Looking back at 2025 reveals an incredibly deep and strange year in gaming that ended up nothing like people thought it would back in January. The year was supposed to be all about Grand Theft Auto 6 and the Switch 2. Well, GTA6 was famously delayed (twice), but the Switch 2 did land with a bang, setting numerous records for the fastest selling console. What was destined to be a year dominated by the biggest AAA title ever, ended up instead being set ablaze by indie and AA games like Blue Prince and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, while games that seemed like they were never going to actually release finally landed with Hollow Knight: Silksong and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

For me personally, that Switch 2 launch loomed large as it helped me reconnect with the unmatched Switch library after the device sat mostly collecting dust for the past year in favor of my Steam Deck. The theme of handheld gaming loomed large throughout the year, as I resurrected my love of the Playdate, and I also was able to complete my goal of being able to play almost any game in bed by adding a PlayStation Portal to my collection for Christmas.

In all, this year I played 106 games, completing 67 of them. If you want to skip ahead to more modern fare you can jump to Remasters/Remakes, Games From 2025, or my Top 15. For a look back at previous years be sure to check out 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

Note: a “+” designates I beat a game, and a “++” indicates obtaining the Platinum Trophy or unlocking all achievements

Games Released Prior to This Year

Galaxy Burger (Steam)

Sometimes your brain needs to just shut off, and you want absolutely zero stakes. That’s where games like Galaxy Burger come in. Sure there are plenty of games where you frantically assemble and serve food so as not to anger the customers, but this one does away with the stress part and just lets you create burger masterpieces at your own pace while soaking in the atmosphere.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS5)+

This easily would’ve been a Top 10 game of 2024 had I played it last year. The beat-em-up / turn-based combat is fantastic, featuring one of the strongest dual protagonist implementations I have ever seen, and everything is over-the-top to pure chaotic perfection. This was just my second Yakuza game, and it came across as both a good starting point and a beautiful celebration of the rest of the series with about 5 full games in one thanks to lengthy diversions like Pokemon style thug capturing, Animal Crossing-esque resort management, a fully fledged dating app, and more. Just be warned that the first few hours are pretty slow, but once the world opens up so does the magic.

Celeste (PS5)++

I try to replay Celeste every year, and after getting all the achievements on the Xbox last year, I knew it was time to pop the Platinum trophy on PS5. The game remains perhaps the purest combination of platforming and learning from your mistakes ever made, and I will gladly continue revisiting it year after year especially now that I can just enjoy it and not worry about trophy chasing.

Celeste Classic (Playdate)+

After thoroughly conquering Celeste, I decided to revisit the Pico-8 version on my Playdate for some extra time with Madeline and her anxiety. The Playdate version is a brisk adventure that captures the spirit of the main game in a smaller, easier to consume package.

Batman: Arkham Shadow (Meta Quest)

My inner 12 year old boy got the thrill of his lifetime being Batman in VR. You will get a little sweaty and frequently look like a crazy person, but actually utilizing your suit and belt to use gadgets is remarkably well executed. The only downside is that it is a lengthy game, and after a few sessions in VR, I did not wish to continue wearing the headset long enough to make significant progress.

Walkabout Mini Golf (Meta Quest)

Hands down, the best game I have played in VR is this very well done mini golf game. The actual mini golf physics are superb, and playing people online (who always sound like they’re super high) is a worthwhile way to pass the time. What makes it stand out, though, are the wonderful scavenger hunts on each golf course that add an entirely new level. Note: I happily played quite a few more rounds and checked out new content like an Alice in Wonderland course as I wrote this.

Golf+ (Meta Quest)

Somehow, my prowess at mini golf did not translate to this more authentic golf experience. Yes, it was neat to have a higher-def simulation to play in, but I’d rather not shoot +50 while trying not to hit something in my living room.

Tetris Effect Connected (Meta Quest)+

I played Tetris Effect Connected on my PS4 many moons ago, and even just on a monitor it was an incredibly trippy journey that gorgeously married visuals to music. It was, interestingly enough, the one VR game that made me somewhat dizzy and forced me to play the game seated. Still, some minor nausea was worth it for some of the slickest Tetris around.

Beat Saber (Meta Quest)

Just when I thought it wasn’t possible for my wife and I to look any cooler, we started slicing through blocks with our beat sabers while dancing to a solid lineup of songs. This is one of the best known VR games for a reason, and it is frequently revisited or used to show off the headset for anyone who is interested. I am sure our neighbors are super impressed by the shows we have given them.

Asgard’s Wrath 2 (Meta Quest)

This is yet another striking and massively epic VR adventure that despite making me repeatedly say “whoa” (like when I fought a dragon) eventually got put down because I could not see spending 30+ hours in the headset trying to complete it.

Supernatural Unreal Fitness (Meta Quest)

While in the midst of my obsession with my new VR headset, I decided to use it to get in shape. Supernatural Unreal Fitness was a sweaty-good boxing and Beat Saber-style game to get some cardio in, but after a couple of months my wife and I both found ourselves not bothering with it anymore. At least we got some satisfying Chappell Roan beats out of it.

Coffee Talk (PS5)++

The chill vibes of pulling a shot of espresso, making latte art, and talking to elves, vampires, werewolves and more in your cozy Seattle cafe are the perfect way to melt away your worries. This was my second attempt at becoming a barista supreme in the game, and I made sure to get the Platinum Trophy this run. In the future when my brain inevitably needs to relax, I plan to do the same with the sequel, Hibiscus & Butterfly.

Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the Necrodancer Featuring the Legend of Zelda (Switch)+

Speaking of impeccable vibes, the roguelike rhythm take on The Legend of Zelda remains one of the most delightfully weird uses of a Nintendo license ever. Having to move and attack to the beat never gets old because the reimagining of the Zelda classics is so strong. There is plenty more to do here including some Majora’s Mask DLC and attempting a no-death run, but that’s ok because this is just one of those titles I know I will be back to frequently.

