Everyone has their own opinions on what the best games of a certain period are. If it’s your favorite, no official award can take that away. To that end, we like to take a moment and chat with our staff about their “Best Of’s” for the year, and it’s always great to see the similarities and difference in our annual list. Look below to see what tops each person’s list – you might find a new favorite game amongst them. For our official “Trendsetter” Awards, check out the bookmark below.
GamingTrend’s 2025 “Trendsetter” Awards
Our choices for the year’s best games
Ron Burke’s Top Games
Hades II – Did you like Hades? Hades II is better. Impossible, to be sure, but also true. The writing, the art style, even the combat mechanics got retouched. Lessons from the first game, few as they were, were infused directly into this masterful sequel from developer Supergiant Games. Even if you have to put it on easy mode (though the combat is excellent), do not skip this game – the writing, art, and voice work is top-tier excellent.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – The art direction, the music, the storyline, the gameplay – everything came together for this game, and somehow it absolutely dusted any project with 10X the budget. This is clearly a game of passion for not only the wonderful story thread, but also gaming itself. It’s impossibly rare to see a new studio hit this hard with their first game, but that’s precisely what Sandfall Interactive has done. A special shout out to Kepler Interactive, who themselves were a brand new publisher, for taking a big chance on such a unique and wonderful title.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles – It’s a difficult task to rebuild a game so beloved as Final Fantasy Tactics, made all the more challenging by the fact that it’s a PlayStation 1 game. How much do you bring forward? Which version do you use? How do you preserve the soul of the original, but carefully update it to satisfy hardcore fans like me and a whole new generation of tactical devotees? Well, look no further than Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles – that’s how it’s done.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – At the end of a game like this you have to sit back and just think about all of the incredible adventures you just went on. The growth of Henry from illiterate peasant to Knight and all of the trials and tribulations along the way is simply masterful. Warhorse Studios built something special with the first game, but somehow went from that strength to something you’d expect from a far more seasoned and larger team. Frankly, this is a game I didn’t want to end – I was playing as Henry, and I’d be content to keep doing that. Besides, what other game has a whole mechanic where passers by tell you how much you stink because you haven’t bathed recently?
Split Fiction – Hazelight Studios strikes again, giving us an excellent cooperative adventure that’s absolutely flawless from end to end. Challenging, but far from impossible, funny without trying to be, and even carrying a few heartfelt moments, Split Fiction is a must-have if you’ve got a significant other who games, even a little bit.
Ghost of Yōtei – There are games that speak to you on a different level. I’ve been studying martial arts for my entire life, so Ghost of Tsushima’s story about honor and commitment spoke to me deeply. Ghost of Yōtei isn’t that game. No, it’s a game about betrayal, finding honor amidst betrayal, and seeking more of yourself than you believe you’re worthy of achieving. Sucker Punch continues to give me exactly the stories I want to play, and this was no exception. It might be somewhat iterative on its quasi-predecessor, but that doesn’t stop it from being an amazing example of what the PlayStation 5 is capable of delivering in the right hands.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows – Much like Ghost of Yōtei, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers a setting that speaks to me. The dual protagonists in Naoe and Yasuke deliver something novel to the series, especially in the 14th iteration of the franchise, and the game is better for it. It’s also served well by a tie to real-world events even more so than other titles. It’s not flawless, but what’s here is literally over 100 hours of quality combat and decent storyline.
