Top 10 Best Games of 2025 List – Investment Policy

As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on all the games I played and choosing my top 10. I played almost 200 games throughout the year, including both new releases and older titles, and I’m still working on a few. Since those remaining games aren’t from 2025, I can confidently share my list of favorites for the year.

Honestly, heading into 2025, I wasn’t blown away by any upcoming game announcements. I was curious about what Nintendo had planned with the Switch 2, and yeah, GTA 6 had me excited before the delay pushed it to 2026. I had a bunch of games I thought I’d enjoy, but the biggest surprises were actually my favorite games of the year. If you’d asked me at the beginning of 2025 what my top two games would be, I would have gotten it completely wrong – the games that ended up topping my list were totally unexpected!

Here are my top 10 games of 2025. I only include games on this list that I’ve completely finished, so a couple of highly anticipated titles didn’t make it. I haven’t had much time with Hollow Knight: Silksong yet, and honestly, I wasn’t a big fan of the first Hollow Knight, so it hasn’t grabbed me. I also haven’t finished Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 yet. I enjoyed the original KCD a lot this year, but the sequel hasn’t quite captured the same magic for me. I’ve put about 10 hours into it and plan to finish it eventually, but it’ll likely have to wait until next year.

10. The Seance of Blake Manor

I’m a big fan of both puzzle and horror games, so it’s no surprise that The Seance of Blake Manor is one of my top ten games this year. Developed by Spooky Doorway and published by Raw Fury, the game puts you in the shoes of detective Declan Ward, who’s called to Blake Manor in 1897 for a special seance. He has just three days to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of guest Evelyn Deane.

Though not strictly a horror game, The Seance of Blake Manor is often genuinely creepy and builds a really immersive, spooky mood. Everything you do – talking to guests or investigating clues – moves the story forward, so you need to carefully plan each day to solve the mystery. It’s a bit like a blend of Blue Prince and Return of the Obra Dinn, and I found it hard to stop playing. If you enjoyed either of those games, The Seance of Blake Manor is a must-play.

9. Look Outside

While The Seance of Blake Manor has horror elements, it doesn’t fully commit to the genre. Look Outside, however, is one of the most genuinely frightening horror games of the year. This retro-style RPG takes place in a modern apartment, where simply looking outside begins a terrifying transformation. Look Outside cleverly combines the tension of survival horror with turn-based combat. Players must carefully manage resources, explore for useful items and allies, and make crucial choices that significantly impact each playthrough. It’s a game horror fans shouldn’t miss, and it’s likely to stay with you long after you finish playing.

8. Donkey Kong Bananza

So far, the best game made specifically for the Switch 2 is also one of the year’s best games overall. Donkey Kong Bananza is a huge 3D platformer where you can smash through environments while collecting tons of bananas. It really shows off what the Switch 2 can do, and it’s incredibly fun from beginning to end, culminating in a thrilling and spectacular finale. While the Switch 2 doesn’t have a ton of exclusive games just yet, Donkey Kong Bananza is a strong reason to consider getting Nintendo’s newest console if you haven’t already.

After its release, Donkey Kong Bananza gained extra content through paid downloadable updates. These additions included the Emerald Rush mode, which is a roguelike game, and the DK Island area.

7. Sword of the Sea

I was really impressed with Giant Squid when they released The Pathless on the PS5, and their new game, Sword of the Sea, is just as good. It’s a shorter adventure, but honestly, it’s a blast. You explore these beautiful worlds using your sword – it basically feels like snowboarding and skateboarding at the same time! The game looks amazing, the music is incredible, and most importantly, it’s just plain fun to play. It’s not a huge, sprawling game – I finished it in a few hours – but it’s one of those games that’s really stayed with me. I seriously can’t find anything to complain about! Plus, it was available for PS Plus Extra subscribers at launch, so a lot of us got to try it out without even needing to buy it. Definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.

