My top 10 video games of 2025

 As we close out 2025, it’s time to reflect on the year in video games. The industry is still in a strange place — layoffs, studio closures, consolidation, rising living costs, and increasing hardware prices driven by RAM demand. Normally at this stage in a console generation, prices would be dropping and more casual players would be upgrading. Instead, console prices have continued to creep up.

Nintendo released a new console this year and, as much as I love it, it definitely feels more like upgrading your phone to the latest model rather than stepping into a whole new experience. On paper, that makes perfect sense — and it hasn’t hurt the Switch 2 at all, with launch sales already surpassing the original Switch launch sales. It’s just a shame Nintendo didn’t lean into some kind of quirky gimmick to make it feel fresh and exciting. You could argue that all they really need is great games like Donkey Kong Bananza, and honestly, I couldn’t disagree with that.

Xbox has also had a weird year. They kind of released a handheld console while also seemingly stepping away from the traditional console market entirely. Their press releases insist they’ll launch new hardware next generation… but I’m fairly sure what we’ll get is a console–PC hybrid, similar to the ROG Ally X. It’s an incredible bit of kit — I absolutely love mine — but I do wonder whether something like that appeals to the mass market, especially when you imagine it strapped to a TV in the living room.

Anyway — enough doom and gloom. Let’s talk about the 10 BEST video games of 2025.

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10 — Fortnite

It blows my mind that in 2025, Fortnite is still in my top ten. It’s been an incredible year for games, yet settling in most evenings for an hour or so with my son has become one of my favourite gaming experiences.

Yes — playing with my son definitely boosts the enjoyment — but I’ve also found myself playing after he’s gone to bed or when I’ve had spare time. It’s no surprise the game that once copied PUBG and overtook it still nails that classic battle-royale rush. Being in the final five, heart pounding, so close to a win — it never gets old.

Epic keeps the game feeling fresh with constant tweaks, weapon changes, new modes, and seasonal events. The Simpsons mini-season — fighting across Springfield — was insanely fun, and it all ended in a massive Avengers-style live event with heroes from across franchises teaming up against a single threat.

If you still haven’t tried Fortnite, I really recommend giving it a go. Once it gets its hooks in you, it’s hard to escape.

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9 — Avowed

Avowed launched earlier this year and completely surprised me. It feels like a “diet Skyrim” — an action-RPG adventure in a familiar-feeling fantasy world, but more guided and focused. The path is mostly laid out in front of you, but your choices still carry real consequences that can drastically change events. In many ways it presents like Skyrim, but plays more like Mass Effect — even down to one of the characters sharing a voice actor and personality vibe.

The combat really stood out to me. The game rewards committing to a build and leaning into it. I started as a paladin-style character… and ended up with a ridiculous dagger build, melting enemies in seconds. It felt incredible.

The story explores a land without a god, full of clashing cultures, beliefs, war, betrayal, heartbreak — but also humour and warmth — all leading to a really satisfying conclusion. I strongly recommend checking it out.

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8 — Pokémon Legends: Z-A

As someone who has played every mainline Pokémon game, I’d reached a point where they often felt stale — but I kept coming back for the nostalgia, the collecting, and the RPG mechanics.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A finally felt like a breath of fresh air. The biggest improvement is the combat — instead of turn-based battles, it uses real-time abilities with cooldowns, almost like a lightweight MMO system where positioning matters.

Alongside normal battles, the game introduces wild Pokémon that have gone berserk and Mega Evolved — turning these encounters into huge, chaotic boss fights where you control both your character and your Pokémon, dodging attacks and striking back. These are some of the best moments I’ve ever had in a Pokémon game.

For the first time in series history, a game returns to a previous storyline — taking place five years after X/Y in Lumiose City, with several characters returning. The story is engaging and builds toward a strong finale. My only real gripe is the lack of voice acting — some emotional scenes and jokes would have landed so much better with performances. The game also occasionally drags you into side tasks that don’t add much to the main narrative, which slightly weakens the pacing near the end.

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7 — Hollow Knight: Silksong

I both love and hate Silksong in equal measure. Exploring new areas, finding abilities, meeting strange characters — it’s magical. Then you hit a boss fight or an infamous platforming section, and suddenly you want to throw your controller through the window.

You bash your head against a challenge for hours… then slowly start recognising patterns… something clicks… and when you finally win, the adrenaline rush is unreal. Few games can match that feeling.

I’m still chipping away at it — very close to the end now. I feel like I shouldn’t recommend it… but at the same time, I absolutely do. Take that however you want.

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6 — ARC Raiders

ARC Raiders has somehow managed to make extraction shooters appealing to a wider audience — and that alone feels like a miracle.

