Like last year, we’ve once again decided to widen our Top Video Games of the Year list from 25 entries to 30. While 2025 has been a big year for the RPG genre from AAA studios, it’s also been a stacked year for independent games as well. Remakes, original stories, and even some solo developers are on our Top Video Games of 2025 list this time around, and it’s exciting.
Still, strategy and management games also came out in their best form in 2025. The Top Video Games of 2024 list captures stunning sequels, vibrant reimaginations, bold choices with new IP, and perfect sequels. It’s time to look back at the top video games of 2025, as put together by our team of game reviewers.
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There are a couple of rules for this Top Video Games of 2025 list that we gave our writers as we did our round-up. First, the game had to be released in the calendar year (January through December) and be playable by the general public (this excludes BETA or press-access titles). Second, the game can’t be a port; however, remasters are allowed. Additionally, we didn’t allow the list to include Early Access titles.
We once again also want to encourage every reader to do the following:
As you scroll through this list, we ask that you think about the people behind the video games on it. Remember that people make video games, and as the industry continues to lay off talented creatives, we owe it to them to ensure we celebrate them instead of just the companies. Additionally, we have to remember our peers in games media who have lost their jobs, shuttered their sites or left the industry altogether. All of you matter.
With that, our team pulled together our Top Video Games of 2025.
30. The First Berserker: Khazan
Developer: Neople
Publisher: Nexon
Platforms: PC via Steam, PlayStation5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S.
The First Berserker Khazan brings the brutality of a grimdark anime to life. The entire world’s Pell Loss is tragically beautiful, and its inhabitants are as much fun to fight as they are to admire their detailed designs. Where Khazan truly shone, though, was its customization. There are no bad builds. It’s all really about what your playstyle is, and finding how that fits into Khazan’s three weapon types.
Even with linear levels, there’s more than enough to explore and reveal about Khazan’s past. Plus, for a Soulslike, it’s forgiving enough with numerous quality of life updates to the genre that make even newcomers feel welcome to experience this story in full.
29. Final Fantasy Tactics —The Ivalice Chronicles
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PlayStation 4 | 5, Nintendo Switch | 2, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is an incredible package that brings back a classic to new audiences in stellar fashion. The story and narrative remain excellent, even more so in today’s world. The combat sandbox is deep and complex, offering a wealth of customization options.
The newly added voice acting, along with a host of new additions and upgrades, further elevates the experience. It’s an excellent and important game in Square Enix’s history, and it’s better than ever before.
28. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Developer: Leenzee, Chengdu Lingze Technology Co., Ltd.
Publisher: 505 Games
Platform: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is about problem-solving as much as mastering skills and opponents’ patterns, showing there’s more to the soulslike genre than just hard fights. Plus, its unique take on leveling, death punishments, and weapon customization leads to a truly bespoke journey. In other words, there are no wrong answers when it comes to every one of its breathtaking and nail-biting encounters.
Encouraging the player to experiment at this level is rare. Tweaking your loadout is a constant, especially as any pathway can lead to a new challenge or extraordinary discovery. With deep customization and vast exploration even in semi-linear levels, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a can’t-miss.
27. Where Winds Meet
Developer: Everstone Studio
Publisher: Everstone Studio, NetEase Games, LongE Play
Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
Where Winds Meet is an impressive and ambitious game that, for the most part, succeeds in fulfilling its promises, the game offers over 100 hours of content, with its incredible combat and gameplay elements being the highlight for every type of player.
26. The Outer Worlds 2
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Xbox Games Studios
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC, PlayStation 5
The Outer Worlds 2 comes together to deliver a fantastic journey. Despite some narrative hiccups, the worlds, organizations, and individual players encountered, and sometimes killed, are always engaging and frequently fun. The multitude of customization options and discoverable elements all but guarantee no two players will leave Arcadia with the same set of experiences.
25. Peak
Developer: Landfall Games, Aggro Crab, Team PEAK
Publisher: Landfall Games, Aggro Crab, Team PEAK
Platform: PC
When a handful of kids crash land on an island, they’ve got to brave nature and all its dangers to reach the peak of the island in one of the year’s hottest indie games, Peak. A basic premise elevated by its simplistic design, proximity chat, and a daily-rearranged island, Peak is a chaotic and hilarious time with friends.
Thanks to the game’s many interacting systems, your group will find yourselves creating your own iconic moments and inside jokes on your way up the mountain. Watching a friend careen down the cliffside only to return as a ghost, hearing the echo of your friends’ chatter ring through a canyon, or pulling off a last-second rescue for a friend covered in thorns make it easy to see how special Peak really is.
For all the potential for laughter, though, all the hilarity falls to the wayside when you successfully reach the summit for the first time, providing one of the best feelings in gaming this year.
