"Every year when we look back at all the games that dropped, trends reveal themselves. For 2025, you might boil it down to a year of innovation. Yes, there were many big, anticipated games that overdelivered. But, from Donkey Kong Bonanza to Death Stranding 2, no two looked alike. The further you go, the more creativity you see. From a co-op storytelling game like no other in Split Fiction to the mysterious and completely unique puzzlers in Blue Prince ."
"It didn't have to be this way. The industry is wrestling with a lot of forces that, frankly, seem to be set on stifling innovation. From taking shortcuts with AI to the unwieldy dominance of a handful of AAAs (looking at you, Grand Theft Auto), to the painful search for a more sustainable business model, one might expect the quality of games to diminish. Far from it. In terms of breadth and scope, 2025 is one of the best years of gaming we've seen yet. For those who fear the "collapse" of the gaming industry or are doomsaying about video game innovation, just look at these releases, from the wildly innovative remakes and remasters to more boundary-pushing RPGs and sci-fi epics than we could ever fit in one list."
2025 delivered broad, boundary-pushing creativity across mainstream and indie games, spanning innovative remakes, remasters, RPGs, sci-fi epics, and unique puzzlers. Industry pressures such as AI shortcuts, AAA dominance, and the search for sustainable business models threatened to limit creativity, yet releases showed impressive breadth and quality. Notable examples include Donkey Kong Bonanza, Death Stranding 2, Split Fiction, Blue Prince, and standout puzzle and hack-and-slash entries. Selecting a top 25 proved difficult, with many strong titles excluded, including Hollow Knight: Silksong. Dynasty Warriors: Origins revived classic hack-and-slash joy while Öoo emerged as one of the year's best puzzle games.
Read at Inverse
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