Game of the Year: Liam’s Top 5 PS5 Games of 2025

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Each year, our writers and editors share their favorite PS5 games in individual “Game of the Year” articles. Today, assistant editor Liam Croft is sharing his top pick for 2025.

5. Elden Ring Nightreign

Elden Ring Nightreign has been my most engaging gaming experience this year. It takes the beloved Elden Ring formula and adds a run-based mode that’s consistently challenging and fun. A ticking clock keeps the pressure on, and the different playable Nightfarers encourage you to try out various team combinations.

Many of the gameplay enhancements and updates introduced in Elden Ring’s Nightreign will likely appear in FromSoftware’s next major game. This represents a successful evolution of their established style and will strengthen their future single-player experiences.

4. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

As a big fan of the Metal Gear Solid series, I feel like Konami is giving me exactly what I wanted with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. This remake of a beloved classic is incredibly faithful to the 2004 original – it even uses the same cutscenes and voice acting – and successfully updates it for today’s gamers.

The game looks and runs great, and that’s all it needs because the core gameplay is still fantastic. Welcome back, Snake!

3. Ghost of Yotei

Many sequels don’t try to be radically different; instead, they focus on polishing and enhancing the original game. That’s what Ghost of Yotei does – it’s a PS5 game that successfully improves upon Ghost of Tsushima, a title I personally thought was a bit overhyped.

Wow, the sequel is seriously a huge step up! Everything just feels better – the world is so much more open and fun to explore, the fighting is really satisfying, and it looks absolutely gorgeous. Plus, the story really pulled me in again. Honestly, Ghost of Yotei is amazing from start to finish, and it’s easily one of my top games of 2025.

2. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

If you know the kinds of video games I enjoy, you’ll know I always look forward to a game by Hideo Kojima, and Death Stranding 2 was fantastic. It’s a more focused experience than the first game, with a particularly strong story, captivating atmosphere, and beautiful music as the player, Sam, travels across Australia.

I’m really loving this game! Even though it’s easier to get around the world now, it still feels incredibly special and different from anything else I’ve played. The combat feels much better, so switching between exploring and fighting is super smooth. Plus, with all the new ways to travel, it feels like I can handle pretty much any challenge the game throws at me!

It all comes together to make Death Stranding 2 one of Kojima Productions’ greatest creations.

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

It’s incredible looking back to when we were testing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 before it launched. We all knew how good the game was, but we couldn’t share it with anyone, which felt really strange.

Half a year later and everyone’s in love with it.

The Paintress is rightfully receiving praise – it’s one of the most original and delightful role-playing games we’ve seen in a long time. The turn-based battles are excellent, featuring skillful parries and visually impressive attacks. The game’s world is beautifully realized and captivating, and its characters – brought to life by fantastic voice acting – are truly unforgettable.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a truly memorable game. Sandfall Interactive’s first release has everything I want in a video game, which is why I’ve chosen it as my Game of the Year. It’s been a standout title for me all year.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on Liam’s Game of the Year choices! Share your opinions – whether you completely agree or respectfully disagree – in the comments below.

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2025-12-28 14:07