 |
| By Atlus - https://steamdb.info/app/2679460/info/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77171141 |
I would say that 2025 was an above-average year in gaming, and I was able to play some of the top releases from last year, as well as from 2024 that I missed. Here are my top ten video games I played in 2025 (for the first time), but first I have some honourable mentions.
Both the Resident Evil 4 and Silent Hill 2 Remakes were some of the best remakes I have played, but I have omitted them from the list because I have previously played the original titles, and the remakes are not all that different from the original. Both games are stalwarts of the survival horror genre with Resident Evil 4's focus being on action, while Silent Hill 2's focus is more on atmosphere. One thing I miss from the original games are the sometimes goofy dialogue lines, and the remakes got rid of that dialogue for a more serious tone.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger (review) was a JRPG I did not expect to enjoy. It has fun JRPG combat, a solid story, and deep customization, but looks a little over-saturated in the visuals.
Anyways, here is the actual list:
10: Dynasty Warriors: Origins (review)
Dynasty Warriors: Origins was a necessary game for Omega Force and Koei Tecmo in order to reinvent the franchise. There is a deep and enriching story covering the first half of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" novel, and some surprisingly deep combat mechanics for a musou game. However, the protagonist of the game that you play is so bland and I could not care about him at all.
Controversies about the protagonist EVE aside, Stellar Blade was a satisfactory experience. I liked the hack-and-slash combat with some Souls elements baked in, but my overall thought about this game is that Stellar Blade was a cheap imitation of NieR: Automata. That is not to say that the story and soundtrack of Stellar Blade is bad. In fact, I enjoyed the soundtrack, but the overall story and narrative pales in comparison to NieR: Automata.
8: Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f (like Silent Hill games before it) is a masterclass in visual atmosphere and audio design, and I definitely felt on edge the whole time I played the game. The game's stiff movement and combat is not everyone's cup of tea but I understand it is by design. The enemy and boss designs are cool as well. The story did not quite hook me in as much as I thought it would and after completing my first playthrough, I did not have the desire to play subsequent playthroughs.
7: Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei plays almost exactly like its predecessor (Ghost of Tsushima). Ghost of Yotei is just as beautiful and aesthetically satisfying with improved combat and a better focus in terms on how the game handles its side tasks. I found the overall story to be a step down from Tsushima, even if some of the voice acting performances are great.
6: Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter (review)
Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter was one of my favourite JRPG experiences this year with its coziness and world-building. I also like the hybrid combat of attacking enemies in real-time then switching to turn-based combat. I always wanted to get into the Trails series, and this was a remake sent from the heavens to get started on catching myself up on everything in this long-running series.
5: Black Myth: Wukong (review)
Black Myth: Wukong had the most enjoyable combat for me, and all of the Ancient Chinese-derived bosses look stunning. The combat had the Souls influences and challenging bosses, but never felt unfair like many Souls games. Black Myth: Wukong was an excellent middle ground between action games like God of War, and games such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring.
4: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (review)
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was the most gorgeous game I played this year. The visuals and cinematics are sensational, with excellent lighting and shadowing. The exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat are all enjoyable as well. Also, you get to beat up Nazis, which is sorely needed in today's political climate.
3: Donkey Kong Bananza (review)
I had the most fun playing Donkey Kong Bananza on the Nintendo Switch 2. It was so much fun to smash through all of these destructible environments to find collectibles. Donkey Kong Odyssey plays just like Super Mario Odyssey but with some Zelda and Kirby influences in its level and gameplay mechanics. This is undoubtedly the best game on the new Switch 2 right now.
I have two more games on my list to talk about, but I could not really decide which game was better because even though both of these games are part of the same genre, they are both excellent games in different ways.
1a: Metaphor: ReFantazio
Atlus are the undisputed kings of long-form JRPGs, and Metaphor: Refantazio released in 2024 is the latest installment. I find this game to be an excellent fantasy epic and political thriller where this game's tackling of discrimination feels relevant to similar issues today. There is masterful storytelling and narrative, and the Persona-style JRPG combat and life sim mechanics do not hurt the game as well. Metaphor: Refantazio was probably the best JRPG I played this year, and it is a shame that this game got overshadowed by...
1b: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (review)
In terms of the 2025 video game releases, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is undisputedly the best of the bunch. The music is some of the best music I have heard since Persona 5. The art style and aesthetic is eye-popping. E33's combat subverts traditional turn-based combat with the ability to dodge and parry in real time. There is a solid story with excellent writing, dialogue, and voice-acting. Expedition 33 was the best game a developer could make with limited resources, and I am waiting to see if this game could represent a shift toward less-bloated AAA titles or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment