The Top 10 Games of 2025 - The Ones That Actually Stuck
2025 was a loud year for games. Bigger budgets, louder marketing, and no shortage of releases promising to be the game of the year. But once the dust settled, only a handful really stayed with me, the kind of games I kept thinking about after I had put the controller down.
This isn’t a list of the “highest rated” games. It’s the games that survived long play sessions, friction, bugs, balance issues, and still managed to feel worth your time.
Here are the top 10 games to play from 2025, from someone who played them past the honeymoon phase.
1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
This DLC was a statement. Shadow of the Erdtree reminded everyone why FromSoftware still sets the bar for environmental storytelling and difficulty that feels earned. Brutal, beautiful, and occasionally exhausting, it rewarded patience in a way few games still dare to.
It deepened Elden Ring and that was enough for me.
2. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Rebirth walked a tightrope between nostalgia and ambition and somehow didn’t fall off. The combat is richer, the world more open, and the emotional beats land harder once the scale expands.
It’s messy in places, overstuffed in others, but when it hits, it hits. This is Square Enix at its most confident in years.
3. Skate Story
No other game in 2025 felt quite like Skate Story. Abstract, hypnotic, and unapologetically weird, it turned skating into rhythm, risk, and self-destruction.
It’s not for everyone. It doesn’t explain itself. But if it clicks, it’s unforgettable one of those games that proves the medium can still surprise you. Read more about it on our blog Skate Story – Slaying Hell One Trick at a Time
4. Hades II (Early Access)
Even unfinished, which was when I managed to get my hands on this. Hades II earned its place. Supergiant didn’t just reskin the original game, they evolved it into something brilliant. New systems, new protagonist, and a structure that feels both familiar and bolder.
It’s still growing, but what’s already here is polished, confident, and dangerously replayable. Pick up the switch 2 version and give this game a go.
5. Dragon’s Dogma 2
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is rough around the edges, stubborn, and sometimes hostile to the player and that’s exactly why it works. Its combat and pawn system still feel unlike anything else, and the sense of discovery is unmatched.
It won’t hold your hand. It doesn’t care if you miss things and that makes its highs hit harder.
6. Silent Hill 2 Remake
This could have gone very wrong. Instead, it respected the original’s psychological horror while modernizing just enough to matter.
It’s oppressive, uncomfortable, and emotionally draining in the best way. Not fun in the traditional sense, but deeply effective.
7. Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
This was the year Sonic racing finally felt confident again. Crossplay, fast pacing, and chaotic track gimmicks gave it a real identity, even if balance issues and online hiccups held it back from greatness.
Messy? Yes. Fun? Absolutely. Especially with friends. If you really want to dive in check out our blog Sonic Racing CrossWorlds – The Speed Is There, But So Are the Frustrations
8. Metaphor: ReFantazio
Stylish, politically charged, and unafraid to be dense, Metaphor felt like Atlus stretching its legs outside Persona while still retaining its strengths.
The combat systems are deep, the art direction bold, and the themes surprisingly sharp. It demands attention and rewards it.
9. Helldivers 2
Few games captured collective chaos like Helldivers 2. Cooperative gameplay, emergent disasters, and a community-driven war effort made it one of the most entertaining multiplayer experiences of the year.
It’s not perfect, but it’s memorable and that counts for a lot. If you would like more information on this game head over to the official helldivers 2 website
10. Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World didn’t revolutionise the formula, but it refined it. Tracks are sharp, performance is rock-solid, and it remains one of the easiest games to boot up and immediately enjoy.
Online frustrations and item chaos still exist, but as a social game? It’s untouchable. Read all about it on Mario Kart World The Future of Racing
Personal thoughts of the Top 10 games of 2025
2025 wasn’t about perfection. It was about range.
We got massive expansions, risky indie experiments, remakes that respected their source, and multiplayer games that actually brought people together. Some of these games frustrated me. A few exhausted me. But all of them earned their place by doing something memorable.
