Top Games of 2025: The Ultimate Year in Review
▼ Summary
– The article presents personal “best games of 2025” lists from several editorial team members, not a definitive ranking.
– ARC Raiders is highlighted as a standout PvE title with compelling enemy design and a fresh Mediterranean post-apocalyptic setting.
– Ghost of Yōtei is praised for surpassing its predecessor with a strong female lead and a zen, beautiful open world.
– Multiple writers celebrated diverse indie games like Blue Prince for its clever puzzles and The Horror at Highrook for its atmospheric storytelling.
– Major releases Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Monster Hunter Wilds are noted for their strong narratives, challenging combat, and immersive worlds, respectively.
Looking back on the year in gaming, 2025 has delivered an exceptional lineup of titles that captivated players across genres and platforms. From blockbuster sequels to innovative indie gems, the past twelve months offered rich experiences that will be remembered for years to come. Our team has shared the games they played and loved the most, providing a personal snapshot of a remarkable year.
For Jon Hicks, the Editorial Director, the standout was ARC Raiders. He found its PvE design compelling, with outstanding visuals and audio creating a fresh post-apocalyptic setting in Mediterranean ruins. The drone enemies present a perfect, frustrating balance, and even human encounters, fraught with risk, add to the tension. He also enjoyed simpler pleasures, noting the “surprising trend” of ball games like Ballionnaire and Ball X Pit, which revitalize classic mechanics with modern style.
Staff Writer Sophie McEvoy found her favorite in Ghost of Yōtei. As a successor to Ghost of Tsushima, it not only met but exceeded her high expectations. She praised the strong, introspective lead character Atsu and the remarkably zen world of Ezo crafted by Sucker Punch Productions. The ability to appreciate solitude, nature, and of course, more fox petting, alongside a formidable wolf companion, made it an unforgettable experience for her.
Features Editor Lewis Packwood highlighted several diverse titles. He started the year with the evocative sci-fi narrative of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, appreciating its higher-stakes dice mechanics. The sheer, joyful silliness of Donkey Kong Bananza provided a perfect counterpoint. He also spent considerable time with Ball X Pit, enjoying its constant stream of new ideas. However, the game he couldn’t stop thinking about was The Horror at Highrook. This eldritch horror card-crafting RPG generated immense atmosphere and story through deceptively simple mechanics, making its ten-hour runtime fly by. He also gave a nod to the widely acclaimed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, calling it an easy five-star review.
Reporter Vikki Blake made a passionate case for Blue Prince. She believes that in any other year, this phenomenal puzzle game would be a top contender for Game of the Year. The task of reaching a non-existent 46th room in a 45-room estate unfolds into layers of shifting, intelligent puzzles and deep storytelling. She compares its brilliant, brain-teasing design to Portal 2, noting that nothing in its carefully crafted world is accidental. It’s a game that demanded she keep a notebook nearby and left her thoroughly charmed.
Commercial Lead George Corner acknowledged the undeniable impact of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an emotionally devastating and gorgeous game that hooked him despite his struggles with its rhythm-based combat. He also persevered with Monster Hunter Wilds, noting that when its performance issues subsided, it offered a truly wonderful experience. The living ecosystems and cinematic hunts against Apex Predator monsters like Rey Dau were highlights. Finally, he was deeply unsettled by the PS1-style indie Easy Delivery Co., describing its slow descent from a cosy delivery sim into surreal psychological horror as an experience he wishes he could both forget and relive anew.
(Source: Games Industry)
