2025 was an absolutely insane year for me on a personal level. I did so many new and exciting things that pushed me out of my comfort zone, whether it was for Final Weapon or beyond, and I can safely call this year one of the best of my whole life. However, when it comes to the gaming side of things, I found it not as exciting.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as though this year was a dud when it came to releases. For instance, the Nintendo Switch 2 came along and completely blew many, myself included, away with its offerings of both first-party and third-party games. Compared to previous years, though, there weren’t as many games that truly surprised me and made an impact on me compared to previous years, which made this list very hard to put together.
Even still, there were a few games here that I didn’t include, such as those ported to a new console this year, such as with Sorry We’re Closed or Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for the Switch 2, or games that I simply haven’t played yet, like Kingdom Come Deliverance II. Everything else is completely fair game, and despite my seeming indifference to this year when it comes to releases, there were still a few titles that managed to deliver the exact type of impact I was looking for.
10. Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders is a delightful game. Regardless if you’re a fan of the Kirby franchise, played Kirby Air Ride, or you’ve never played either, you’ll definitely get a kick out of the experience. While the controls take a while to get used to, the undeniable charm of the series’ characters, the unique challenge presented by the various modes, or the insane amount of content, you’ll find it hard to put your Switch 2 down one you start playing.
Personally, I had a huge blast with the City Trial and Road Trip modes in particular, the latter of which delivered a, perhaps unsurprising by Kirby standards, extremely dark narrative. It provided a perfect mix of fan service and new material, plus served as a great way to try out everything the game has to offer in one fell swoop. My only true gripe with the game is that I wish it had slightly more post-launch content in the pipeline. Otherwise, Air Riders was true fun from beginning to end, and I can’t wait to pick it back up once again.
9. Doom: The Dark Ages
The first-person shooter genre was one of the first I ever got into, with the modern Doom games always serving as some of my favorites. Every game adds exciting innovations that rewrite the playbook of not just the franchise, but the genre as a whole. The Dark Ages is no exception, as it prioritizes slower, brutal, and melee-focused combat over the fast speeds of previous entries.
It takes a little bit to get used to, but once I adapted, I found myself enjoying the formula of The Dark Ages far more than its predecessors. Plus, with an action-packed narrative that takes you to medieval Earth, Hell, and worlds straight out of Lovecraft’s nightmares, alongside some great new weapons, if you’re a fan of any era of Doom, then this is still a must-purchase. Now if that story DLC could hurry up and release already, that would be just swell.
8. Metroid Prime 4
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is certainly an odd game. On the surface, it seems to throw away everything that made the previous entries so special in the first place, such as the subtle approach to storytelling and the emphasis on atmosphere, in favor of voice acted NPCs and a massive hub world. While many Metroid fans have been quick to lambast the experience, as someone who has struggled to get into the series for quite a while, I found Prime 4: Beyond to be the jumping off point I was waiting for.
It’s not perfect: some of the NPCs do talk a bit too much and the hub world can feel a bit too barren. However, the overall atmosphere, moment-to-moment gameplay, and story have all been handled quite well. I loved exploring the planet of Viewros, whether it was on foot or on the new Vi-O-La bike and it’s always a treat to see Samus in action against some of the galaxy’s greatest threats. While I understand the frustrations of those hoping for a more traditional experiencing, I will always be thankful for how Prime 4: Beyond finally managed to make me a Metroid fan.
7. Hades II
A few years ago, I played Hades II when it released in early access, calling it a “masterpiece in the making.” When it released, while I was impressed with the new gameplay additions, an absurd amount of extra content to play through, and narrative depth, the lackluster finale kept me from sticking by my initial high praise. Since then, however, I’ve put dozens of more hours into the game and discovered that, amazingly, Supergiant Games actually changed the ending in response to backlash. So, looking at the complete picture, Hades II is still a massively impressive work of art.
The visuals are outstanding, particularly on the Nintendo Switch 2. Plus, all the new characters are great, with the protagonist, Melinoë, being a particularly favorite of mine. Further, there’s not only the Underworld to explore, but also all of Olympus, alongside multiple NPCs to meet, romances, and completely new weapons to use. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as the game goes out of its way to once again redefine what you’d expect from the genre. Now that the ending is fixed, pretty much all of my issues with the game are null and void, so regardless if you’re a fan of roguelites, the first Hades, or never touched either in your life, you owe it to yourself to give this game a shot.
6. Skate Story
Skate Story was a game I’d been waiting for ever since it was first announced in 2022. Even though I didn’t really have a phase where I was obsessed with skateboarding, I was still enamored by the visuals and premise of a demon made of glass using a skateboard to eat the moon. Three years later, when I finally had the game in my hands, I wasn’t even remotely disappointed by the finished release.
Despite my frustrations with a lack of a post-game, the outstanding visuals and great premise more than make up for those gripes. Furthermore, the game is just simply fun to play through, with a multitude of different skating tricks to master while meeting a wide variety of strange yet charming creatures scattered throughout the underworld. I had a blast with Skate Story, though I really do wish the developer would give me more game to play once the credits rolled.
