"From pervasive layoffs to continued price hikes, things didn't go so well for Xbox in 2025. But even though Game Pass, the Xbox subscription service, isn't quite the deal it once was, there are still a lot of excellent titles to check out. This was an especially good year for indie titles, with breakout hits like Blue Prince and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominating much of the conversation. Here are the best things to check out right now."
"Who the heck knows when Bethesda will finally release the next Elder Scrolls. But in the meantime, Avowed fills in that gap quite nicely. It's a more contained fantasy RPG in terms of scale, but it's still pretty big, and features a fascinating world to explore and combat that lets you mix and match with swords, guns, and magic. You can lose yourself in it without giving up all of your free time."
Microsoft's gaming division experienced layoffs and price hikes in 2025 that weakened Xbox's position and reduced Game Pass's value. Despite those setbacks, 2025 delivered many excellent games, with indie titles particularly prominent; Blue Prince and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 became breakout hits. Avowed serves as a substantial fantasy RPG alternative to larger Bethesda entries, offering a contained but sizable world, flexible combat that mixes swords, guns, and magic, and immersive exploration that doesn't demand total time commitment. Experimental and quirky games also stood out, including a notable title where the player controls a sentient lighthouse solving puzzles in an empty world.
Read at The Verge
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]