24. Monster Hunter Wilds
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Monster Hunter Wilds starts with big hunts and breathtaking action scenes. By the end of the story and beyond, you’ll be hunting even larger monsters with impossibly larger attacks, harvesting materials from their bodies to make stronger weapons and tougher armor.
With a steadily improving armory, players will have the opportunity to tailor their weapons, armor, and passive skills to their preferences. This practice will only keep them from being completely overwhelmed by their next vicious mark. The thrill of the hunt is the point, and there are plenty of thrills here.
23. Mario Kart World
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Mario Kart World is also visually stunning, easily the best-looking Mario Kart game yet. It utilizes the power of the Switch 2 to deliver vibrant colors and engaging environments without compromising performance. Thanks to the improved visuals and expanded world, even returning maps feel new.
Mario Kart World is an excellent launch title that serves as an evolution for the long-running racing franchise. There are some minor issues like a lackluster Free Roam mode, but overall, it is an incredible package that will provide countless hours of racing fun for everyone.
22. Sword of the Sea
Developer: Giant Squid
Publisher: Giant Squid
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
The sand moves, the water moves, there isn’t a single part of this world that doesn’t feel alive. And when you realize that everything around you, including the sand, holds beauty and life, you know you aren’t alone. Sword of the Sea captures the beauty of nature, but more importantly, that we are responsible for it. The investment that the game builds with you each time you see new animals join the world in all their whimsy keeps you playing.
Whether it’s the game’s not-too-subtle commentary about climate change or Nava’s explanation of the Wraith, Sword of the Sea is trying and succeeding at making an impact. No singular thing can change the world, but it can plant a seed, and with this title, I hope everyone feels hopeful for a time to rebuild.
21. Donkey Kong Bananza
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Donkey Kong Bananza is gorgeous, really showing off what the new Switch 2 can do. Each level is full of visual splendor. From the snowy ice cream-laden pathways of the Freezer layer to the rainy chaos of the Tempest layer, each level is beautiful. Performance is consistently solid, with slight slowdowns when a lot is happening on screen, but these dips are rare. It’s a fantastic showcase for what the Switch 2 can do.
Donkey Kong Bananza is an absolute blast. The level design’s destruction and creativity are constantly engaging, and the hunt for Banandium gems is always fun. While the camera and boss fights aren’t the best, the rest of the package more than makes up for it. Donkey Kong Bananza is a genuine game of the year contender and is the Switch 2’s first major must-play.
20. Silent Hill F
Developer: NeoBards Entertainment
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Silent Hill f is an excellent entry in the beloved Silent Hill franchise. Despite introducing new characters in a new setting, it still manages to make both new and returning players care about these characters and the events that affect them in the town of Ebisugaoka through an excellent, emotionally thrilling narrative and fantastic voice acting.
The narrative experience is greatly supported by its intense, brutal gameplay loop, with each combat scenario and boss fight more intense yet rewarding than the last. Silent Hill f breathes new life into an incredible horror series by offering excellent, memorable features not found in other games.
19. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Developer: Team Cherry
Publisher: Team Cherry
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch | 2, PlayStation 4 | 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Hollow Knight: Silksong proved why letting devs take their ideas and run with them works. Hornet is just as fun to play and even more complex than imagined. While challenging, every area, fight, and side quest made you prove that you could get to the end of this arduous journey. Every secret and hidden upgrade makes you earn it. At the core, that’s truly what a 2-d action adventure platformer is all about.
18. Europa Universalis 5
Developer: Paradox Tinto, Paradox Development Studio
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Platform: PC
Europa Universalis 5 is a fantastic addition to the franchise that will likely only improve over time as bugs and UI issues are addressed. There are so many different possibilities for replayability, not only from the selection of nations, but even playing the same nation over again will result in a different game.
The automations allow players, if they choose to, to focus on what they really want to and not get tied down in aspects they personally don’t want to mess with in a playthrough. Whether you choose to spend countless hours trying to win the 100 Years’ War or rush for Western colonization, there is something for everyone.
17. Lumines Arise
Developer: Enhance
Publisher: Enhance
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
An incredible soundtrack runs throughout the entirety of Lumines Arise. Music from a variety of genres and styles plays out as the game’s various modes challenge players. Always in line with the visual elements on screen, the music adds another layer to the game’s overall presentation. Sometimes upbeat, other times chill, the music always brings a sense of cool to whatever is happening on screen.
Lumines Arise brings a classic puzzle game into the modern era. It combines great gameplay that is easy to learn but challenging to master, with visuals that look great and music that always nails the tone.
