In the great pantheon of video games, there are years when gamers will debate whether the quality of releases skewed one direction or another. 2025 is one of those rare years, however, where you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who said it wasn’t an incredible year.
Usually in years that stick out the most in gaming, a major new console gets released, which was the case in 2025 with Nintendo Switch 2. As popular and commendable as that launch was, though, it’s the games themselves that made this such a standout year. Not only did heavy hitters deliver with great entries from the Monster Hunter, Battlefield, Silent Hill and Death Stranding franchises, but multiple titles from smaller developers and publishers simply blew our socks off. And that’s not to mention the many fantastic indie games that came out of seemingly nowhere to dominate conversation.
We simply can’t wait any longer to talk about some of these amazing games, so let’s run down DualShockers’ Top 10 Games of 2025!
Monster Hunter Wilds is a great addition to one of Capcom’s most popular franchises. It does everything right to improve the hunting experience, such as streamlining mechanics and making it more accessible for all players. It’s the most welcoming Monster Hunter to date, while still keeping the core experience that veterans have come to know and love. There are some valid nitpicks here and there, such as performance issues on PC, but there’s no denying that the game is one of the best in the franchise.
Monster Hunter Wilds is a game that’s difficult to put down due to its addictive gameplay loop. Deep build customization, incredibly designed monsters that are a blast to fight, and one of the most fun multiplayer experiences keep players engaged for hours on end. Since launch, Monster Hunter Wilds has received multiple title updates, including new enemies, exciting events and balance updates that have made it even better than before. There’s no doubt that Monster Hunter Wilds is one of the best games of 2025, and the excitement for its likely expansion is through the roof. – Christian Bognar
If “Donkey” isn’t one of your top five Kongs, then we have a barrel to pick with you. Not only did the great ape launch the entire Mario series with the original 1981 arcade game (thanks, Jumpman!), but he’s long been a beloved character whether it was in his Country series or even racing alongside his buddy Diddy. And yet with all the character’s success and fame, Donkey hadn’t seen a mainline entry in the last eleven years.
Thankfully, that all changed with Donkey Kong Bananza. Developed in house by Nintendo, Bananza is a triumphant return to 3D platformers for the franchise that features a beautiful 3D open world that’s a joy to explore on Switch 2.
One of the coolest features of the game is the nearly entirely destructible environment, which makes total sense for a character that got his start bending steel girders simply by jumping. Arguably the Switch 2’s killer app thus far, it’s so amazing to have our beloved Kong back and we truly hope Nintendo doesn’t wait another decade for his return. – Steve Hannley
The Digimon Story series started in 2006 on the Nintendo DS. It featured mechanics that would go on to become staples in the series, such as turn-based battles, the Digi-Farm, branching digivolutions, and others. It presented a more traditional JRPG experience compared to other Digimon game series. And while the Story series was relatively successful, mainly in Japan, it never reached the heights it deserved.
Everything changed this year with the release of Digimon Story: Time Stranger. It’s the most visually impressive Digimon to date, with a roster of 450+ digital monsters to digivolve and to take into battle, a mature and surprisingly unpredictable story, and highly strategic turn-based battles that favor those who understand that Digimon type and elements matter rather than just mashing the attack button.
No wonder it’s the fastest-selling Digimon game ever, surpassing the one million sales milestone in just two months. The future of the Digimon series looks incredibly bright if subsequent releases follow a similar blueprint that made Digimon Story: Time Stranger so amazing. – Murillo Zerbinatto
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is quite simply the best RPG to come out in years. It runs with the spirit of old classics like Morrowind and delivers a highly realistic and absolutely gorgeous game world full of life and things to discover at every turn. Henry is a compelling protagonist and despite eight years between the first and second games, it feels natural jumping back into his boots as he navigates the political turmoil that is currently ravaging this depiction of ancient Bohemia.
The various routes the plot can take, the dialogue and the liveliness of the world itself are all incredible to experience and the much more polished combat this time around gives players the option to go at situations from any angle they want. From the opening moments, you can feel the special blood running through Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s veins, and in a year that’s packed with quality, it’s hard to do much better than this medieval masterpiece. – Adam Braunstein
6 Blue Prince
Blue Prince is an interesting roguelike mystery game that made waves in the industry for its uniqueness in the genre as a whole. Players uncover the secrets of Mt. Holly Mansion by setting up an array of rooms and trying to discover everything they can in as few days as possible. It’ll take brains, planning and real-world notes to keep it all straight in this thrilling mystery game from Dogubomb and Raw Fury.