David Burdette’s Top Games
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – I’m simply floored by this title. I thought the original was fun, but fell off of it due to difficulty and my propensity to be distracted by the next shiny thing. In the first ten hours of playing KCD2 in my review period, I still wasn’t sold. Then, something clicked. Suddenly, I was engaging with masterful systems, a game that urged me to discover its nuance, and a story with branching quests and in-depth narratives that are breathtaking to uncover. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II may not win as many GOTY awards as certain surprise games this year, but it’s arguably the best one all-around.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Speaking of surprise games, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 already looked like a GOTY contender in the making. Somehow, it still upended those lofty expectations. Expedition 33 is beautiful in multiple aspects: graphically, the turn-based actions, soundtrack, narrative, and more. The themes hang with you, and it’s because the delivery is simply exquisite.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 – It’s not often a long-running series manages to give you its best offering. While many will (and have) disagreed with my take of this being the perfect Call of Duty game, most have missed the nuance. Since Warzone released, Call of Duty has been in an odd cycle, especially with the games having to be built in support of that mode. Black Ops 7 manages to take that requirement and sprint with it, dispatching an outstanding multiplayer, superb Zombies, and a surprising new component in Endgame. Sure, the campaign may not be as strong as the rest of the package, but co-op and trying new things makes it a great one percent of your gameplay time. Backed by incredible progression systems to keep you playing, this is an inspired entry from Treyarch and company.
Ghost of Yōtei – I had my hands full in September and October, but my time in Ezo with Atsu and the wolf pack was well worth my time. As crazy as it sounds, as bloody and action-packed as Ghost of Yōtei can be, it’s also an extremely chill game. I didn’t feel rushed by it, or compelled to stress out over missions. I took it at my pace, and it led to a very personal tale feeling not only well-distributed during my playtime, but more engaging. If you pick up Ghost of Yōtei, let yourself savor it, you’ll be happy you did. After all, “The grass knows what to do, and Spring comes every year on its own.”
David Flynn’s Top Games
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Despite coming so early on in the year, I knew Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would be my favorite game of 2025. It’s a beautiful story about getting stuck in grief and anger accentuated by some phenomenal turn-based combat. It’s also a game I haven’t stopped thinking about since April – it’s just that good. However, I was incredibly disappointed to learn about the use of generative AI for placeholder textures in the game. We should all know the problems with AI at this point, no one likes it and no one wants it, especially in a game so focused on art and human creativity.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter – We get way too many remakes these days, but a lot of them are also quite good. Case in point: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter takes every evolution the Trails series has gone through and applies it to the original title. That first game has always been my favorite in the series, and this remake is absolutely sublime with fantastic action and turn-based combat, stunning visuals, and delightful characters. The localization is a bit wonky and some of the voice acting is less than stellar, but this game sets the new standard all future Trails games will be judged by, and it’s a high bar.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – I tried to play Kingdom Come Deliverance, and while I enjoyed the story and mechanics, I found it a bit too punishing to want to come back to. Kingdom Come Deliverance II hits that sweet spot of friction and convenience that makes its challenge and dedication to realism a lot more engaging. For once, I not only enjoyed immersing myself in the politics of medieval Bohemia, I actually understood who the major players were, what they wanted, and why I should help them. It’s also great that the game has queer characters and people of color this time, because while the time was terrible for any and all minorities, they did still exist. KCDII brings me back to playing Skyrim the first time – it’s immersive, has a massive world with tons of side quests, and I can barely tear myself away from it.
Rhythm Doctor – It’s been a great year for rhythm games, with several notable titles releasing in just the past month or so alone. A good friend of mine has been raving about the early access version of Rhythm Doctor for a long time, and they very generously gifted me a copy after it hit 1.0. The game uses only a single button you tap, hold, or smack to the rhythm, but don’t let that simplicity fool you: this game is hard. I’m not great at rhythm games, though I do love them, and if you’re like me don’t give up as there’s a ton of cool things the game does as it weaves an emotional, medical tale.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – My favorite Xenoblade game is back and better than ever, with what might be the biggest visual overhaul for a Definitive Edition of the series. The characters are no longer terrifying dolls, instead leaning into the less realistic, anime style established in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The reason this is my favorite Xenoblade remains, however, and that’s the massive number of ways you can totally break the game’s combat along with a plethora of side quests and characters that flesh out the world of Mira. DE also added an epilogue to set up the future of the series (maybe), and while I’m a bit mixed on that part it’s still pretty great. Now, where’s my Switch 2 60 fps patch, Nintendo?
Unbeatable – Unbeatable feels like a bunch of newbie devs took everything they think is cool and put it into a blender. The result is an absolute mess in the best possible way. It’s janky, barely functioning at times, but pure, blinding passion radiates from it. Unbeatable has things to say and it may not be the most eloquent at saying them but by god you will be enraptured. It’s a rhythm game that’ll spend upwards of 30 minutes purely on dialogue, weird minigames, and even platforming, and I have loved every second of it so far.
Adam Moreno’s Top Games
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar – I’m not sure that I’ve gotten hooked this quickly on a “cozy-game” in a while. Stardew Valley has been my tried and true, however, Grand Bazaar had me grinding to make my farm and farm animals the best I possibly could. The game is also one of the most affirming games I’ve played. This town knows I’m providing the entirety of their economy and they treat me as such! Fun little detail. Playing on the Nintendo Switch 2 was glorious as the load times were non-existent and the console showed how wonderful the game could look handheld.
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – This slice of life game is so cute, heartbreaking, and horrific at the same time. With both chapters of Bloom and Rage are now out, you can play the whole story and not have to worry about the cliffhanger at the end of Bloom. The characters are so loveable, the replayability is interesting, and the music is simply to die for… Bloom & Rage may not be everyone’s cup o’ tea, but it holds a place in my heart for how well-told the story was from start to finish.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – In a year where multiple cart racers released, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds decided to turn the genre to another level with multiple collaborations including Spongebob and Minecraft as well as well-planned out tracks and an absolutely amazing setlist for their soundtrack. I have played too many hours of CrossWorlds and love getting to customize so much of my cart to suit my specific playstyle. If it’s alone or with friends, CrossWorlds is a go-to!
Destiny 2: Renegades – I had given up completely on Destiny 2 a few years ago. Not even the Mass Effect bundles could get me back into the game. Then… Star Wars decided to collaborate with Destiny 2 for the Renegades Expansion. Not only does this expansion give us a new HUB world, but we get a LIGHTSABER (known as the Praxic Blade) to run around and battle. I was impressed with the dungeon, the updates since I left the game, but Star Wars… STAR WARS!
Donkey Kong Bananza – I simply had so much fun smashing my way through Bananza. The relationship between DK and Pauline was so sweet and the ability to play a ton post-main story was a huge plus. The DLC so far may have been a bit underwhelming, but the main game was one of my favorite Nintendo games in quite a while! If you’ve not played through this game and have any nostalgia for Donkey Kong 64 or the DK Country games – You’ll love this railcar ride.
Honorable mentions: Dispatch, Madden NFL 26, Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Jackson Lustberg’s Top Games
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon – I love a good fantasy RPG, especially one with a darker setting. Tainted Grail nails that darker setting, but it never forgets its sense of wonder and whimsy. Avalon is hanging on by a thread, threatened by the red plague and an encroaching force called the wyrdness, an ancient power of pure potential, that warps everything it touches. Despite the existential crises, the game isn’t here to drown you in melancholic tales (although there are a few), it’s here to show you a wonderful, horrible land and the people who call it home, all while you uncover the lore and morality of its once-king, Arthur. Magic, swords, shields, bows, bare hands, and cubes (yes, cubes!) are all on the table when it comes to self-defense (or wanton violence).
Touhou Dystopian – Touhou players frighten me with their abilities and impress me with their taste in music. While the mainline bullet hells might be intimidating, Touhou Dystopian offers a familiar roguelite style that offers a taste of what Touhou has to offer, without the intimidating difficulty. The core gameplay is incredibly tight and the typical pick-one-of-three upgrade options feel impactful and interesting.
PianoGlow – As someone who’s learning to play the piano, the PianoGlow game has become an excellent tool for practice. The game allows you to either play with your keyboard, or plug your piano into your PC via USB-B. Visual learners such as myself will be delighted with the abundance of customizable visual feedback showing notes on staffs and glowing keys. What’s all the better is that pianists can open MIDI files in the game to practice their favorite music! The solo developer behind the project uses suggestions from his Discord server as his roadmap, which I think is exceedingly neat.