5. Silent Hill f
Those who remember my list from last year will remember how 2024 rekindled my love for the horror genre. Silent Hill 2 Remake was one of the biggest examples of that, delivering a faithful experience that was as appealing to newcomers as it was to long-time fans. Naturally then, with how well Konami seemed to understand what made the series so special in the first place, Silent Hill f was always going to end up being a huge hit.
Silent Hill f is the first new entry in the series in quite a while, and manages to impress despite all expectations. The focus on 1960s Japan and all of the societal issues you’d expect from the era is deeply compelling, and I found myself adoring all of the main characters, which of course includes the main protagonist. Additionally, the emphasis on melee combat is so much fun, and any and all potential loss of tension by said focus is quickly undone by the numerous terrifying monsters you will encounter on your journey. If this is the level of creativity we can expect from the future of the franchise, then bring it on.
4. Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza is easily one of the best 3D platformers I’ve played in a very long time, and that’s saying a lot. Yes, the boss battles are annoyingly lackluster and yes, the DLC is a massive disappointment. However, the great characters, narrative premise, and in particular, the fantastic gameplay, make Bananza a near-masterpiece.
It was so easy to get enraptured by the plight of Donkey Kong looking for banandium gems, while a younger version of Pauline seeks to find her way to the surface using her still burgeoning musical talent. Even if the bosses were meh, the actual villains were great fun, with one antagonist in particular towards the end being a huge highlight. Most importantly, the emphasis on destruction and transformation powers made for a game that was simply pure and unfiltered fun. Bananza is the ultimate love letter to one of gaming’s oldest mascots, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
3. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
When Hideo Kojima announced Death Stranding 2: On The Beach for the first time, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Even so, I don’t think a powerful examination of grief undercut by Woodkid’s dulcet tones and a journey across both Australia and Mexico were on my bingo card. As someone who still loves the first Death Stranding to this day, the sequel takes everything I loved about its predecessor and dials it up to 11.
The combat is far more refined and highlights a great deal of choice between either a stealth or aggressive playstyle. The actual act of transporting packages across countries is more fun than ever before, thanks to a wide variety of new traversal options. Easily the biggest masterstroke of Death Stranding 2 is its narrative, which features great twists and turns for the characters we’ve come to know and love, as well as highlights some new ones like the enigmatic Neil Vana.
It was so hard not to get addicted to the game, and even now, I’m already anticipating the next time I will get a chance to play this fantastic experience. As someone whose been following Kojima’s career for a fair bit, I can confidently say that this is easily my favorite game of his. I can’t wait to see what he cooks up next with both OD and Physint.
2. Deltarune
In the gaming space, there are few creators as unique and enigmatic as Toby Fox. Ten years ago, he shocked the world with the indie darling Undertale. Seven years ago, he shocked the world yet again, with the surprise release of the spiritual follow-up, Deltarune. While the full release of Deltarune still hasn’t happened yet, over half the chapters are here, and I just know that when all is said and done, Toby Fox will have created his greatest masterpiece yet.
This is a game that, to me, is absolutely flawless. The characters are great, charming, and filled with life. The narrative balances both humor and darkness. The gameplay takes everything you’ve come to expect from Undertale and completely flips it on its head. Finally, every chapter introduces new worlds and thrilling developments that make you want more as soon as possible.
If anything, the only problem with Deltarune is that it’s not done yet. However, with chapter 5 seemingly on the horizon, I look forward to the day that chapters 5, 6, and 7 are in our hands so we can all celebrate what will undoubtedly be a generational game that is looked back on for years to come.
1. Dispatch
If you had told me, when 2025 started, that my game of the year would be a narrative adventure game made by former Telltale Games starring Aaron Paul, Erin Yvette, Laura Bailey, and YouTubers Jacksepticeye, MoistCritikal, and Alanah Pearce, I probably would’ve thought you were insane. Yet here I am, singing the praises of Dispatch, a game that manages to take the formula that Telltale built over a decade ago and take it to its extremes.
The gameplay, while seemingly limited, is a great challenge that forces you into the role of a superhero dispatcher, tasked with managing a team of former supervillains working to become something greater. The narrative goes through many twists in turns as you take on the role of said dispatcher, Robert Robertson (AKA the superhero Mecha Man), as he gets to know that team. Each of the game’s characters and their respective voice talent are absolutely brilliant, and the connections you can build with certain NPCs via romances are genuinely heartwarming.
I’m not gonna sit here and say that Dispatch is a masterpiece that absolutely changes the way I looked at the world, let alone the gaming medium. It’s not my game of the year because of that. The reason it’s my pick goes back to what I said right at the very beginning: its ability to make an impact.
Ever since it released, I’ve found myself thinking back and obsessing over each of the game’s characters, their arcs, and where they could go next in a potential sequel. Even now, I’m still thinking about moments like the party in Robert’s house and the conclusion of the game. Much like with Robert himself and the members of the Phoenix Program, Dispatch has lodged itself into my heart and left me with an experience I will never ever forget. I cannot wait to see where AdHoc Studio takes these incredible characters next.