Vader Immortal (Meta Quest)+

At six years old, the former VR headset seller shows its age as a promising concept that falls apart a bit in execution. While there are some very well executed challenge rooms to be had outside of the main campaign, the actual game itself is a little too limited in the moves you can perform and plays more like a tech demo. Still, taking Vader on with a lightsaber in VR is pretty dang awesome but not as magnificent as making sweet finger guns at him.

Super Hot VR (Meta Quest)

This was perhaps the most badass game I played in VR. Essentially enemies only move when you move, so you will find yourself performing Matrix-like contortions while sleekly grabbing weapons and dispatching bad guys in increasingly insane ways. Unfortunately, this is the one game where it seemed like I did not have quite as large of an open space as needed, when I found myself repeatedly hitting things like chairs or my China cabinet.

Super Mario Bros. (Switch Online)+

Every MAR10 Day requires playing through one of the plumber’s original adventures. This year, I chose to replay the game that put the NES on the map. It’s important to keep the muscle memory of those mazes fresh and your castles devoid of princesses in need of rescuing.

Melatonin (Steam)+

This sleepy rhythm game lives up to its name as a wonderful little adventure to play for a few minutes before starting your own circadian rhythms. There is plenty of variety in the levels as you act out progressively weirder dreams like a crane game, robot shooter, and a home run derby, and the game knows how to not overstay its welcome.

The Lion King (Steam)+

I wanted revenge on one of the harder games from my childhood, and this port with its rewind capabilities provided the perfect opportunity. I have no idea how any human could survive some of the giraffe hopping or Scar fighting without the help of time travel as the designers clearly thought “Hakuna Matata” meant “go eff yourself”. Now that I can claim success, I do not ever plan to visit it again.

Loop Hero (Steam)+

I was positively obsessed with Loop Hero when it first came out, but I eventually got tired of the grind. I decided to revisit it on vacation with my Steam Deck, and found it to be even more engaging 4 years later with some quality of life improvements and on a handheld allowing for better multi-tasking. Part deck-builder, part roguelike, part auto-battler, the game is just the right mix of the seemingly incongruent idle mindlessness and quick decision making that cements it as an all-timer.

Stardew Valley (Steam)+

When I got my Steam Deck last year, I started my third farm, this time playing as my wife instead of my usual bearded self. While on vacation in Hawaii, I decided that sounded like a perfectly ideal opportunity to reach what I consider the ending of the game (getting graded by your grandfather at the start of Year 3). Thanks to the 1.6 updates, this playthrough felt just as unique and engaging as my other two, and I know I will return in future years for more farming and relaxing hangs with the locals of Pelican Town.

Sonic Colors Ultimate (PS5)+

3D Sonic games often tend to be very hit-or-miss. Luckily this Wii Remaster was more hit than miss as it provided plenty of fast, fun Sonic adventures. When it’s throwing frantic levels at you, it overwhelmingly succeeds. When it expects you to do lengthy platforming or chase sections it falters especially in some late-game bosses that lack checkpoints and made me want to smash my controller. Also kudos to the remaster team who inexplicably forgot to upscale like 75% of the cutscenes leading to some really weird 480p moments.

Dredge (Xbox)

Part fishing game set in a sleepy New England town and part Eldritch horror game, Dredge adds a psychological layer to your standard fishing mini-game. Nothing is quite what it seems and there are plenty of mysteries to unfold, but in the end I bounced off after a few hours.

Bluey (Xbox and Switch)

This year my kids started to get more into video games, and one of their favorites to play was Bluey. The game itself is perfect for kids, featuring relatively simple exploration of the family’s home to find items and playing mini-games like keepy-uppy. It might not keep parents entertained for too long, but for young kids learning how to use a controller, I highly recommend it.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch 2)+

I was surprised to find that I spent the majority of my time with my shiny new Switch 2 at its launch playing the biggest game from its predecessor’s release. While Tears of the Kingdom is my favorite game of all-time, I did not quite think Breath of the Wild was the unequivocal masterpiece everyone made it out to be back in 2017. However, on replay it remarkably did click, and I struggled to pull myself away from Hyrule’s engrossing open world thanks to some terrific graphical and frame-rate improvements for the Switch 2 upgrade.

Super Mario Odyssey (Switch 2)+

I did not need the fancy Switch 2 updates to convince me that Super Mario Odyssey was one of the greatest games ever because I instantly fell in love with it back in 2017 and again a few years ago when I sought out every power moon. Hell, I probably didn’t even need the Switch 2 upgrades to convince me to return, but I was glad to have an excuse to rejoin Cappy and Mario for sublime platforming.

Metroid: Zero Mission (Switch Online)+

Zero Mission pulls off the daunting task of transforming the original Metroid into something that is actually a joy to play, simultaneously updating it with new mechanics and introducing Zero Suit Samus for a tense and memorable stealth session. I had been wanting to do some Metroid replays recently, and this proved to be too fun to just stop here as you will clearly see in the next few entries.

Super Metroid (Switch Online)+

This game is one of the GOATs for a reason. The progression and pacing are second to none in the series, and I always find myself beating this game in a single day because it does such a terrific job propelling you forward. To my immense delight, this was my fastest run ever, and I finally unlocked Samus out of her suit. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go grieve my dear Metroid son.

Metroid: Samus Returns (Nintendo DS)++

God this is such a glorious evolution of Metroid. I had such a great time that I decided to do my first ever 100% run of a Metroid, which then similarly inspired me to do the same with Dread. The game itself is gorgeous on the DS. It features maybe the best grapple beam in the series, and the addition of melee counters livens things up (especially when you can start pretending you’re Sub Zero by smashing frozen enemies with uppercuts). It also vastly improves the feel of wall jumping and space jumps from earlier games. I have two minor gripes. Getting around early on is extra confusing with the elevators and teleporters compared to earlier games, and the frame-rate can go nuts quite often. This would definitely benefit from a Switch remake, but it was still nice to play the DS again after years away.