Among the Whispers – Provocation – A while back I reviewed a game called Conrad Stevenson’s Paranormal P.I. that had players taking the role of a paranormal investigator in a New England-esque locale. The game’s faithfulness to real world ghost hunting was a bit of a double edged sword, being interesting and detailed, yet agonizingly slow at times. Among the Whispers – Provocation is the second game in the lineup, and it has everything that made the previous game great, plus a much better gameplay tempo. Players now take the role of Conrad’s protege, Stephanie, as she investigates the historied mansion on Magnificent Drive and helps the restless spirits which inhabit the building find peace, all while she battles her own nerves as a novice to the ghost hunting trade.
This was the first game in a while to make me feel genuinely frightened and isolated, and some of the story beats hit me like a freight train–I was genuinely stunlocked.
Cast and Chill – This game does what it says on the can, so players will be casting and chilling. It sounds simple, and it is. What makes Cast and Chill stand out is the execution. There’s a simple yet hooking core gameplay loop of upgrading your gear, fishing, and unlocking new locations, which is backed up by relaxing banjo music and some of the most breathtakingly beautiful pixel art ever to bless my eyes. It strikes the perfect balance between being just active enough to keep the player attentive while being relaxing enough to lower the player’s blood pressure by 20 points.
Joe Morgan’s Top Games
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – As a longtime Legend of Dragoon fan, I’d had my eyes on Clair Obscur long before it came out. What they released exceeded any of my expectations. Gorgeous visuals and one of the greatest game soundtracks of all time accompanied a fun, addictive combat system that blended turn-based and real-time mechanics seamlessly. On top of that, the game has an incredible narrative, enthralling world, and amazingly well-realized characters.After losing a long-time family pet early in the year, I wasn’t expecting my favorite game of the year to also be what helped me cope with loss in one of the deepest, most resonant game experiences of my life. Expedition 33 will likely be among my favorites for the rest of my life.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time – While I’m not normally a fan of cozy games, an emotionally difficult year begged for some reprieve. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time offered the low-friction experience I needed while still satisfying the RPG collector, builder, and combatant in me. It has a fun, cute story with loads of endearing characters to talk with, and it’ll satisfy that sense of progression we all crave. This was the best cozy game I’ve played in a long time.
Borderlands 4 – After Borderlands 3 fell flat for me, I was itching to see the series return to form. From loot to humor to addictive action, Borderlands 4 offered everything I was looking for out of the franchise. Let’s just hope the team at Gearbox stays on this trajectory in the years to come.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles – Final Fantasy Tactics has held a special place in my heart throughout my life. It was the first RPG I ever owned. It had gorgeous visuals, an excellent soundtrack, and that job system that continued to pull me in. That said, over all those years, I still had a massive gap in my experience with it; I’d never beaten the game. With the release of The Ivalice Chronicles, I set out to do that, and this year I got to mark off a major entry in my backlog. Everyone should experience the game if they’re able. It’s quite the grand journey.
ARC Raiders – Every now and then, a game outside your comfort zone comes along and really grabs hold of you. ARC Raiders has poured itself into me this year in a way I was never expecting. From the unique world to always-on-edge player interactions, there never ceases to be something to keep me on the edge of my seat. The emergent moments feel almost a dime a dozen now, but they continually feel fresh, and now, as I send my first raider off on his expedition, I’ll get to tackle the journey anew with updates and enhancements intact. I hope they support this in grand fashion for a long time to come.
Echoes of the End – Games like Echoes of the End are the reason I like the indie game scene. Echoes of the End was one of my favorite surprises of 2025. The game had gorgeous visuals, an interesting narrative, engaging gameplay, and great puzzle design. What’s more, they’ve taken player feedback into account to improve the experience since it launched, so there’s never been a better time to take on the role of a vestige, hunt down some Reigendall soldiers, and experience the beautiful land of Aema.
