There’s no denying that 2025 was a pretty stressful year in general when it came to basically anything that wasn’t related to the gaming industry (I’m not diving into further details but you know damn well that I’m right in this regard), but if there was one solace in a bleak year like this one, it was that the games released over the past twelve months were, for the most part, pretty good. You’ll notice when we release the Top 20 Worst Games of 2025 list, as it was actually quite hard to list twenty bad games released throughout the year.

Between AA surprises, indie bangers, Nintendo’s new console showcasing its full potential, and much more, 2025 had a bit of everything to offer. As usual, we’ll start off this tribute list by stating all of the actually excellent titles released over the past few months that weren’t able to make the cut, but still deserve an honorable mention:

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy	Monster Hunter: Wilds	MotionRec
Dispatch	Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion	Digimon Story: Time Stranger
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond	Ball x Pit	No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES

And with that out of the way, it’s time to give these twenty games a round of applause. Here’s WayTooManyGames’ official list of the twenty best games released in 2025:

 

20 – Neon Inferno

Not all games need to be groundbreaking, revolutionary and innovative. Take Neon Inferno, for example. Even though it’s set in a saturated environment, it ended up being one of my favorite games of the year by simply being an incredibly polished 2D action platformer with great visuals, just the right amount of difficuly, and phenomenal game feel. It’s pure, adrenaline-fueld cyberpunk bliss. – Leo Faria

 

19 – Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

I’ll be the first one to admit that the 2D Ninja Gaiden games have never been my bread and butter, due to how poorly they’ve aged over the last few decades. Ragebound, developed by the same people behind the Blasphemous games, came to remedy this situation, being a lot more balanced, more polished, more enjoyable than any of its side-scrolling predecessors. – Leo Faria

 

18 – The Alters

The Alters from the 11 Bit Studios (the studios behind This War of Mine) reinvents the survival genre by masterfully blending survival elements with base-building, resource management, and dialogue options that have drastic outcomes, all tied together by an incredible narrative with several endings, lending to plenty of replayability. – Heidi Hawes

 

17 – Haste

Haste took some gameplay loop elements from the Dreamcast-era Sonic games, namely the sections in which all you needed to do was run in a straight line as fast as possible, and added a roguelike loop on top of it. What could (and probably should) have been a disaster ended up being my favorite roguelike in 2025. I’m still playing a few sessions, almost daily to this very day. – Leo Faria

 

16 – Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World was a long time coming. After more than a decade playing Mario Kart 8 across two generations of Nintendo consoles, it was about time we got something new, but the wait was very much worth it. A huge variety of characters, removal of the car build meta and ability to play your way. Different styles of races including the hugely fun new knockout races, and of course, a stable online service finally. This is what Mario Kart fans wanted. – Aaron Price

 

15 – Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Coming from someone who disliked the original game with a fiery passion, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II blew me away. One of the most engrossing RPGs I’ve ever played, I fell in love with its dirty and disgusting medieval world, its characters, its never-ending amount of quests and side missions, and most importantly, its phenomenal story. – Leo Faria

 

14 – Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo

I always thought this marvelous tale would get more recognition. Full of charming art, injected with lore and cultural homages and surprisingly emotional with the strongest moments, Kulebra was a Paper Mario adjacent title that I wish I could have gotten more from, but I still treasure what we got. – Oliver Shellding

 

13 – Bionic Bay

Bionic Bay features some of the best and most creative platforming I’ve experienced in a good while, coupled with some fantastic graphics, and most importantly, really tight controls. I was really impressed by the level design, the puzzles being thrown at me, and the fact I very rarely complained about a roadblock being way too difficult to solve – the game never felt overly easy, but rarely, if ever, made me want to ragequit. – Leo Faria

 

12 – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

The original Death Stranding was easily one of the most divisive games in recent memory. Some people (like me) loved it despite its issues, and others hated it, but it was hard to deny that it was a completely original game that made some bold choices AAA lacked. Death Stranding 2 takes those ideas and pushes them even further, offering a game that improved on the predecessor in just about every way, providing a much more exciting and varied structure that addresses many of the more mixed elements of the original, whilst delivering a heavier story that goes in some surprising directions. – Kyle Nicol

 

11 – The Drifter

With so many point-and-click games in the market, it takes something truly special to stand out from all the rest. Thankfully, Powerhoof’s The Drifter is just such a game, filled with dark themes, fun puzzles that aren’t unnecessarily complicated, complex characters, and more twists than an acrobatic performance, all delivered at a break-neck pace that never lets up. You definitely won’t see where the story is taking you, in one one the most original narratives I’ve ever experienced. – Heidi Hawes

 

 

10 – Donkey Kong Bananza

Dare I say, the first and most impacful killer app currently available on Nintendo Switch 2. In an era where high-budget games are overly serious and somewhat too samey, Bananza is phenomenal breath of fresh air when compared to the current AAA scene. It’s a joyful platformer that lets you go wild with its physics engine. There’s a lot to do, a lot to explore, and its charm is infectious. – Leo Faria

 

9 – Stray Children

The only game from this year I’m actively revisiting, Stray Children stands as another proud reminder that a team can work for years on a single project and find success in the detail. Onion Games can point to this offbeat RPG as the spiritual successor to Moon, and, in many ways, it surpasses its famous big brother. – Oliver Shellding

 

8 – Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The dumbest and most absurdist Yakuza / Like a Dragon ever released. It’s got action, it’s got heart, it’s got amazing pirating gameplay elements, and it even features a Broadway-esque musical segment. In no moment did it feel forced. RGG Studio has perfect its formula to such a degree, they can basically get away with anything at this point. I really don’t mind. Just keep giving me my hella dumb comfort food, and I’ll keep on chewing it with a smile.  – Leo Faria

 

7 – Marvel Cosmic Invasion

The unbeatable duo of Tribute Games and Dotemu was able to surpass the sky-high expectations set by their predecessor, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, with a freaking licensed Marvel title. In an era where we’re completed fed up with the MCU, and the thought of seeing Tony Stark in a media product is as enticing as going to the farmer’s market to get some turnips, Marvel Cosmic Invasion reminded me of the joyful time when comic book-related products didn’t bore me to tears. – Leo Faria

 

6 – Hollow Knight: Silksong

I don’t recall any game in the past few years that I actively pursued 100% completion for. Hollow Knight: Silksong managed to pull me in, and I enjoyed every second of it. Exploring the absolutely massive world of Pharloom and uncovering its secrets was a real highlight in 2025 for me, thanks to the excellent combat, tough-as-nails boss fights and solid story.  After an excruciatingly long wait, Hollow Knight: Silksong somehow managed to not only live up to expectations but surpass them as well, becoming arguably the best 2D Metroidvania title to be released since the original game finished its update cycle. Here’s hoping Silksong‘s support follows that same path. – Kyle Nicol

 

5 – Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance was a surprise hit clicking with everything I love about the genre. It was a fantastic year for the revival of ninja games big and small, and Shinobi absolutely deserves your attention – Jordan Hawes

 

4 – Constance

Gratitude. In a year where so much made me feel burned out, Constance was a lifeline to both empathize with players feeling overwhelmed by life and also offering real gameplay challenge and reward. This metroidvania ran amazing on my older PC, thrilled me to bits with worldbuilding and boss design and compelled me to pick up the controller every morning. This is, easily, my game for 2025. – Oliver Shellding

 

3 – Doom: The Dark Ages

The third title in the Doom reboot trilogy, The Dark Ages nearly took the spot as my favorite title of them all if it wasn’t for its emphasis on a story I couldn’t have cared less about. When the game was just focused on giving me a plethora of guns and a even bigger plethora of demons for me to use said guns on, it was, without a doubt, the most exciting, adrenaline-infused, and fun experience of the year. – Leo Faria

 

2 – Split Fiction

Josef Fares and the team at Hazelight Studios focus on creating story-driven experiences that can be played exclusively with twp players. Better yet, only one person needs to own the game to play even in online coop. It is such a novel concept that I wish more developers would embrace it. Split Fiction wowed me every step of the way with unmatched creativity and extensive variety that made each and every chapter feel completely different. Layering on new mechanics and features, leading all the way up to a breathtaking conclusion that has stuck with me throughout the entire year. – Kyle Nicol

 

1 – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Going in completely blind, I didn’t know what to expect from Clair Obscur Expedition 33. Yet, I got blown away by its excellent JRPG-inspired turn-based combat that infuses real-time elements to create a unique gameplay experience. But it’s the emotionally charged story that hooks you from the very moment you start the game, thanks to its very premise being utterly compelling with a superb cast of real characters, a top-tier voice cast and a soundtrack that is up there with my favourites. Expedition 33 is a fantastic success story that overcame the odds. It will not only be remembered as the best game of the year, but also as an instant, timeless classic that will inspire those who come after. – Kyle Nicol