GOTY 2025

The best games I played in 2025, many of which were not released this year.

Honourable Mentions

Slay the Spire, which I put more hours into than Silksong (!?) this year, despite already having hundreds of hours in the Switch version.

Shady Part of Me for baiting me into playing a puzzle game with French voice acting and a cool art style.

Florence for getting me into short indie games with gameplay designed to elicit a specific feeling.

The List

10. Paradise Killer

For the PS1 era vaporwave vibes and charmingly sinister setting.

9. Inscryption

For breaking my "not Slay the Spire" curse and legitimately surprising me with the "postgame".

8. 1000xResist

For a look at how screwed we'd actually be if teens were tasked with saving the world.

7. Dispatch

For building a found family from lovable "ex"-villans, and engrossing gameplay for a Telltale-like.

6. In Stars and Time

For making me feel things and taking full advantage of a time loop for story, not just gameplay.

5. Ender Lilies & Ender Magnolia

For striking the perfect balance between souls-like and metroidvania, while getting me into the latter.

4. Hades 2

For improving on its already god-like predecessor in every way.

3. Persona 5

For getting the balance between "interactive anime" and JRPG exactly right.

2. Dark Souls & Dark Souls 2: Scholar of First Sin

For arguably being the finest example of the genre despite starting it, and not being afraid to change things up in the sequel.

1. Hollow Knight: Silksong

For being worth the 7 year wait.