Midway through 2025, I'm sharing my top 5 video games I've finished to date, along with the upcoming titles from my backlog that I'm eagerly anticipating.
**Top Video Games of 2025: A Year of Innovation and Diversity**
In the ever-evolving world of gaming, 2025 has proven to be a standout year, with a plethora of exciting titles captivating players across the globe. Here's a roundup of some of the most highly-praised games of the year, as reviewed by gaming journalists.
Kicking off our list is **Death Stranding 2: On the Beach**, an enthralling sequel to the original that deepens its formula with improved action and a more character-driven story. Set in Australia, this PS5 exclusive offers visually stunning environments with dynamic weather effects, and the narrative is small but packs a powerful emotional punch, considered Kojima's best story to date and a must-play for PS5 owners.
**Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth** is another game that has been receiving rave reviews, praised for its enthralling narrative that expertly merges new characters and plots with the series' history. It continues the Yakuza series' tradition of deep storytelling and character development.
For those seeking a unique blend of turn-based JRPG and modern soulslike mechanics, **Clair Obscur: Expedition 33** is a standout choice. This game combines elements from Persona’s UI, Final Fantasy VII’s materia system, and Sekiro’s precise parrying into an exhilarating, layered combat system requiring strategic attention.
**Split Fiction** is a cooperative game that mixes platforming with puzzle elements, innovative gameplay styles, and references to classic video games. Praised as a contender for Game of the Year due to its creativity and engaging design, it's set to be released on various platforms in February and June.
**Monster Hunter Wilds** focuses on the core Monster Hunter experience of teaming up and hunting large monsters with powerful weapons. Offering a more immediate and electric combat feel than some older series entries, it's a must-play for fans of the franchise.
**System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster** is a remaster of the seminal 1999 classic, retaining mature themes, world-building, and RPG elements with updated visuals. Celebrated as a landmark title that still stands strong among 2025’s best games, it's a must-play for fans of the original and newcomers alike.
**Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii** is another intriguing entry in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon universe, presumed to continue the mix of crime drama and expansive storytelling typical of the series.
**Doom: The Dark Ages** is a new Doom title set in a medieval-inspired setting, continuing the franchise’s legacy of fast-paced, brutal first-person action with modern tech enhancements.
Other notable mentions include **Mario Kart World**, **Promise Mascot Agency**, **Blade Chimera**, and **The Roottrees Are Dead**, bringing diversity in genre and gameplay, expanding the 2025 gaming landscape.
One game that has been generating a lot of buzz is **Blue Prince**, a roguelike-meets-puzzle game, and **Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector**, a sci-fi RPG inspired by dice-based tabletop games. Despite not being on this list, they are worth keeping an eye on for their unique gameplay mechanics and engaging narratives.
As we move forward, the gaming scene continues to evolve, with exciting titles on the horizon. Keep an eye out for **The Alters**, **Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition**, **Ruffy and the Riverside**, **Eternal Strands**, and **Lost in Random: The Eternal Die**, among others. These upcoming titles promise to bring even more variety and innovation to the gaming world in the coming months.
[1] [GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/death-stranding-2-on-the-beach-review-a-sequel-that-deepens-the-original-formula-with-better-action-and-a-more-character-driven-story/1100-6503158/)
[2] [IGN](https://www.ign.com/articles/clair-obscur-expedition-33-review-a-unique-blend-of-turn-based-jrpg-and-modern-soulslike-mechanics)
[3] [Polygon](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2025/2/14/22948175/split-fiction-review-cooperative-game-platforming-puzzle-elements)
[4] [Kotaku](https://kotaku.com/2025/3/the-best-games-of-2025-so-far-1847127233)
- PC gamers have been eagerly awaiting the update for the remastered version of the classic game, 'System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster', boasting modern tech enhancements.
- The Xbox Series X has added another gem to its library this year with 'Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth', a game praised for its deep storytelling and expert blend of old and new characters.
- Microsoft's Windows platform will soon be hosting the cooperative game 'Split Fiction', which mixes platforming and puzzle elements, gaining popularity for its innovate gameplay styles and references to classic video games.
- 'Death Stranding 2: On the Beach' exclusive to the PS5 has caught the eyes of gaming enthusiasts with its visually stunning environments and Kojima's best narrative to date.
- Gamers looking for a new gaming laptop shouldn't miss out on the powerful hardware that can run games like 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33', a unique blend of turn-based JRPG and modern soulslike mechanics.
- Technology giants and enthusiasts have their eyes on upcoming titles like 'The Alters', 'Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition', 'Ruffy and the Riverside', 'Eternal Strands', and 'Lost in Random: The Eternal Die', set to bring more variety and innovation to the ever-evolving world of gaming entertainment.
