land of Auroria, taking part in huge naval battles and trade routes. A detailed building system lets players create entire villages and impact the game’s economy. The world is full of ongoing events that offer challenges for players whether they’re playing alone or with friends. It blends classic role-playing gameplay with updated graphics and an easy-to-use interface.

‘Hello Neighbor 3’ (2025)

This stealth horror sequel takes place in the eerie town of Raven Brooks. Players explore a large, interactive open world where the enemies aren’t just programmed – they learn from your actions, setting traps and changing their routines to catch you. There are multiple ways to solve each challenge, letting you experiment with the game’s physics. It builds on the series’ story while offering a more challenging and unpredictable experience.

‘Splitgate 2’ (2025)

The fast-paced, portal-based combat is back, now with new abilities for each team and smoother movement. Players select from different classes, each offering unique strengths like quicker portal creation or powerful shields. The game includes a range of competitive maps built for strategic use of portals and spatial movement. Everything has been visually updated with a sleek, modern sci-fi look. It keeps the challenging gameplay of the original while expanding on the core experience with more strategic options.

‘Mecha BREAK’ (2025)

This multiplayer game puts you in the pilot’s seat of a powerful, customizable mech. Choose from a variety of robots built for different combat roles – like long-range attacks, strong defense, or quick scouting – and then fine-tune everything from weapons and armor to internal systems. Battles unfold in large, detailed environments with buildings you can destroy and changing weather conditions. It’s a fast-paced, visually stunning experience perfect for mecha fans.

‘First Berserker Khazan’ (2025)

This action RPG follows a general wrongly accused of betrayal, now driven to seek revenge. The game features tough but rewarding combat that emphasizes precise timing for blocking and counterattacking. Its distinctive, cartoon-like art style brings a gritty and immersive feel to the dark fantasy world. As you play, you’ll unlock new skills and equipment by overcoming difficult bosses. It’s a challenging game designed for players who like strategic, high-pressure fights.

‘Tales of the Shire’ (2025)

Okay, so I’ve been playing this really chill game where you are a Hobbit in the Shire! It’s all about the simple life – gardening, fishing, and cooking up amazing feasts to share with everyone in Bywater. Honestly, the best part is building up your Hobbit hole and decorating it exactly how you want. There’s no fighting or anything like that, it’s just pure cozy vibes, exactly like you’d imagine from Tolkien’s books. It’s a nice break from all the action-packed games usually set in Middle-earth, you know? It’s super relaxing.

‘Atomfall’ (2025)

Set in Northern England after a nuclear disaster, this game puts you in a quarantined zone where you must survive by finding food, weapons, and other supplies. The landscape is dangerous, filled with both aggressive cults and stray military groups. The game draws heavily on British myths and legends, and features a mix of countryside and hidden underground facilities. Your decisions will affect the power dynamics between the different groups struggling for control. It offers a fresh and immersive experience within the post-apocalyptic survival genre.

‘Ballad of Antara’ (2025)

Okay, so in this game, you’re basically hopping between two different versions of the same world, trying to fix things after some weird fog has taken over. What’s really cool is you get to play as a bunch of different characters, and each one fights completely differently and has their own story. The combat is super fast-paced, and it’s all about switching between heroes mid-fight to pull off awesome combos. Plus, exploring really pays off – you find hidden stuff and learn more about what happened to these two worlds. It’s a really beautiful, detailed fantasy game, and the story is driven by the characters you play as.

‘Dynasty Warriors Origins’ (2025)

Okay, so this game really brings the series back to what I loved about it – huge, tactical battles! We’re talking thousands of soldiers clashing on screen at once. You play as a commander, not a specific hero with a name, but someone who can really change the outcome of the Three Kingdoms war. It’s all about positioning your troops, forming solid battle lines, and timing your attacks perfectly to break through the enemy. And honestly, it looks amazing – the graphics are seriously next-level, with detailed environments and characters. It feels less like a fantasy and more like a gritty, realistic take on this classic historical story.

‘Sniper Elite Resistance’ (2025)

This tactical shooter puts you in occupied France, joining the resistance against the Nazis. You’ll rely on stealth and accurate long-distance shooting to take down important enemies and disrupt their plans. The game features the series’ famous X-ray kill cam, now with even more detail, showing the effects of every shot. Missions are large, open environments that let you choose different ways to complete objectives and escape. It delivers the realistic and rewarding sniping experience the series is known for.