Metroid Fusion (Switch Online)+

I think this is definitely my least favorite of the games from Super Metroid onward. It does some neat things (SA-X and reuniting you with your furry buddies from Super Metroid), but it tells too much of a story instead of taking an atmospheric approach. It’s also too linear yet somehow harder to navigate thanks to plenty of frustrating rooms requiring you to find some hidden way out to proceed. Despite complaints about it compared to the rest of the series, it’s a pretty darn good game that does have plenty of moments that made me smile at them doing clever little twists on familiar Metroid things.

Metroid Dread (Switch Online)++

This was my second time through the game, and I think I loved it even more. Super Metroid probably gets the 2D crown with the nostalgia mixed in, but Dread makes it close. It has some of the most expertly crafted maps in the series making exploration rewarding and not falling into the confusing territory it can be sometimes in these games. The biome variety is notable especially since it reverses the usual Metroid path by having you start underground and working your way up to an advanced society. The difficulty is easily the hardest in the series, but I appreciated the challenge and am somewhat tempted to try out hard mode. As a result, the game feels a lot more physical, but it also makes Samus infinitely more bad ass. Also, those Shinespark puzzles are fantastic – just pure platforming madness that I enjoyed destroying my thumbs to achieve.

Learn more about the thrill of exploration in Metroid Dread

Metroid Prime 2 (Wii U)

I had big plans for my grand Metroid replay featuring completing all the Prime games leading up to the release of Metroid Prime 4. My Wii U’s motion sensor had other ideas. The light-and-dark settings were a creative new addition to the Prime formula, but trying to aim with a horribly off Wii-mote took the fun out of things. Part of me wonders if playing my GameCube copy might work better, or if I just need to keep holding out hope for a Switch remaster.

Ninja Gaiden (Switch Online)+

Ever since I was a kid, I knew Ninja Gaiden to be one of the hardest games ever, and that reputation kept me away from ever truly trying to play it. Now, thanks to the handy rewind feature of Switch Online and a new appreciation for the series after Ragebound, I decided I was finally up to the task. For the most part, the game lived up to its reputation, but that was perhaps mainly due to 8-bit jankiness. Jaquio might be one of the hardest bosses I have faced, but mostly because his hitbox wasn’t right. Still, it gave me additional appreciation for Ragebound and helped me recognize some callbacks.

Donkey Kong (Switch Online NES Version)

Deep in my heart, I know I should be better at the arcade smash that gave us our favorite tie-wearing gorilla, but for some reason I have always been fairly terrible at avoiding barrels and rescuing poor Pauline. The NES version was a pleasant diversion for an hour or so, and the rewind feature (are we sensing a theme) finally let me dream that maybe one day I would be capable of getting the kill screen.

Propeller Rat (Playdate)+

After mostly sitting dead on my shelf in 2024 due to my cruel neglect, my Playdate got a lot of playtime this year. I even started working on my first game for it thanks to the YouTube videos of SquidGodDev. As a thanks for all his tutorial help, I decided to download his game Propeller Rat, and I was immediately sucked in to competing for leaderboard high scores as I used precision cranking to guide the titular rat through increasingly insane challenge rooms. For over 80 worlds, this game kept me on edge.

Hogwarts Legacy (PS5)+

I was torn about what to do when this game came out because I am a huge Harry Potter fan but not a big JK Rowling fan anymore. Now that the game is on PSPlus, I decided to give it a shot, and it’s a pretty enjoyable, if somewhat superficial game. At first glance it appears like they nailed Hogwarts, but it’s actually very repetitive and not that deep. The collect-athon elements are decently amusing, though, and if you have PSPlus, it’s worth checking it out for 3-5 hours to figure out if it’s your thing or not. This could have been something truly special if it had given us Persona but at Hogwarts, but instead it’s a generic action RPG that is buoyed by the fantastical world we already know so well. It feels like a missed opportunity even if it is a solidly entertaining time.

Nine Sols (Xbox)

On paper, Nine Sols should be a favorite of mine as it combines Hollow Knight and Sekiro in a beautiful 2D Metroidvania. After two attempts the past two years on both Steam Deck and Xbox, the parry-heavy fighting has never clicked, and I have not been able to put more than a couple of hours in. Maybe one day I will come around to its charms.

Super Castlevania IV (Switch)+

What a weird little game. I have heard for years about how fantastic this SNES classic is, but I ended up a tad disappointed. Approximately half of the game was tremendous and a technological marvel with things like rotating levels, using the whip as a grappling hook, and an insane golden bat boss. Unfortunately, the other half is a bit underwhelming and sort of feels like a step back from the superior Castlevania III due to lacking the branching paths and multiple protagonists.

Castlevania Bloodlines (Switch)+

Despite my mixed feelings about Super Castlevania IV, the 16-bit era was able to provide a worthy Castlevania entry with the Sega Genesis’s lesser lauded Castlevania Bloodlines. It did some very cool things with the environment like one particularly impressive water reflection level and an inverted stage that kept things fresh throughout this shorter but much harder game.

Castlevania (Switch)+

With all the Castlevania happening (thanks to the Anniversary Collection), I decided it was finally time to beat the original. Luckily, save states make this a breezy affair because it has that trademark 8-bit difficulty that helped turn this hour or so adventure into something that was worth the price tag in 1986. While it might be a little rough, you can see a strong foundation that would set the series on a winning path taking shape. Also, special shout out to the stopwatch that is absurdly OP for the first half or so of the game.

Castle Tintagel (Playdate)+

I wanted to keep the Castlevania vibes going, and this is a pretty well done, loving tribute to the series that moves things to a King Arthur setting. The game is perhaps a little too 8-bit hard at times like its inspirations, but the dev mercifully included unlimited lives and frequent checkpoint toggles to make this more enjoyable.

Streets of Rage 4 (PS5)+

This thoroughly modern yet faithful fourth entry to ’90s-staple Streets of Rage remains a frenetic delight. The game is often about triaging the enemies to figure out your next move, and gambits like special moves that also steal a little health add an extra layer of tension that plays well with the gorgeous visuals and nice variety of characters.

Vampire Survivors (Switch and Meta Quest)+

Vampire Survivors is one of those games that you can come back to at any time and feel like you never put it down. After sinking a solid 80+ hours to it over two separate console and mobile versions back in 2021, this was my first extended return, and somehow it has gotten even better thanks to added Adventure modes, Castlevania and Balatro DLC, and the ability to play the game at 3x speed turning the bullet heaven into full-on bullet nirvana. There is somehow so much I have not unlocked yet, and I am certain many sessions remain ahead of me. I even decided to try the recent VR release of the game, but while it was a cool idea, not being able to watch a second screen while playing it made it perhaps the worst way to experience Poncle’s masterpiece.

Mario Paint (Switch Online)

As soon as it was revealed that the Switch 2 would let you use the Joy-Con as a mouse everyone speculated the game that gave us the SNES mouse, Mario Paint, would come to Switch Online, and it did. For about half an hour or so until the awkward Joy-Con mouse started to make my wrist hurt, it was a fun trip down nostalgia lane painting pictures and playing fly swatter.

Final Fantasy IX (Switch)

Last year, I finally beat (and absolutely adored) Final Fantasy VI after years of starting and quitting it. This year, I was hoping to do the same with the final PSOne entry in the series. While I did make it further than I ever have before (disc 2!), I still hopped off in favor of some newer end of the year games. I definitely was enjoying my time with it, but it did come across like more of the same from FFVII and FFVIII and just could not propel me to really lock in.

Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope (Switch)+

Thanksgiving can be a tiring time especially when traveling with kids, so I knew I needed a game I have played lots of to help me wind down before bed. Shovel Knight was just the game I was looking for. The game asks “what if Mega Man was actually a knight with a shovel” and it absolutely delivers a resoundingly good answer even on the fifth completion or so.

Root Bear (Playdate)

Root Bear was a viral sensation back in 2023 that recently provided myself and my kids some belly busting laughs. The concept is fairly simple – you serve root beer to bears with the crank trying to get as close to the desired fill line as possible while managing ever-changing glass shapes and foam. The closer you get, the more money you make. But don’t worry if you fail because you’ll be treated to a hilarious bear reaction anyway.

Gorogoa (Switch)+

I will never forget the first time I played this beautiful hand-drawn puzzle game in 2017. I excitedly sat in bed waiting for my wife to wake up, so I could show her how mind blowing this game was. Entire worlds open up as you find new areas to zoom in on or connect panels in a game that’s just as much of a gorgeous storybook as it is a giant puzzle.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Switch Online)

This SNES classic Zelda somehow eluded me during my childhood, but I have played it several times as an adult including this glitch filled speedrun. I did not fully appreciate it my initial playthrough, as I think I was just in a rush to finally beat it. Now, coming back to it and taking things slowly, I am finding it far more enjoyable and pleasantly silly.

Balatro (PS5)+

What began as innocently wishing to check out the Cloud Streaming capabilities of my new PlayStation Portal may be my life’s undoing. I sunk a solid 80+ hours into Balatro last year on Switch and Steam Deck, but I had kicked the intoxicating roguelike poker game from my system. Unfortunately, I am now back to playing “just one more round” before bed most nights as the journey through decks and completely breaking the established rules of poker remains just as compelling the third time around.

Re-Re-Re-Re-Re-Re-REMAKES (And Remasters)!

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch)+

With all apologies to the excellent Donkey Kong Bananza, 2D Donkey Kong is the best Donkey Kong, so I was happy to have some new to me 2D DK in my life with this Wii remaster. It does not hit the heights of 2015’s sublime Tropical Freeze, but it’s a stellar game that feels at home on a modern system. The platforming is fantastic without being crushingly hard, and the environmental interactions are a delight. But its shocking lack of Dixie Kong is appalling.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster (Switch 2)

For years I have heard others extol the virtues of the Bravely Default games and their influence on other RPGs’ battle systems like Octopath Traveler, so I was excited to check out the remaster on the Switch 2 at launch. I immediately lost a good deal of enthusiasm once I discovered I had bought a dreaded game card and not an actual cartridge, and I quickly gave up after an overly long intro with minimal interactivity that had me hopping back over to the improved version of Breath of the Wild.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Xbox)

Games don’t start more epic than Sir Patrick Stewart telling you that today is the day that he dies. I was fully ready to lose 100 hours to Oblivion like I had with Skyrim, but then the gameplay itself turned out to be woefully dated with a world that was a tad too empty. It looks stunning, and I am sure for existing fans, this is a wonderful way to return to Tamriel. However, without that hint of nostalgia pushing me forward, I could not carve out the time for it.

THPS 3 + 4 (Xbox)

Pretending I was a Superman in THPS 1 + 2 was thrilling and brought me back to my wannabe punk youth. The remaster of 3 + 4 just did not hold the same place in my nostalgia-filled heart since I had not played those entries when they came out. As a result, I bounced off fairly quickly, but if they ever decide to remake Tony Hawk Underground 1 + 2, I will be there day 1.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (Switch 2)+

I remember renting Final Fantasy Tactics as a kid fresh off beating Final Fantasy VII and being massively disappointed in how different it was. Still, I jumped on the chance to tackle it with more gaming experience under my belt as an adult, and I am so glad that I did. The tactics battles themselves are a blast and encourage brilliantly confounding strategies like hitting your own players and healing the enemy to level yourself up which made grinding never much of a slog. The main campaign had a blazing start and strong finish even if it suffered from some bloat in the middle. Additionally, the newly added voice acting brought this Game of Thrones-esque drama to life. My only real complaint is that the end game does pigeonhole you somewhat in the builds/characters you can use to succeed. Regardless, those characters are exceedingly fun, so it was never too annoying.

