2025 has been a little bit of a loud, bonkers yr for video video games. Huge title after large title, a model new console within the Swap 2, and a brand new GOTY contender virtually each different week. It has been breathless, however not with out business struggles, mass layoffs, cancellations, and closures.
Which is why now, greater than ever, it is essential to shout out these smaller titles, these video games that go a bit extra underneath the radar in a jam-packed launch calendar. And 2025 has been unbelievable for unbiased video games and smaller studios, with most of the yr’s finest titles coming from these corners. A few of these are a part of our large Workers GOTY listing, in fact.
However, as we have carried out for the previous few years, we wish to shine a lightweight on a few of the video games we have performed and beloved, that got here oh-so-close to creating our Sport of the Yr listing and nonetheless deserve consideration. So listed here are our picks for the hidden gems that launched on Swap 1 and Swap 2 in 2025, in alphabetical order (and there is a ballot on the finish to choose your favorite).
NL employees key: Alana Hagues (AH), Jim Norman (JN), Ollie Reynolds (OR), PJ O’Reilly (PJ)
Staff Ladybug doesn’t miss, but the developer’s video games are persistently neglected, in my eyes. Blade Chimera is as soon as once more adorned with the studio’s signature stunning pixel artwork visuals with a pure combat-focused journey. It is Metroidvania, sure, however one with weapons, swords, lasers, and different futuristic sci-fi weapons the place combating and motion are king. This is not a sport about secrets and techniques — it is a sport about enjoyable.
2025 has been a banner yr for the Metroidvania style, however Blade Chimera’s early launch this yr should not low cost it from the dialog. It must be proper up there. – AH
I had heard subsequent to nothing about BOKURA: planet earlier than I by accident stumbled throughout it on the Swap 2 eShop. This co-op-only journey sport sounded ripe for some GameChat goodness and, taking part in via it with web site editor Gavin (my fellow house explorer), it proved to be simply that.
There have been neat two-screen puzzles and platforming challenges that led to some good laughs, however what stunned me essentially the most was its screen-specific story beats, the place every of us was left with essential bits of data that the opposite didn’t know. It’s a improbable conceit, one which threw up various surprises for the large finale, and it made me wish to play the entire thing once more from the opposite perspective.
A Hazelight joint it ain’t, nevertheless it’s an awesome excuse to see GameChat in motion. – JN
Taisuke Kanasaki has been the artwork director on some stunning cult classics through the years — Resort Nightfall and One other Code have mainly cemented him as a legend amongst DS followers — and Pricey me, I used to be can simply sit amongst these.
It is solely an hour lengthy, however Pricey Me, I used to be is gorgeous; a wordless story advised with beautiful rotoscoping that may make you consider life and artwork in new methods. It is easy, efficient, and the tearjerker it’s best to completely attempt if you happen to love narrative-driven video games or artwork. – AH
Having been determined to play Demonschool ever since its reveal in 2022, I am so glad Necrosoft Video games received it over the end line in 2025. Positive, it would appear to be a tactical RPG twist on Persona school-life components, nevertheless it’s truly a good bit completely different from Atlus’ sequence. And the gameplay is not constructed round conventional stat constructing, as a substitute feeling like a sequence of puzzles it’s important to resolve to emerge victorious.
It definitely helps that the forged is loud, proud, and extremely on the market, like a bunch of high-school weirdos that I’d’ve frolicked with rising up. Couple this with its love of basic Italian horror cinema, and Demonschool stands out amongst 2025’s technique RPGs. – AH
You’re Eugene McQuacklin, a duck recovering from a bread habit, who dons his fedora and trench coat to unravel small-town crimes and fend off the ghosts of his current divorce. If this isn’t a humorous picture to you, then Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping (and its predecessor, for that matter) is not going to be up your road; nevertheless, if that concept introduced even the smallest smile to your face, then boy, do I’ve a advice for you.
It’s a bit on the brief facet, and a few of the ‘Deducktions’ are somewhat trial-and-error-y, however Ghost of Glamping is likely one of the cosiest, funniest mysteries that you should have tackled in a very good very long time. – JN
I will be trustworthy, I by no means even thought-about the concept a sport like Trials Rising may work as a Metroidvania, however that is precisely what Laika: Aged By way of Blood has achieved with its BMX-inspired exploration gameplay.
Regardless of its vibrant, cartoony visuals, Laika is a sombre expertise that completely is not supposed for youthful audiences. It is brutal, with graphic scenes of violence, potty-mouth protagonists, and punishing problem in addition. It is all value it for that chic soundtrack, although – you will not hear the rest fairly prefer it. – OR
Monster-catching roguelites aren’t precisely new, however what in the event that they had been totally disgusting? That is a really reductive breakdown of what Morsels is, a messy sport that is overstimulating with each second. You may die a number of occasions with out realizing what hit you, begin once more and attempt to work out what you probably did incorrect, solely to do one thing else inaccurate.
Morsels is a sport about making a multitude with a bunch of messy creatures. And it is about navigating via the mess, the visible noise. It is extraordinarily compelling on that entrance alone — if it is your cup of tea. – AH
As a top-down Zelda fan, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo‘s vibrant vitality and industrial world enchanted me on its first reveal. Pipistrello loves GBA sprite work and intricately-connected areas, with abilities that you just regularly unlock to disclose increasingly more of the map.
And it is that map that makes Pipistrello so good. I like a map that teases you, leaves a carrot dangling so that you can come again and chomp when you could have the fitting capability. And it helps that each capability Pippit will get feels helpful ultimately, whether or not it is for fight, exploration, or simply enjoyable.
Pocket Lure has made a wonderful journey right here — which incorporates an precise in-game GBA-type machine — and I actually hope extra individuals decide the sport up. – AH
Selection has by no means been higher in video video games. Have you ever performed any of the video games on this listing? Assume there’s one thing we have missed? Share your favorite hidden gems within the feedback under and vote in our ballot to choose your favorite from our very personal!
And if you happen to suppose we have missed one thing, be sure to take a look at our Video games of the Yr Workers Picks; you would possibly see one thing shocking there!
What was your hidden Swap 2 (or 1) gem of alternative for 2025? (80 votes)
Blade Chimera (Swap eShop)9%
BOKURA: planet (Swap 2)1%
Pricey me, I used to be… (Swap 2)3%
Demonschool (Swap eShop)8%
Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping (Swap eShop)6%
