2025 was a special year for video game releases. Narrowing down the Game of the Year to just one was a real challenge, but a very welcome one. Even if it feels impossible to play everything, that's why TheGamer's approach of having multiple staff members share their top ten lists is so effective, encompassing almost everything it covers.
TheGamer's final full team rankings will be released at a later date. From someone who has loved action-adventure games, RPGs, and more for over 25 years, here are my personal top 10 games of 2025.
10
mario kart world
Kicking off the Nintendo Switch 2 era, Mario Kart World delivered exactly the kind of chaotic fun you'd expect from one of gaming's most beloved franchises. Following masterpieces like Mario Kart 8 and Double Dash, it single-handedly earned a spot on the GOTY list for capturing the same popular racer/party game quality we've come to expect from the franchise for over 30 years.
Sure, the titular single-player, open-world focus of the game fell into decline pretty quickly, but the new player-elimination Knockout Tours mode was the twist on the battle royale style we didn't know we needed until I (or my colleague David W. Duffy) had it. Reinventing a formula as familiar as Mario Kart is never easy, but when a new mode becomes the default in Grand Prix, Nintendo knows they're onto something special.
Game of the Year 2025 – Editor's Pick, Meg Pelliccio
Here are all the games I annoyed my team this year. Because I was going to keep talking about this.
9
Pokemon Legends: ZA
After playing over 70 hours of Pokemon Legends: ZA, including 20 hours with the Mega Dimension DLC, the game's obvious and sometimes frustrating technical issues have thankfully been noticeable by offering something new to the series and staying true to my favorite franchise.
The move to full-time battles is a much-needed change for the series, finally delivering on the Pokémon trainer fantasy that many of us imagined growing up and changing the meta at the same time. Combining the Paris-inspired setting of Lumiose City with the charm of Team MZ, Legends: ZA serves as both a sequel to X & Y and a strong entry point for new players.
8
Assassin's Creed Shadow
Finally bringing the series to Japan after years of hope, Assassin's Creed Shadows felt like a long-awaited return to form. Stories set in the Land of the Rising Sun have become much more common these days, but Ubisoft's approach still stands out for its interesting use of a pair of protagonists: the fictional shinobi Naoe and the real-life samurai Yasuke.
Set in beautiful 16th-century Japan and blending old and new in terms of combat and exploration, AC Shadows proves to be the best of both worlds, good enough to earn a spot on my GOTY list. The Attack on Titan crossover collaboration isn't groundbreaking, but the core game is a great reason to return to Creed.
7
Absolum
More developers are working to create addictive co-op gaming experiences, but it wasn't until Absolum that the genre finally hooked me with its new take on side-scrolling fighting gameplay.
Fast-paced combat set in an exciting world with fantastic art and animation is highly addictive. It doesn't matter which of the four characters you play as. What's more, whether you invite friends over for local multiplayer or play together online, Absolum is easily the most satisfying co-op experience of the year.
6
Wonder Stop
Burnout happens to all of us. Wanderstop captured that feeling beautifully. The debut title from indie studio Ivy Road packs messages of relaxation and self-care into a cozy fantasy setting that's captivating and emotionally relatable.
A teahouse management sim where you're transformed into a corrupt swordsman named Atla, learning to slow down and take care of yourself is one of the best premises I've seen this year. Wanderstop gets better the more time you spend with it, maintaining a balance of whimsy and reflection without going too far in either direction and becoming repetitive.
honorable mention
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
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declared
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The Outer Worlds 2
5
Like a Dragon: Yakuza Pirates of Hawaii
The Like A Dragon series has always thrived on its blend of outrageous action, quirky storytelling, and unforgettable and heartfelt characters at its core. Pirates of Hawaii Yakuza continues that tradition and delivers exactly what you hoped for in the fan-favorite spinoff starring Goro Majima.
RGG Studio smartly combines a Hawaiian spin on real-time combat, ship combat, and open-world exploration while leaning into the absurdity of a pirate-themed underworld mixed with Yakuza melodrama, Pirate Yakuza is a gaming theme park ride I never want to put down.
4
Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei proved that sometimes the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach is the best approach when making a sequel. Building on the strengths of 2020's Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch not just for the sake of it, but improved upon key areas to create an even more incredible experience.
Exploration across Yotei is endlessly jaw-dropping, combat is more accessible and satisfying than ever, and the revenge-centric story is further enhanced by powerful performances, such as that of protagonist Erika Ishii as protagonist Atsu. I come across as a 'Japanese with subtitles' purist when it comes to games like this, but the English dub deserves praise for actually making me want to keep playing this game this time.
3
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza is not only the best monkey game of all time, it's also incredibly creative and literally groundbreaking. This is a game that should have been released on Switch 2 through MK World. Just as Breath of the Wild redefined Zelda with open-world exploration, Bananza redefined Donkey Kong by fully embracing its talent for smashing everything into an incredible 3D platformer.
As DK and Paulina venture deeper into Bananza's campaign, its defining mechanics never get old, and in fact become even better with the quirky twists and heartwarming friendship between the game's two lovable protagonists.
2
let go
It may have felt inevitable as a top pick for this list, but Dispatch was a true surprise in the form of the best superhero TV series I've seen in years, disguised as an episodic Telltale-esque game. In general, you might think stories in this genre are getting repetitive at this point, but compared to other mature superhero titles in pop culture right now like Invincible and The Boys, Dispatch still doesn't pull any punches, but it's nonetheless enthralling with its deep characters, interesting universe, and hopeful tone, and isn't constantly depressing or overly cruel for a change.
Dispatch avoided constant gloom in favor of character-driven storytelling. This is especially true of Aaron Paul's dry, flat performance as Robert Robertson III. It anchors a bright, vibrant world that becomes increasingly warmer as the narrative unfolds. It's the best feel-good game of 2025, and although Season 2 is still airing at the time of this writing, I'd love to give it a try from AdHoc Studio.
1
Claire Obsker: Expedition 33
When it was properly revealed in mid-2024, I knew Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was going to be a GOTY contender. A year and a half later, I'm so happy to know I was right, as I still experience the emotionally charged story, the artisan-crafted world, the satisfyingly challenging combat, and the soundtrack that's so moving that it still brings tears to my eyes today. It was natural and deserved that it won the biggest win ever at The Game Awards.
Just going back to the first few hours of Clair Obscur today reminds me why this game was so well received. It's an incredibly well-made RPG, has one of the most unique and well-executed concepts for a game in recent memory, and is still an all-round masterpiece that's sure to be our Game of the Year for 2025.
Game of the Year 2025 – Editor's Pick, Stacey Henley
TheGamer's Editor-in-Chief picks the Game of the Year.
