2025 was one of the best years for video games in recent memory. Modern classics in every genre were popping up month after month, ranging from some of the most anticipated games of the decade to complete surprise hits. After playing through a ridiculous amount of 2025’s best games, I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface. Yet, there were still many that impressed, and with only 10 spots on this list of the best games of 2025, the slots were tough to fill. As always, this list is completely subjective and based on my opinion alone. Ranked in order of my personal preference, these are the best video games of 2025.
The Top 10 Games of 2025
10. Absolum
The beat ’em up genre is one of my all-time favorites, and for a long time, I’ve been salivating for a new game to scratch that itch. In comes Absolum, a beat ’em up that combines roguelite elements with excellent combat and an arresting visual style. Developed by Guard Crush Games and Supamonk, this is one of my favorite beat ’em ups since Castle Crashers dropped on the Xbox Live Arcade.
In Absolum, you play as one of two playable characters, Karl the Dwarf or Galandra the Elf, each with a distinct fighting style. Moving across the world, you fight through all manner of fantasy environments, felling bosses and collecting power-ups until you meet your bitter end. Passive abilities and other elements of meta-progression provide extra power between runs, but fighting skill is still required for success. With online co-op, lots of replayability, and an evocative world to punch your way through, Absolum slides onto this list of the best games of 2025 with ease.
9. DOOM: The Dark Ages
Out of all the FPS franchises that exist, DOOM has been and continues to be one of my favorites. DOOM: The Dark Ages was definitely a change of pace for the series, swapping out DOOM Eternal‘s ultra-fast gunplay and movement-favoring level design in exchange for large, open levels with hordes of enemies to slay. Though perhaps not as good as its predecessor, this metal-as-hell FPS offered copious amounts of stress relief in the form of demon slaughter, with some of the wackiest bits of DOOM gameplay I’ve ever seen.
A prequel to DOOM (2016), The Dark Ages involves The Doom Slayer battling against his will in a war between the Night Sentinels and the Maykrs, but honestly, no one plays DOOM for the story. Sent to the surface, you bash through legions of hellspawn using your favorite weapons and some new ones, including a hilariously fun throwing shield. The refreshed parry system adds a new layer to defensive gameplay, and a few sillier segments keep things refreshing, like a turret-happy dragon ride or a kaiju-fighting mech battle. As long as you don’t take things too seriously, The Dark Ages is a great third game in the modern DOOM trilogy, even if they spend way too much time on a narrative that no one cares about.
8. Elden Ring Nightreign
The original Elden Ring is one of my favorite games of all time, so when FromSoftware announced an experimental roguelite spin-off in the same franchise, I couldn’t pass it up. For the most part, Elden Ring Nightreign takes all the craziest bits of a souls-like adventure and condenses them into a short, stressful gauntlet, where speed and aggression are rewarded over caution and exploration. Using the foundation of Elden Ring‘s combat and world to create a notably unique roguelite experience, Nightreign afforded several weeks of FromSoftware’s signature brand of fun.
When compared to the main game, Nightreign lacks meaningful storytelling and thoughtful exploration, and instead puts the pedal to the metal. Most runs of the game involve you and your teammates scrambling around the relatively large map, killing bosses in a mad frenzy as you attempt to level up as much as possible before nightfall. Successful runs are capped off by a roster of intimidating bosses, memorable both for their spectacle and ridiculous levels of challenge. With multiple classes to try and a level of difficulty that does justice to its inspiration, Nightreign will keep you playing for dozens of hours. Despite its flaws and somewhat shallow endgame, Elden Ring Nightreign satiated my everlasting hunger for souls-like content and only made me rage a reasonable amount.
7. Keeper
Keeper is such a weird game. Developed by Double Fine, the same people who made Psychonauts and Brutal Legend, this adventure game has you controlling a sentient lighthouse. With no dialogue spoken, you simply walk through a fantasy world, shining your light around, and slowly descending into a weirder and weirder rabbit hole.
Okay, there’s definitely more to Keeper than just walking around, but for a big chunk of the experience, gameplay is pretty limited. A few mechanics pop up from time to time, offering light puzzle-solving, but the focus is mostly on the adventure at hand. As you trot through each new area, full of otherworldly creatures and exceptionally vibrant environments, it’s hard not to get lost in the sauce. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m a huge sucker for anything that Double Fine develops, as well as super trippy games that make you go “Whoaaaaa, dude” as you’re assaulted with a kaleidoscope of colors. Keeper definitely qualifies in both of those departments, and as a quick and pleasant experience all around, this psychedelic journey definitely deserves recognition as one of the best games of 2025.
6. Ball x Pit
There was some serious innovation happening with roguelites this year, mostly from a couple of indie games that continued to push the genre forward. Ball x Pit (the X is silent!) is one such game, which marries arcade-style brick-breaking gameplay with farming/resource management, all wrapped up in a highly addictive and easy-to-learn roguelite package. The best way to describe it is Arkanoid meets Vampire Survivors, but with a small dose of Stardew Valley peppered between.
The basic gameplay of Ball x Pit is a pretty standard roguelite affair: bounce balls against enemies while earning experience and coins, as well as new balls with unique attributes. Over time, you can evolve and combine these special balls, ramping up their damage and visual flair. Beating levels awards resources, which can be spent on a small village at the top of the eponymous pit, further powering up your character. However, Ball x Pit gets progressively more hectic and absurd with its features, eventually devolving into an idle game after dozens of hours. Incredibly accessible, addictive as hell, and often dumping dopamine straight into my brain as balls sped by with spectacle, Ball x Pit is a recent highlight in the roguelite genre that deserves some spotlight (and a sequel).
5. Dynasty Warriors Origins
I don’t always need video games to have engrossing stories or thought-provoking themes. Sometimes, I just want to slash through hundreds of enemies in a flurry of attacks, and the Dynasty Warriors franchise is always good for that. Recognizing that the past few games were kind of mediocre, Dynasty Warriors Origins looks to reboot the franchise, offering a decidedly more straightforward action experience, but with a few new mechanics. Now, instead of playing as dozens of different unlockable characters, you control one legendary hero and set out on a non-linear adventure packed with intense battles.
The bread and butter of Dynasty Warriors Origins will be very familiar to existing fans, as you slice and dice through thousands of enemies on large-scale battlefields. The combat remains as fun as ever, and with 10 different unique weapon types to try, there’s plenty of variety in how you deal out death. Origins mainly sets itself apart in its mission framework, allowing you to freely move around the overworld map, taking up side missions and extra activities whenever you like. Thanks to its branching story, which features three factions to choose from with distinct storylines, there’s substantial replayability as well. When other games felt too complex, and I just wanted to vibe for a while and keep my hands busy, Dynasty Warriors Origins did so perfectly, while also making some smart changes to the formula and successfully rebooting the franchise in the process.
4. Blue Prince
Yet another roguelite on our list of the best games of 2025, Blue Prince is an absolute treat, especially for puzzle fans. Created by indie developer Dugobomb, this highly ambitious adventure breaks ground as a first-person roguelite puzzle game, something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Reminiscent of games like The Witness, Myst, and set in an evocative and mysterious mansion, Blue Prince might be the most unique game of the year.
In the game, you play as Simon, a young man who has inherited a sprawling and expensive mansion from his late great-uncle. In order to claim it as his own, he must locate the hidden 46th room in the 45-room wide estate. However, as the rooms shift with each passing day, it will take several runs to reveal the mansion’s many secrets. Playing Blue Prince is like becoming a detective who thrives on childlike wonder, investigating every nook and cranny for clues and discovering puzzles along the way. The puzzles of Blue Prince are rarely traditional, often requiring astute observation, outside-the-box thinking, and some seriously good deduction. Though cryptic as hell in places, it’s one of the most rewarding first-person games I’ve ever played, on par with the best in both the roguelite and puzzle genres. Just when you think it can’t go any deeper, Blue Prince‘s rabbit hole somehow extends, and the adventure to uncover that truth is one of gaming’s finest.
3. Split Fiction
In 2021, Hazelight Studios released It Takes Two, a two-player, co-op-only adventure game that wowed the industry at large. 4 years later, they’re back at it with Split Fiction, a sci-fi/fantasy adventure that follows It Takes Two‘s formula of crazy co-op action, but ramps it up in almost every way. A roller coaster of awesome, unexpected gameplay twists, combined with a fun and heartfelt story, makes this yet another instant co-op classic.
The story focuses on Mio and Zoe, two aspiring authors who test out a new, cutting-edge contraption at a potential publishing company. When the device malfunctions, Mio and Zoe find themselves trapped in their own stories, and are forced to team up if they want to escape. Across countless worlds and side areas, Split Fiction puts players into every sci-fi and fantasy scenario imaginable, whether it be flying spaceships, fighting orcs, driving a speeder bike through a cyberpunk future, or casting spells in a magical world of wizards. Though a third-person adventure first and foremost, the gameplay is constantly shifting, bouncing between platforming, twin-stick shooting, vehicle sections, melee combat, physics puzzles, and much more. Best of all, it all feels incredibly satisfying to play, with responsive controls, spectacular visuals, and a thematic throughline of friendship and redemption. Perfect to play with a friend, partner, or family member, Split Fiction is a must-play co-op adventure for the ages, as well as one of the best games of 2025.
2. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Next to Grand Theft Auto VI, Hollow Knight: Silksong was probably the most anticipated game of this console generation. A follow-up to Team Cherry’s 2017 Metroidvania masterpiece, Silksong promised the world, and by god did it deliver. Jumping into a new insect kingdom, Pharloom, Silksong presents an experience that’s far more challenging than its predecessor, but every bit as addictive and artful as you’d hope.
This time, we control Hornet, the agile bug that popped up in the original Hollow Knight, but now sees center stage. Forcibly taken to Pharloom, a kingdom that’s crumbling from a mysterious affliction, Hornet must ascend to the chapel at the top of the world if she wants answers. Along the way, you’ll battle against countless bosses, over 200 unique enemies, and explore some incredibly vibe-heavy areas, littered with secrets for you to find. Silksong is difficult; it’s the kind of throw-your-controller tough often reserved for Elden Ring and its kin. However, for those who like a good challenge, the difficulty works in the game’s favor, plunging you deep into the flow state as you clear particularly hard bosses and platforming sections. New abilities and tools open up the combat, beautiful music and art make each area a treat to explore, and a ridiculous amount of secrets and endgame keep the adventure satisfying throughout. Even though I wish it were slightly less challenging, Silksong somehow lived up to expectations, and as such, absolutely deserves its spot on our list of the best games of 2025.
1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (GAME OF THE YEAR)
The turn-based RPG genre is not for everyone, but when they hit right, it reminds us just how immersive the genre can be. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one such game that, thanks to its fantastic story, excellent gameplay, and top-tier presentation, wowed players around the world upon release. After clearing the main story and spending quite a bit of time on the endgame content, I’ve come away just as impressed. Expedition 33 isn’t just a damn good game from 2025; it’s one of the best RPGs of the modern era, sitting comfortably alongside the likes of Persona 5, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Baldur’s Gate 3.
In the early hours of Expedition 33, the unique narrative premise does a lot of heavy lifting. You control the members of the titular expedition 33, who set out into the unknown wilds of their fantasy world to defeat the Paintress: an otherworldly being that constantly watches them from afar, committing a yearly “gommage” that erases all humans of an ever-decreasing age. Forced to fight for their lives and their continued existence, the expedition faces down all manner of supernatural beasts, battling through alien worlds that defy physics and the laws of reality. It’s a big, lofty, emotional story, lighthearted and whimsical where need be, but crushingly sad and shocking as well.
Expedition 33 is kind of like Paper Mario, except far more violent, depressing, and French. That is to say that it’s highly accessible for players of all skill levels, with combat that puts an emphasis on timing and simple strategy. Unlike many other turn-based RPGs, Expedition 33 doesn’t bog you down with excessive systems and complex mechanics, and instead offers high spectacle fights that make you feel super powerful. In addition to the excellent story and fun combat, every other element of the game is top-notch. The art direction is inspired, the music is fantastic, the characters are voiced extremely well, and the entire experience feels cohesive and smartly designed. Really, unless I start nitpicking, it’s hard to find flaws. Sure, if you don’t like turn-based RPGs, you’re probably not going to like Expedition 33. That said, if you’ve never played one, or you’re even a fleeting fan of the genre, this is probably the best one to try. In a year as packed as this, the top spot was going to be tough to fill, but Expedition 33 offers the full package and then some, handily earning its spot as the best game of 2025.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the games listed above, there were tons of 2025 games that deserve some love, but fell short of the list. More often than not, this is because I didn’t get enough playtime to form a solid opinion, but still think that they’re worthy of a nod. Backed by resounding positive reception from trusted colleagues and critics, these honorable mentions were also standouts of 2025:
- Arc Raiders
- Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
- Avowed
- Battlefield 6
- Borderlands 4
- Death Stranding 2
- Deep Rock Galactic Survivor
- Dispatch
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Ghost of Yotei
- Hades 2
- Kingdom Come Deliverance II
- Mario Kart World
- Marvel Cosmic Invasion
- Metroid Prime 4
- Ninja Gaiden 4
- Once Upon a Katamari
- PowerWash Simulator 2
- Silent Hill f
- The Outer Worlds 2
- The Rogue Prince of Persia
- Wuchang Fallen Feather
Like this list? Check out our other ranked lists, including the Best Games of 2024 and more.
