As you will see in the list below, there is one game that almost everyone agreed is the ultimate game of the year, but there are also several interesting choices.
Ready? Here is summary of 2025.
Game of the Year-Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
If we look at the number of hours I played a single game this year, the clear winner was Battlefield 6, but that is not surprising. The Battlefield series has a huge place in my heart and not a day goes by without me doing at least one or two rounds, no matter how bad the game is. You can see this from my 900 hours with Battlefield 2042.
But the best game we got this year is without a doubt Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
I will say it may be one of the best games we have received in recent years.
I detailed it in our full review, but I will just say it does so many things perfectly, not just well, but perfectly.
From the story to the highly rewarding gameplay to the graphics and sound design, there is no doubt we received a performance to remember for years.
Even with Expedition 33 releasing this year, I think there is no question who the best game is.
At the end of the day, KCD is not just a game; it is a deep experience and story that many players can immerse themselves in.
It is not easy, it is punishing, and it demands investment from the player, but it gives back twice as much, which is the beauty of the relationship with this game.
Every day I play, it justifies the perfect score it received. Simply a masterpiece.
Disappointment of the Year-FBC: Firebreak
After Control was amazing and with Control Resonant expected in the future, I was very excited for FBC: Firebreak.
The promise was simple and enticing: a co-op shooter in the Control universe with missions that do not take themselves seriously and a variety of interesting weapons, all from Remedy. But the actual result was very disappointing.
Firebreak ended up being a fairly boring game that did nothing special.
The story of the world and its uniqueness was not conveyed, and the game mechanics were weak and failed to attract players.
Probably, if you jumped into Firebreak like I did, you encountered long load times due to lack of players, and if you were lucky enough to start a mission, you probably quit very quickly.
Honestly, how many of you even remembered this game came out this year?
Surprise of the Year-RoadCraft
Looking back at my review archive, you can see I do not write many game reviews, and most of the games I do review are strategy games, but RoadCraft is an exception.
Initially, I thought it was a cute gimmicky game, but I discovered a huge sandbox that lets me do almost anything with dozens of giant machines and watch the map change physically based on my decisions, from filling puddles and breaking through roads to planning logistic routes and complex bridges, all wrapped in excellent physics, a slow but addictive sense of progression, and a variety of missions that feel more like open puzzles than a frustrating to-do list.
Even after dozens of hours, I still feel like I am living my childhood dream of playing with tractors in a sandbox, only on a massive scale with surprising game depth.
Game of the Year-Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Usually, I would pick something different to stand out from my peers, but in the case of Expedition 33, I say thank you for the opportunity to declare it one of the greatest games of all time.
From its release, I said that calling it game of the year undervalues it it deserves to be called one of the best ever.
The art style is insane, the gameplay choices bold for 2025 and they worked perfectly, and most importantly, the story is exceptional. This is an experience no one should miss.
Disappointment of the Year-Until Dawn
Do you remember Until Dawn released this year as a movie? It was part of a brand revival campaign after an extremely poor remake last year.
You probably don’t remember, but the first Until Dawn cannot be forgotten.
I recall staying up all night with a friend playing it for the first time. It is one of the best interactive story experiences, never matched since.
I was disappointed that the movie deviated from the excellent story of the game and even more disappointed that the remake failed, likely burying the brand. I took this opportunity to say goodbye to one of my favorite games from the previous generation.
Surprise of the Year-Blue Prince
The Blue Prince can take you by storm. It is not a game for everyone, and even I do not fall into its target audience, but it is so special that you might obsess over it like I did.
I could not look away for less than 30 hours, and I still have not solved all the puzzles. It is a roguelike puzzle game where each day you build a mansion with different rooms, choosing between three options per room.
Puzzles are small within rooms, require combinations of rooms, and carry over to the next day requiring careful planning.
The hidden puzzles are insane, and part of the community believes not everything has been found yet. A must-play.
Disappointment of the Year-Industry Price Increases
The general price increase affecting the gaming market this year, from consoles to Game Pass and even component prices, is incomprehensible and unforgivable.
We are already five years into the current console generation, a point where in previous generations prices were halved.
Yet, we saw multiple price increases from the same company, raising the question for the next console generation: why even own a gaming console when cloud and thin clients exist?
Surprise of the Year-Netflix Acquires WB
Calling Warner Bros. acquisition by Netflix a “surprise” is an understatement.
The number of brands they own in gaming, from Batman to Harry Potter, is huge, and with Netflix starting to integrate mobile, there is potential.
Only time will tell if this is positive for gaming.
Game of the Year-Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
The game left the biggest impression on me in 2025.
From start to finish, Kojima delivered massive emotional impact with photorealistic graphics and a great cast.
The loop gameplay developed deeply, and the story was full of unforgettable moments.
Disappointment of the Year-Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
I love the Assassin’s Creed series, but Shadows turned out boring, with nothing pulling me beyond the few hours I spent.
There is much to like, such as the world, combat, and parkour, but the systems and main characters failed to hold me. Hopefully, the next game restores the excitement.
Surprise of the Year-Cronos: The New Dawn
In 2025 I played more indie games than AAA, and Cronos: The New Dawn surprised me.
I expected less enjoyment from a horror game, but it delivered an interesting story and tense encounters, a truly impressive horror experience.
Game of the Year-Where Winds Meet
This MMO redefined the genre with fast combat, excellent movement, open world, AI interactions, hidden dungeons, strong side quest storylines, and total freedom. This game shook the MMO formula.
Disappointment of the Year-Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2
The game failed to deliver on its promises.
A highly anticipated RPG with vampires turned out mediocre.
Surprise of the Year-Dune: Awakening
A sci-fi survival game not usually my type, but after 40 hours I enjoyed it, and after 300 hours I loved it.
As an MMO, it still lacks content to keep me.
Game of the Year-Battlefield 6
For me, Battlefield 6 is unquestionably the game of the year, capturing a chaotic, cinematic experience unlike any I had in years.
Disappointment of the Year -Days Gone Remastered
While I enjoyed the remaster, the lack of a sequel is disappointing.
Surprise of the Year-Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
I missed most Tony Hawk games as a kid, but the double remaster turned out addictive with excellent music and humor.
The editorial team thanks all readers for following us daily and supporting our work. We look forward to continuing in 2026.