The best of 2025: Gaming unwrapped

What started off as a year where we finally got our hands on Grand Theft Auto VI, and then thought of nothing else quickly became unpredictable when Rockstar Games shifted the launch date to 2026, casting a light on some of the most important releases of the year. Among these was gaming auteur Hideo Kojima’s new game, Death Stranding 2. However, some of the best games came from the most unexpected places, here is a celebration of gaming in 2025:

Clair Obscur Expedition 33

From a small French studio comes a love letter to turn-based Japanese RPGs in the form of Clair Obscur, sweeping The Game Awards with a whopping nine wins out of 10 nominations. Every voice in gaming unanimously agrees this is an absolute stunner of a game. From its poignant story, beautiful and haunting setting, to excellent performances by its voice actors in multiple languages and nostalgic combat, it has carved out a niche genre. A must-play and must-experience for anyone out there. 

Check out www.expedition33.com/media

Battlefield 6

Shooters today are patchwork blankets of absurd cosmetics and skins that detract from serious war gaming. Out of nowhere Battlefield 6 descended with its no-nonsense approach to multiplayer military shooters. With excellent sound design, mechanics and brilliant maps plus an astounding level of destruction, which not only looks cool, but is pretty functional as well, its launch eclipsed that of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Check out www.ea.com/en/games/battlefield/battlefield-6

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Whoever thought a post-apocalypse walking simulator where you played a sci-fi man delivering parcels, would become so famous. However, when the original Death Stranding came out, COVID-15 had hit and gaming met reality. Death Stranding 2 picks up where the first game leaves off, telling the story of Sam Bridges and his adopted baby Lou, as they traverse the harsh lands of Mexico and Australia, to try and make the world whole again. Hideo Kojima has once again done it, expanding a world filled with deadly ghosts, weird tech and some unique characters, with a star-studded cast.

Check out www.igdb.com/games/death-stranding-2-on-the-beach

EA Sports FC 26

Given the packed stadiums to see Messi, it is safe to say India loves football. This is where EA Sports FC 26 has been pushing the technological envelope of bringing that feeling of being on the pitch to your home with lifelike dribbling and natural movements, smarter AI and goalkeepers as well as realistic animation. By bringing more depth and playability to the game, they have pushed things further with better team management and player archetypes to create your perfect footballer. 

Check out www.igdb.com/games/ea-sports-fc-26

Split Fiction

Couch co-op is on the rise and Split Fiction is the perfect example of this done well. First off, you get two copies for the price of one, which you can gift a friend, and experience the magic together. You play as two starving writers who encounter an evil corporation hellbent on stealing your book ideas via a mind machine. You fight back and with your friend, play through some entertaining stories from the minds of Zoe and Mio as they break free. Truly one to play with your significant other, child or best friend as you spend quality time together.

Check out www.igdb.com/games/split-fiction

Hollow Knight Silksong

The much awaited sequel to the groundbreaking 2017 Hallow Knight was finally delivered in 2025. Heralded as one of the best metroidvania’s out there, which is a sub-genre of action-adventure games inspired by Metroid’s game design, Silksong brings excellent platforming, challenging action and fluid mechanics as you discover a new land. 

Check out www.igdb.com/games/hollow-knight-silksong

Arc Raiders

Releasing late this year, Arc Raiders brought the extraction shooter paradigm to the mainstream. You scramble to the surface to fend off hostile robots and get some hard-won loot. The twist is, other players can either help you extract the loot together or shoot you in the back, take all your loot and then extract themselves. A fun, tense experience with some truly fearsome enemies. 

Check out www.igdb.com/games/arc-raiders

Two Obsidian masterpieces

Now streaming, Fallout Season 2 takes place in New Vegas. It is one of the best games in the Fallout series made by Obsidian games and 2025 has been a great year for them, with excellent launches. The first was Avowed, a beautiful hack-and-slash fantasy RPG, with excellent dual wield mechanics, set in the world of their Pillars of Eternity IP. The second was the cheeky follow up to The Outer Worlds with a sequel that truly lived up to its promise of more space antics in a universe overrun with corporations for some stellar killing consumerism, bringing Obsidian full circle to a game that feels and plays like a new New Vegas. 

Check out www.igdb.com/games/the-outer-worlds-2

Assassins Creed Shadows

The one geographical location every fan of the historical murder simulator Assassins Creed has been asking for is Japan. Finally, after Ghost of Tsushima did it, we finally get Shadows with two unique protagonists, one of them being the legendary Yasuke, a real-life African Samurai who once lived in Japan in the late 1500’s. Together with a ninja, Naoe, you explore a gorgeous open world, experiencing a slice of Japanese history and a competent Assassins Creed story. 

Check out www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed