2025 has emerged as a groundbreaking year for video game lovers, showcasing a diverse lineup ranging from innovative indie creations to massive AAA titles.
From the collaborative journey between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in Split Fiction to the architectural mystery of Blue Prince, from the terrifying investigations in R.E.P.O to the Japanese pirate action of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.
This article highlights the best games of 2025 that have generated significant buzz this year, not just for their quality or visuals, but because each title introduces something fresh in terms of storytelling, gameplay mechanics, or interaction with virtual worlds.
Best Games of 2025
Split Fiction
Developed by Hazelight Studios, Split Fiction launched in March 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It stands out as one of the most thrilling and inventive co-op games in recent years.
By May 2025, Split Fiction had sold over 4 million copies, positioning it as a strong contender for “Game of the Year” awards.
The story centers on two contrasting writers: Miu, a rigid, rational sci-fi author, and Zoey, a fantasy writer who thrives on dreams and boundless imagination.
Their narratives intertwine when they’re trapped inside a mysterious machine stealing their creative ideas for an evil publishing company called “Rader.”
Players seamlessly transition between sci-fi worlds filled with cyber-ninjas and fantasy realms teeming with dragons and magical creatures.
The game offers a dynamic co-op experience where mechanics evolve per level, ranging from neon-lit futuristic motorcycle races to dragon battles in enchanted castles.
Each level introduces unique challenges and tools, such as laser swords, magic spells, and navigation through gravity-shifting environments.
Critics like IGN, GameSpot, and Eurogamer praised its gameplay diversity, emotional storytelling, and artistic creativity. GameSpot hailed it as “a love letter to creativity” and one of the most distinctive co-op experiences ever made.
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Blue Prince
A one-of-a-kind puzzle game released in 2025 by Dogubomb after over eight years of development, Blue Prince is celebrated as one of the best games of 2025, blending mystery, smart architectural design, and a deep narrative.
Set in a mysterious palace called “Mount Holly,” players inherit the role of “Simon,” who begins exploring the estate by reshaping its rooms daily in random configurations.
The non-linear story unfolds through in-game notes, videos, and books, revealing a tangled family history brimming with secrets, focusing on mystery and familial drama.
The game challenges players to solve complex puzzles within an ever-changing environment, where rooms are randomly rearranged daily, ensuring no playthrough is the same.
Players use a “Drafting” system to select rooms to add to the palace, facing deep logical and mathematical challenges requiring quick thinking and strategic planning.
Visually, Blue Prince shines with cel-shaded art and immersive sound design that heightens suspense and intrigue.
Critics from IGN, PC Gamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and Metacritic ranked it among the best games of 2025, praising its originality and depth.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
The 14th main entry in the Assassin’s Creed series, Shadows, launched in March 2025 exclusively for next-gen consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) and PC.
Set in feudal Japan during the late Sengoku period (around 1579), it marks the first Assassin’s Creed title designed solely for ninth-gen hardware.
The game explores the age-old conflict between the Assassins (seeking peace through freedom) and the Templars (pursuing peace through control), told through two protagonists:
Nayuta: A ninja excelling in stealth and fast combat, equipped with shuriken and a climbing hook.
Yasuke: A historically inspired African samurai wielding a kanabō (iron club) in direct combat.
Key innovations include:
- A dynamic seasonal system affecting gameplay (e.g., frozen rivers in winter).
- Enhanced stealth mechanics, like extinguishing lanterns to hide movement.
- An open world comparable in size to Assassin’s Creed Origins.
- Critics praised its return to the series’ roots, narrative depth, and refined gameplay, cementing it as one of 2025’s standout titles.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Another of the best games of 2025, released in February 2025 by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega, this spin-off of the Like a Dragon series (formerly Yakuza) merges traditional yakuza themes with pirate adventures in Hawaii.
The story follows Goro Majima, a fan-favorite character who loses his memory and wakes up as a new pirate on Hawaiian shores.
Majima leads a crew on a quest for legendary treasure, battling rival pirate gangs and local factions. The game features an open world inspired by tropical Hawaiian islands, including Honolulu and secret locations like Madlantis.
It revives the series’ iconic realistic combat system with two core styles:
- Mad Dog Style: Fast-paced acrobatic moves, punches, and Heat actions that drain energy.
- Sea Dog Style: Pirate-themed dual swords, flintlock pistols, and grappling hooks for dynamic attacks.
Real-time naval battles let players command ships, fight enemies, and upgrade crews. Exploration includes island-hopping, loot collection, and crew morale management via activities like cooking and parties.
The game received positive reviews from PCMag, IGN, and Rock Paper Shotgun for its bold fusion of genres and nostalgic combat.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a role-playing game (RPG) released on April 24, 2025.
Among the best games of 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 blends classic elements with innovation, drawing inspiration from titles like Final Fantasy 7 and Persona 5, yet offering a unique experience that doesn’t imitate but rather adds something fresh to the genre.
The story follows a group of young individuals on an adventure to save their world through a mature, emotional, and thrilling RPG narrative.
What sets the game apart is its innovative battle system that combines interactive mechanics with turn-based combat.
Each character features unique combat mechanics, along with the ability to equip multiple items that interact in creative ways.
The main storyline lasts approximately 30 hours, complemented by rich optional content that encourages players to explore every corner of the meticulously designed expansive world. The game also stands out with visuals inspired by classic animation, enhancing the storytelling and environmental immersion.
IGN described it as an incredible experience, praising its deep and moving story, along with its advanced tactical combat system, considering it one of the best RPGs of 2025.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds is an action role-playing game (RPG) released in 2025, developed by Capcom as a successor to the success of Monster Hunter: World (2018).
Set in the “Forbidden Lands,” players take on the role of a hunter searching for a missing exploration team in a world filled with massive creatures.
The game features a large and diverse roster of both new and classic monsters, set within an open-world environment that allows free movement between different regions.
It introduces refined combat mechanics while retaining a variety of weapons from previous entries in the series, including improvements to the Slinger device, which now functions as a grappling hook for mobility and environmental interaction.
The game features dynamic environmental changes that affect monster behavior, such as rivers flooding after rain that awakens the Uth Duna beast, as well as weather and time-of-day effects influencing gameplay and combat. It also includes a targeted body-part system that offers tactical advantages during fights.
The game supports online multiplayer for up to four players, alongside single-player mode, and features crossplay functionality across major platforms (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC).
IGN gave the game a balanced review, noting that it delivers an enjoyable hunting experience with smart gameplay improvements, though it’s less challenging compared to earlier entries in the series, ultimately receiving positive overall feedback.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is the second installment in the action-adventure series developed by Kojima Productions, scheduled for an exclusive release on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025.
The story takes place 11 months after the events of the first game, where Sam Bridges lives a peaceful life with his Bridge Baby (BB), until he is called upon to embark on a new mission in Mexico, later continuing in Australia to reunite a fractured society.
The gameplay blends open-world exploration, infrastructure building such as roads and bridges, and package delivery.
It introduces significant improvements to the combat system compared to the first game, making it more dynamic and engaging. Players can use a range of weapons from assault rifles to sniper rifles, along with tools like ropes to strangle enemies or distract them.
Players have the freedom to choose between stealth or direct confrontation, switching seamlessly between the two styles during combat.
A new APAS Enhancement Tree has also been added, allowing players to upgrade Sam’s abilities and customize gameplay, such as analyzing weather conditions or hiding footprints.
R.E.P.O
R.E.P.O. (Retrieve, Extract, & Profit Operation) is a co-op multiplayer horror game released on February 26, 2025, in early access on Steam. Developed and published by the independent Swedish studio Semiwork.
One of the best games of 2025, R.E.P.O merges survival horror with advanced physics mechanics and supports cooperative play for up to six players.
Set in a fictional world following the disappearance of humanity, players take on the roles of robots tasked with exploring abandoned, eerie locations filled with secrets and ancient treasures, collecting high-value artifacts.
These locations are found in dark, terrifying ruins and buildings, requiring players to move carefully to avoid relentless predatory creatures.
The game uses a first-person perspective, and players must work together to collect and transport valuable objects, such as musical instruments, relics, and books, to designated extraction points.
The game’s physics engine features realistic object interactions, where items can be easily damaged if handled roughly or collide with walls, monsters, or even other players. As time progresses within a mission, the danger level increases, making encounters more intense and encouraging calculated risk-taking.
Since its release, R.E.P.O has received mostly positive reviews from critics and players alike, being described as “six-player chaos at its finest,” with praise for its unintentionally funny moments and exciting co-op gameplay.
In Conclusion:
The best games of 2025 have proven that creativity in the gaming industry still holds plenty of surprises. Whether you’re a fan of deep narratives, strategic challenges, or immersive co-op experiences, there’s a title on this list that matches your taste.
Each game on this list offers something unique, earning its place among the most notable releases of the year.
With technological advancements and increasing attention to detail, it’s clear that the future of gaming will be full of surprises—but what the best games of 2025 have delivered already proves we’re living in a golden era of digital entertainment.
