I'm generally a cozy gamer who prefers to unwind with farming and a good romance. But some of my top picks this year surprised me. I'll give just about anything for a good adventure or a solid mystery, and there were plenty of strong narratives across a variety of genres that captured my attention this year.
This is just one in a series of Game of the Year lists from TheGamer team. Check back in a few weeks to see the final list of integrations. Or take mine as gospel. Your choice.
10
Enjoy
When Inzoi was released, I was very excited to have another game where I could essentially play a dollhouse. Especially when the driving mechanic was added as a beta feature. There were constant updates and free DLC for seasonal holidays throughout the year that kept me coming back.
I love the level of customization and narrative direction in each Zoi's life. From discovering that you can accidentally take someone else's child into your home (before adoption was added) to pursuing your dream of becoming a KPop star, I'm forever grateful that The Sims has such a lively competitor.
9
Oblivion Remastered
Despite my obvious love for The Elder Scrolls and my thoughts that it will top the Game of the Year charts, it sadly sits low on the totem pole. My hopes for a remake were met with a shallow re-release that had the same problems as the original game.
Don't misunderstand. This game is still a great addition to my gaming library, and I've spent dozens of hours exploring the world of Tamriel. But there were other titles that had a bigger impact on me without relying on nostalgia.
8
Everything about dating!
My partner and I set up a date night to try to find every romance candidate in the house, my brother texted me while he was running about how he was looking for men instead of women, and my friends were all in an absolute mess of dating furniture with abstract concepts.
With such a vibrant and diverse voice cast, there is literally something for everyone. Dorian still holds a special place in my heart, if only I hadn't fallen for xxXShadowl0rd420Xxx.
7
Slime Rancher 2
I never thought I would fall in love with this person so quickly. Unfortunately I've never played the previous game, but I nonetheless enjoyed collecting slime and merging them into adorable monsters with evil appetites.
To be fair, I spent most of my time collecting bat slime and watching them eat fruit and smile at me, but I was advanced enough to realize there was a plot. The gray labyrinth still baffles me, but at least I found so much colorful slime to take home.
6
Story of the Season: Grand Bazaar
The Classic Harvest Moon games are where I developed my love for video games. I'm always looking for titles that evoke the nostalgia of playing those gems, yet give me the comfort and convenience of modern design conventions.
Running a busy market stall every weekend, throwing all my produce on the table and ringing a bell to attract the attention of passersby, gave me a new lease of life. Forget nature fairies. They just want to single-handedly ruin the economy with flowers and honey.
5
arc radar
Multiplayer games aren't my forte, so I try to avoid PvP encounters whenever possible. Thankfully, Arc Raiders created a very friendly environment for solo matches. But the biggest attraction for me was the rubber duck.
You'll be taking down as many Rocketeers and Reapers as possible to collect as many rubber duckies as possible. I'm still 16 years old, but I want to be 100 years old. Oh, and there's a rooster named Scrappy, and he's my son.
4
where the wind meets
In today's world of expensive video games, there's nothing better than a free, open-world RPG. Not to mention a game with too much roleplaying. Not only can you take on your role in 10th century China, but you can also convince the local farmers that you're from the future or that you've already completed a lengthy fetch quest that you weren't quite sure about.
But I'm mostly here for the aesthetics. The only revenue generation is from the cosmetics banner, and I would be surprised if you didn't want to become the most beautiful warrior doctor in Jangho. I also can't stop stealing horses.
3
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
Earlier this year, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage struck me with a feverish enthusiasm. As someone who grew up as a chubby ginger dude and moved away from home as a teenager, I immediately sympathized with Swan Holloway. Going back to the 90s felt like a fever dream and I completely embraced it.
For weeks, I was leaning back in my chair, trying to win Nora's heart, wearing old t-shirts, playing nothing but 90s hits, and just feeling the vibe. This coming-of-age story brought me to a place where anything was possible, and added a supernatural vibe to it all.
2
let go
There’s no way Dispatch isn’t on my list. Not without a star-studded cast and a well-written narrative from Telltale and Critical Role alumni to back it up. Robert Robertson III and the chaos that unfolded around him became the only joke my partner and I parroted with each other all day.
We fought over which of us made the better choice (me, obviously) and whether Robert Robertson would go with Invisigal or Blonde Blazer (agree to disagree). In the end, we both agree that Joel Haver as Waterboy is a gift to humanity.
1
Tainted Chalice: The Fall of Avalon
When I heard about this game just a few days before its release, I immediately knew it was something special. The open-world Arthurian legend felt like it was taking something old and breathing new life into it. I spent hours exploring the wilderness and was determined to help Arthur Pendragon no matter what the plot was trying to tell me.
I also love a good romance, and dedicating an entire quest line to rescuing a fledgling blacksmith and forging weapons together to show their devotion to one another really melted my heart. I would kill countless trolls just to see Beor smile at me again.
Tainted Chalice: The Fall of Avalon
- released
-
May 23, 2025
- ESRB
-
Ages 17+ // Blood and gore, extreme violence, language, drug use
- developer
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quest line
- publisher
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awakened realm