John Farrell’s Top Games
Keeping in mind that I am behind the times and have not played most of the big titles that actually came out this year:
Crystal Project – Never has a game so purely communicated the spirit of adventure. A turn based throwback to dungeon crawling RPGs of the past, Crystal Project melds Final Fantasy’s job system with platforming and non-linear exploration. The tactics and character building show remarkable depth along with creativity. The bevy of end-game superbosses build on top of a game that floors you with its freedom, its surprises, and the sense of reward for mastering it combat system. RiverRunGames’ one man team has shattered expectations for classic RPGs, and has earned an instant buy from me when Crystal Project 2 drops.
Monster Train 2 – Monster Train’s sequel takes a quaint diversion and spins it out into one of the most satisfying puzzles of the year. Even in a crowded field of deck-building Roguelikes, the game more than earns your time. Content drops, both free and paid, are in process and due to continue for some time.
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Acts 1 and 2) – Everything everyone says about (the first two thirds of) Baldur’s Gate 3 are true. The grandeur of its stories and freedom of expression, both through choices and combat, are simply unmatched in all the realms in all the planes. The final act of Baldur’s Gate 3 has some of the best individual quests but by far the worst pacing in the game. You’re just tripping over more content than you can handle, at a time when you’re max level with all the money and legendary equipment you could need. This needs some editing. It’s a cluttered chore. It makes those choices harder to examine in subsequent playthrough because of how much cruft there is to the experience. That said, I still unreservedly recommend playing the game and paying full price for it. Looking to the horizon, I’m more than ready to see what Divinity has to offer.
Martin Du’s Top Games
Silent Hill f – I wept into tears the moment I saw Silent Hill f’s Platinum Trophy title: I Still Have Wings. Horror is a genre known for making your skin crawl, and yet famed visual novel writer Ryukishi07 (Higurashi, Umineko) achieved that idiom by spinning it in a slightly more literal sense. The horror of a status quo built upon the bloody tears of those who share my skin, the Asian women clipped of their wings. Silent Hill f is a fascinating text viewed from the perspective of the now. How much we’ve grown from the depictions of misogyny from the setting of 1960s Japan, yet a harrowing reminder how much has remained or morphed into contemporary examples within Asian households. Using a medium promoting player agency to weave a story about a woman losing her own agency is a stroke of genius. While I wish things were slightly more gruesome and twisted based on the start up screen’s content warning, it is still a deeply reflexive and cathartic piece of feminism. A triumphant tale that made me yearn to reach that same catharsis. After all… I Still Have Wings.
Black Lily’s Tale – My gaydar was off the charts when I heard about Black Lily’s Tale. A visual novel with a story flowchart AND lesbians? Sign me up! What I didn’t expect was homophobia… but awesome? I am someone largely dissatisfied regarding this fledgling medium’s missed potential when attempting to tell queer positive stories. While generally sufficient, they often feel overly safe and surface level (Dina is nice and Ellie calls someone a bigot) masquerading as boundary pushing. As a result, Black Lily’s Tale feels refreshing when it fearlessly takes a chomp out of the rotten side of fruity narratives. A young woman discovering and processing her feelings in a heternormative world that deems homosexuality as something “unnatural”, “gross”, “selfish”. The cruelty seeing her wither with internalized homophobia, but the beauty of blooming into someone loud and proud. Again, I wish I wasn’t pleasantly surprised when a game dives into slightly less shallow waters, but I’m happy that Black Lily’s Tale took that plunge.
Sofia in Exchange for Lies – Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) has always had a rocky portrayal in fiction, authors often painting those with the condition in a negative light. Thus I approached Sofia in Exchange for Lies with caution, alongside performing surface level research on DID prior to playing. With that limited perspective in mind, this murder mystery not only avoids demonizing the disorder, but tells a deeply moving tale that rocked me to my core. Admittedly there are moments and depictions that are inaccurate or exaggerated, but the end goal is to always approach such a delicate subject matter with love and empathy. The biggest accomplishment is how the core gameplay concept breaks down the screen as a barrier to reality and fiction. Manually typing in questions and listening to the perspective of a character with DID makes me want to do the same in real life. To learn about the facts and seek personal anecdotes from those with DID beyond the scope of the game’s narrative. Even with some imperfections, that is the biggest praise I can give for a piece of fiction tackling social issues.