‘Donkey Kong Country Returns HD’ (2025)

This beloved platforming game has been remastered in high definition with sharper graphics and a smoother experience for today’s consoles. Players take control of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong as they journey through colorful jungle, volcano, and factory worlds. Each level is packed with hidden surprises and tricky challenges that demand skillful gameplay. The game features all the content from the original release, plus extra levels added in later versions. It’s still considered a gold standard for imaginative level design and fast-paced, rhythmic platforming.

‘Hell is Us’ (2025)

Okay, so I’ve been playing this new action adventure game, and it’s seriously cool. It’s set in a country that’s been ripped apart by war and weird supernatural stuff is happening everywhere. What’s really different is they don’t hold your hand. There are no maps or quest markers telling you where to go – you actually have to pay attention to your surroundings and figure things out yourself. Combat isn’t just button-mashing either; you need to think strategically and use the right gear to take down these really old, powerful creatures. The story is pretty heavy, too, dealing with some dark themes about what people are capable of and what happens when you’re completely cut off from everyone else. It’s a tough game, but super immersive, and honestly, it feels really rewarding when you finally figure something out through your own exploration and patience.

‘Crimson Desert’ (2025)

I’m so hyped for this game! You play as Macduff, leading a crew of mercenaries just trying to survive in this massive world called Pywel. It’s got a really compelling story with tons of political stuff going on, but also some really emotional personal moments. The combat looks incredible – it’s not just swinging swords, but a mix of sword fighting, wrestling moves, and using the environment to your advantage. From what I’ve seen, you can explore everything from huge, lively cities to freezing, empty mountains. And the graphics are top-notch – the world feels so real and reactive thanks to the amazing physics engine. It looks absolutely stunning!

‘InZOI’ (2025)

This life simulation game is incredibly detailed and realistic, letting you create unique characters and build a thriving city. You’ll manage every aspect of your characters’ lives – from their jobs and relationships to their free time. The game’s robust building tools allow you to design elaborate houses and public areas. What really sets it apart is the advanced AI, which makes the city feel alive, with each character following their own daily routine. It’s a fresh, technically impressive take on the life simulation genre.

‘Skate.’ (2025)

The popular skateboarding series is back, emphasizing creative expression and a strong community. Players can skate and film tricks throughout the city of San Vansterdam. The well-known controls have been improved for more accurate and challenging moves. An always-online world lets players connect, build together, and compete. The game is built to evolve with ongoing updates and new content.

‘Anno 117 Pax Romana’ (2025)

In this game, you become a Roman governor tasked with developing provinces across the ancient empire. You’ll build cities, establish trade, and keep your citizens happy. This installment lets you begin your career in diverse locations, like Britannia, for the first time in the series. The game features stunning detail, allowing you to observe the daily lives of people in your cities, offering a rich and engaging management experience set in a fascinating period of history.

‘Professor Layton and the New World of Steam’ (2025)

A renowned professor and his student, Luke, journey to a futuristic American city to investigate a puzzling new case. This installment offers a completely fresh set of challenges, cleverly designed around the city’s blend of steam-powered technology and modern devices. The game world is fully 3D, allowing players to deeply explore its unique districts. As the pair investigates, a delightful story emerges, revealing the secrets behind the strange inventions appearing throughout the city. It continues the series’ tradition of sophisticated style and captivating puzzle-solving.

‘Little Nightmares III’ (2025)

In this game, you play as either Low or Alone, two characters trying to escape the eerie world of Nowhere. You can play solo with an AI companion, or team up online with a friend. The gameplay involves solving puzzles and avoiding terrifying creatures as you journey through the Spiral. Each area has its own unique look and unsettling mood, making you feel truly vulnerable. It builds on the series’ tradition of combining scary moments with challenging platforming.

‘Marvel 1943 Rise of Hydra’ (2025)

During World War II, Captain America and Black Panther team up with two other heroes on a dangerous mission through occupied Paris. The game follows their complicated partnership as they uncover a secret plot within the villainous organization, Hydra. Players can experience the story from the perspective of each of the four characters, each offering unique gameplay – from intense fighting to quiet sneaking. With stunning graphics and historically accurate settings, the game delivers a compelling, character-focused story set in the Marvel universe.

‘Avowed’ (2025)

This role-playing adventure takes place in the vibrant but perilous Living Lands. Players must uncover the source of a mysterious plague that’s twisting the land and its people, all while navigating complex local politics. The game offers flexible combat, letting you mix close-quarters weapons, magic, and firearms to suit your preferred playstyle. Your choices have real consequences, shaping the world and determining how the story ends. With a detailed backstory and extensive character development, you’ll become deeply immersed in this world.