16. Trails in the Sky 1st chapter
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: GungHo Online Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the perfect example of a remake done right. Taking the first game in the long-running Trails series, one of the best RPG franchises, the remake creates the ideal entry point for new fans to check out. The graphics are gorgeous, keeping the same magic of the original’s beautiful sprite work. The story remains as gripping and excellent as ever, filled with memorable characters that are still relevant even today.
The combat updates here make the game flow even better than before, bringing in the action combat the series has adopted in recent entries without sacrificing the excellent turn-based combat. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is excellent and well worth the adventure. The sequel is already on the way, thankfully, and you’ll want to play every game that follows.
15. Battlefield 6
Developer: Battlefield Studios, DICE, Ripple Effect Studios, Motive Studio, and Criterion Games
Publisher: EA
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Battlefield 6 is a giant leap forward for the franchise, returning it to the peak of online first-person shooters. There was a ton of love and detail put into every aspect of the game, and it has the potential to dethrone Call of Duty as the king of online shooters.
14. Jurassic World Evolution 3
Developer: Frontier Developments
Publisher: Frontier Developments
Platforms: PC
Jurassic World Evolution 3 is an astounding management sim and was released in a year with great games also coming out in the genre. The franchise it’s attached to is the cherry on top of what is both an approachable but deep game that always asks you to learn more, but in an accessible way.
Where you may start out not engaging with every system, the tutorialization that the game offers will quickly build your confidence to take the next step and try different things. It’s hard to be both a great introductory game into management sims and also offer the die-hards a level of depth that doesn’t leave them wanting, but Jurassic World Evolution 3 does it perfectly.
13. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Developer: Jump Over The Age
Publisher: Fellow Traveler
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Like the pieces that make up the whole, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector’s story feels made up of the threads you gather through your campaign. By the end, the threads are drawn tight, coalescing in a single powerful story that, combined with a soft, thought-provoking soundtrack, will leave you ruminating long after the credits roll.
12. Wanderstop
Developer: Ivy Road
Publisher: Ivy Road
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Wanderstop isn’t perfect, with some rough edges around the gathering system. But if there is anything to take away from the game, you don’t need to be perfect to matter. Ivy Road has made a game that has impact and one that doesn’t change its protagonist, but you, the player, too.
There isn’t a game like this that takes the cozy genre and explores what can be done with it. Wanderstop is monumental because it provides comfort by simply giving us all permission to stop running and care for ourselves.
11. Elden Ring: Nightreign
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco, FromSoftware
Platforms: PlayStation 4| 5 Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PC
One thing that is certain is that it’s a wildly different form of a familiar idea. FromSoftware has stopped hiding the multiplayer experience behind weird finger consumables and glowing summon signs; Elden Ring Nightreign invites players to familiarize themselves with its locales for repeat playthroughs and lets your characters be more than blank slates.
Ultimately, Elden Ring Nightreign does its best to let players have fun, get stronger, and take down big, bad bosses together. I can’t speak for the greater FromSoftware fanbase, but after these shared triumphs, I’ll have a hard time going back to doing it alone.
10. Pokémon Legends Z-A
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokémon Company
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Pokémon Legends Z-A really reminded me of one of the anime movies in the series. Dropped into a self-contained area, a memorable cast of characters, huge battles full of spectacle – it brought me back to watching The Pokémon Movie for the first time.
This wasn’t the traditional adventure the series is known for, instead focusing on Lumiose City and its inhabitants, both Pokémon and humans alike. While there are some growing pains, Pokémon Legends Z-A is a welcome change of pace in a series that’s been running for almost 30 years. Here’s hoping the Legends games continue to serve as testing grounds for new ideas, and that the core mainline games can apply those lessons in exciting ways.
9. Ghost of Yōtei
Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher: Sony Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Exploration is a key part of Ghost of Yōtei, and it is so easy to get lost in the enormity of the world. Every corner boasts new discoveries that reward players for taking the time to explore. Ghost of Yōtei deeply entices you to stop and look at every little thing across the world. The world is dense, and that density rewards players with items, story moments, and beautiful scenery.
Ghost of Yōtei is an incredible sequel that builds upon its predecessor while still finding ways to stand out on its own. The attention to detail is impeccable, and the adventure is so full of life that it remains engaging from start to finish.
8. Dispatch
Developer: AdHoc Studio
Publisher: AdHoc Studio
Platforms: PC
Dispatch absolutely rules. From a stellar cast to incredible animation to fantastic writing, it hits on all accounts. The story, focusing on a down-on-his-luck hero working in a superhero dispatch company, is engaging and hilarious, while also wearing its heart on its sleeve. The supporting cast is as important, filled with massive and memorable personalities.
The episodic structure actually works here, each cliffhanger making you hungry for what comes next. The animation is gorgeous, looking like the best parts of an animated show, with incredible lighting and action choreography. AdHoc Studios made something truly special and one of this year’s best.
