The best video games of 2025: A diverse and captivating year for gaming
By Alex Perry
Tech Reporter
2025 was a year of diverse gaming experiences, with a mix of long-running series, new releases, and innovative gameplay. Here's a look at some of the standout titles from the year, as selected by Mashable.
Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter
A turn-based RPG series with over a dozen games, each at least 50 hours long. The remake of the first game, Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter, offers a great entry point into the series, with a unique real-time/turn-based combat system and a captivating story.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
A goofy and confident take on the ultimate masculine power fantasy, with eccentric gameplay, a helpful talking doll, and a climactic electric guitar battle.
Mario Kart World
A fun and chaotic racing game with a focused design, increased sense of chaos, and an astoundingly fun Knockout Tour mode. It's a great entry point into the Switch 2 console.
Despelote
A first-person narrative adventure about growing up in Ecuador in the early 2000s, focusing on a culture often overlooked in video games. It transports players to a specific time and place, with hazy and dreamlike environments.
Donkey Kong Bananza
A 3D platformer with a charming redesign and a new best friend, Pauline. It offers highly destructible environments and a fun gameplay loop of punching things until they explode.
Ghost of Yotei
An open-world samurai adventure with seamless side quests and exploration. It features a great quest design, with stories that expand the game's lore and worldbuilding.
Hades II
A thrilling and variable combat game, with a second route that increases the variety. It's a worthy sequel to the original Hades, with excellent art direction and audio design.
Baby Steps
A strange and challenging physics-based movement game, where walking requires intent and precision. It's a game that turns the mundane into profound obstacles, with a long-lasting appeal.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
A highly anticipated game with a haunting desert hub and a kick-ass motorcycle. It's the best-looking Switch 2 game so far, with a great sense of atmosphere and excellent music.
Honorable Mentions: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Two more notable games from 2025, with Xenoblade Chronicles X offering a gargantuan open-world RPG and Clair Obscur a turn-based RPG with a bleak tone and excellent combat.