‘Fatal Fury City of the Wolves’ (2025)

This updated fighting game brings a classic series back to life with a fresh, visually striking style and a new combat system called Rev, which adds a layer of strategy. Players can battle as both familiar and brand-new characters, each with their own special abilities. The game is designed for everyone, offering different control options for both experienced and new players. Stunning animations and detailed environments make every match feel exciting and dynamic. It’s a modern reinvention of a beloved franchise, complete with a strong online competitive scene.

‘Wuchang Fallen Feathers’ (2025)

I’m so hyped for this game! It’s set in the late Ming Dynasty and you play as this incredible female warrior who’s battling a strange illness while facing off against all sorts of supernatural monsters. It’s not easy, though – you really have to learn how each enemy attacks and watch your stamina. The best part is you can build your character however you want, choosing different weapons and magical powers to match your playstyle. And the world itself is gorgeous, but seriously creepy – it really captures the feeling of a decaying empire. It sounds like a really immersive, dark fantasy experience where skill is actually rewarded, which is exactly what I’ve been looking for!

‘Clair Obscur Expedition 33’ (2025)

A team of adventurers undertakes a dangerous quest to stop a goddess who is bringing death to the world. Battles are turn-based, but you can react in real-time with actions like dodging and countering attacks. Each character has special skills that can be combined to create a strong team. The game features a beautiful art style inspired by France, offering a unique and impressive world to explore. It’s a moving story about the sacrifices people make and what it means to be human when facing certain doom.

‘Slay the Spire 2’ (2025)

The acclaimed deck-building roguelike is back with a host of new content, including characters, cards, and relics to collect. You’ll ascend a constantly shifting spire, crafting a powerful deck of abilities to defeat ever-tougher enemies. The game has been visually overhauled with updated animations and character models. With new paths and random events, every playthrough feels unique. It retains the core gameplay that made the original so popular, while adding even more strategic options.

‘Pokemon Legends Z-A’ (2025)

This new Pokémon adventure takes place in Lumiose City, the heart of the Kalos region’s rebuilding efforts. Players will work to design a city where people and Pokémon can coexist peacefully. The game builds upon the open-world exploration and Pokémon-catching features of past titles. Mega Evolution makes a return, playing a crucial role in battles and the overall storyline, and offers a closer, more detailed look at a specific area within the Pokémon universe.

‘Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’ (2025)

After waking up with amnesia and unexpectedly becoming a pirate captain, Goro Majima embarks on a tropical journey. The game blends the series’ intense, close-quarters combat with exciting new ship exploration and naval battles. Players can build a crew of unique characters and customize their ship to challenge other pirates throughout the Pacific Ocean. The story delivers both thrilling moments and the quirky, fun side quests that fans love, offering a fresh and enjoyable take on the familiar series.

‘South of Midnight’ (2025)

This action adventure game is set in a fantastical version of the American South. Players take on the role of Hazel, who tracks down mythical beasts and explores the traditional stories of her home. The game stands out with its charming stop-motion animation and immersive atmosphere, drawing heavily from local folklore. Movement and battles are smooth and focus on using magical abilities to affect the environment, offering a fresh and beautifully presented take on regional legends.

‘Mafia The Old Country’ (2025)

This game tells the story of how a powerful crime syndicate began, taking place in early 1900s Sicily. You play as a young man navigating a dangerous world of loyalty and betrayal, all set in a stunningly detailed historical environment. The game focuses on delivering a movie-like experience with excellent voice acting and realistic character movements. Expect thrilling gunfights, classic cars from the era, and realistic action as you uncover the origins of a notorious crime family. It’s a mature and immersive look into their beginnings.

‘Borderlands 4’ (2025)

Embark on a wild adventure with four brand new characters as they journey to a mysterious planet in search of incredible riches! This fast-paced shooter is packed with millions of unique weapons and tons of ways to customize your character. You can play the entire story solo, or team up with up to three friends for chaotic co-op action. The game boasts a vibrant, comic-book art style, now even more detailed and set in larger, more stunning environments. It takes everything players loved about the series – thrilling combat and rewarding loot – and makes it even better.

‘Kingdom Come Deliverance II’ (2025)

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II sends Henry of Skalitz on a quest for revenge and justice across a vast, open-world recreation of medieval Bohemia. The game features two expansive areas to explore, including the lively city of Kuttenberg and a rugged, untamed wilderness. Combat stays true to its challenging and realistic roots, offering a diverse selection of historically accurate weapons and armor. Your choices matter, as the game world remembers your actions and impacts your reputation and social standing. It’s a highly detailed historical experience that encourages thoughtful strategy and character growth.