It’s the game on this list I wish I’d had more time for this year, and it’s probably the one I’m most determined to play more of next year.

You drop into a map solo or with up to two friends, with 30 minutes to complete objectives, gather loot, and extract — all while dealing with robots and other players. Escaping after a tense run is exhilarating; losing everything at the last second is chaos — and often hilarious.

The shooting has real weight — every gun feels powerful and dangerous, and the clunky-but-grounded movement adds intensity. The social interactions are brilliant too — that old DayZ vibe of “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” — alliances built on mistrust, tension bubbling because someone might betray you at any second. It’s thrilling.

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5 — Donkey Kong Bananza

I still can’t believe we finally got another 3D Donkey Kong game in 2025. After Donkey Kong 64, I never thought it would happen — but here we are.

It’s a super-fun 3D platformer with a deeper story than I expected. It doesn’t hit the highs of Astro Bot from last year, but it makes up for it with large sandbox-style levels absolutely packed with banana gems to discover. You’re never more than 30 seconds from finding another collectible, and before you realise it, hours have passed.

It looks great on Switch 2, it’s accessible for kids, and the harder secret levels provide an extra challenge without ever becoming unfair. A really solid, joyful game.

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4 — Silent Hill F

I was skeptical going into Silent Hill F. After last year’s Silent Hill 2 Remake, one of the scariest games I’ve ever played, I wasn’t sure the series could hit those heights again — especially with a new Japanese setting and a revamped combat system.

It doesn’t quite surpass SH2R, but it does an incredible job refreshing the franchise and cementing Silent Hill as the definitive horror series.

You play as Hinako, a teenage schoolgirl who leaves home after an argument and soon finds her town decaying into surreal nightmare. The monsters represent trauma from her life, and as you explore farms, temples, and schools, the story slowly pieces itself together — ending in a shocking twist.

Combat leans into melee rather than firearms, which fits the character. It feels a bit like early Dark Souls — timing, patience, learning when to strike — though sometimes it feels high-risk with little reward, which forces you to carefully choose your battles.

The sound design is phenomenal — every audio cue ramps up the tension. Combined with eerie rituals and psychological horror, it creates an unforgettable experience.

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3 — Nightreign

Elden Ring is one of the greatest games of the past decade — brutal, strange, and full of imagination — like playing your own tabletop RPG campaign. So when FromSoftware announced a multiplayer roguelike battle-royale-style spin-off, I was skeptical… but also completely onboard.

Three players drop into a map and have two in-game days to level up, gather gear, and prepare for the final boss. Each night ends with a random boss fight — except the final one, which you choose in advance to help plan your strategy. Runs last around 40 minutes.

Sometimes you get a “bum run” where nothing goes your way — you’re under-geared and doomed. Other times everything clicks and hope builds… until the final boss wipes you in seconds. It’s crushing — but then you hit “run again” and go back in.

It finally hit me that Nightreign is, at its core, the perfect D&D one-shot — same world, same goal, different outcomes every time. It has been a real breath of fresh air, and I can’t wait to see what Duskbloods becomes on Switch 2.

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2 — Death Stranding 2

Death Stranding 2 is probably the only game on this list that truly feels next-gen — despite being on a five-year-old console. The visuals are astonishing — sometimes it genuinely looks better than real life.

At its core, yes — you’re still delivering cargo across vast landscapes — but there’s so much more layered on top. Combat now plays a far bigger role, with new tools and non-lethal options that expand how you handle encounters.

You choose your approach — snipe from afar, storm in guns blazing, or sneak through unnoticed — and the game supports all of it. It feels like the natural evolution of Kojima’s entire career, from classic Metal Gear to now.

The story is wild, emotional, bizarre, and unforgettable — brought to life by an incredible cast and, of course, plenty of long cutscenes. My favourite character? Dollman — who even breaks the fourth wall to warn you when a massive cutscene is coming.

It’s easily Kojima’s best work.

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1 — Expedition 33

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Expedition 33 takes my number-one spot — especially after sweeping the Game Awards with nine wins, including Game of the Year.

There’s something truly special about this game — an intangible spark that makes it stand out. The story is mysterious and haunting: a giant witch known as The Paintress kills people of a certain age every year, and a small band of unlikely heroes set out to stop her.

The world design blends light Soulslike elements — rest points that revive enemies — with atmospheric exploration and beautifully crafted environments. Combat is turn-based, but with timing-based dodges and parries that add depth and strategy.

And the music… emotional, powerful, unforgettable. The melodies stick with you long after the credits roll.

As someone who loves classic turn-based RPGs, Expedition 33 feels like a triumphant return to the genre — a modern masterpiece that absolutely should not be missed.