Games From This Year

Fields of Mistria (Steam)

Ok, technically this game first released in early access in 2024, but we’ll count it as a game from this year since we are still waiting on 1.0 to drop. On the surface, Fields of Mistria presents like a Stardew Valley clone with a fantasy setting. But once you play the game, it does not feel like a cynical money grab. Rather it lands like a beautiful homage that also puts a fresh spin on things and provides a wonderful community you can’t help but want to be a part of. The game is planning to come out of early access in 2026, and I know I will rejoin my idyllic community once more when version 1.0 is out.

MLB: The Show 25 (PS5)

As someone who has spent most of their life being somewhat athletically challenged at a mere 5’4″, I have always gravitated toward career modes in sports games. I have put hundreds of hours taking my diminutive self to athletic glory in previous entries of The Show, and after a few years off I decided it was time for another go-around. I was absolutely thrilled to see that this year’s game lets you make female players, and I had perhaps my best journey yet taking my wife from the minors to MVP. Now I just need to convince myself to finish out her career instead of buying the latest edition when I next get the hankering for chasing virtual immortality on the bases.

Check out my last attempt at making Cooperstown here and here.

Mario Kart World (Switch 2)+

For my (and most other people’s) money, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most fully realized incarnation of the 30+ year old kart racing series with the most complete collection of tracks from the series’ long history buoying up the most polished version of the drift racing. The team at Nintendo could have easily just repeated things with better visuals and more racers (24 per race which is double the previous game’s 12), but they tried to swing for the fences a little too hard with the somewhat boring World concept of free roaming and tracks that go from one to another instead of looping repeatedly. While these missteps limit some of the replayability compared to its predecessor, the team did hit a home run with the battle royale inspired Knockout Tour that ups the tension by knocking racers out after each track.

Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour (Switch 2)

Quite plainly put, I am a sucker. A lot of noise was made online that what should have been a free pack-in with the Switch 2 was instead being sold for $10. Since I honestly did want to get a glimpse into the inner workings and mechanics of my shiny new system, I threw the cash down anyway and was immediately disappointed by an overly technical game that requires too much of a collect-athon to unlock new areas. Considering how charming and free Astro’s Playroom was as a pack-in on the PS5, this looks like even more of a disaster for Nintendo.

Dig! Dig! Dino! (Playdate)+

The first game launched for Season 2 of the Playdate kicked things off with a delightful bang. In Dig!Dig!Dino! you dig for fossils and jewels with a limited amount of stamina each day. The roguelike structure works great as you build up your skills and fill out your collection. The real highlight, though, is the absolutely bonkers story that slowly unfolds.

Otto’s Galactic Groove (Playdate)+

Yet another Season 2 win for the Playdate, Otto’s Galactic Groove takes full advantage of the surprisingly robust audio capabilities of the Playdate and delivers an amazing rhythm game experience that makes effective use of the crank.

Chance’s Lucky Escape (Playdate)+

Here we have a point-and-click adventure that is yet another winning addition to Playdate Season 2. The game made full use of the crank, gyroscope, and microphone (which I didn’t even know existed on this thing) for a breezy 30-minute or so round of light puzzle solving and humorous writing as a spinoff of Inspector Waffles.

Taria & Como (Playdate)+

The highest production value game of Season 2 was also one of its best featuring a well executed crank-based grapple hook system and some biting takes on capitalism to go with nifty visuals and frame rate tricks.

Black Hole Havoc (Playdate)+

This was an unexpectedly fun, surprisingly cinematic arcade game. The story was supremely weird but amusing, and the final week of Season 2 ended on a very high note as you carefully tried to match the sizes of black holes while avoiding people and hazards.

Long Puppy (Playdate)

The more your puppy eats, the longer they grow to help them solve puzzles and reach goals. It’s a cute concept that deserves some more dedicated time in the future.

Tiny Turnip (Playdate)

While not among my top games of Season 2, this unique climbing game was yet another finely tuned showcase of the cranky system.

Blippo+ (Playdate)

At its core, Playdate is a weird little system with a crank, so it makes sense they would put out some weird little games and Blippo+ is the strangest of them all. It’s not so much a game as it is an alien public broadcast programming that has you channel surfing to watch increasingly odd videos with new shows released weekly. I wish I had spent more time with it, but that which I did spend was well worth it.

Wheelsprung (Playdate)

My balancing skills just aren’t quite up to snuff for this game that has you delicately trying not to crash your motorcycle while completing jumps.

Fulcrum Defender (Playdate)

This is a fairly fun and simple arcade-y game that has you aiming in a circle around your character to defend yourself from encroaching enemies. The music and simplicity provide some quality zen vibes.

CatchaDiablos (Playdate)

The gimmick is decently cool (you catch assorted creatures by cranking a circle around them) but in practice it felt a tad too repetitive, and it never really grabbed my attention. Still, with plenty of Diablos to catch, I could see someone having quite a lengthy good time.

Pizza Maker (Playdate)

Making strange pizzas for cute animal friends seemed like a great way to spend a morning especially with yet another leaderboard calling my name. The fast-paced pizza making is just the right combination of stressful and fun as you roll out the dough, apply sauce, and throw on toppings. I was thoroughly enjoying it until the game repeatedly crashed on me causing me to lose my progress and shot at the leaderboard.

Crankstone (Playdate)

This Playdate game is much more impressive in how it looks than how it actually plays. You essentially play a pop-up shooting game aiming with the crank. The game is gorgeous with excellent sound direction as well, but it is painfully uncomfortable to play due to having to aim, shoot, and duck constantly with that tiny device. In spite of minor hand cramps, it’s another great example of the jaw-dropping things people can make on that cranky wonder.

Crank Up (Playdate)

Beautifully simple and utterly addictive, Crank Up just has you press a single button repeatedly to lay blocks atop one another reaching as far into space as you can. Whenever you fail to line the blocks up precisely, you cut off any overhanging bits from the newly placed blocks, but a perfect placement will earn you a slightly wider block. It’s a wonderful arcade-y time that had me fighting up the leaderboards for days.