No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files – Now that’s a big title for a pathetic, himbo with a big personality. Set in between the first and second games, this side entry reunites the unhinged cast for a goofy, low stakes adventure. Kazuya Yamada absolutely crushes stepping into the shoes as scenario writer while series creator Uchikoshi was working on Hundred Line. The new characters are fantastic, with a solid story backing them. However, where No Sleep excels is being a heartfelt epilogue to the first game, delivering emotional resolutions that the second game sorely lacked. If this is the quality we can expect for future side stories with Date and his fruity brigade of detectives, then sign me up.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy – When I published my review of Hundred Line after 80 hours of playtime, I had only achieved approximately 40/100 endings. Now that I have completed all 100 with a gargantuan 120 hours of play, my thoughts remain largely the same. This is the greatest, worst, best, game ever, a fitting moniker for a game with a 30 hour prologue. Kazutaka Kodaka (Danganronpa, Rain Code), Kotaro Uchikoshi (Zero Escape, AI), along with the rest of the TooKyo Games and Media Visions team have delivered an ambitious title that soars more often than it stumbles. Kodaka’s core narrative delivers a powerful celebration of humanity and our shared diversity. Whether the tale spins into a romcom, slasher, or globe-trotting adventure, Uchikoshi’s signature branching timeline provides the narrative framework to explore different interpretations on this thematic umbrella. Hundred Line is an extraordinary human achievement of what games can accomplish as a storytelling medium.
Honorable mentions: Pokemon Legends ZA, Iwakura Aria, Shuten Order, Kemono Teatime
Anthony Pelone’s Top Games
Kirby Air Riders – A Kirby Air Ride sequel directed by Masahiro Sakurai himself? Pinch me, I must be dreaming! Yet this dream sequel’s no fiction. Kirby Air Riders is an unabashed passion project, heeding the lessons of the divisive original while still marching to the beat of its own drum, Every mode now pulls its weight, all subscribing to its organic model of vehicle selection, checklists, unlockables, and everything else refusing to let the player escape from Kirby’s stubby clutches. (Or should I say suction?) For those crazy enough to commit to a one-button control scheme, your moment is here. My favorite game of the year is its greatest miracle.
Donkey Kong Bananza – Punch, smash, destroy – such is the mantra of Donkey Kong Bananza, and by god, does it feel good. Cut from the same cloth as Super Mario Odyssey, this spiritual successor excels in density, with every crevice, every strip of landmass subject to DK’s endless bulldozing. With the wealth of movement options at DK’s disposal, Bananza is as deep as the player demands it to be, be it unearthing every last Banandium Gem or simply sticking to the main campaign’s excavation work. No matter how deep you dig, it’s Nintendo magic at its finest. (Oh, and that Emerald Rush DLC? Pricey, but pure, digital crack.)
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake – Look, I enjoy Dragon Quest III well enough, but this two-for-one pack is truly something special. The quality-of-life upgrades, symphonic scores, and beautiful diorama-esque backdrops are appreciated enough, yet it’s the transition from 8-bit storytelling to compelling narratives that truly makes these remakes sing. No longer do the classic Dragon Quests subscribe to gameplay-first directives, for the blank slates and talking signposts of the 80’s are transformed into living, breathing characters with wants and desires punctuating their endearing trips over Freytag’s Pyramid. If this level of quality’s what’s promised from Square’s push to reintroduce the older Dragon Quest games, then I look forward to the rest with bated breath. (Dragon Quest VIII, when?)
Thanks for checking out our favorite games! Happy Holidays!
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