One other 12 months has come and gone, one other journey round our solar accomplished. For the online game trade, it was a wierd and turbulent one — layoffs, studio closures, firms being purchased and bought. However not less than we acquired some nice video games out of it, proper?
As at all times, the tip of the 12 months brings with it the inevitable flood of “Greatest Video games of the Yr” articles. I wished to do one thing somewhat completely different. This isn’t only a listing of my favorite video games of the 12 months, however a set of standouts for very completely different causes — some good, some irritating, some unexpectedly private.
Earlier than I begin itemizing off the video games I performed and wish to chat about, let’s deal with a couple of of the plain absences.
The primary is the mighty Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, winner of each award identified to mankind and several other that aren’t. As a Scotsman, the acute Frenchness of the sport is already a troublesome hurdle to beat. However that flaw apart (I’m joking, clearly. Or am I?), I did fireplace up Expedition 33 on Sport Move and performed for about an hour.
I actually don’t know why I finished. I used to be busy with different video games on the time, and Expedition 33 hadn’t been despatched in for assessment whereas others had, in order that they took precedence — and I simply by no means went again. I’m hoping to search out the time in 2026.
Hades 2 is one other stunning omission. Hades is one among my favorite video games of all time, however I didn’t really feel any hype for the sequel. I believe partly as a result of I didn’t need one. Hades felt full. With that stated, I’ve a sneaking suspicion that once I do lastly get round to Hades 2, I’ll adore it too.
Lastly, I didn’t play any of the video games competing for Sport of the Yr at The Sport Awards: no Loss of life Stranding 2: On the Seaside, no Hole Knight: Silksong, no Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Is that loopy? In all probability. However this 12 months, I discovered myself wandering different paths. Who is aware of — possibly 2026 will see me catching up.
The Outer Worlds 2
The Greatest Sport Of 2025 That I Didn’t Evaluation
Generally it’s simply good to have one thing to your self, isn’t it?
Nearly all the things I play, I play with the intent of reviewing it and thus are likely to blast by way of it as rapidly as I can, like a cocaine-fuelled monkey with a keyboard. That was the plan with The Outer Worlds 2, however as a substitute what really occurred is that I’ve been slowly chipping away at it, and I’m extraordinarily grateful for that reality.
Obsidian has had a busy 12 months, managing to shove not one, not two, however three video games out the door. Avowed was first rate however finally somewhat forgettable. The Outer Worlds 2, although, is a special area beast totally. I’ve been having heaps of enjoyable traipsing across the galaxy, amassing weapons and finishing quests. In some ways, that is what I wished Starfield to be
The failings system is a selected spotlight. It didn’t take lengthy for me to be provided “dangerous knees” in alternate for higher sneaking, as a result of I spent all my time wandering round crouched. Now I’m tremendous quiet when sneaking, however the second I arise my knees pop so loudly that everybody on the planet — and possibly everybody in orbit — is aware of the place I’m.
Since then, I’ve additionally develop into “simply distracted”, a perk that… is {that a} shiny object!? OMG!
Other than being enjoyable mechanically, the failings add an entertaining role-playing layer, giving further persona to my mute adventurer.
Gunplay is strong, quests are entertaining, and the story is robust. The companions are sadly the weakest a part of the sport — an issue Avowed additionally suffered from. A pair are attention-grabbing, however the remaining are forgettable bumpkins who simply form of exist.
I additionally love what number of talent checks there are. Positive, they’re typically arbitrary and don’t seriously change outcomes, however there’s nonetheless a thrill in accessing areas or speaking your manner by way of conditions purely primarily based on the way you’ve constructed your character. It makes me wish to replay the sport with a special construct.
A very nice RPG. Not top-tier, however a strong 4 stars. Disgrace Microsoft buggered up the advertising for the entire thing by deciding to make it an $80 sport after which backtracking like loopy. Good job.
Marvel’s Cosmic Invasion
The Greatest Factor Marvel Did In 2025
A side-scrolling beat ’em up, you say? From the chaps and chapettes who did TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge? With a roster of Marvel heroes, some large, some small? Signal me the hell up!
Significantly, this sport is stupidly enjoyable. I wrote my assessment pretty lately, so I’ve little else to say besides that this is likely to be my favorite sport of the 12 months. The beat ’em up gameplay is past satisfying, the roster is a superb mix of massive names and lesser-used characters, the co-op is a blast and grabbing the Platinum trophy felt extraordinarily rewarding.