‘Hollow Knight Silksong’ (2025)

In this exciting follow-up to a beloved metroidvania game, you play as Hornet, venturing through the expansive and age-old kingdom of Pharloom. The game is faster-paced and more fluid than before, emphasizing skillful movement using silk and various tools for both exploration and combat. Your goal is to ascend to the highest peaks of the world, encountering a diverse cast of creatures – both hostile and helpful – along the way. With its stunning hand-drawn visuals and captivating soundtrack, the game delivers a beautiful yet challenging experience, packed with hidden secrets and demanding boss fights that will truly test your abilities.

‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ (2025)

This adventure game takes place in feudal Japan and lets you play as two characters: Naoe, a stealthy shinobi, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai. You can switch between them to tackle missions using either stealth or direct combat. The game world features changing seasons that affect the environment and create new ways to approach challenges. It combines historical details with a fictional story inspired by real legends of the time, offering a long-requested setting and improved movement and fighting systems.

‘Fable’ (2025)

This new version of the classic action role-playing game revisits the fantastical and perilous world of Albion. Players build a hero whose look and story evolve based on the decisions they make. The game combines a lighthearted tone with epic fantasy, filled with quirky characters and fearsome monsters. With its engaging combat and a world that responds to your actions, you can truly create your own unique legend. It retains the spirit of the original games while using today’s technology to deliver a beautiful and immersive fantasy experience.

‘Civilization VII’ (2025)

This groundbreaking strategy game features a dynamic civilization system where empires develop and transform through different eras. Players guide their civilizations through three ages, each with its own unique obstacles and cultural shifts. The game enhances diplomacy and trade, creating more complex and impactful interactions with other leaders. Visually, the game is more impressive than ever, with cities that realistically grow and change on the game map. It delivers a captivating and in-depth turn-based experience, continuing to set the standard for 4X strategy games.

‘Doom The Dark Ages’ (2025)

This dark fantasy game tells the story of the Doom Slayer’s beginnings, offering huge battles and intense, violent combat. Players will fight demons using both familiar guns and new, medieval-style weapons like the Shield Saw. Unlike recent Doom games, this one focuses on slower, more powerful attacks. You’ll explore large, detailed environments with impressive gothic buildings and massive structures that emphasize the epic scale of the war. The result is a thrilling and immersive action game set in a truly unique and atmospheric world.

‘Death Stranding 2 On the Beach’ (2025)

In a world still torn apart and full of secrets, Sam Bridges embarks on a new mission to save humankind. The game builds upon the original’s innovative way of moving around, now offering new vehicles and tools to help you overcome challenging landscapes. A fantastic cast delivers a moving and bizarre story with incredibly detailed characters and performances. With breathtaking visuals and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere mixing sci-fi and supernatural horror, this game continues to redefine what story-focused action games can achieve.

‘Ghost of Yotei’ (2025)

Players will follow Atsu, a new hero, on a quest for revenge in the area around Mount Yotei, located in northern Japan. Set hundreds of years after the last game, this installment features a world that’s both harsher and more stunning. You’ll explore the wild Ezo region with new weapons and fighting techniques, all while enjoying the beautiful graphics and cinematic style the series is known for. This game offers a new take on the samurai story, emphasizing exploration and staying alive.

‘Monster Hunter Wilds’ (2025)

This latest installment in the popular hunting series features huge, ever-changing environments with realistic ecosystems. Players will hunt massive monsters using a diverse arsenal of weapons, each offering a different way to play. A new mount, the Seikret, lets you quickly explore the world and carry extra gear. The game creates a more immersive experience by smoothly connecting your base camp to the hunting areas, and offers a challenging yet accessible cooperative experience for players of any skill level.

‘Metroid Prime 4 Beyond’ (2025)

Samus Aran is back in a thrilling first-person adventure that combines immersive exploration with fast-paced action and clever puzzles. Players will journey through strange alien landscapes teeming with unusual plants and creatures, gaining new powers to reach secret locations. The game boasts stunning graphics and a fluid frame rate, truly bringing its sci-fi world to life. A compelling and enigmatic story is revealed through the environment itself and collectible logs. This is a fantastic return to a beloved series, honoring its history while feeling fresh and modern.

Please share your favorite gaming experiences from this year in the comments.

2025-12-23 08:21