Echo Drop (Playdate)+

This DJ spinning take on a rhythm game once again showcased how shockingly good the audio on the peculiar little device can be while providing a thoroughly banging time. With daily gigs and leaderboards, there seems to be a lot more you can get into here if the beats strike your fancy.

Fissh (Playdate)+

The extra “s” is for spectacular. This Playdate Catalog game is a fun little crank fishing game featuring leaderboards and a 1-2 hour playtime to help you get your money’s worth. You’re not gonna need a bigger handheld.

A Fool’s Errand (Playdate)

This is yet another clever use of the Playdate. This game is actually played in Tate mode (on its side) and has you walking up an endless staircase and avoiding obstacles. For a brief period, I was as high as 6th on the leaderboards.

Islanders: New Shores (Switch)

This zen building placement game is a truly chill way to kill 20 minutes or so. Figuring out how to be the ultimate city planner to move on to the next level never gets old when all you have to worry about is making the numbers go up.

Consume Me (Steam)

I do not know if I will ever truly play this game, but I had to buy it to support the dev and her vision/mission. The game is a look into the world of eating disorders and the pressures of parents told through time management, RPG mechanics, and puzzle mini-games. The hour or so I played was well done, but it will certainly take being in a very different mindset to see this crushing tale through.

Egging On (Xbox)

With just one day left on my expiring GamePass subscription, I just had to check out this Soulslike game about moving a fragile egg across dangerous terrain (you read that right). The idea was genuinely innovative, and it played surprisingly well for rolling an egg around. However, I was not in the mood for an overly difficult game, so it was not much of an issue putting it down once my subscription lapsed.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch)

Having more Samus in my life is always a welcome thing, but despite enjoying the majority of this game, I also could not help but be somewhat disappointed. The game is absolutely gorgeous with impeccable level design, and the power-ups and exploration are top-notch Metroid Prime. The game design itself, though, feels straight out of 2007 when Metroid Prime 3: Corruption released. The biomes are separated by a vast and mostly empty desert that just seems out of place in modern gaming and there are no real innovations to be had. Still, it was fun driving around on a motorcycle as Samus and scanning everything in sight. Perhaps without the weight of the Metroid name’s expectations, this game would have ended up higher on my list.

Strange Jigsaws (Steam)

This is a game I wanted to love more than I did. Like the name says, the game is full of some of the strangest jigsaw puzzles ever. The hour or so I played was exceedingly clever and well done, but I just was not in the mood for an abstract puzzle game at the time. I do hope to revisit it in the future.

Honorable Mentions

Tiny Bookshop (Switch)

Tiny Bookshop released the day after I left my job, and I could not have wished for a better game to help me decompress. This weighted blanket of a video game has you managing the titular Tiny Bookshop by taking it to various locations and then giving suggestions to people about what books to buy once you get there. Each locales has different preferences and also tons of mysteries to unravel as you get to know the citizens of your sleepy town. Even though I did not finish it, the 5 hours or so I spent with it were exactly what I wanted it to be.

Terminator 2D: No Fate (PS5)+

I was an absolute sucker for last year’s excellent Retro Realms Halloween and Ash vs the Evil Dead 16-bit style 2D platformers, and this year’s Terminator 2D is a step up on that same formula. The gameplay is a mix of Metal Slug, Contra, and even Streets of Rage starring Naked Arnold depending on what level you are on, and it features some massively fun set pieces like the iconic motorcycle and helicopter chases from the film. The experience is meant to be fast and arcade-y with limited continues and a scant 45 minute runtime, but where the game actually earns its price of admission is in the alternate timelines and extra modes you unlock which strongly encourage tons of replays. It almost plays like a roguelike with the constant pull to do just one more run as you attempt to perfect your route and decrease your time, increase your score, and survive harder and harder modes. I am just a few trophies away from what would be one of the most intense platinums yet.

Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5)+

The Monster Hunter series satisfies my desire to hit large dinosaur creature things with a giant sword, and that will keep me coming back every release. I don’t know that I would say this innovated the series in any way. Hell, it may have even felt like a slight step backwards from 2021’s Monster Hunter Rise, but it still provided lots of tense and thrilling hunts that also was the most time I spent playing online this year.

Rift of the Necrodancer (Steam)+

While not as cool as the Zelda collaboration Cadence of Hyrule discussed above, Rift of the Necrodancer breathed new life into the rhythm roguelike dungeon crawling by converting everything into a more Guitar Hero-based rhythm game. By applying unique enemy rhythm movements, attacks, and health, it keeps things fresh and supremely challenging throughout. Not to mention it’s just so absurd and charming that it’s an absolute delight especially with DLC featuring indie game darling Celeste.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows (PS5)+

I love starting a new Assassin’s Creed game only to quickly get bored and bounce off it (with the exception of 2018’s spectacular Odyssey). Even though Shadows never quite gets to the Grecian goddess levels of excellence found in Odyssey, it is a very solid entry that suffers from a little too much filler and a world that isn’t nearly as interesting as the devs thought it was. When it’s actually cooking though, it’s fantastic and powered by two very compelling leads that really compliment one another with their vastly different shinobi and samurai styles which was enough to push me through some of the monotony to just my second completion in the series.

Is This Seat Taken? (Switch)+

One of the most inventive puzzle games to come around in recent years, Is This Seat Taken? tasks you with some of the craziest seat arranging scenarios that will find you taking into account things like who has and hasn’t showered, who likes what sports team, and even who cheats on tests across a variety of levels including stadiums, classrooms, airport gates, buses, and more.

South of Midnight (Xbox)+

South of Midnight deserved more love as a very solid Game Pass day one release with a high quality original story, stellar jazz and blues soundtrack, and enjoyable traversal. The combat and overall gameplay may be a bit repetitive, but it’s well worth checking out for the tight 9-hour narrative engulfed in Creole vibes.

