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Looking at the remaining release schedule, it appears we're essentially done with game releases for the year. This seems like a great time, before Christmas, to see what everyone's favorite games were for 2025! I'm leaving my top 5 games, but feel free to leave any honorable mentions you feel were worthy of a callout.
MY GOTY!
While the story I would say is weaker than the first game, Hades 2 surpasses it in every other aspect. I'm over 40 hours in, and with great additions like the omega moves, and the combat being much more fleshed out and varied, it makes the gameplay loop incredibly addicting. I've enjoyed this game much more than the first, which I didn't think was possible. It's hard to say more about the game because it's overall a relatively simple game. Its nuance is in the gameplay. Couple that with a gorgeous art direction, and you never want to put the game down. Can't miss!
2)
Like the first game, the combat is an acquired taste lol definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea. I got used to it again after the first few hours though. Once you get used to the combat, you'll be welcomed to one of the most engaging RPGs you'll ever experience! Immersive story with great writing and characters as well as EXCELLENT side quests. A reactive world with the choice and consequence experience you expect in an RPG. The open world design I would say is more like RDR2. So peaceful with a lot of attention to detail that you just wanna get lost in. Spent well over 100 hours in this game, and it was worth every second.
3)
A lot of modern RTSs have been a disappointment, but Tempest Rising has been one of the few that surpassed my expectations! From the moment I saw the loading screens, I knew I was in for a modern classic. Harkens back to the glory days of C&C. Heavy emphasis on the action, metal soundtrack, and surprisingly deeper story than I was expecting. Love the factions and the unique units they have. Tempest Sphere being my personal favorite! There's that 90s camp still there lol but I love that stuff! The game is just unbelievably cool to play. The devs knew what their demographic wanted.
4)
I loved both Lumines games on the PSP. I didn't really think we would ever get a new game in the franchise again. I remember when Tetris Effect released, and was just blown away by how the developers took such an old gaming concept like Tetris, and made it new. Not only that, but gave it like a mystical feeling where it became an experience for the senses. Then I discovered the guy behind Lumines, his studio was behind Tetris Effect, and I thought it would be so cool to have that same kind of mystical experience in Lumines. 7 years later, we got exactly that!! And my goodness, there's just no experience like this. It's transcendental almost. How Mizuguchi managed to accomplish this, I'll never know. Makes me want to get a VR headset to fully experience his vision. Unforgettable experience this game is.
5)
Unlike many who grew up playing games like Clair Obscur, I didn't. I primarily played Strategy, FPS, Platformers, Action, Western RPGs, and Arcade (fighting, beat em up, schmup) games growing up. So there weren't any nostalgic aspects for me, but I was intrigued by the concept of a turn-based RPG with modern graphical fidelity. This game turned out to be a LOT more than just that. If it was nostalgic for me, I probably would've ranked the game higher, but it was still a lot of fun to play, and a heartbreaking story as well. Some well-written twists that I didn't see coming. Took me forever to learn how to parry properly, but it made the combat much more engaging when I did. It was great seeing turn-based gameplay evolve past simply waiting for your turn. Really looking forward to seeing what Sandfall works on next!
Honorable mentions I didn't want to leave out:
Here's to a great 2026!!
You called down the thunder, now reap the whirlwind