7. Anno 117
Developer: Ubisoft Mainz
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Anno 117: Pax Romana is a remarkably expansive game that I can sit and play for hours, even with its little notifications telling me to take a break. This is one of the best games I’ve played all year. There is a great deal of depth and customization that really showcases player choice and creativity, with an unbeatable replayability.
Additionally, you can see the building blocks that are in place for this game to expand, and yet, Anno 117 itself doesn’t feel like it’s missing any pieces, waiting for that content to come. The Ubisoft Mainz team really hit it out of the coliseum with Anno 117: Pax Romana, and I am excited to see what is in store post-launch.
6. Like Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Developer: RGG Studios
Publisher: SEGA
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 | 4, Xbox Series X|S
One of the best parts of Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is its pacing, as it constantly moves at a breakneck pace. The fights, both melee and ship, are fast and hectic. The side stories and content are all fast, keeping the player moving from one interesting thing to the next. There’s so much to engage with in Pirate Yakuza, with each piece feeling rewarding, ridiculous, heartfelt, or some combination of all of the above.
Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is one of the best Like a Dragon/Yakuza spin-offs, joining the likes of Judgment and Like A Dragon: Ishin. Majima is a fantastic protagonist with a colorful cast of characters around him, the combat is packed with adrenaline, and the side stories and content are engaging and feel important. It’s a fast and frenetic pirate adventure that constantly calls the player back to its high seas, and it’s an adventure you won’t want to miss.
5. Digimon Story: Time Stranger
Developer: Media Vision
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Digimon Story Time Stranger is a perfect entry point for newcomers to the Digimon world, without alienating long-time fans. The fleshed-out story and well-rounded combat and evolution systems are easy to pick up but difficult to truly master. This is Digimon at its best, and it should be what brings a new generation into the franchise.
4. Two Point Museum
Developer: Two Point Studios
Publisher: SEGA
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Two Point Museum offers a lot of depth through minimal explanations. Using large cartoon icons to denote issues, the game’s visual language is just as essential as the text you read. This also means that it lowers the age requirement to engage with systems in more holistic ways. Striking the balance between detailed management systems and ease of learning them makes Two Point Museum and other games from the series essential to the game type’s landscape.
Two Point Museum is a fantastic addition to the Two Point management sim title list. It lives up to the studios’ past games but never feels derivative. Everything about the game feels special. It provides a blended experience accessible to new players first before it begins to layer new systems into the game, building depth for the more seasoned management sim fans. Two Point Museum is a stunner of a game, and with subsequent support and patches, it’s clear that even my minor hiccups will be solved.
3. Hades II
Developer: Supergiant Games
Publisher: Supergiant Games
Platforms: Nintendo Switch | 2, PC Mac
Hades 2 is the perfect sequel, doubling down on everything that worked, while expanding on the world of the original. The combat is tight, fast, and frenetic, ebbing and flowing with each new encounter. It’s absolutely packed with things to do, delivering something new every run to keep the player engaged in its ecosystem.
Hades 2 is a standout experience in a year full of highlights, keeping the player coming back run after run for just one more go. The art style and graphics are as impressive as ever, a visual feast at every turn.
2. South of Midnight
Developer: Compulsion Games
Publisher: Xbox Games Studios
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
South of Midnight taps into unique sounds of the South and the genres of music it popularized, from bluegrass to jazz, and of course, the blues. There is a love in this game that runs deep and sees the subtleties of the South as precious idiosyncrasies that need to be captured in art.
Across its story, sound design, and entire artistic vision, South of Midnight is a gem of a game. While its combat loop is repetitive, the design behind it is substantial. Ultimately, Compulsion Games has created a love letter to the South, to its beauty and its stories. The dark fairytale we see in South of Midnight is narratively one of the heaviest hitters I’ve played, and that’s something special.
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Developer: Sandfall Interactive
Publisher: Kepler Interactive
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a generational experience. A masterclass of narrative, character, and combat all blending together to create not only the best RPG this year, but one of the best of all time. The narrative is dark, but tinged with hope, with plenty of fantastic twists and an ending that is still being talked about. The characters, with a stellar voice cast, are incredible and profound, each one instantly memorable.
Expedition 33 takes turn-based combat and makes it more engaging and accessible, intelligently weaving in dodge and parry mechanics that make each fight a dance with death. Some of those boss encounters still sit in my brain months later, not just for the encounter itself, but for the graphical wrapping. Expedition 33 is stunningly beautiful, with incredible music that perfectly accompanies every scene. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 deserves every accolade and so much more.
The year ended with a bang, which made picking our top video games of 2025 a tall task. From indie to AAA, console exclusives to mobile, we’re happy with everything we played. Did your favorite make our list of top video games for 2025? Let us know on social media @butwhytho.net on Blue Sky.
