Looking only at games released this calendar year. (You are also more than welcome to list a game you played for the first time this year that you consider as your personal GotY *in addition to* your favorite 2025 release.)

My personal pick is… Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. (Runner-Up: MarioKart World.) The margin was close, though Claire wins comfortably for me against MarioKart.

Of the games I've played this year Doom: The Dark Ages is the one I had the most fun with.

Mind you I haven't had the chance to play Clair Obscure (I plan on trying it out next year once I get through some other games), I don't own a Switch 2, so couldn't play Mario Kart World or Donkey Kong Bananza, and I am waiting for the PC release to play Ghost of Yotei. 

Serious answer, I'm torn between Silksong and Clair Obscur. Going with Clair Obscur for now but I feel like Silksong will overtake it in time.

Completely biased answer, I am just so personally happy with Digimon Story Time Stranger, as a fan of the franchise it was like a dream come true, it's far from a perfect game but I loved it so much - and it was a breath of fresh air compared to the overwhelmingly depressive nature of most of this year's best games. That might've been my favorite gaming experience this year.

It do be E33 for obvious reasons


Silksong and MH wilds are runner ups

https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=9631109

Same as what I posted here. 

Ninja Gaiden II Black

Raidou Remaster

Ninja Gaiden 4

Daemon X machina Titanic Scion

Metal Eden

Persona 3 Reload if it counts. Near Masterpiece. If not;

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Split Fiction. It's the best co-op game I've ever played and one of the best games I've ever played in general. I already thought It Takes Two was amazing and one of my favourite games ever but SF managed to surpass it for me. Everyone even remotely into co-op games needs to play Hazelight's games, ideally with someone close to them. I haven't played E33 yet but will for sure at some point so when I do I'll see if it would've been my GOTY if I had played it last year.

Hades 2 for me!

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Remake

I'm a huge fan of the original game (Harvest Moon:Grand Bazaar for NDS). i played the original game a lot in 2011 with my best friend, mainly in coop mode. The remake is one of the best remakes I've ever played, but the only downside is that they completely removed the coop mode.

I've played other games from 2026 too, like Expedition 33, Oblivion Remake, Doom Dark Ages, Monster Hunter Wilds, Mario Kart: World, Pokemon Legends ZA,  Battlefield 6, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, Hades 2, Schedule I, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Femboy Futa House, etc.