The Outer Worlds 2 (Xbox)+

This sequel to the surprise hit of 2019 was a game I both really enjoyed and found myself consistently disappointed by. It takes a little too long to get going, and its satire never goes as hard as it should with a story that is a little disjointed and poorly written. However, it provides plenty of high quality role-playing opportunities and lots to explore for anyone who enjoys a Fallout-style game even if the formula hasn’t advanced in a major way since 3. I decided to focus my character on speech, lock-picking, science, medicine, and engineering. The first 10 hours or so, this was a horrible decision, but the rest of the game it was an incredibly fun way to play (especially once I got my hands on plasma guns). Overall I am glad I stuck with it, but I might recommend you wait for it on sale unless you have GamePass.

Keeper (Xbox)+

Keeper is a profoundly strange but captivating mix of Journey and Inside with a splash of Banjo Kazooie and all that trademark Double Fine trippiness. I greatly enjoyed this little 4-5-hour sojourn as a sentient lighthouse. While it is filled with puzzles, for the most part it’s more of a surreal little trip than a mind-bender which I appreciated.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (Switch)+

Despite having never really played a Ninja Gaiden game prior to this, the move back to 2D got me incredibly excited for this game, and I absolutely devoured it over the course of two days. The platforming is spot on, and the combat is so satisfying especially the guillotine bounce move. Things ratchet up in the second half of the game, but the extreme challenge never teeters too close to unfair. At 8-12 hours on a single playthrough, you will definitely get your money’s worth, and there is a ton of replayability added as you can chase higher ranks for each stage or pursue perfection in Hard mode. A word of warning: I did experience some noticeable frame-rate issues on Switch 2 in the late game, but I’m still glad I got it on that for portability as it is excellent in handheld mode.

Doom: The Dark Ages (Xbox)+

This was the hardest game to exclude from my Top 15. I haven’t gotten in to any of the recent Dooms, but the shield throwing, melee attacks, and parrying really hooked me here. The story was mind numbingly boring and overly long, but the gameplay is so fun that it more than makes up for it. If you have Game Pass, definitely check it out.

My Top 15

15) Sonic Racing Crossworlds (PS5)

After the letdown of Mario Kart World not exceeding Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, I did not think I had another kart racing game in me this year. Thanks to a mega Black Friday sale, I decided to give Sonic Racing Crossworlds a shot, and I was greatly rewarded for it. While it likely doesn’t have the same lifespan as Mario Kart due to not everyone in the galaxy owning it, it provided an excellent solo Grand Prix campaign highlighted by tons of speed, thrilling drifting, familiar power-ups, gorgeous worlds, and a rivals system that added drama and intrigue to every lap. This alone had netted it a spot in my honorable mentions, but my recent dabbling with online mode cemented its spot in the Top 15 thanks to extremely fast and physical races and addictive team based festival events that put new spins on scoring every 30 minutes.

14) The Roottrees are Dead (Steam)+

While not quite achieving full Return of the Obra Dinn level legendary status, this candy family genealogy cork-board mystery deserves a spot up there with The Case of the Golden Idol as far as Metroidbrainias go. You are tasked with uncovering the genealogy of the renowned candy family, the Roottrees, following a tragedy. In order to do so, you’ll be combing a sleek version of the ’90s internet and periodical searches with a profoundly helpful note-taking app at your disposal. The internet sleuthing was a lot of fun and effortlessly made it feel unique but also accessible. I probably did have to look up hints about 3 or 4 times to get me unstuck, but for the most part things flowed amazingly well. Finishing it actually unlocks its even larger sequel that I will definitely come back to later because I cannot wait to see what other secrets this family holds.

13) Absolum (Switch)+

Gaming has no shortage of roguelikes these days, and two of the hugest breaths of fresh air in the genre come in the next two entries on the list. Absolum injects the resurgent beat-em-up genre into an expertly crafted roguelike for explosive results. It’s no surprise that the the combat is stellar given that this comes from the team behind Streets of Rage 4. Pairing fast, fun fisticuffs with inventive boons that can lead to amazingly broken builds is where the game shines. It also features numerous branching paths and quests to be completed meaning you will never get bored trying to reach the big bad no matter how many runs it takes.

12) Ball x Pit (Switch)+

For $15 you get an excellent Brick Breaker meets Loop Hero with a twist of Vampire Survivors roguelike. It takes a little to get its hooks in you, but once you start unlocking some of the crazier characters and abilities (like a character who plays the game entirely by himself) it is hard to put down. I don’t think it quite hits the level of the two genre standard bearers mentioned at the start of this entry, but there is plenty of game in there to go on for a very long time. Also big shoutout to having 10-15 minute runs making it very easy to pick up and play quickly.

11) Avowed (Xbox)+

I would not fault you for thinking Avowed was just a Skyrim clone at first glance. Yes, you are playing a first-person RPG set in a fantasy world, but the game is so much more than that. For one, the combat here is stellar, allowing you to create unique builds and mix and match styles (I personally opted for a grimoire and wand magic approach), but the true highlights come in the parkour fueled exploration and a series of choices that truly feel impactful compared to Obsidian’s other 2025 release, The Outer Worlds 2.

Read more in my review of Avowed

10) Ghost of Yotei (PS5)++

Back in 2020, Ghost of Tsushima seemed like the perfect send-off for the PS4 era. It was an open world game that basically featured the most polished version of every major open world mechanic seen in that generation set across the backdrop of the beautiful foliage of Japan. Five years later, Yotei takes the series to another level with better characters, a more compelling revenge story, some inspired musical moments, and weapon variety that allows for some of the best battles you will find in a game. Even with vengeance at its core, the most memorable moments in Yotei are when you’re simply following the wind on your horse and seeing what fun encounters or gambling dens you may stumble upon.

9) Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (Switch 2)+

I really enjoyed this numbers go up Link’s Awakening meets Animal Crossing hybrid as a game to play right before going to sleep or just to let my mind melt. There are 3 main worlds to explore each with different major mechanics and over a dozen jobs to specialize in like alchemist, tree cutter, warrior, and much more. Thankfully, switching between job trees is incredibly simple, and the gameplay never gets too deep that you have to use your brain overly hard. Rather, you can just enjoy those wonderful numbers continuing to go up to your heart’s desire.

8) Blue Prince (PS5)+

I don’t think a single game had me quite as obsessed as Blue Prince this year. For several weeks, I would dream about the game and constantly plot out my next runs to try to beat the RNG gods and solve the latest mystery. I would giddily share small spoiler-free hints with friends and be amazed at all the lore being told through carefully drafting rooms and building the house from scratch each day. In April, it almost seemed impossible that this could be dethroned as Game of the Year, but eventually the RNG started to get a little irksome, and some of the later mysteries felt like they did not pay off quite as well as the earlier ones. It’s odd because those first 20 or so hours were among the best I have had in gaming this year, but the last 15 or so post-credits hours soured me a little. It maybe is proof that you can have too much of a good thing.

7) Wanderstop (Steam)+

I had my eye on Wanderstop for a long time as it appeared to be a wonderful mix of Coffee Talk and Stardew Valley where you harvest and forage the ingredients you need. Brewing tea is a sensory delight thanks to an overly complicated and very tall machine required to do so, but the real highlight is the interactions with the increasing strange characters also in search of a change in life. The result is some of the funniest and most heartfelt writing I have seen in a long time, and it’s the most realistic take on burnout too. This game won’t be for everyone, but if it does end up clicking, I don’t think you can help but love it.

6) Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2)+

The Switch 2’s second (and far more killer) big exclusive features the most pure fun, joy and heart there was in a game this year. It maintains an incredible pace throughout, and Pauline steals the show as your singing companion. I’m so glad to see DK get the full Mario treatment, and I hope this leads to more massive adventures in the future. Overall, I’d say it’s not an unequivocal masterpiece like Odyssey, but it is still S-tier Nintendo even if it does overstay its welcome a little.

5) Hades 2 (Switch 2)+

We are now at the part of the list where any of these titles could have easily won my coveted GOTY. Overall, Hades 2 is another triumph. It did prove to be an impossible task reaching the same heights as the original as the story and new weapons present some regression for the series, but, that being said, the gameplay is superior and the boons and newly introduced gods are fantastic. It’s more of what we loved about the original, and I do mean a lot more. This game is basically double the original with both an underworld and surface to explore meaning you can always shift where you are venturing if you get bored. I just wish the characters and story had been enough to drive me to unlock everything like its predecessor did because the moment to moment gameplay might be the most polished of any roguelike.

4) Death Stranding 2 (PS5)+

Hideo Kojima’s return to his strange post-apocalyptic delivery game is another weird success. The game overall doesn’t have quite the same magic as the first because it’s not a brand new type of game. That being said, it is far more streamlined, and travel and combat are vastly improved. As a result, it is missing some of the tension that made the first so memorable, but the gameplay is more fun and the delivery loop is endlessly satisfying, highlighted by building roads and monorail tracks while having bits of weird ghost lore thrown your way as a little treat every few missions. The greatness truly built up throughout, and the finale which defies explanation and has to be played to be believed is among the strongest and strangest endings to a game ever. As a word of caution, if you are looking to get into the series don’t start here because there is way too much to know from the first.

Read more about the magic of building roads in the original Death Stranding

3) Dispatch (Steam)+

Dispatch turned heads at the 2024 Game Awards, and that attention proved to be quite warranted. The end product is basically the best iteration of a Telltale game yet with an incredible story, interesting and consequential decisions, killer animation, and a surprisingly addictive superhero management sim that helps make your squad of misfits feel like a team that is coming together. At about 8.5 hours spanning 8 episodes, it is tighter paced and more enthralling than anything you will find on Netflix these days, and it warrants at least one replay to see how different decisions play out in equally exciting ways that further flesh out the characters you can’t help but love.

2) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Xbox)+

No game blew me away quite like Clair Obscur this year. Immediately upon starting it, it was 1000% my jam. The Final Fantasy X inspirations were abundant, and the story of a far off Paintress wiping out everyone of a certain age each year felt so unique and instantly had me hooked. Every member of the party had distinct fighting styles like Maelle’s stance-based attacks, Lune’s elemental system, and Sciel’s lunar card-based approach which, combined with parrying and dodging, made this some of the most compelling turn-based combat ever in a game. This is all taken to another level by the insanely masterful soundtrack to provide an all-time gaming experience and moving contemplation of grief precisely when I needed it in my life. The shower of accolades it has received is well deserved, and it would have easily won my GOTY had it not been for the 7 years in waiting being so expertly delivered by my final entry.

1) Hollow Knight: Silksong (Switch 2)+

Following up one of the greatest games ever is no easy task, and even delivering a Top 10 game of the year can still feel like a bit of a letdown compared to the past (see: Hades 2). This could have been the fate of Hollow Knight: Silksong after it spent 7 years building up what should have been unreachable levels of hype. However, Team Cherry absolutely delivered on the promise of the first game with one of the closest to flawless Metroidvanias ever. While much of what was so successful in the original remains intact, the switch of protagonists to the much deadlier and faster Hornet elevates both gameplay and the story immensely. This world is actively out to kill you thanks to some of the most carefully programmed enemies and pixel-perfect environments, and the result is a singular experience that not only surpasses the original in every way but achieves the coveted crown of Pwned and Operated GOTY.

Read my full review of Hollow Knight: Silksong

That’s a wrap on my year in gaming for 2025. I will be curious to see what 2026 brings as the industry waits with bated breath for GTA6 to finally come out, but I hope the lessons of 2025 around sustainability and success with smaller AA and indie titles loom large over the gaming world’s future.