Each answered question only leaves more questions in its wake, and each puzzle solved merely leads to the next. Blue Prince is a game that everyone should play, not because the mystery is so good to solve, but rather that the game is something reminiscent of times long past. Grabbing a pencil and jotting down notes about something you saw in a book while trying to fit it together with whatever other information is present is difficult, but absolutely worth the trouble as you embrace your inner detective. – Shane Limbaugh
Split Fiction saw Hazelight Studios take their co-op formula to entirely new heights. Not only did the team manage to perfect their splitscreen gameplay, but some of the sections are genuine marvels in technical performance and creativity.
The last chapter of the game, titled “Split,” is an achievement in gaming by itself, and is more than worth every gamer with a competent playing partner experiencing at least once. The love for the craft is off the charts in this entire, thrilling conclusion to what was already an incredible co-op experience.
While it might not have struck the same emotional highs of its predecessor, It Takes Two, Split Fiction is jam-packed full of joy from start to finish, including some of the most memorable moments of 2025 in all of gaming. The side stories, which were the product of a company-wide game-jam session, resulted in absurdly incredible gameplay sections throughout.
Additional standouts include “Birthday Cake,” where players navigate sentient human teeth through a world of candy before fighting a terrifying demon dentist, and “Moon Market,” a fantasy section that pulls from Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Dark Souls and everything in between. – Ethan Krieger
Midway through the year, the much-anticipated Death Stranding 2 would finally grace longtime fans who adored every part of the original, as well as newcomers who’d come to understand the game’s impact a bit later in the coming years.
DS2 expanded the complex narrative layers of the original, adding broader ideas while gracefully giving bittersweet payoffs to existing characters. An overall cathartic tale that’s quieter, more mournful, and more confrontational, while also not backing down from showcasing the harrowing sides of isolation, grief, and parenthood.
The gameplay is vastly more accessible than ever, with a plethora of new equipment and structures to use while you’re out making deliveries with Sam across New Mexico and Australia. It’s also a game with the richest graphical fidelity yet in the industry, thanks to the technical powerhouse that is the Decima Engine.
And with the asynchronous Strand multiplayer system adding more layers for players to connect and help one another, the game felt like the perfect sequel that improved everything upon the original, enough to warrant it a GOTY accolade or two. – Usama Mehmood
It wasn’t a collective illusion after all! Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally real and has undoubtedly become one of the most talked-about titles of 2025. After more than six years of anticipation, expectations were sky high, but Team Cherry has proven that lightning can indeed strike twice in the same place.
This sequel more than honors the legacy of its predecessor, refining the Metroidvania formula with a well-thought-out level design that feels more inviting than ever, with a bunch of unforgettable bosses alongside it, of course.
Oh, and the main reason behind the long wait was surprisingly charming: the developers were simply having too much fun expanding the world to stop (just like us, while playing). And that passion is evident in every frame due to the sheer volume of content and detail. To put the scale into perspective, Silksong features 82 benches, almost double the 44 found in the original game. It’s a huge experience full of secrets that offers dozens of hours of exploration. Silksong isn’t just a sequel; it’s another indie masterpiece that will live on forever in our hearts. – Tayná Garcia
Hades 2 managed the impossible by improving upon one of the best video games ever made. Starring Melinoe, the sister of Zagreus from the first game, the player is tasked with slaying Chonos, the Titan of Time, as he wages war against the gods of Olympus.
Hades 2 is a roguelike where the battles against the monsters of Greek mythology never get old, with each run testing the player a little more, making them stronger with each victory, and smarter with each failure.
The original Hades had its flaws, notably an abundance of repeated content. Hades 2 blows it out of the water, with multiple dungeons, numerous parts of the home base to improve, and a constant trickle of upgrades that make future runs easier. It’s an incredibly addictive gameplay loop, the kind that can keep people playing for hours.
2025 had no shortage of incredible and inventive games, yet it’s hard for any of them to match the sheer quality of what Hades did. It refined the gameplay of its predecessor to a whole new level, all while wrapped in gorgeous artwork and top-notch voice work. – Scott Baird
DualShockers’ 2025 Game of the Year
It’s harder to make a better first impression than Sandfall Interactive did with their debut game. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 proudly wears its inspirations on its sleeves. Incorporating a Persona 5 style of combat with a Soulslike twist is a genius decision. More than that, though, Expedition 33 proves there’s far more to fall in love with.
Its storytelling is second to none, delivering a deep, complex narrative that not only touches on heavy themes, but also pens some of the best characters in gaming history. A large part of the RPG, particularly JRPG, genre falls victim to cliched tropes and plot devices. Expedition 33 avoids these, instead focusing on profound themes of grief and mourning that resonate with everyone.
Expedition 33 is the type of game that comes along once in a generation. Every moment spent in its world reveals something else to love. There’s a reason why it’s winning awards left and right. From its incredible, skip-free soundtrack, the challenging combat and unforgettable story, it’ll be a while before any game comes close to matching the quality of Expedition 33. Yes, even with that game set to release next year. – Jake Valentine
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Author: 360 Technology Group
