17 Single Player Games of 2025 That Blew Us Away

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This year was always going to be packed, but we didn’t expect so many fantastic experiences. We were thrilled to work on so many games, creating some wonderful memories and even improving the look of a few classics.

2025 has been a great year for single-player games, and choosing the very best ones was a difficult but rewarding task.

But here we are, and the nominees for the best single player game of 2025 are:

1. Metal Gear Solid: Delta Snake Eater

Konami’s remake of the original Metal Gear Solid 3 successfully updates the graphics and adds helpful improvements while remaining true to the classic experience fans remember. It’s a great way to revisit the mission that defined Naked Snake’s journey.

While trying to update the game for new players, some changes weren’t perfect and even made a few of the boss fights easier, overall this is still a great way to experience Metal Gear Solid if you’re considering playing it.

2. Silent Hill f

The story in Hinako might feel confusing at first, but it’s compelling enough to make you want to see it through. Konami and NeoBards successfully captured the original creator’s vision for a uniquely Japanese horror game while still keeping the feel of the classic Silent Hill series.

Silent Hill f delivers a strong combat experience and gradually reveals deeper psychological horror elements with each playthrough, making it a fantastic return for the beloved Silent Hill series. It rightfully deserves recognition as one of the best games of the year.

3. Clair Obscur

Sandfall immediately grabbed us with a powerful and emotional opening, and the gameplay kept us hooked. It was fun to explore and discover new things, and the combat was both visually impressive and genuinely challenging to learn.

The characters were brought to life by a fantastic voice cast, each with a unique personality, and the world itself was truly one of a kind. We still remember the best parts with a smile, and fondly recall everything that happened along the way.

4. Dying Light: The Beast

Kyle Crane’s new abilities and the powerful enemy he faced in Castor Woods made this a classic Dying Light experience. With zombies roaming and especially dangerous Volatiles hunting at night, combined with excellent combat and fresh ideas, ‘The Beast’ was a truly enjoyable adventure.

The story and setting were seamlessly woven together, making exploration a fantastic way to discover the secrets of Castor Woods and piece together what happened during Kyle’s absence. This game strongly encourages thorough exploration, and it does so with a remarkable sense of style, making it a standout title.

5. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

The sequel successfully improved upon the strengths of the first game, while also establishing its own unique identity. With a larger world to explore and a playful, witty sense of humor, it was an enjoyable and immersive experience.

Deliverance 2 is a rare and captivating game that will leave you wanting to play it again as soon as you finish. It’s surprisingly addictive!

6. Hollow Knight: Silksong

As a huge fan, I was so excited for Silksong, and it absolutely delivered! It really expanded on everything I loved about the first game, putting Hornet in the spotlight for an incredible, polished adventure. Honestly, when it came out, it was all anyone could talk about – it completely blew away anything else released around the same time.

The game lived up to the excitement, offering a fantastic mix of difficult but satisfying gameplay. It features a deeply engaging world with plenty of enemies and clever platforming sections. It’s a simple but visually appealing game, and a strong sequel that improves on everything the first one offered.

7. Donkey Kong Bonanza

We were really excited when this beloved game came to the Switch 2, and we’re happy to say it lived up to the hype! It’s a genuinely enjoyable experience.

Bonanza’s appealing graphics and fun gameplay strike a great balance. It lets players create a little chaos, but keeps it manageable, which kept us hooked and constantly reaching for our handheld device. This is exactly how a Donkey Kong game should be – a fantastic and fresh take on a classic character.

8. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

We were excited to jump back into the world of Death Stranding, especially compared to Sam Porter’s initial experience at the start of the game. Exploring the new areas of Mexico and Australia in Kojima’s beautifully designed game, which focuses on themes of connection and the past, was often breathtaking and visually stunning.

Because it’s a game meant to be played alone, you can easily spend hours exploring its huge world and discovering all the hidden secrets Hideo Kojima has added.

9. Mafia: The Old Country

Returning to its Sicilian origins, this installment of the game delivers the classic Mafia experience, but with a refined presentation and a compelling story. Fans who enjoy the series’ action-packed sequences and historically accurate settings will be thoroughly impressed.