And only for enjoyable, right here’s who I need added as DLC: Gambit. His powerset could be excellent for this sport, and after his look in Deadpool vs Wolverine, he’s extra identified than ever.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
The Greatest Sport From 2006 That I Performed In 2025
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, isn’t it? Stepping again into Cyrodiil — rising from the sewers and into that vibrant land — felt like having nostalgia injected straight into my mind. That music. That wonderful principal theme.
In some ways, it’s aged with all of the grace of a clown on a pogo stick. There’s no getting round it. It’s almost twenty years outdated, and even at launch it was thought-about a bit tough, a bit janky. That outdated Bethesda appeal that has since soured, however was in full drive again then.
I don’t care, although. For all of its very apparent flaws, Oblivion stays a unbelievable first-person RPG full of robust quest designs, an excellent levelling system, and it lets me create my very own stupidly highly effective spells. It was a pleasure taking part in by way of this once more, and I even discover myself considering it was higher than Skyrim.
However then once more, they do say absence makes the center develop fonder, and it’s fairly arduous fonder of Skyrim when it refuses to do the absence half and as a substitute retains getting re-released each 5 minutes.
Take a look at my full assessment right here.
Mafia: The Outdated Nation
The Greatest Sport That Made Me Really feel Issues
I used to be deeply glad to see the return of Mafia, and even happier with the way it did it: a centered expertise that makes good use of its double-A price range. It’s a robust counterargument to an trade obsessive about bloated budgets and limitless growth cycles.
The story is the sport’s focus, a traditional Mafia story of a younger man being “saved” from a horrible life by a Don and steadily changing into increasingly concerned within the household’s lifetime of crime, by no means realising he’s traded one kind of slavery for one more. Throw in a forbidden romance and also you’ve acquired the foundations for a compelling, albeit pretty simple, story of loyalty, love and loss.
Easy? Sure. Considerably predictable? Additionally sure. However, executed fantastically by way of well-written characters and stellar performances. It’s not fairly often a sport tugs at my meagre heartstrings, and but that’s what The Outdated Nation did. When the credit went scooting up the display screen, I put down my controller with the sort of glad sigh I often reserve for ending an excellent guide.
When it comes to gameplay, it’s nothing particular. Customary taking pictures, knife fights that lose their oomph after the primary couple, primary driving. However if you happen to love an excellent story, that is the sport for you.
South Of Midnight
The Greatest Sport With All The Swagger
In relation to its platforming and its fight, South of Midnight is about as memorable as a Pot Noodle. And never even one of many good ones, like…um. Okay, there’s no good one. However you ge the purpose.
However on the subject of the vibes, South of Midnight is one thing else totally, a folksy supernatural story wrapped in a stunning aesthetic and a putting stop-motion animation fashion, it oozes persona. And the music — that’s what brings all of it collectively. Southern blues, heaps of soul.
I don’t keep in mind each gameplay beat, however I keep in mind the music. I keep in mind the characters. I keep in mind these moments the place the sport all of the sudden blooms right into a musical quantity. Truthfully, the builders ought to simply go and make an animated movie, as a result of I’d watch the hell out of it.
As an alternative, all that love and creativity is wrapped round a totally mediocre action-adventure core, leaving the sport struggling to search out an viewers. At the very least Sport Move gave South of Midnight an opportunity to exist — and for that, I’m glad.
Additionally, the truth that it wasn’t nominated for Greatest Music at The Sport Awards is an absolute travesty.
The Alters
The Greatest Sport I Actually Need To Like However Can’t
The Alters is among the cleverest video games of 2025, each conceptually and in execution. It’s sci-fi premise of being stranded on a hostile planet the place you must rigorously handle sources whereas staying forward of the solar is already a strong setup for a administration sport, however whenever you throw in a crew of clones you find yourself with one thing very cool certainly.
The only most spectacular side of the sport is Alex Jordan , the bloke who not solely performs the function of Jan Dolski, but additionally all of the clones. Since each clone is predicated on completely different paths Jan might have taken in life, they’re all completely different, from a logical scientist to a blue-collar miner to a therapist. All completely different, however all nonetheless Jan. Alex Jordan manages to seize that completely, giving every a particular voice. His work is spectacular, and he ought to have been nominated for his performances at The Sport Awards. As an alternative, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 acquired a number of nominations.
As a lot as I do know the sport is nice, although, I hated taking part in it. On the time, I used to be coping with the gradual decline of my beloved canine’s well being on account of bone most cancers, and was confronted with making a number of arduous selections over that and another private issues. In brief, my head merely wasn’t in a spot the place I may interact with a sport that continually demanded arduous selections below an ever-ticking clock. It made me really feel wired and anxious at a time once I didn’t want extra of both emotion being dropped into my mind chemistry.
The excellent news is that I wish to return to The Alters sometime. Perhaps, given sufficient time and distance, the affiliation with that interval will fade sufficient for me to totally recognize what the sport is doing.
Learn my assessment of The Alters.
Shinobi: Artwork of Vengeance
The Greatest Sport About Being A Ninja
2025 had an unusually giant variety of video games about being a ninja, and even weirder is that three of them had been all new video games in outdated franchises. In fact, my declare is a bit daring: Shinobi may not be one of the best sport about being a ninja as a result of I didn’t play the opposite ones, however a little bit of hyperbole is at all times enjoyable, isn’t it? And regardless, ninja-lovers did fairly properly for themselves in 2025.
Stupidity apart, Artwork of Vengeance is a terrific return for the collection. Easy fight, lovely visuals, and a ninja known as Joe — presumably the least ninja identify conceivable. It’s a type of video games that simply feels good to play, letting you slip right into a zen-like state as you duck, dive, dodge, and decimate your manner by way of enemies.
Oh, after which I went and replayed it with the 8BitDo Xbox Arcade controller that I reviewed this 12 months. Holy shit, people, that was a hell of an expertise! It already felt good, however whenever you throw in large clicky buttons which can be designed to really feel like an arcade cupboard, it turns into one thing else totally.
Let’s hope this marks the return of Shinobi. We’d like extra of this.
And you want to learn my assessment for Artwork of Vengeance.
Battlefield 6
The Sport That Made Me Suppose I’m Too Outdated For This Shit
What a 12 months for Battlefield, eh? First, Name of Obligation poops the mattress, delivering one of many worst-reviewed video games the collection has seen in years, after which it brings in a lot decrease than regular participant numbers and gross sales. The timing was excellent for a returning Battlefield 6, which was not solely an amazing shooter but additionally centered on key advertising factors designed to tempt CoD gamers. Hey, it stated, we don’t have these silly clown colors and Rick & Morty skins, so possibly it is best to come hang around with the remainder of us adults.
Now, again once I was however a wee nipper (I’m nonetheless wee, however now additionally older and extra aggravated, generally) I used to be fairly good at Battlefield: Dangerous Firm 2. And over time I maintained first rate multiplayer expertise. However these previous few years, I’ve barely ventured into the fabled lands of multiplayer, also called the dominion of I Fucked Your Mum Final Evening. So once I stepped into Battlefield 6’s multiplayer, able to have an excellent time, what really occurred was tantamount to the homicide of my ego. Poor bastard didn’t stand an opportunity.
Look, it isn’t the sport’s fault. Nope. Battlefield 6 is superior. I’m the problem right here. Each match, I used to be overwhelmed, attempting to determine the place I used to be and the place the enemy was. There’s a lot detailed stuff on the display screen today that I discover it arduous to pick the pixels of a shifting enemy, not to mention shoot them rapidly sufficient.
Positive, if I put within the time I’d most likely enhance, however my lasting reminiscence of Battlefield 6 is an easy one: am I getting outdated?
Then once more, does it actually matter once I’m laughing myself silly at a teammate unintentionally wedging a tank right into a tiny alley and blocking a complete route? In all probability not. What I really want to do is settle for my mediocrity, embrace the chaos, and benefit from the spectacle.
Lengthy reside Battlefield. It’s good to have you ever again.
A fast wrap-up
Trying again, this looks like a 12 months the place video games mattered to me much less as “merchandise” and extra as experiences formed by time, temper, and circumstance. Some hit arduous. Some bounced off totally. Some shocked me by sticking round longer than anticipated. And actually? I believe I favor wanting on the 12 months this fashion.
Let me know if you happen to most popular this over a normal “Better of 2025” listing.
