2025 was a killer year for game releases, no question. Heavy hitters and indie releases were aplenty, and no matter where you looked, there was likely something for you.
Our Console Creatures team compiled an extensive list of some of the year’s best, but I figured I’d highlight some hidden gems and ones that may have been missed among the 2025 chaos. These are five games that I think no matter the age or the type of gamer you are, you’ll find something to enjoy!
TMNT Tactical Takedown
I’m a massive fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Donnie is the best, I will not be fielding any questions about this, it is just a fact). Growing up with the classic cartoon, amazing games at home and at the arcade, the 90’s films, it was the best!
And while we’ve had some fantastic games in recent years, TMNT: Tactical Takedown really carves its own path in a genre I already really enjoy. It’s a grid-based, tactical action game that feels like a mix of XCOM and the Hitman GO games.
Each hero in a half shell and enemy are represented by board game pieces in an isometric view. No matter which turtle you play as, you’ll have a handful of moves you can use to knock, bop, smash, and toss the footclan and others. The campaign does a great job of letting you play as each member of the turtle family, infusing variety and fun into nearly every stage.
Level design and challenge are perfect, and it’s a game that you can get through in less than 5 hours. It looks great, sounds fantastic, and plays extremely well! It’s a fresh take on the popular TMNT franchise that any fan should play.
Primal Planet
This is a little game I stumbled upon earlier this year, before it was released. Primal Planet’s trailer showed me dinosaurs, crafting mechanics, and aliens. What more could I want!?
I eventually picked it up on Good Old Games and jumped in right away. The next thing I noticed was that the game I was planning to “try out” for an hour or so turned into a 4-hour sit-down and dozens of remarkable discoveries.
Primal Planet has you control a caveman and a tiny dino buddy as they travel throughout their world to save their family and discover precisely what’s going on around them. At its core, the game is a 2D exploration game with some survival elements. As you explore, you’ll gather resources to craft better weapons, healing items, and defeat enemies (dinosaurs, rival cavepeople, and aliens) to earn XP.
Almost everything you see can be interacted with, and it all serves a purpose. It’s a game that really doesn’t hold your hand and allows you to experiment as you go and discover all there is to unlock and wield.
Dungeon Clawler
This is an early access game I picked up back in late 2024 and have frequently checked in on. Think of a roguelike, turn-based battle system, but instead of wielding a sword and shield, you’ll have to pick them up from a claw machine first!
That’s the general conceit of Dungeon Clawler, but it goes deeper than that. I went in over a year ago, thinking I’d get a few fun hours and maybe check back in when it hit 1.0. But I was wrong! It’s hard to put this game down as the gameplay loop is joyously addictive and the humour is wonderful and goofy.
The game’s core mechanics seem weird and frustrating on the surface because let’s be honest: those claw machines are funny and frustrating too! But I found that the systems at play are well balanced after numerous thoughtful updates, the different heroes you play as add a lot of fresh mechanics and approaches, and pretty much all the new content and patches have made the game better and better.
Ruffy and the Riverside
Ruffy is a wonderful character! I wrote about what this game does in my review earlier in 2025, and it still rings true: this game is a wonderful experience that takes me back to one of my favourite eras of gaming.
Ruffy and the Riverside is a slice of personality and colour we don’t get often enough. This semi-open world game is a 3D platforming joy to see, hear, and, of course, play. If you’re a fan of classic 3D platformers like I am, this is a new game that will scratch that itch left behind by early Ubisoft titles and, of course, Rare Ltd.
The childlike nature of the characters and the world goes a long way in how much I enjoyed my time with the game. But like many greats that it’s inspired by, Ruffy is crafting its own unique experience. The core mechanic of swapping textures throughout the world is a blast! It created so many fun and engaging opportunities to make the game my own.
Puzzles range from platforming trickery to unlocking doors or chests, but they’re all a joy to solve because the game lets you experiment and explore at your leisure.
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor
The survivor-like genre has exploded! The Deep Rock Galactic universe is also growing; so why not combine the two? I was skeptical at first, but it’s now undeniable that this is one of my favourites ever to be released.
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor reached its 1.0 release in 2025 with a ton of gameplay tweaks, new modes, and a refresh of some of its roguelike mechanics in the months leading up. As with Dungeon Clawler, I found that these changes and updates had made the game better, more accessible, and more robust.
Sure, you’ve likely played a game similar to this before. Still, there’s something about the weapon upgrade progression, level design, new mode, and personality that had me coming back again and again.
I put a dozen hours into this before its full release, and I plan on putting dozens more as soon as I can; this game is a blast!
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Author: 360 Technology Group
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