I always hesitate when choosing a game of the year. It's not that there's a lack of play or anything that stands out, but purely because the idea itself feels increasingly slippery. Games don't exist in a vacuum. They arrive at certain times of the year, during busy weeks, slow nights, between deadlines or with friends on voice chat, and this ends up taking on different meanings.
So this isn't a list of technical achievements or impact on the industry, but rather a list that includes all the games that were amazing and meaningful to me. As always, this is my personal opinion and you can check out several other lists from the TheGamer team before the full rankings are released just before Christmas.
10
repo
Repo is the kind of game that only really works if you play it with friends who are willing to fail loudly and fail often. It's a roguelike game where death is expected rather than punishment. Execution ends abruptly. Quota not met. Everything is wrong.
That's the fun. Repo is best when plans fall apart and everyone is confused. It's silly, genuinely tense, and sometimes scary in a way that sneaks up on you. Like many of the best 'Friendslop' games, the mechanics are solid, but the real magic comes from the shared experiences that barely hold together until you can't anymore.
9
frag punk
When FragPunk came out earlier this year, I really wanted it to be the next big thing in my rotation. It felt bold and stylish and had an energy that made it stand out immediately. That's important in complex genres.
I don't play games much these days. Not because the game failed, but because shooters are jealous creatures and it got distracting. Nonetheless, FragPunk made an impression. It feels playful in a space that's often taken too seriously, and I think it deserves more sustained attention than it ultimately got.
8
split novel
Split Fiction feels like a game made by a developer who believes in having fun and trusting that fun to keep players engaged for the entire duration. This is a welcome piece full of playful and creative ideas.
While it doesn't reach the emotional or narrative levels of It Takes Two, it still succeeds in its own right.
7
small bookstore
Tiny Bookshop is a game where you literally run a small mobile bookstore, recommend books to customers, and decorate your trailer. There is no pressure to optimize or min-max. It's soft by design.
I spent more time with this game than I expected, and found myself playing it again when I needed something low-stakes and comforting. It didn't demand my full attention, but it got it by making me slow down. In a year filled with big, loud releases, that restraint stands out.
6
vertex
Peak starts out humble before quickly revealing just how smart it is. What begins as a relatively simple cooperative experience evolves into something much more strategic and mechanically rich. Especially once you start exploring biomes and systems.
More than anything, Peak made me laugh. many. Games that understand how to add humor to their mechanics as well as their writing tend to stick with me, and Peak certainly did that.
5
Sniper Elite: Resistance
Sniper Elite: Resistance reminded us why the series works so well when it leverages its enduring strengths. The sniping feels fantastic, the new storyline adds momentum, and the sheer creativity on display, especially in the DLC, is undeniable.
There is something consistently satisfying about preparing the perfect scene and watching them plan it together. Killing Nazis in increasingly sophisticated ways never gets old, and Resistance fully understands its appeal. I'm going to play more of these, and have fun with them.
4
Hollow Knight: Silksong
I'm not a master platformer and Silksong made sure I knew that. Nonetheless, this piece made this list through sheer skill. The art direction is beautiful, and the world is meticulously designed.
Despite the struggles, I was grateful for what the game did. Silk singing requires patience and precision, sometimes pushing me beyond my comfort zone, but it also rewards my persistence. And yes, I am ride or die for Sherma.
3
Megabonk
Megabonk seeped into my life and refused to leave. Like Balatro before it, this is a game that lives on momentum, the urge to make just one more dangerous run that turns minutes into hours.
The zany, internet-influenced humor makes it feel handcrafted, as if it was created by someone who knows exactly how the online brain works. This game is already one of my most played games on Steam. It's impressive, but also a bit concerning.
2
arc radar
The Arc Raiders were one of the biggest surprises of the year. The world is stunning, ripe with atmosphere and tension, and captures that special anxiety that makes extraction shooters so compelling.
Every encounter comes with uncertainty. All other players are question marks. I loved that feeling. I loved the risk and constant calculation of whether to move forward or get out while I still can. It made me a proud loot collector. I mean it seriously.
1
Alters
Alters stood out from everything else I played in 2025. A truly original IP, the game tells a sci-fi story of choice, regret, and survival. You play as Jan Dolski, a space miner who must create alternate versions of himself to endure the unforgiving planet. Each change is shaped by a different life path.
What makes The Alters special isn't just the mechanics, they're thoughtful and tricky. Resource management, planning ahead, and deciding how to use each version of yourself are all very important. But underneath there is a story that feels very personal. Instead of abstract moral dilemmas, it asks you to face who you are, who you might have been, and what it means to live alongside those versions.
I played it twice, not out of obligation but because I wasn't ready to leave it behind. In a year full of great games, The Alters was the game that stayed with me the longest, and more than anything else, it's why it's my game of the year.