6. Ghost of Yotei

While Sony releasing PlayStation 5 games on PC has reduced the number of true exclusives, the PS5 still boasts some amazing titles you can’t play anywhere else. Ghost of Yotei is a standout, and in my opinion, it’s even better than the already excellent Ghost of Tsushima.

The game Ghost of Yotei will receive a free update in 2026, bringing the co-op Legends mode – originally featured in Tsushima – to players.

In Ghost of Yotei, you play as Atsu, a samurai driven by revenge as he pursues the Yotei Six. While the story of vengeance isn’t entirely new, it’s still captivating, featuring interesting characters and constant excitement. Building on the excellent sword fighting from Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei offers even more combat options, keeping battles fresh and engaging. With a stunning open world full of secrets and dozens of hours of quests, this game truly demonstrates the power of the PS5.

5. Silent Hill f

From the moment I started playing Silent Hill f, I suspected it would be a game people would either strongly love or strongly dislike, and the initial reactions have proven me right. I definitely fall into the ‘love’ category. Silent Hill f moves Konami’s classic survival-horror series to 1960s Japan, but despite the change in setting, it still feels like a true Silent Hill game.

Silent Hill f delivers classic survival-horror thrills with stunning graphics, making it one of the best-looking games of the year. The story and characters are engaging, and the game consistently surprised me with unexpected twists. While the combat, which focuses on close-up fighting, might not appeal to everyone, I found it enjoyable and satisfying to master. Like previous Silent Hill games, Silent Hill f offers plenty of reasons to play through it again, and I anticipate revisiting it in the future.

4. Hades 2

Okay, I know I’m incredibly late to the party, but I finally jumped into Hades, and then immediately into Hades 2! I didn’t really get into the first one until earlier this year, and it totally took over my life. The sequel did the same thing! Honestly, Hades 2 feels like a huge step up from an already fantastic game. You play as Melinoe, and she’s on a mission to take down Chronos, battling tons of enemies along the way. It’s got that same roguelike feel as the first Hades, but it’s just bigger and better – more paths to explore, new weapons to try, and so much more to discover with every run. I’m completely hooked!

3. Split Fiction

My wife and I play video games together almost every day, so getting a new game we can play as a team is always exciting. We’re especially thrilled when it’s made by Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight Studios! We were huge fans of A Way Out and absolutely loved It Takes Two. With their latest game, Split Fiction, we didn’t stop playing until we’d earned every single achievement.

Similar to other games from Hazelight, Split Fiction is designed for two players to enjoy together. The game follows the story of Zoe and Mio, two writers who become stuck inside the digital worlds of their own stories. Split Fiction is packed with hidden references and clever gameplay, and each level feels unique. It skillfully combines science fiction and fantasy, leading to what I consider one of the most memorable final levels of the year. If you’re looking for a great co-op game and haven’t tried Split Fiction yet, you should definitely play it!

2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

After winning numerous awards, including Game of the Year at The Game Awards, it’s hard to say anything new about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. However, I’ll add to the widespread praise: Expedition 33 is a truly exceptional game, and its soundtrack might be the best ever created for a video game. It makes turn-based combat exciting and enjoyable, something very few games achieve, and it features a stunning story. While one particular story choice didn’t quite resonate with me, preventing it from being my personal game of the year, it remains one of my favorites of the past ten years.

Expedition 33 recently received a free update that added substantial new content to the game.

1. Blue Prince

My favorite game of 2025 was definitely Blue Prince, a brand-new puzzle roguelike that I couldn’t stop playing. Surprisingly, even though it’s a single-player game, my wife and I really enjoyed it together. We’d take turns playing and share notes, working as a team to solve the game’s mysteries. That made playing Blue Prince even more fun, and I’d recommend playing it with a friend or partner if you get the chance.

It’s fairly easy to finish Blue Prince in 10 to 15 hours, but I’ve already spent over 100 hours playing and still haven’t discovered everything! It’s a fantastic puzzle game and my favorite of 2025. While it’s disappointing there won’t be a sequel to Blue Prince, I’m really looking forward to seeing what Dogubomb creates in the future.

2025-12-26 23:06