2025 has been an outstanding year for gaming, and Metacritic's list of the year's highest-rated games is a perfect example. This list is quite comprehensive, including some of this year's most notable hits like ARC Raiders, Ghost Of Yotei, and Hades II, but there were too many good games that didn't include other popular titles like Silent Hill F and Deltarune.
So, in descending order, here are the top 50 highest-rated games on Metacritic this year. Here are a few that might surprise you.
This list has been compiled taking into account the following games: every platform and contains the highest review scores of all platforms. That's why you might see some older games sneaking in here. Of course, they've all been re-released on Switch 2.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Stole Time is a ‘slow life RPG’ that sees the return of the much-loved series. The original Fantasy Life was released over a decade ago in 2014, and fans have been eagerly awaiting its return ever since.
Fantasy Life i delivers on that long wait. Our reviewer Meg Pelliccio gave the game a solid 8/10, saying “Fantasy Life i is a perfect example of a sequel done right.”
Ghost Of Yotei actually got better reviews than Ghost Of Tshushima on Metacritic (it only scored an 83), but we heard less about Yotei this year than we did before.
Perhaps it's because 2025 has been a huge year for gaming, and great games like Yotei often get lost along the way. TheGamer's editor-in-chief Stacey Henley reviewed Ghost of Yotei this year, also giving it a strong 8/10, saying “Ghost of Yotei doesn't do much out of the ordinary, but it doesn't make many mistakes either.”
You're probably already overlooking some can't-miss 2025 gems.
Let's hope we don't continue to ignore some of the best gaming releases of 2025…
Alters was a fan favorite on TheGamer this year, with former writer Sam Hallahan calling it “a unique, existential experience” in a 5/5 review.
Following the story of a dual-personality sole survivor of a space crash on an alien planet, The Alters is filled with powerful decisions, heartbreaking storytelling, and countless replay opportunities with different outcomes each time.
Heretic + Hexen is one of many remasters on this list, a revamped version of the classic FPS game from the 1990s that allowed fans to revisit their youth while also enjoying all the trappings that modern gaming optimization and quality-of-life changes can bring.
Mario Kart World was always going to be on this list as it's the flagship title for the new Nintendo Switch 2. World takes Mario Kart to another dimension with a huge open world to explore. It's a “dream come true,” reviewer Jade King said, but ultimately “not the Forza Horizon rival I was hoping for.”
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor is a successful Survivor-style spin-off of Deep Rock Galactic. Mine rocks, blast aliens, and level up your characters with unique rewards. I actually played this game with the Gamescom team a few years ago, and since then the game has received several updates, finally fully releasing in 2025 with a mighty 86 metascore.
In a rare 10/10 review from news lead George Foster, he said that Street Fighter 6 “will immediately make you feel familiar with its easy-to-learn but difficult-to-master combat mechanics, high skill limit, and quarter-circle forward motion for special attacks.” The Nintendo Switch 2 version was released alongside the new console, and overall, fans are calling it a great port.
Two Point Museum is the latest in the Two Point series, and this time you can build a fully functional museum with all the humor and charm of the previous museums. As reviewer Gabrielle Castania pointed out in her glowing 8/10 review, “Two Point Museum bravely passes the torch to the third entry with a silly name, wacky visuals, and the occasional blatant audio message over the PA.”
This series is one that is close to the hearts of many, and is an instant modern classic for those who enjoy the simulation and management genre.
I will be the first to admit that I have never heard of The Roottrees Are Dead. But upon further investigation, it looks like the kind of compelling detective and murder mystery game I'd play on a cozy Sunday afternoon. Reviews on Metacritic talk about the amount of reading, but sometimes that's part of the appeal of this giant, sprawling puzzle game. Players are clearly enjoying it.
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is the icy sequel to Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a co-op game about peacefully skiing down hills. It's a game with a low barrier to entry but an incredibly high skill ceiling, beautiful level design, and high replay value.