This game is really well-made, with a fantastic story, and the beautiful Sicilian countryside makes it a pleasure to play.

10. Ghost of Yotei

Sucker Punch’s latest Ghost of Tsushima game is a strong and welcome entry in the series. It builds on everything fans loved about the original while also introducing exciting new ideas and features.

When you’re trying to get revenge, it’s easy to get distracted by all the other things happening in the vast open world. Beyond the main story, there are smaller, compelling tales that delve into the difficult subjects of war and its impact, including one truly exceptional horror story. The game also cleverly references and celebrates the elements that made the studio famous.

One of the best things about Ghost of Yotei is that it lets you complete the main story missions for each area after you’ve done everything else.

11. Hades 2

Melinoe is a really enjoyable game with a captivating story. Its vibrant art style, cleverly designed levels, and addictive roguelike gameplay all work together seamlessly. The game is visually striking and full of charm, and the unique enemies, accompanied by rock music, are particularly memorable.

12. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

The Japanese version of Assassin’s Creed has been a standout single-player game this year. Its success comes from Naoe’s distinct stealth abilities, Yasuke’s talent for intense combat, and consistent updates and new content released since the game launched in March 2025.

Set in a beautiful open world with refined RPG gameplay, this game offers a huge amount of content and diverse ways to play. You might want to set aside a few days just to enjoy a good chunk of what it has to offer.

13. DOOM: The Dark Ages

Even though the newest DOOM game sends the Slayer to the past, its updated gameplay makes it a really fun shooter. You can expect the classic over-the-top action, satisfying gunfights, and fast-paced mechanics that DOOM is known for. If you want a game where you can unleash a powerful arsenal against waves of enemies, The Dark Ages is a perfect choice. The Slayer is always prepared for a fight!

14. The Elder Scrolls IV: Remastered

Honestly, one of the biggest highlights of the year for me was getting to revisit Cyrodiil! It’s amazing to see this classic world brought to life with all the improvements of modern gaming. It still holds up as a fantastic single-player experience, and it’s just awesome that it’s still so much fun after all this time.

Even just the warm feeling of remembering the original game was enough to make us like this new version, but it’s also been updated really well and feels modern. It’s absolutely worth playing.

15. The First Berserker: Khazan

Khazan’s game is a thrilling adventure filled with intense combat and exploration. Its striking art style perfectly complements the fast-paced gameplay. While the challenging difficulty and complex combat are highlights, the story is also surprisingly engaging.

This game offered a fantastic introduction to the origins of the Dungeons & Fighter world, and it was so engaging that we stayed up late trying to defeat the challenging final boss and advance further.

16. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Samus Aran’s latest adventure on Viewros is a fantastic game and a welcome addition to the lineup of 2025 titles. It combines a compelling world with fun and engaging gameplay that’s easy to get lost in. With clever puzzles and exciting combat, this game truly shines, making the 18-year wait since the last installment well worth it.

We particularly loved how the new psychic abilities sparked our imagination and encouraged us to find clever ways to use them. If you’re looking for a complete and well-executed single-player game, this is an excellent option.

17. Where Winds Meet

Everstone is a captivating action RPG set in ancient China. Its open world design gives players incredible freedom to explore and enjoy the game at their own pace, making it incredibly immersive and hard to stop playing.

If you love exploring every corner of a large game world, Where Winds Meet is a fantastic choice. We’re excited to see how this game develops and will be following its progress closely.

Although all of these games offered something unique, there can only be one winner. Luckily, choosing that winner was the simplest part of the process.

The winner of 2025’s best single-player game is..

DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a remarkable new game that pushes the boundaries of the series and open-world games as a whole. Hideo Kojima once again demonstrates his talent for crafting immersive worlds and weaving meaningful themes throughout the experience.

On the Beach is both a strong follow-up to previous titles and a fantastic game in its own right. It’s consistently impressive, with incredibly realistic graphics powered by the Decima engine. The developers clearly went above and beyond, creating a game that easily stands out as one of the best of the year.

It’s now time to look forward to 2026, and see what the year has waiting in store for us.

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2025-12-17 15:14